The Only Difference Between Love and Envy is Press Coverage

Same Old Perspective

The best way to get over someone is to get under someone else. That's what was going to be Ryan's philosophy from now on. He wasn't sure if it was going to work. But he was damn sure going to try. Brendon was gone for good. And no matter how much he missed him, he wasn't going to be coming back. There was no need to sit around and mope about it. Anybody could cry a river. There was nothing wrong with that. As long as you remembered to also build your bridge and get over it.

And Ryan was in the building bridge mood. He was the Ryan Ross after all. He could have any girl or boy on this campus. He'd had his fun experience with relationships but now it was back to being the person he was best at being.

Which was why he was throwing a Rossmania party tonight. He couldn't remember the last time he'd done that. Everything was set up. Music. Food. Drinks. Party favors. T-shirts. And sluts. This was his welcome back party into the single life and he wasn't going to let it be a dull one.

He also couldn't look dull for the party. Which was why he was with Pete in his usual salon. They sat beside each other as the women worked on their nails. Pete was saying something but Ryan wasn't really paying attention. Probably because he was high out of his fucking mind. He couldn't even remember everything he took today. He did a line when he'd first woken up this morning. He smoked with Gee around lunch time. He couldn't remember if he'd popped a pill before he picked Pete up or if he'd wanted to do it after. Either way, he was mellowed the hell out.

"Are you even listening, dude?" Pete snapped.

"Ye-ah." Ryan smiled.

"You're high out of your mind right now."

"I'm so high." Ryan admitted. Laughing at himself a little.

"You want color?" The woman asked him.

"Why would I want to color? I'm not even supposed to be moving my hands." Ryan rolled his eyes at the idiocy of the lady.

"She's asking if you want a color on your nails, you fucking idiot." Pete told him.

"Oh right." He laughed at himself again. Shaking his head in a weak attempt to clear some of the fog clouding it. "Yeah. I want a mint color."

"You need to slow down, Ryan. You're going to land yourself in the hospital or something." Something being death. But Pete didn't even like to think that, much less say it out loud.

"I'm fine dude. Trust me."

Even if that wasn't true right now, it would be soon. Ryan Ross didn't stay upset for long. Especially not over some guy. He was going to party like it was his last night to live. He was going to get so wasted that he wouldn't even remember Brendon's fucking name. And then things would be back to normal.

*********

Ryan was back to feeling like his old self. In the middle of a party surrounded by people who worshipped the ground he walked on. This was the life he was meant to live. The music was blasting so loud that he could barely hear the boys whispering dirty things into his ears. There was so much smoke filling the house that Ryan couldn't take in a deep breath without getting a little more high. He'd been dancing on the table for so long that his feet were starting to hurt.

But his plan was working. The harder he partied, the more he forgot. The happier he was.

"You want to take this upstairs?" One of the boys who'd been dancing around him for the last fifteen minutes asked.

"Take what upstairs?" Ryan laughed. Looking at the boy with disinterest. He was no where near good enough to get alone time with him. It was bold and stupid for him to even ask.