brendon had shown up at the tracks about fifteen minutes early than the scheduled time, which was noon, thinking of what to say to ryan to cover up why he had kissed him. part of him was telling him that ryan was okay with it since he kissed back, but the other part of him was saying that ryan was ready to murder him. 

"just tell him you were drunk," brendon muttered to himself. he raked his hands through his hair and stood on the edges of the tracks. he walked repeatedly over the tracks, pacing and going over excuses. 

he wasn't paying attention and  the only thing that brought him back to reality was the sound of the train whistle blowing in the distance. he quickly stepped off the tracks and went over to the cut tree stump. he settled himself down on it and rested his elbows on his knees, and his head in his hands. 

he placed his phone on the small bit of remaining tree, and it immediately vibrated. he picked it up and looked to see who the message was from. ryan.

from: ryro !!!: not feeling well )': gonna stay home today. make sure the group knows i didn't die

he let out a sigh of relief. he could delay his feelings for a few more days. he checked the time and, realizing he was probably going to be there alone for another few minutes, he unlocked his phone and began to blast blink-182 while waiting for his friends.

while reckless abandon was playing, he lay across the tree stump with the phone on his chest. he whistled along to the tune as melanie and ashley emerged from the forest. "morning, gays!" brendon shouted. 

"i didn't recognize you without ryan on your arm," ashley smirked. brendon ignored ashley's snarky remark and threw a pebble at her. "no, but for real, where's ryan?" 

"said he wasn't feeling well, he stayed home, wants you guys to know he didn't die," brendon replied, pausing the song. 

"so, since ryan's not here," melanie started, running over to brendon and taking a seat atop a rock, "spill the beans. did you guys do it or not?"

brendon sat up, "we did not, i did not put my thing in his thing."

"sure you didn't," ashley laughed, "but you like him," ashley sang, dragging out the m. 

brendon laughed, "yeah, i know," 

"he admitted to it, ryden is real!" ashley shouted, cupping her hands around her mouth and shouting, "ryden is real!" 

brendon rolled his eyes, "i kissed him last night, he didn't say anything about it, he probably hates me and that's why he's not here."

"do you not have eyes, you dumbass!" ashley screamed, "have you never seen how you look at him or how he looks at you? he looks at you like you're a piece of art in a museum and you look at him like he's the most perfect think you've ever fucking seen! brendon, goddammit, if you don't admit to him that you have feelings for him, you're going to die!"

"why is he going to die?" melanie shouted.

"i read it on tumblr once, believe me, i know what i'm doing!"

brendon thought ashley's idea would work, so he pulled out his phone and opened up messenger. he began to type. 

"listen, brendon," ashley started, taking his phone out of his hands, "don't go for anything sappy or romantic, just be straight- or, in your case, pansexual- about it. you know what? no. be a little sappy or romantic about it"

brendon nodded and took his phone back.

"also, maybe don't tell him you have feelings for him, just tell him you think he's gorgeous or something," melanie started, "you guys have only known each other for like, i don't know, a week and a half? he might think it's creepy.

"listen!" brendon said, laughing, "i know what i'm doing!" he began to type.

to: ryro !!!: you are the most perfect thing in any room, and i really hope you know that