(Brendon)

"They're sending us away!"

The words came from my mouth so quickly that they almost merged into one. I was panicking and for a good reason. They were trying to send us away. They being my mother and father of course. Us being Pete and I. And away being to some boarding school across the country to ungay us.

We were supposed to leave first thing tomorrow morning. Today was our last day with the school. Our last day with our friends. My last day to see Ryan again.

"What? Who's sending you away?" Ryan pulled me into his house.

"My parents."

He stuck his head out of the front door. Looking left and then right. As if he thought I was running from something. Oh Ryan, if only it was that simple. He slammed the door shut and locked it. Turning to me with the fear clear on his face.

I could only imagine what he was thinking. Days ago we were bickering like animals. I said some of the most hideous things to him. And he'd punched me. And here I was today, knocking on his door a little after eight in the morning. Yelling about being sent away.

"What's going on, Bren?"

"My parents found out about me being gay. Th-They don't want gay kids so they're sending Pete and I to a conversion boarding school across the country."

"What?!"

I ignored the question because I knew he heard me. "I dropped Pete off at school and I came here."

"Who the hell is Pete?" The jealousy in his voice almost made me smile.

"My bother. My twin."

"There's two of you?"

"Fraternal." I rolled my eyes. "Ryan this is serious. I'm leaving in the morning."

"You're serious about all of this?"

"Why in the world would I joke about something like that?"

"What kind of parents send their kids away just because  they're gay?"

"The hardcore Christian kind that would rather have no kids than have gay kids."

"That's not fair. I-I only just found my soulmate and now you're leaving."

"I know." My heart fluttered at the word soulmate.

"You can't go."

"I don't have a choice. I wanted to make sure I spent all the time I had left here, with you."

"I think I'm having an anxiety attack." He placed his hand on the center of his chest.

"Ryan." I walked up to him. Placing my hands on his cheeks and forcing him to look me in the eyes. "This is our last day together. Anxiety attacks aren't the way I planned on spending it."

"How did you plan on spending it?"

I couldn't help the blush that heated my entire face.

****

(Pete)

"I'll be here to pick you up after school." Brendon said as he parked the car in our usual spot.

"You're not coming?"

He smiled. "No offense, but I don't want to spend my last free day in school."

I laughed at that. "I don't even know who you are anymore."

"I'm just me."

"I like this you way better." I undid my seatbelt and slid out of the car.

"See you, Pete."

"Hey, Bren?" I leaned over to look at him through the window.

"Yeah?"

"We're going to be okay. You know that, right?"

"I think I did. But it helps to hear you say it. You've always been the tough one."

I watched him back out and disappear from the student parking lot. Something he said stuck with me. I don't want to spend my last free day in school. Who the hell did? I hated school.

"Pete, you dirty bastard." I turned at the sound of Joe's voice. He and Nic were walking up to me. "Where the hell is the nerd going?"

"He uh, he's sick or some shit. Mom still made him drive me because she doesn't trust me."

"What a bitch." He didn't know the half of it. "Anyway, we're about to hit up the smoke shack. You coming?"

It was my last day. Why the hell not. "I guess so."

"You sure you don't have to see Mr. Stump for something first?" Nic gave me a look that said what the hell are you doing?

"I'm sure."

"We'll meet you there." He smiled at Joe. Joe shrugged and continued to walk across the street to the old cafe. "Pete what are you doing? You know you're not supposed to smoke."

"It doesn't matter anymore man. Today's my last day going to this school."

"What?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"But I'm your friend-"

"I said I don't want to talk about it, Nic! Damn, what don't you get? What is with you anyway? Ever since we met you've just been this clingy, weird dude. Back the fuck off."

"Fuck you Pete." The look on his face almost made me wish I'd kept my mouth shut.

He turned and rushed towards the school. I turned and headed to where I usually would. Well, usually would before Patrick came into the picture. Ashlee and Britney were arguing over something girl related. Adam was standing a few feet away typing something on his phone. And Joe and Pink were lighting up a couple of blunts.

"What's up, people!" I called out to get their attention. "Did you miss me?"

"Hell yeah!" Ashlee was the first to run up and hug me. "Where have you been?"

"Busy."

"Even too busy for your friends, you asshole?" Britney didn't hug me.

But Pink did. "We were starting to think you didn't like us."

"That's crazy. I love you guys."

"Yeah you do." Adam winked and I smiled.

"Seriously man. You hardly speak to us in class. And then you never go to lunch. You're in the tutoring thing after school. And you're always busy on the weekends. Are you cheating on us with another group?" Joe nudged me.

"Yes. And they treat me way better than you ever could. They notice my hair cuts and take me out and actually tell me I'm pretty!" I said in my best dramatic chick voice. They all laughed.

"Really. What's up with you?"

"I'm leaving for good guys."

"What?" Joe paused mid smoke.

"It's a long story."

"We have time." Adam shrugged.

"Bell rings in a few."

"Since when did we care?" Ashlee smiled sadly.

I returned the smile. I can't believe I actually forgot how much I loved being around them. My best friends. My real family. My eyes felt like they were going to water. Fuck I was going to miss them!