"I can't believe this opportunity!" Patrick Stump exclaimed as a small chunk of the drama students sat in the grass outside of the school later that day. After the announcement of their newest project, they had been dismissed with the promise of groups being decided tomorrow. Everyone had left in an excited buzz. "I wonder what the groups will look like."

The group around Patrick consisted of Pete, Brendon, Ryan, and Hayley Williams. They were all taking their sweet time leaving the school... Meaning they really didn't want to go home.

It wasn't a syndrome isolated to the drama kids. Just a few feet away, a football player sat under a tree, picking at grass while a boy laid on the ground and lazily strummed a guitar. Further down, a girl with dark, magenta hair took pictures with a boy in sunglasses.

"I would love to try my hands at Dead Girl Walking." Ryan spoke with a mischievous gleam in his eye. He turned to Brendon, "Feel like some cross dressing? I'll be your JD." His eyes flickered to Brendon's lips, causing a grin to spread across his face.

"I'll literally pay money for that." Pete laughed.

Brendon nodded with a grin, but his gaze was wavering towards the parking lot. Dallon was walking hand in hand with Kenny, towards his car at the back of the lot. He remembered how his hand used to fit in Dallon's...

"Brendon, did you hear me?"

"Hu?" Brendon turned back to his friends. Hayley was grinning. She looked at the others before stepping forward.

"Brendon..." She giggled before sucking in a breath. "Do you wanna ride?" She sang with a wink.

Brendon's brows furrowed for an instance; then it was a lightbulb clicked over his head.

"Do you wanna ride, do you wanna ride? Do you wanna ride, wanna go far?" Hayley continued, with backup from Patrick.

"I feel like it's imperative that I do." Brendon laughed.

Hayley covered her mouth, to avoid letting her own laughter slip. She nodded towards the parking lot. "Okay... Then you better get inside my mother's car."

"Please tell me you're serious because I need a ride too, please." Pete said with a hopeful look towards Hayley.

She rolled her eyes before nodding. "Yes! But just know you killed the mood of the tune."

Pete gasped in mock offense. "Madame! I regret to inform you, but the mood was already dead upon arrival."

She punched his arm, playfully as they moved in the direction of the parking lot. Brendon, however, hung back, causing Ryan to hang back too.

"You okay?" Ryan asked, offering a small smile.

Brendon gave the smallest hint of a nod. Truth be told, he really wasn't. He didn't want to go out into the parking lot and face the possibility of... Well, running into his former, happier, half.

"You know, you never answered my question earlier." Ryan stepped up to Brendon, placing his hand flat against Brendon's chest. "Honestly, I think you'd look hot in a skirt. Not to mention, I'd get to literally rip the shirt off of you." His hand tightened into a fist, bunching the material of Brendon's shirt in his hand.

Brendon jumped but quickly covered up the motion by moving closer to Ryan and sliding his arms around the other boy's waist. Ryan's eyes lit up with the motion.

"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" Brendon teased, leaning into Ryan's face. He could practically feel the excitement radiating off of the boy in his arms. He wished he could fully reciprocate the feelings back.

"I WILL ABANDON YOU BOTH IF YOU'RE NOT OVER HERE IN THIRTY SECONDS!" Hayley yelled, drawing both of their attentions towards the parking lot. Brendon just barely caught the silver of Dallon's car pulling out of the lot.

"We should go." Ryan laughed, spinning himself out of Brendon's hold. He grabbed hold of Brendon's hand to pull him along, "C'mon, let's go."

Brendon looked at Ryan with a smile, allowing himself to be lead to Hayley's waiting car.

---

Brendon sat quietly in the backseat as Hayley drove in the direction of Ryan's house. Patrick and Pete lived the closest, so they were dropped off first. Despite that fact, the sky was still darkening as they traveled towards their next destination. Drama class was their last period of the day, but everyone usually remained at least two hours after school to hang out, practice, or just hold onto that safe space for as long as they could.

Ryan had dozed off, leaning on Brendon's shoulder. One hand rested on his own lap, while the other sat palm up on Brendon's.

Brendon let his fingers dance over Ryan's, but he never committed to letting his hand sink into the other boy's. Something in the back of his head held him back. He instead watched for the occasional twitch of Ryan's fingers.

"He's really into you." Hayley spoke softly, "You know that, right?" Her eyes flickered up to the rearview mirror before focusing back on the road.

Brendon nodded, "Yea..."

"Why not just let him in?" Hayley questioned, "He's really trying, Brendon."

"Maybe I don't want anyone in right now." Brendon muttered, turning his head to look out the window. Maybe he couldn't bring himself to let anyone in at the moment...

"I think a part of you wants to..." Hayley said before the air grew silent.

The only sound became the him of the engines and Ryan's soft breath. Brendon listened, not really thinking about anything else but listening to the soft sounds around him.

Suddenly, the excitement of today's drama news had died down for him.

"Ryan, honey!" Hayley chirped as she pulled up to his dark house. She parked the car and turned back to look at the two in the back seat, "You're home."

Ryan muttered something, but his eyes didn't open. Brendon shook his head, "I'll take him up to the door and walk home from here, thanks, Hayley."

"You sure?"

Brendon nodded, already pushing open the door next to him. He carefully made sure that Ryan wouldn't fall when he slid out of the seat before setting to work climbing out and pulling Ryan into his arms. He gave Hayley another fair well before walking up the drive to Ryan's house.

As Hayley pulled away, Ryan grumbled and turned his head into Brendon's chest. His eyes popped open, though he didn't seem to register what was going on.

"You're home." Brendon smiled down at him.

Ryan looked up at Brendon with tired eyes. "Oh... Am I floating?"

"I'm carrying you, dumb ass." Brendon laughed.

Ryan grabbed a fistful of Brendon's shirt with a soft hum. "Thanks..."

"I'm not carrying you inside."

"Please?"

"Prepare yourself." Brendon moved to place Ryan on the ground. Ryan pouted, but stood steadily. He smiled at Brendon, letting out another small thank you. They were just outside of Ryan's door, but both boys lingered in the presence of one another.

"So... Guess I'll see you tomorrow." Ryan smiled as he brought his hand up to rub sleep from his eyes.

Brendon nodded, "Yea! Guess so..."

Silence.

"Well... Bye, Brendon." Ryan began to turn towards the door.

Brendon wanted to reach out, grab Ryan's hand, and kiss him passionately in the fading light. He wanted to tilt Ryan and entangle fingers in his hair. He wanted to, but he didn't. He simply nodded with a soft "goodbye" of his own before backtracking away from Ryan.

A part of him wanted to, but just couldn't.