Tripping Down 12 Steps Into Malibu

TGIF

Brendon's gaze followed Ryan out of the door. Even after he was no longer visible, his eyes stayed glued in the direction he'd went.

He'd tried his best not to stare at him while he and the man he was with argued. It was always rude to stare. But Ryan was like a car accident. No matter how badly you wanted to look away, it was impossible. So Brendon stared as Ryan crashed.

"That guy's losing it, huh?" Dallon's soft voice grabbed Brendon's attention.

He only hesitated for a second before turning back to his table. "He's totally losing it."

"If he snaps like that, he's dangerous. You make sure to stay far far away from him."

"That's going to be kind of hard to do."

"Why?"

"Because he's my roommate." The words were muttered bitterly.

"He's your what?!"

"Roommate."

The look of pure horror on Dallon's face almost made Brendon laugh. Ryan was an asshole but he wasn't dangerous. At least not from what he'd seen. He was just an angry man on drugs. Like almost everyone else in this facility.

"He can not be your roommate." Dallon shook his head. "I refuse to let that be your roommate. I'm going to talk to Jesse."

"That's not necessary-"

"Do you want to room with him?"

"Well, no-"

"Then it's completely necessary." He snapped. Brendon flinched. Dallon signed. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay."

"I just don't want you to get hurt in here. I'm the one who made you come to this place. Do you have any idea how terrible I'd feel if something happened to you? Because of me?"

A childish blush crept up Brendon's cheeks. He stared down at the artificial wood of the table and nodded.

"Hey." Dallon reached over to lift his chin. He waited until Brendon's eyes met his. "You have no idea how I'd feel." His hand moved away from his face.

Brendon's gaze dropped again.

"Yeah I do." He said the words to the table. "Because it's the same way I'd feel if something happened to you."

"Broken?"

His eyes slowly slid up from the table's pattern to the beautiful design of  his boyfriend's eyes. That was the second time Dallon had almost made Brendon laugh. Almost. Broken? Yeah right. Broken wasn't so bad. Broken things could be fixed. Repaired to look new again. There was no way Brendon would be able to repair himself if something ever happened to take Dallon away from him. Being broken would be a gift. Brendon shook his head at Dallon's answer. No, not broken.

"Dead."

There was no coming back from death. Death was permanent. Death was forever.

"Oh, baby, come here." Dallon stood up from the table. His arms opening wide as an invitation for Brendon to come.

As soon as Brendon stood up, a shrill bell echoed throughout the crowded cafeteria. His already on edge body jerked at the sound. Dallon rushed to his side to wrap his arms around him. Brendon buried his face into his boyfriend's chest. Cursing himself for feeling so weak.

"That's a wrap for visiting hours." A female voice called out to them.

"Assholes." Dallon's arms tightened around him protectively. "You aren't children. You don't need school bells dismissing you."

"All visitors please exit to the door on the left." The woman instructed impatiently.

"I love you, okay?" Dallon whispered in his ear.

"Okay." Brendon nodded.

"I'm going to see you next week." But he didn't let go of him.

"Okay." Brendon could feel the tears behind his eyes. He didn't want Dallon to go. He didn't want to be here.

"Dream about me."

"You're the only thing I ever dream about." His voice broke on the last word.

"And stay as far away from your roommate as possible. I'm going to talk to Jesse today."

"Okay."

"Okay." Dallon's arms finally dropped to his sides. "Bye, baby."

"Bye, Dallon."