"What time is it?" Patrick asked as he slipped his satchel over his shoulder.

"8:16." Brendon said in a dull voice.

He hadn't heard from Ryan in over a week. He was positive that it was just the drugs in his system talking. And that when Ryan was sober again he would call up Brendon and apologize. But that didn't happen. This was Brendon's first experience with rejection and heartbreak and it hurt like hell.

Patrick tried to be as understanding as possible. He was spending more time just sitting in the room with Brendon like they did when he first came. He even kept Pete away from the room because he didn't want him to remind Brendon of Ryan.

"We're going to have time for breakfast." Patrick clapped.

"Are we going to the cafe?"

"No." Patrick shifted uncomfortably on his feet. "Spencer said that Hayley was in there."

"You know, you're going to have to talk to her eventually." Brendon lifted his bag onto his shoulder. Leading the way out of the room.

"No, I won't." Patrick frowned. "She was never my real friend if she doesn't want me to be happy."

Brendon let it go. He'd already lost his boyfriend. He didn't want to argue with his best friend too. And maybe Patrick had a point. Hayley did crush on a lot of boys in school. She couldn't count all her crushes on both hands.

They walked side by side through the dorm halls. A guy walked past them wearing a Rossmania shirt and Brendon almost lost it. Why did Ryan have to be such a big deal around here? Why did he have to be constantly reminded of the guy he lost?

"Do you think Ryan misses me?" He asked suddenly. He knew he sounded like a whiny child but he didn't care.

"What?" Patrick glanced over at him as they walked outside.

"D-Do you think Ryan misses me?"

"Bren," Patrick sighed.

How do you tell your friend that they've fallen in love with a complete asshole? One who was probably incapable of feeling anything but lust and pride. Patrick knew he would have to be gentle in his delivery. Gentle but honest. Because Patrick was almost one hundred percent sure that Ryan did not miss his best friend. Ryan Ross was Ryan Ross. And that meant his attention never stayed glued to someone for too long.

"Ross! Ross! Ross!" The chant from their left saved Patrick from having to say anything at all.

Because there was Ryan Ross, walking up to the campus now. With some pretty, redhead following his every move. His usual gang was behind him. Jon, Gee, Andy and Pete. The girl was all over Ryan. Kissing his neck as they walked and touching his stomach. And Ryan was loving it.

Patrick glanced over at Brendon, who was watching even more intently than he was. The hurt look on his face was enough to make a mute scream and cry. He guessed that's how you told your friend he'd fallen in love with a complete asshole.
**********

Ryan woke up to loud sounds coming from his kitchen. He glanced at his phone for the time and almost flipped his lid when he realized it was only 7:45 in the fucking morning. What demon child was up this early on a Saturday morning?

He slipped out of the bed. Not even bothering to put clothes on. There was a guy standing in his kitchen. One he knew he wouldn't recognize, even though his back was to him. Ryan cleared his throat and the boy spun around, blushing. Aw, what a cute little twink.

"Who are you?" Better to get to the point than small talk.

"I'm Josh." He laughed. "You invited me over last night."

Dirty memories popped into Ryan's head. Reminding him of everything that took place last night. The party, the pills and then sex at the front door. Everything went blank after that. Holy shit, cocaine was a hell of a drug!

"Okay. Why are you still here?"

"Excuse me?"

"You've done your job. You can leave now."

"What do you think I am, man?" He glared. "Some cheap hookup who just sneaks away in the middle of the night?"

"Well yes and no. Yes, to you being a cheap hookup. I gave you a fifteen dollar pill and you let me fuck you. And no to you leaving in the middle of the night because." Ryan gestured to him in annoyance. "You're still here. Talking instead of leaving."

"How dare you?" He stepped closer. "I should really kick your ass."

"But do you really want the ass kicking that would come to you after?" Andy walked into the kitchen.

Ryan sighed. "How are you always here when I need you?"

"Get going." Andy ignored Ryan. He stalked into the kitchen. Grabbing the boy by his arm and dragging him to the front door. Past Pete, Jon and Gee who were all standing there in shocked amusement.

"I don't have any pants on." Josh whined as he was tossed out the door.

"Don't worry. It's boxers weather. " He slammed the door.

"You're life saver." Ryan smiled.

"Pure stroke of luck on your part. If Jon hadn't suggested stopping by on the way to campus, he would have totally kicked your ass."

"You've really got to stop talking to people like that." Jon told him."

"Yeah." Gee agreed. "No amount of makeup would have fixed what he wanted to put your face through."

"Why are you all here? To remind me I'm not a black belt?"

"You don't need to be a black belt. You've got one in your closet worth nine hundred dollars." Pete slapped his bare shoulder. "Now go put it on. And some pants and a shirt. We have to get going. There's a test today and I'm pretty sure you get kicked off campus for walking around naked."

"Whatever." Ryan walked towards his bedroom. So it wasn't Saturday?!

"Oh! And there's someone sitting on your car."

Ryan's ears perked. "Is it Brendon?"

"No. Some redhead. Did you want it to be Brendon?"

"D-cup?" Ryan asked from the room. Pete sighed when his friend ignored his question.

"Double D." Andy called back.

"Let her in."
**********

"Ryan just posted another Instagram video." Joe handed Brendon his phone.

The five of them had been sitting in Brendon and Patrick's dorm all night. Joe, Spencer, Brendon, Patrick and Pete. Playing video games and watching Brendon mope around. Patrick was supposed to go out with Pete but he canceled on him to be with Brendon. Pete showed up at their door ten minutes ago anyway. Saying he was content with staying in as long as he was with Patrick.

Brendon was punishing himself the entire night. Stalking Ryan's Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. Watching him post pictures of himself with other girls and boys all night. Videos of him kissing pills into people's mouths and licking alcohol from bellybuttons. And the worst part was that he looked stunning doing all of it.

Fuck him! Fuck him for not even considering how all of this would make Brendon feel. And fuck him for completely forgetting he even existed.

He glanced down at the phone in his hand. Not even wanting to see what it was about. But he didn't have a choice. The video was playing on the screen. Showing Ryan in his house. He was jumping up and down on his couch. The couch they'd been in when the argument started. He looked like he was having the time of his life. Brendon didn't bother to press the video and hear the sound.

"He didn't completely forget about you, you know." Pete mumbled.

Patrick elbowed him. Shaking his head to tell Pete to shut up. But it was too late. The stable doors were open and the horses were out.

"What do you mean?" Brendon asked.

"He mentioned you this morning. Only for a brief second, but still. That's big for Ryan."

"Don't give him false hope." Spencer warned.

"Yeah." Joe said through a mouthful of gummy worms. "Ross is Ross."

"I think he misses you. Even if it's only a little."

That's all Brendon needed to hear. He looked at the video again and placed the phone down. "I'm going to that party."

"Brendon-"

He lifted his keys. "Don't try to stop me Patrick."

"Pete was probably joking. Weren't you joking Pete?"

"No." Patrick kicked him. "Ouch!"

"I'll tell you guys how it went." Brendon closed the door quietly behind him.

"Why would you do that?" He punched Pete in the arm. "Why would you send my friend in there to get his heart broken down again by Ryan Asshole Ross?"

"Because he's not going to get his heart broken." Pete shrugged. "I know Ryan better than Ryan. Him even mentioning Brendon's name is a sign of something huge."

"Like what?" Spencer rolled his eyes.

"Like him missing him. But Ryan doesn't know how to express that. So he's acting out."

"He's acting like himself."

"Exactly." Pete smiled.

"That makes zero sense." Patrick stood up. "Get your keys. We're getting my best friend before he makes a fool of himself."