Josh and Tyler sat on pulled out bleachers. Both boys wore multiple glow sticks around their necks and wrists. Tyler's legs were drapped over Josh's as he stuck a gummy bear on the blue haired boy's tongue.

"Guess the flavor." Tyler laughed as Josh shut his mouth.

Josh pouted his lips. "What are the gummy bear colors again?"

Tyler laughed again, falling against Josh's shoulder. He muttered something through giggles as Brendon, Dallon, Patrick and Pete walked over to them. He sat up and smiled. "Glad you guys could make it to the party." He gestured to the empty gymnasium. "It's quite lit, as the kids say."

"Totally." Pete laughed. He climbed up the bleachers and plopped himself down a few rows behind Tyler and Josh. He waved Patrick up to follow as he pulled a water bottle up from the row just behind him.

Dallon set his duffle bag by his feet. "Looks like the gang's all here." He laughed, nervously. "Just like old times."

"Hell yea!" Brendon exclaimed. He dropped his own bag before spinning around to get a 360 of the gym. "Remember all the storms we waited out in here? Do you think there's still a barf stain where Josh threw up?"

"Hey." Josh flipped him a finger.

Brendon didn't pay attention through. Just like in the hallway, he could practically see flashes of the past overlapping the present moment. The bundles of blankets that were made into makeshift beds, the small children that weaved through them without a care in the world, and the adults with expressions laced in worry. With that memory, the others seemed to fade and bring him back to the present. The worried expression from his memory, however, lingered on Dallon's face.

"So, why here?" Dallon asked, looking around the large room. "The newer school is supposed to be more secure."

Josh shook his head. "But this place has seen more storms and held up." He argued. He tapped the bleacher seat beside him, causing the entire set of seats to creak.

Dallon forced his smile.

"How'd you even get in here?" Brendon asked, hoping to ease the nerves that Dallon obviously felt being here with a storm on the way.

Tyler sat up following the question. His eyes glistened with mischief. "Mark Hoppus maintains the place and happily handed over the keys when we asked for a look around a few months ago." He grinned. "We made a copy and we've pretty much been sneaking in since. He could care less, as long as we don't make a mess."

"So Josh isn't allowed to puke in the corner like old times?"

"Shut the fuck up, Pete!"

"So now it's hurricane HQ again?" Brendon asked, grinning.

Tyler nodded. "You could say so."

"Are the bathrooms still operational?" Dallon asked. He still held his lantern in one hand, but his free hand twisted around in a nervous fist.

Brendon could tell he didn't want to be here. He could only imagine the memories that were going through Dallon's head in contrast of his own. He really shouldn't have made him come out into the storm. He wanted to say something, but Josh started speaking first. He directed Dallon to the bathroom and, before Brendon could jump in with words of his own, Dallon was running off.

Brendon sighed. He really needed to make this up to Dallon.

A hand sat down on his shoulder. Brendon turned his head to see Tyler. "He still isn't good with storms, is he?" He asked.

Brendon shook his head. "He never got over that loss." He whispered, "Even a bad thunderstorm freaks him the fuck out. You're lucky we made it."

Tyler nodded, a sad expression on his face. "I almost didn't ask." He admitted, "I thought he might feel safer here, though."

"Worth a shot." Brendon sighed, "Hopefully things get better."

Tyler pulled his hand from Brendon's shoulder. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small ziplock bag. "Here, Josh won't be needing another one for awhile and they might help calm him down." He held up the bag, which contained a handful of dark gummi bears.

"Where the hell did you score those?" Brendon raised an eyebrow as Tyler offered him the bag.

He brought a finger to his lips. "I have my ways." He winked. He hurried over to the bleachers for a moment before coming back to Brendon with a full bag of the gummi candies. "Just get a handful of these and one special bear." He said, already tearing open the new bag to pour into Brendon's hand.

"How strong are these things?" Brendon asked, bringing the ziplock bag close to his face. He could barely see the small flecks of weed encased in the candy.

"Like I said," Tyler replied, taking the ziplock from Brendon's hand. "Just give him one." Though he said that, he placed two in Brendon's hand. "One for you too." He winked.

Brendon nodded. This night could get pretty interesting with these, but they could also calm Dallon's nerves. He usually became groggy after any hit. "Thanks, man. He might not be the life of the party, but I'm sure he'll appreciate it."

Tyler smiled as he shoved the ziplock bag back into his pocket. "What are friends for?"

Brendon followed him over to the bleachers. He popped one of the regular gummi bears in his mouth as he sat down. A few rows behind where he sat, he could hear Pete and Josh laughing about something. Beside him, Tyler loaded batteries into a flashlight.

"Food and water are right under the bleachers." He said as he screwed the flashlight pieces back together. "It pretty much became our go to storage."

"Outta sight, outta mind." Brendon replied, looking around the gym again. It didn't feel real to be back. "Hey, speaking of outta sight, I'm going to go find Dallon. It'd be nice to refamiliarize myself with the place on the way."

Tyler nodded as he pulled another flashlight into his hands to load with batteries.

Brendon rose to his feet and moved across the gym. His footsteps echoed in the large space. His steps almost felt louder than Josh and Pete's laughs.

At the end of the gym, where it connected to the hallway, Brendon could see the light from Dallon's lantern. The taller boy was standing by the water fountain, pushing fingers through his hair. He muttered softly to himself, almost unaware that Brendon was stepping closer.

"Dal?"

Dallon jumped, bumping into the water fountain with a loud bang! "Shit!" He stepped away from it, kicking his lantern over in the process. "Shit!"

Brendon reached out, gently grabbing his arm. "Hey, calm down. You're okay."

"No, no I'm not!" Dallon exclaimed. "Brendon, I... I'm scared." His voice grew quiet. He reached across his chest to hold to Brendon's hand and shut his eyes. "I know we're supposed to be safe here, but... I keep thinking about what happened and-and I'm scared."

"Dallon." Brendon frowned, stepping closer to his boyfriend. "I'm sorry I convinced you to come out. I never should have tried when I know-"

Dallon wrapped him in a hug, cutting him off. Brendon held him tightly, shutting his own eyes. He wanted to comfort Dallon and apologize. Even at this point, he wanted to turn back for him. However, part of his refused to say it out loud.

Dallon eventually pulled away. He kept his gaze down at the floor. "I feel safe with you." He practically whispered, "Safer than ever being alone."

"I'd do anything to keep you safe." Brendon smiled weakly as Dallon lifted his head. He lifted his candy filled hand and opened it. "Tyler was worried about you too. They might be a bit warm from my hand, but I have something that might ease your nerves."

Dallon looked at Brendon's hand and let out a soft laugh. He looked ready to say something but, at that same moment, thunder boomed over head. The hall seemed to shake with the force of it.

Before Brendon knew what was happening, Dallon had snatched the handful of gummi bears from his hand and shoved them in his mouth.

"Babe!" Brendon looked between his hand and Dallon. "You only needed one of the two medicated gummies in that!"

"There were two!?"

"Dallon!" Brendon reached out and pressed Dallon's cheeks together. He couldn't help but laugh, "Babe, you're gunna be fine, but you might have a better time than expected." He leaned forward and kissed him. "You'll be fine." He repeated, swiping his thumb over Dallon's cheek.

It would be awhile before they kicked in, but Brendon really hoped it would make Dallon feel better about their situation. He hoped it could take his mind off the past, as well as the possible future.