(republishing after rereading the chapter, adding a few things, and feeling more confident about it now.)

"I saw you and Brian kissing!"

Dallon's eyes widen and his head snaps over to Ryan. His coworker looks just as shock as he is, and more nervous than him.

Everyone knows now. The last thing they wanted.

—

Ashley: [eyes wide] WHAT?!

Pete: Ryan and Dallon? N-No way. They hate each other!

Josh: I-I'm confused?

Patrick: Are we on a soap opera right now?

Z: My Ryan would never kiss Dallon! He said so himself! H-He despises his coworker! He doesn't meet Ryan's standards!

Spencer: Seems like Ryan just likes to not tell his friends anything now. [crosses arms]

Breezy: I just met this Ryan dude. He seems cute and Dallon's type. [shrugs] Good for Dallon.

Jenna: [shrugs] Good for them? I thought they don't like each other though. So, is it an enemies with benefits thing?

Tyler: [silent, glaring at camera]

Cute Flower Girl: I'm just confused really? Ash said they don't really like each other. So, why would they kiss?

Camera Crew: What's your name again?

Cute Flower Girl: [smiles] Oh, it's-!

Jon: So, Dallon and Ryan are actually dating? [looks down] Thought I had a chance. [stands] I think I need to go.

—

Ryan's hands cover his mouth as the crowd continues to stare at him. Everyone is silent, the only noise in the shop is the sound of the "Monster Mash" playing in the background.

Dallon's hands grow sweatier under the stares from everyone. His mouth is getting drier and he can't seem to form any words. His speech is broken.

"I-I... Ry..."

Ryan frowns. He reaches out for his coworker, but Dallon steps back and shakes his head.

"Don't bring him into this. Please," he say.

Ryan can't help but smile gratefully.

"A little too late for that," Brendon mumbles, still glaring at Dallon.

Yet, he just shakes his head again, "he doesn't need to be involved in this, okay?"

"Dallon, it's fine," Ryan says.

The boys look over at him, Brendon turning his glare to him and Dallon looking confused. Ryan just smiles at Dallon and walks over to him. He grabs his shoulder and squeezes it comfortingly, the same way he did earlier that night. Dallon smiles back.

"Yes, we kissed," Ryan says, "so what? Friends kiss sometimes. No big deal!"

A snort erupts from the crowd. Everyone turns around to find Pete trying to hold back a laugh, and Patrick shaking his head at his idiot boyfriend.

Ryan glares, "what is so funny?"

Pete shakes his head, "sorry! You said you and Dallon are friends! It's just funny!"

"Shut up Pete."

Ryan turns back to Brendon and fixates his own glare to match the other's. He crosses his arms and steps in front of Dallon. Ryan and Brendon were suddenly right in each other's faces.

"Dallon was doing me a favor. I asked him to be my first kiss, so I could finally get it out of the way. He didn't know if it was a good idea, but I insisted. I really wanted it and I initiated it."

Everyone remains silent so Ryan continues.

"Then we promised not to say anything. I was embarrassed, okay? I'm twenty years old and I haven't had my first kiss! It's humiliating to have to beg for it..."

Dallon frowns and shakes his head, "Ryan, sto-."

Ryan cuts him off, "it's okay Dal. I'm not going to let anyone accuse you of leading me on. Especially since that's not what happened."

Brendon frowns and looks down at the ground. The camera zooms in and captures a look of guilt on his face.

Ryan turns back to Brendon, "so, there you go. That's what actually happened. It was all my idea, I just dragged Dallon along. If anything, you could say I was leading him on! I was using him."

The crowd then murmurs, confused looks being sent Ryan's way now. Yet, he didn't really care. He was mostly glad the pressure is off Dallon's shoulders.

"I think we're done now," Ryan says then grabs Dallon's hand and pulls him away.

—

Dallon: I can't believe Ryan lied for me. Me of all people... what the f**k, am I on Punk'd?

—

"Ryan, you didn't tell him the truth," Dallon says quietly.

Ryan just shrugs it off. He manages to find Z in the crowd and smiles at her. Yet, she doesn't return the smile. Instead, her frown deepens impossibly more when she sees him.

"Ry..." she says.

Ryan frowns, "what's wrong?"

"Jon left. I-I'm sorry."

Ryan furrows his eyebrows, "what? Wh-Why?"

"He only heard about the kiss thing and left before you explained anything," Z says.

The boy swallows hard and bites his lip. His hand loosens it's grip on Dallon's and even begins to shake. Dallon tries to hold on tighter to the hand, but Ryan rips it away before he could.

"Oh..." Ryan whispers.

"...Ry, Spencer went with him."

That sentence breaks Ryan.

He covers his mouth, tears spring into his eyes, and his shaking becomes more noticeable. Quickly, Z wraps her arms around the boy and hugs him tightly. She rubs his back and gently shushes him to calm him down. Yet, not even the music can cover the loud sobs escaping from Ryan's body.

Dallon stands there, not knowing how to comfort Ryan in this type of situation. Z looks over at him and smiles sadly.

"I'm going to take him home," Z says to Dallon.

He nods, "is there anything I can do?"

"Don't worry about it Dallon. He's going to be fine."

He could tell Z was lying.

—

Pete: So, I think it's safe to say the party is over. [winces] Maybe I shouldn't have invited Brendon.

Patrick: [glaring at Pete] No, really?

—

Everyone is walking out of the shop. The thick tension being carried outside. The camera pans over to Tyler and Josh heading to the car with Jenna following behind them.

Josh rests his head on Tyler's shoulder and whispers, "can we still go trick or treating?"

Tyler nods and kisses the back of his hand.

The camera moves over to where Ashley is heading to the bus stop with Cute Flower Girl. She looks over at her and smiles sadly.

"I'm sorry this party turned into a disaster," Ashley whispers.

Cute Flower Girl just smiles down at her, "it's fine Ash. I still had a good time with you."

Ashley smiles then leans up and kisses her cheek. Cute Flower Girl blushes when her lips gently touch her cheek and giggles softly.

Ashley smiles and steps back to get a better look at her date. She pushes the blonde waves behind Cute Flower Girl's ear and cups her face. Cute Flower Girl just stares back at her.

"Want to head back to your dorm or mine?" Ashley asks.

She smiles, "your's."

The camera moves away from the girls and pans its over to Pete walking Patrick to his car. It zooms in and captures the guilty look on Pete's face while Patrick looks irritated.

"Pete, you need to apologize to Dallon for inviting Brendon," Patrick whispers.

Pete nods, "I know. I know. What's work going to be like now? With everything that's happening between Dallon and Ryan."

"I can't tell you that. All I know is that you need to take care of whatever s**t is going to happen next. You can't let your employees' personal lives affect work."

Pete nods again.

The camera backs away from the pair, but stays on them as the car drives off. When the empty parking space is shown, the cameras pans over until it lands on Brendon. He is sitting on the hood of his car with a cigarette hanging loosely from his lips. The camera zooms in on him and captures how upset he is.

Everyone else has left, leaving him and his car in front of the coffee shop. All alone.

"You're an a**hole."

Almost all alone.

Brendon sighs, throws his cigarette to the ground, and looks over his shoulder. Dallon is standing there, his body shaking with anger and holding his high heels like he's ready to throw them at Brendon's head. He's alone as well, Breezy having left earlier due to the night feeling over after all the chaos.

"Thanks for the reminder. Now shouldn't you be making out with Brian?" Brendon snaps back.

"His name is Ryan you d**k."

Brendon rolls his eyes and shrugs. Yet, the camera sees the look of guilt on his face at the name correction.

Dallon walks around to the front of the car to face Brendon. He crosses his arms and glares at the younger boy. The camera crew move back and stay behind a car from across the street in case of any altercation that could occur.

They have learned that Dallon Weekes is very unpredictable.

"You had no right to bring Ryan into that mess!" Dallon shouts.

Brendon glares, "and you had no right to talk about me in the degrading way you did! In front of my girlfriend especially!"

"Don't you mean your rebound?"

"F**k you."

Brendon jumps off his car hood and heads for the driver's side. Dallon grabs his hand and pulls him back over. Their chests pressed against each other, and their noses almost touching.

"We're not done," he says.

Brendon just rolls his eyes, but doesn't bother fighting back. He's too tired to try anything.

"I initiated the kiss, not Ryan."

"Okay, so?"

"I initiated the kiss to get over you."

Silence. Brendon's eyes are wide and his body relaxes against Dallon's. Dallon relaxes his grip on his hand, but doesn't let go.

"Ever since the car ride we took together to grab more milk for the shop... I-I haven't stopped thinking about you," Dallon says, "I was wrong about you. You're not this annoying kid who had nothing better to do than bother me. You're this crazy talented guy who is also really funny, and really, really handsome."

Brendon blushes and looks down, "Dallon..."

"Like, I don't think I've ever seen anyone as handsome as you. Seriously."

"Dallon..."

"And I know I shouldn't tell you all this now because you have a girlfriend who seems really nice, and now I really regret being a d**k to her. Yet, I need you to know because if I don't tell you I think I could explode."

"Dallon, did it work?"

He furrows his eyebrows, "huh?"

Brendon rolls his eyes and looks Dallon in the eyes, "did the kiss work? Are you over me?"

The older man bites his lip and shakes his head. Brendon smiles at him. He pulls his hand out of Dallon's grip then let's both of his hands rest on his chest. Brendon slowly slides them up until they are looped behind Dallon's neck.

"Good."

Brendon leans up and presses his lips against the other man's.

Dallon is shocked, but quickly pushes it aside and kisses him back. His arms wrap around Brendon's waist and pull him closer so their chests are pressed together.

Brendon pulls back and opens his mouth to say something, but Dallon cuts him off by kissing him again. The second kiss is more heated as Dallon lets his hands travel down to Brendon's thighs and grip them tightly. He picks up the smaller boy and lays him down on the car hood.

The camera cuts off as Dallon pushes off Brendon's jacket.

—

END OF PART ONE