"Can't believe you didn't bring me something from your garden." Sean said in annoyance as the trio waited at his car. "But Trev gets a grapefruit?"

"Trev didn't piss on my fruit roots." Ryan pointed out, squinting from the sun. "You should have eaten before you left the house."

"What are you, my mom?" he asked her in disbelief.

Ryan scoffed. "You wish."

"Freedom!" a voice yelled, the trio looking up as Brandon grinned when the gate unlocked.

"There he is." Sean held his phone up to video it. Trevor and Ryan lit up as he ran toward the red jeep.

"Welcome back, bitch!" Trevor called to him.

"You get a prison husband while you were in there?" Ryan asked with a questionable look. "I heard it's common."

"I didn't know you pussies would be here." he giggled, jogging their way.

"Yeah, man. It's time to celebrate." Sean said as he accepted his hug.

"Got you something." Ryan grinned as she hugged him tightly, a minor rock in their hug. Him and Trevor hugged after she pulled back, reaching into the jeep and yanking a small green ball out. "It's a baby watermelon!"

"You grew me a baby watermelon?" Brandon gushed, taking it from her hold. "Aw, Ry. It's so cute."

"You are such a girl." Trevor rolled his eyes with a smile on his face.

"So, you survived?" Sean hummed.

"Yup." he exhaled, it was clear he'd been tired.

"Barley." Trevor nodded to his black eye and busted lip. "What happened to your face?"

"Two weeks without me, and you forgot how pretty I am. Pricks." Brandon hummed with a cheeky grin.

"Oh, come on. We didn't forget that face." Ryan grabbed his chin, examining the eye. "Jesus, you got it good."

"She's on a mom roll today." Sean hummed.

"Brandon!" his dad called from the other car in the lot, making all four of them look back.

Brandon sighed. "You guys here I got expelled?"

"Oh, damn." Trevor winced.

"Sorry, man." Sean shook his head.

"Well, either prison or too many detention, bound to happen one way or another." Ryan hummed with a joking grin. "We can get you back in though, right?"

"Now!" his dad yelled out.

"Yes, sir!" Brandon yelled, holding his hand up to make a salute. "Yeah, he's sending me to the army recruiter, so nice knowing you guys."

Trevor and Ryan shared a look as Brandon began to walk away. Sean caught his arm. "Hey, we need to talk. Tonight."

"Yeah, I know." he hummed.

"I'll pick you up!" Ryan called as he walked off. "Enjoy your baby watermelon!"

Brandon turned around, holding it above his head. "You're the freaking best, Ry!"

"I'm so shocked you didn't wreck my car." Ryan hummed, in the backseat after Brandon begged her to drive. They ended up in a parking lot a little past the bridge. Trevor lit a joint in his mouth before turning back to Ryan as she leaned forward, getting a lit. Brandon choked slightly on the smoke, making the pair crack a grin.

"It's good to have you back, B." Trevor grinned his way.

Ryan leaned on one of the seats to be between the two, her eyes heavy. "You missed Trevor nearly having a heart attack when I put one of his movies in the wrong place."

"You know I have them in-" he started.

"Alphabetical order." Brandon and Ryan said on sync, laughing at Trevor's offended look.

"Yo!" Sean hit the open window, making Trevor jump as head ducked down.

"Damn it!" he giggled to himself, Ryan moved over some, now leaning on Brandon's seat so Sean could get in. Her hand reached around the farthest side, touching his hair slightly as he sent her a little grin.

"I totally got y'all." Sean pulled the door shut. "Yo, motherclucker, dude, you seriously suck so much ass. You know that?"

"What?" Brandon looked back at him, Ryan's hand slipped from the side of his head.

"I'm sick of all this shut you're making me do." Sean exhaled, rubbing his sweaty face from the mask.

"Did you talk to Zoe?" Brandon gave a pleading look.

"No." he said in return. "And why are you making me wear this stupid mask anyway?"

"Because if Zoe sees you, she'll think you're on her side." Brandon looked back at him, Trevor flicked his lighter in his hand.

"That's chick is terrifying." Ryan confirmed, reaching over to pull Trevor's ear so he'd engage in their conversation again. "She's got a vampire thing going on."

"Look, if you guys want out, that's fine." Brandon spoke up to look between them trio.

"No. We have your back, man." Trevor shook his head with an odd look.

"Yeah, I stained my fingers for you. No going back now." Ryan hummed, giving a comforting smile his way.

"Yeah." Sean agreed, looking down at his phone. "You guys talked to Hailey at all?"

The trio shook their heads as Sean sighed. "Yeah, i've been texting her, she just hasn't been responding."

"It think it's cute, Sean." Ryan spoke up with a hum. "Hailey should be lucky you're so into her. Most people don't get that kinda treatment."

"Lover-boy here plans to catch Hawk with Ali." Trevor spoke, inhaling the joint and passing it back to Brandon. "You know, Ali from camp? In order to win Hailey back."

"I saw 'em together at Padres Diner." Sean confirmed. "Think if I followed her, she'd lead me to him."

"Went from cute too creepy in a matter of two inhales." Ryan shook her head.

"Well, if you get any videos of them hooking up, just make sure you send them to me. I'm running out of ideas for the spank bank." Brandon hummed, passing the joint back to Ryan as her and Trevor laughed.

Sean shook his head with a chuckle. "Dude, whatever floats your boat, man."

"So, what did the two of you to while I was gone?" Brandon looked to Trevor. back at Ryan. "Watch any movies without me?"

"Just the same ones we've already seen." Ryan exhaled. "Trevor won't let me love on him infront of his new sister."

"Oh my god, are you still on this?" he turned back at her.

"Brandon, if you had a new step sister, would you want to make her think you were too tough for some love?" Ryan tapped Brandon in the side of the head.

"From you?" he looked back, getting a nod. "Never."

"Thank you!" Ryan announced.

"Okay, but, he's a girl." Trevor defended himself.

"No, it's probably because my dad never likes to give me affection." Brandon joked. "And the whole absent mom scenario."

Ryan reached around to rub his hand while Trevor did the same to his hand.

"Told you, on a mom roll." Sean confirmed.

•

kylie speaks

smh i can just feel the
comfort ryan has now
that she's got both of
them.