Part Sixteen

The sunlight came in through the cracks of Dallon's blinds, forcing Brendon awake. The morning was demanding his presence rather earlier that day, but his one less hour of sleep wasn't a total bust.

He opened his eyes to face Dallon. The tall boy hadn't gotten up to shower yet, but was awake and smiling softly at Brendon.

"Hey," He said in a deep, gruff morning voice that made Brendon grin.

"Hi," Brendon replied, shifting closer to Dallon's warmth.

Dallon easily pulled Brendon into his chest, sighing in content. The two relished in being able to hold each other like this again. After having been in the hospital and then at home on bedrest, Brendon was relieved to finally be with Dallon in his bed again.

The week he'd been home hadn't been all bad, though. Dallon came over everyday after school and his parents had actually been civil with each other. His father hadn't even had a single drink that whole week. It had been so refreshing, like a much needed vacation.

"We're going to have to get up soon," Dallon whispered after a while. It was the first day Brendon was going back to school since he was hospitalized.

Brendon couldn't deny he was anxious about it, but it wasn't a completely bad kind of anxious. Dallon and Pete had kept him up to date on everything that was happening while he was out. After Ryan made good on his promise to go to the school board, Smucker was almost immediately suspended. He was still being more thoroughly investigated, but for the time being they had a new, temporary principal. She'd made a speech to the school on her first day about equality and tolerance and that things were going to be different. Dallon said she seemed like a superhero compared to Smucker.

Ryan hadn't returned to school at all that week. Rumor was that he, and his friends, had been expelled. Whether they really had been, or just simply transferred, Brendon wasn't sure. But, despite everything, he hoped Ryan was happier wherever he'd ended up.

He'd also been informed, by a very excited Pete, that Patrick had finally admitted his feelings for Brendon's punk friend. The two had had their first official date that previous weekend and Brendon was extremely eager to get to be the one to tease Pete for a change.

Tyler Joseph, Josh's boyfriend, was going to be returning to school with them the next semester as well. He hadn't heard from Josh himself about it, but when Pete told him, he claimed Josh actually seemed like a giddy puppy. Brendon would've paid good money to see that.

The only thing that still hung above Brendon's head was his current grade standing. He didn't assume the new principal would be as lenient with throwing around extra credit points like Smucker had been, but Dallon had told him to be hopeful and maybe something could be worked out. Brendon had a meeting with her that morning before classes and he did not want to be late.

"Yeah, okay," Brendon agreed with a yawn. He moved to sit up and stretch, but Dallon quickly grabbed him and pulled him down for a sweet, good morning kiss.

Brendon hummed into it, nipping back at Dallon's soft lips. Even after all their kisses, it still managed to put butterflies in Brendon's stomach.

Dallon smirked at him when they pulled apart, "Love you."

"Love you, too, you tall tree," Brendon smirked.

Dallon scoffed playfully and immediately hooked a hand around Brendon's neck, pulling him back in for another strong kiss.

Brendon couldn't help but smile into it - a genuine, happy smile. It was a feeling like no other, one that felt invincible and irreplaceable.

He could definitely get used to it.

His foot tapped the floor anxiously as he stood outside the principal's office. Brendon hadn't had overly fond memories of the place, and right now, they all seemed to be flooding back.

Dallon had walked him to the office, but had to do some things before class, leaving Brendon all alone. Not having anyone to talk to only caused his anxiety to build. Sure, he'd been told the new principal was nice, but he didn't know her personally. What if her niceness was only a cover up? What if she was just as threatening and homophobic as Smucker was?

He knew he should've been thinking positively in that moment, but it was hard when the place surrounding him had been so negative. He was really starting to wish he hadn't left Dallon's bed that morning.

"Brendon?"

Brendon looked up sharply when he heard his name. Standing in the office door was a tall, slim woman. Her hair came down to her shoulders in poofy curls and she wore a modest, floral dress. Her eyes were blue, darker than Dallon's, and they looked at him invitingly. Her smile was just as much so.

"I'm Mrs. Cartwright," She told him, reaching a hand out. Brendon nearly forgot himself and rushed to shake it. "Would you like to come in?"

Brendon nodded. His mouth felt dry. She didn't look threatening, but one could never be sure.

He followed her into the office. It was a lot emptier without the various knick knacks Smucker had had on shelves and on his desk. There was, however, a few frames containing family portraits of Mrs. Cartwright, her presumed husband, and two young girls. It looked like a happy family.

"Have a seat, Brendon," She said. He'd noticed how she didn't refer to him as Mr. Urie. Her using his first name felt far more informal. It relaxed Brendon a bit. He sat in the chair across from her desk.

"How are you feeling?" She asked as she leaned against the desk in front of him. "Doing better?"

She must've known about his days spent in the hospital. He wondered what else she knew, "Uh, yeah, much better, actually."

She smiled sweetly, "That's good. I'm happy to have you back at school with us. I understand it hasn't been a very enjoyable place. I plan to change that."

Brendon offered a little smile in response, feeling a bit shy. She'd been warm towards him so far. It was a strange, but pleasant change of pace.

"I wanted to talk to you about your current grades," She told him, reaching behind her and producing some sheets of paper. "I've been told you were doing some extra credit work to bring them up to pass?"

Brendon nodded again silently, that still being a somewhat sore subject.

"The last principal was being very generous with his point giving," She said, looking up at him. "He was abusing his power here."

Brendon flinched a bit at her phrasing, "Uh, yeah, I guess."

"I think it'd be a little unreasonable for me to give you passing grades just for taking photos for yearbook."

His heart sank. He'd been afraid of that. He felt now that his fate was sealed. He wouldn't pass this year after all.

"But, I've also heard from your teachers that you've been turning this semester around. You've been turning in your homework and passing your tests," The principal explained. "You're a very bright student and it seems you've been trying to redeem yourself."

Brendon shrugged, "I guess so."

Mrs. Cartwright shook her head, "Don't sell yourself short, Brendon. You've been doing good work and I don't want to see you fail this year."

Brendon perked up, "Really?"

She chuckled a bit, "Really. No school official should ever want to see their students fail. So, here's what I'm going to do. I want you to continue the work you've been doing for the school's photography club. In turn, I will give you extra credit, but not so much that it gives you a free pass. You'll still have to work hard."

Brendon nodded enthusiastically. He felt like he'd just been brought back from the dead, "I will, I totally will."

"However, there are a few classes I don't think it's possible for you to pass, even with extra credit. Those I will allow you to make up in summer school," She told him. "Does that sound reasonable?"

"Yes, ma'am," He couldn't help it, he was beaming. "Thanks, I mean, thank you so much."

Mrs. Cartwright smiled at his excitement, "You're welcome. Now don't be late for class."

"I won't!" Brendon jumped up. He shook her hand furiously and thanked her again before practically skipping out the door.

He walked out of her office and back into the school's grey halls. Suddenly, they didn't look so grey anymore. Everything around him was brighter and, he himself, was filled with a new sense of purpose. He felt renewed and inspired.

It was a wonderful feeling.

"Look who's back, bitches!" Pete announced in the doorway of Miss Knipe's room.

Brendon walked in behind him, chuckling. He was surprised to be met with actual cheers and the smiling faces of his boyfriend, Patrick, and Josh - even Miss Knipe was cracking a grin from her desk.

"Thank you, thank you," Brendon said, teasingly, bowing to his 'audience'.

He looked up to see Dallon approaching him. The tall boy had a dazzling smile plastered on his face. Brendon looked at him like was the only person in the room.

"Shouldn't you be at soccer practice?" Brendon asked, unable to stop grinning.

"I wanted to be part of the welcome back committee," Dallon proclaimed with a small shrug.

For a long moment, the two just stood staring at each other. They were engulfed in a cloud of love and happiness that only they could experience together. They were only pulled back to reality when Miss Knipe cleared her throat.

"Yes, welcome back, Mr. Urie," She said. "Now can we all take out seats?"

Dallon slung his arm around Brendon's shoulders, guiding him over to the chairs. As they sat, Brendon found himself still smiling. He figured it would be a while until he stopped.

As Miss Knipe stood up to talk, Brendon's eyes wandered around at his friends. He was overcome with a sense of pride. He felt incredibly lucky to be surrounded by people who cared about him and to have a bright looking future.

It was peaceful and reassuring, like what he'd always imagined home to feel like. That's when it hit him.

Thinking of his parents finally getting along, sitting there in Dallon's arms, watching his friends joke around, all of them smiling from ear to ear.

This was the love he'd been missing out on for so long. It had all come back to him tenfold.

And he finally felt at home.