13. love (noun) - an intense feeling of deep and constant affection

Brendon watched with mild humor as Ryan paced back and forth around their hotel room, laughing softly to himself. "I can't believe you want me to come to New York to run a shop with you," he said with another disbelieving laugh. "New York, Brendon!"

"That's where we are, yeah," Brendon added with a small chuckle to himself.

"Do you know that my parents thought I wasn't good enough for this?" Ryan had turned to look at Brendon, patiently waiting for an answer and only continuing when he shook his head. "They told me, 'Ryan, I can't believe you would throw away your life like this! You were going to get into Princeton! You were going to be a journalist! You were going to make a mark!' Well, fuck that mark, because look where I am now!"

Brendon laughed loudly this time, reaching for Ryan's hand and pulling him to sit on his lap as his arms circled his waist. "You're making the right mark for yourself," he said softly as he pressed a kiss to his temple. "It may not be the one they wanted, but it's the one you were always meant to make. I'm proud of how far you've come in the last couple of months. No one amazes me the way you do."

Ryan looked at Brendon and gave him the softest smile he's ever smiled in his life. "I just." He paused, shaking his head as he smiled wider at Brendon.

"'Just' what, dear," Brendon inquired quietly.

"I just," Ryan continued in a soft voice, "I still cant believe you want this with me. You want me to co-own your shop, you want me to move out here to New York with you, and you want me to be in your life like this. I, honestly, just don't understand why."

Brendon smiled a soft, knowing smile as he pulled Ryan a bit closer. "Well," Brendon started, his voice full of sincerity, "for starters, you already know how much potential I see in you. Not to say that all of my artists - all of my friends - aren't talented in their own regard, because they are, it's just. Something about you, your presence and your stature drew me to you. Seeing your art, the way your brain works when you're working on something, it's like nothing I've ever seen. It's everything a great artist should exude, and you do."

Ryan blushed, holding onto Brendon as he continued speaking. "Not only that," he said with a bit of a wider smile, "but when you bumped into me and scattered my papers all over the ground-" Ryan groaned slightly, burying his face in Brendon's shoulder as he laughed "-the moment our eyes met, it almost seemed like everything in that moment made sense. At that point in my life, I'd gotten into a funk of thinking what I was doing wasn't making any sense. I - to be perfectly honest - had gotten out of a pretty serious relationship about a month prior, and I was beginning to question everything."

Ryan looked at Brendon softly, running his fingers through his hair and allowing him to continue to speak without being interrupted.

"I was beginning to question if I was a good artist," he continued. "I was beginning to question if I was a good businessman, a good friend, a good brother, a good.. person, in general. It seemed like this idea of moving to New York to pursue another shop when I was having doubts about my place in the original one was way too far fetched and almost impossible. Then, this clumsy, mousy brown haired boy comes literally stumbling into my life, and it seemed like everything wasn't so crazy after all. You've brought a light to my life again, and if this is the least I can do to repay you, then I'll do this and so much more."

Ryan felt tears prick at his eyes as Brendon turned to meet him.

"To put it simply," Brendon continued in a hushed whisper, "I love you, Ryan Ross. I love you for who you are and for what you've done for me. So. You deserve this, and everything more."

Ryan has tears slipping down his cheeks as he took Brendon's face in his hands. "You love me?"

Brendon bit his lip to stop it from quivering as he tightened his hands into the fabric of Ryan's shirt. "I do, Ryan Ross," he whispered. "I really do."

Ryan surged forward and connected his lips with Brendon's. The two of them lost themselves in a passionate, heated kiss that didn't try to make itself any more than what it was; a sign that they were on the same page. Not only were they reading the same book and flipping through the same chapter, but they were running their index fingers along the same sentence, a sentence that spoke volumes, and not just words. a sentence that made everything seem right.

"I love you, too, Brendon."

*     *     *

Stop the song.

Landing back on LA felt like a temporary thing to Ryan, knowing that - within the next month - he and Brendon would be traveling back to New York to permanently stay. It also made him feel a little uneasy. He didn't think the others would get angry with him, he just thought they would be upset with Brendon for leaving without them knowing sooner.

He and Brendon spent the next couple of days at Ryan's apartment, wine Brendon had already gotten practically everything he wanted for himself into their new apartment in New York. Ryan would have to either get new things there or get his old stuff shipped over there. Although, the idea of sharing things with Brendon felt better than bringing his old, dingy belongings with him to a new start.

When the two of them came back to the shop, everyone was overly excited to see them back. They asked questions about the convention, asked how their flight was, and even Patty made very suggestive comments about what they were up to on their alone time. Needles to say, the chatter was going many different ways before Sarah asked, "Oh, did you get to see Patrick while you were there? Did you tell him 'Hi' for me?"

Brendon nodded. "I did," he began, "and I'm glad you brought that up. Everyone, gather around, I need to discus something with you all. Dallon, would you mind flipping the open sign on the door around please? We need to be closed for s few moments."

Dallon did as asked before grabbing a chair and joining everyone in the semi-circle they had made around Brendon. Even Ryan grabbed a seat and parked himself next to Patty as Brendon cleated his throat.

"Some of you know who Patrick is, and for those of you who don't, let me tell you," he started easily. "Patrick was one of my best friends in high school back in Nevada. He went on to be a very high profile real estate agent in New York city. While Ryan and I were there, we met up with Patrick, but it wasn't for s friendly chat. It was for business reasons."

Everyone seemed almost on the edge of their seats as they listened to Brendon speak, not one of them daring to even breathe to loud in fear of missing something.

"I signed a lease for an old building in downtown Brooklyn," he continued, looking around at everyone. "A building that will - in just about a month's time - become the east coast location of Empty Gold."

Everyone gasped - every sound coming out excited and happy as chatter started spreading again. Before it got too out of hand, Brendon silenced them softly.

"Don't get too excited, guys," he said evenly. "This next part you won't be too happy with. In the coming month, I will be evaluating all of you to see who would be best fit to run this shop and become the new face of the west coast Empty Gold location."

Everyone quietened again, Tyler being the one to speak softly. "You're not going to be here anymore?"

Brendon set his lips in a line and shook his head. "I've also signed a lease for an apartment a few blocks away from the new location in New York. At the end of next month, I will be moving out there to run the east coast location."

No one spoke. They all shared almost horrified looks as Sarah stood up from her chair. "Hold up," she said, "what do you mean you'll be evaluating everyone? Brendon, I'm your sister, this was an idea we had together when we were kids, doesn't that mean anything to you?"

Brendon sighed tiredly as he shook his head. "This was a project I started on my own when you decided to give up the idea years ago. This is my business, and I will choose what happens with the thing I started."

Sarah went red in the face. "This isn't fair! God, ever since Mike left you you've been so against every Brendon! You've been so selfish, only thinking about what's best for you!"

"Don't make this about him," Brendon said through clenched teeth. "This has nothing to do with that, and you damn well know it. If you're taking all of this so personally, then I suggest you leave. This is business, Sarah."

Sarah then knocked her chair back with her legs and grabbed her things before storming out of the shop, all eyes on her as she left.

"Now," Brendon said softly, "anyone else have any questions?"

Ashley spoke up softly. "You." Her voice wavered as she started speaking. "You can't just leave."

Brendon sighed. "Ashley—"

"No!" Everyone jumps as Ashley rose her voice. "We own this shop together, you can't just start up another shop when your shareholder doesn't even know about it!"

Ryan looked to Brendon as Brendon sighed again. "The reason you didn't know about this is because you won't be the co-owner of the east coast location. Ryan will be."

Ashley laughed incredulously as she stood up from her chair. "That's great," she said. "That's amazing. And it works out perfectly, anyway."

Brendon furrowed his brows. "What do you mean?"

Ashley huffed. "I got signed," she said, tears gleaming in her eyes. "I got picked up by a label, and contracted for an album. I didn't say anything until you got back because I wanted us to be able to talk over as business partners what the future of this shop would hold, but apparently you made the decision without me."

Brendon watched as she walked toward the back exit, wincing as the door slammed behind her. As he started to walk toward the door, Ryan stood up and placed a hand on his chest. "Let me talk to her," he whispered.

Brendon looked him over once before nodding and allowing him to follow Ashley out of the back door.

"Well," Patty started, causing Brendon to turn and face him, "I'm happy for you, Brendon. Congratulations."

Everyone else agreed, congratulating him, but he couldn't help but get that sinking feeling in his stomach again. Was he making the right decision?