Since When Did You Become a Romantic?

Chapter 16: Opening Night

4:00pm: Frank and Gerard have been running around the theater trying to get everything together for the play. Everyone who was suppose to help seems distracted. Mikey keeps calling Hayley because of the Braxton-Hicks. Pete is trying to paint the last bit of scenery before the show. Patrick is trying to explain the play to the French exchange students. Brendon is keeping Ryan out of theater because he still thinks they are putting on Hamlet.

"I can't, I really can't leave," Mikey tries to explain into the phone in the choir room. "Can't you just call Lindsey?"

"Fuck no! She's a toxic bitch," Hayley may be over reacting.

He sighs and watches some of the students try to put on each other's mic packs, which involves a lot of crashing noises. "How experienced are you with theater?"

"Michael, what are you asking me to do?"

"Okay hear me out, since I can't come to you, why don't you come to me?"

"That's a horrible idea, you fucking idiot," she says in monotone.

Mikey forgot how bitter she is now she's just extra bitter. "Buddy.... Pal... Amigo... Muchacho.... you can sit in the choir room and just help kids put on makeup and stuff."

Hayley sighs too loud for it to be real. "Fine. But if this child is born at the theater I'm going to kill you."

"Don't worry. It's just braxton-hicks and you're only what three days late? I've gone without drinking water longer."

She has to collect herself after hearing that comment. "I hope you're smarter than you sound."

---

Brendon is trying his hardest to keep Ryan out of the theater but it's not working very well. If he knows anything about Ryan, it's that he is nosey and a theater hoe; these two things are going to bite.

"Let's go see a movie!" Brendon says excitedly in the doorway of Ryan's classroom.

"I already told you I want to help with the play," he reminds while packing up his bag.

Brendon sighs. "No one wants to actually do that lame shit," he thinks for a moment, "We should go to dinner!"

Though dinner with Brendon does seem appealing to Ryan. "Sorry," he slings his bag over his shoulder. "Close but no cigar.

Brendon blocks the doorway. "Come on please!" he pleads.

Ryan tries to scoot past but Brendon moves wherever he goes. "You're actually a three year old," Ryan rolls his eyes.

"What can I do to make you stay?"

That phrase was suppose to be innocent but it came out sadder. It makes Ryan feel like a bad boyfriend or something. He leans in closer, "I'd rather kiss you than not help with the play," he half jokes.

"Well, fuck you," Brendon leans in and in the most dramatic way possible, he wraps his hands around Ryan's face. The kiss is hard and unnecessary. Ryan pulls away first, looking at him confused.

"You have a boyfriend," are the first words that escape his mouth.

"It's just a kiss," Brendon says with his hands still clutching him and face so close Ryan can feel his breath.

"Yeah, just a kiss."

Brendon leans in and presses another kiss. "And this is just a second kiss." This is probably cruel that he is doing this when he feels nothing for Ryan but he'd do anything to help out the Ways. The moment is weird and confusing for Ryan. He feels a weight in his chest that tells him he shouldn't do this and Brendon feels the same thing. Before long, he has convinced Ryan to go home with him, avoiding the play.