Parties were Ryan's forte. They were his comfort zone. Especially Parties like this one. The laid back pool parties. The invitation only parties. These were the parties only for the people like him and his friends. The privileged youth. Because while everyone was still practically sucking Ryan's dick to be his friend, they weren't swarming him with the same desperation the others did. These people understood that hanging with Ryan meant instant popularity. But they also understood that Ryan didn't like being suffocated. So they kept their distance. Kind of.

"Do you like the playlist?" Gerard walked up wearing his tight, pink swim trunks.

"It's cool, Gee."

"Good. I chose a few of your favorite songs."

"I know that." Ryan reached over and lifted a red cup from the table. Sipping it without caring what was in it. He coughed. "You spiked these."

"Yeah."

"How much?"

"Not a lot."

"Bullshit." Ryan took another sip.

"So you're having fun?"

"What's this about, Gee?" Ryan took a bigger sip. The drink was fruity as hell.

"Where's my fucking cat, Ry?"

Ryan laughed. His drink spluttering from his mouth. He used the back of his hand to wipe it away.

"Do you want the money for it? Or do you want-"

"I want a fucking fluffy cat in my hands, Ryan." He placed his hands on his hips.

"I'll get it soon."

"How soon?"

"Soon. Soon."

"Patrick and Brendon just showed up." Pete said as he came to stand beside Ryan.

"Where?" He glanced around the back yard.

"They're still in the house."

"Why are we all standing here?" Jon ran up to his group of friends.

"We're not all standing here." Gee argued. "Andy's over there."

Andy was sitting a few feet away from them. He was always just a few feet away from Ryan. He was laid back in a sun chair. Some pretty, blonde girl was resting on his lap.

"You know what I mean. Are we discussing something?"

"Nope." Pete smirked. "Pretty boy has just arrived."

"Brendon?" Jon's brows furrowed at the nickname. Pete nodded.

Ryan knew the moment Brendon walked through those sliding glass doors. He stood out instantly. And not just because of the awful outfit he was wearing. Who the hell wears a white button up and black skinny jeans to a pool party? He looked like he was going to a job interview at Walmart. It wasn't like Ryan was judging him for not wearing swim trunks. He wasn't even wearing them. He had on a pair of black shorts, a grey shirt and his favorite headband. But he was pretty sure his outfit cost three times as much as Brendon's.

Aside from his volcanic apparel, he looked stunning. That's how Ryan knew it was him. No one else at this party besides Ryan himself could be considered stunning. Hot? A few. Cute? Maybe. Average? The majority. But not stunning. Not like this guy. He ran his hands through his thick, dark hair as he spoke to his friend. His large brown eyes lit with humor at his friend's response. And that smile? Holy fucking shit that smile. It made Ryan's stomach twist. He turned to the side, probably looking for a familiar face. Ryan's eyes landed on his perfectly rounded ass.

"Fuck me." He muttered to himself. His friends laughed.

"That won't be happening Ross." Pete patted him on the back. "He's straight."

"How do you know?"

"His focus for this party was the girls."

Ryan shrugged. Sipping his drink slowly. "Everyone's a little gay."

"Not everyone." Jon disagreed. He and Andy were the only straight ones in their group of friends.

Ryan only smiled at his friend. "Yes, everyone." Before Jon could argue, Ryan turned to Pete. "Call them over."

"Aye, Patrick! Brendon! Over here!" He yelled. The two guys looked over. Grinning when they saw the guy who invited them to the party.

They rushed over to the group of four. Stopping when they were about a foot away from them.

"Hey, Pete." Patrick spoke first.

"Hey, 'Trick." Pete smirked. "These are my friends. Gerard." He waved. "Jon." He nodded. "And Ryan." Ryan didn't move.

"Nice to meet you all." Brendon smiled. Ryan almost groaned at the sound of his voice.

"Guys, this is Brendon and Patrick."

"Your party is awesome." Patrick told Gerard.

"Thanks." Gee smiled. He lifted two cups off the table. Handing one to each of them. "Have a drink."

"Thanks." They said in union.

Everyone stood there awkwardly. No one knowing what to say. Ryan met Pete's eyes. He raised his eyebrows and glanced to the side. Signaling that he wanted to be alone with Brendon. Of course Pete got the message.

"Gerard, Jon, weren't you guys about to go for a swim?" Pete asked them.

"N-"

"Yeah." Jon elbowed him. He grabbed his hand and began pulling him towards the pool. "Nice meeting you guys." He called over his shoulder.

Now just the four of them were standing there. Pete and Ryan standing across from Patrick and Brendon. Patrick lifted his drink to his lips and frowned. Ryan smiled.

"Thanks for inviting us." Patrick began shifting from foot to foot nervously.

"You want to see the rest of the house?" Pete asked him.

"I uh, I don't wanna leave Bren."

"Brendon's totally cool staying here with Ryan. Aren't you, Brendon?"

"Sure." He nudged Patrick. "Go see the rest of the house."

"Okay." Patrick smiled.

Pete link their arms as he guided Patrick back into the house. Now only Brendon and Ryan were standing there. Brendon was nervously looking anywhere but at Ryan. Ryan was staring directly at Brendon. Barely blinking. Brendon brought the cup to his lips. Ryan gently grabbed it from his hands before he could drink it. He sat it back on the table.

"Don't drink that."

"Why not? What the hell is it?"

"About ten percent juice. Eighty percent alcohol. And another ten percent of whatever the hell else Gee thought should be in it." He swished the cup around. Looking inside. "Probably some ecstasy powder."

"That's horrible."

"I know." Ryan took another sip.

"Then why are you drinking it?"

"I like the high it gives me." He admitted.

"Well, I don't get high so..." He trailed off. Not really knowing the point he was trying to make. He decided to change the subject. "Is this Gee's own house?"

"Yes. His parents bought it for him."

"Why doesn't he just live on campus?"

"We're used to the more... Lavish things. Campus doesn't offer that."

"We?" He repeated.

"My friends and I. We all have our own places just off of campus."

"You guys must be rich." He laughed nervously.

Ryan only smiled. He didn't like to brag out loud. He found himself staring at Brendon again. This guy was perfect. He was definitely Ryan Ross pretty. Dare he say, maybe even better? Ryan didn't have those lips. Or that smile. Definitely not that ass. There was a chance this guy might be a level above him in the looks department. And he wasn't even trying. Ryan felt himself began to panic.

What if the kid guy did decide to actually try? There was a chance he could outshine Ryan. What if he wanted to battle to become the new it guy around the campus? Would Ryan win that battle? He wasn't sure. And because he wasn't sure, he wasn't going to chance it. If you can't beat them, join them. If you don't want to join them, make them join you. That was exactly what Ryan planned to do. There was no chance of a battle if they were on the same team.

"What are you doing tomorrow?"

"What?" Brendon frowned at the sudden change of subject.

"Tomorrow. Are you busy?"

"I- no."

"Do you want to go out with me? Lunch. Shopping. Salon. Maybe dinner."

"I-I don't know. I'm not rich like you guys."

"My treat of course." Ryan smiled.

"Why?"

"Excuse me?"

"Why would you want to spend all that money to hang out with me?"

"I thought maybe we could be friend."

"But you don't have to spend money on me to be my friend."

Ryan smiled. "I want to spend money on you."

"Why?"

"You deserve it."

"I didn't do anything."

"You don't have to." He brought the cup to his lips. "People like us should and could always have it easier in life."

Brendon snorted. "People like us? We have nothing in common."

"Sure we do." He smirked over the rim of his little red cup. "We're both pretty."

That comment only made Brendon laugh more. "Pretty? I'm a lot of things, but pretty isn't one of them."

Ryan lifted one perfectly arched eyebrow. "So will you spend the day with me?"

"Sure." Brendon shrugged. "I don't have anything else to do."
****

"And this is the master bedroom." Pete spread his arms and circled the room dramatically.

Patrick giggled loudly. He usually didn't laugh this much. People hated the sound of his laugh. But he couldn't help it with Pete. And Pete seemed to like hearing him laugh.

"This is such a fancy, rich kid house."

"Well it does belong to a fancy rich kid so..."

"Are you a fancy rich kid too?" Patrick's words slurred.

Pete nodded. "But my house isn't this big. I think Gee is compensating for something, if you know what I mean."

Patrick burst out into fits of laughter again. He took a step towards Pete and stumbled slightly. Pete rushed over to steady him.

"Thank you." He giggled into Pete's face.

"Holy shit!" Pete's face twisted. "Did you drink out a fucking bar?"

Patrick just laughed more. "No." He held up his empty, red cup. "Just this drink."

Pete held Patrick steady with one arm and took the cup with the other. He brought it to his nose. "Fucking Gee. He spiked these."

Patrick's eye widened. "What does that mean?"

"That means you're drugged and drunk."

"Oh no!"

"Fucking, Gee!" Pete whined again. "He fucks everything up."

"What do you mean?"

"I was going to try and have sex with you tonight. Now I can't."

Patrick blushed at his honest answer. His hand ran through his hair awkwardly. "Y-You still can."

Pete glared. "No. You're drunk."

"I-I want to." Patrick said quickly.

"That's probably the Ecstasy talking."

"No." He shook his head sloppily. "I've had a crush on you for a long time. I really want to."

"No-"

"Pete." Patrick said in a steady voice. Staring him directly in his eyes. "I want to."

Pete groaned. "Fuck it. I'm going to hell anyway." He slammed his lips against Patrick's.