Tripping Down 12 Steps Into Malibu

Missing

Mandatory outside time.

What kind of complete and utter juvenile bullshit was that? Why would he want to go outside and interact with a bunch of drug addicts? What the hell were they supposed to do? Jump rope? Hop scotch? Play duck duck goose?

Or were they supposed to be making life long friends? They all only had one thing in common. Their love for drugs. Is that what they wanted them to discuss? Was that supposed to make it all go away? Because as Ryan sat on this picnic bench under the shade of the cork tree, he wanted nothing more than to light up his pipe. These people made him miss his drugs. This is why he'd refused to come outside since he was admitted. But today he had to for some dumb reason.

"Hey."

He didn't have to lift his head up from the table to know his roommate decided to join him. His voice was so annoyingly distinctive. Maybe if he just ignored him he'd leave him alone.

"Ryan, are you napping?"

Ignore him, Ryan. He would go away eventually. All he had to do was keep his eyes closed and his head down.

"Hey, Brendon." Another voice called out. Ryan could feel the table move as the other man, whoever he was, sat down with them.

"Hey, Pete."

"This is my Patrick."

The table moved again as yet another person sat down. Great! They were going to have a fucking party at the table while he was trying to get alone time.

"Nice to meet you."

"Is this your Ryan?"

His Ryan? As if.

"Yeah." Yeah? "Well he's not mine exactly. But he- uh I- remember I told you about Dallon? Yeah, Dallon's mine. Ryan he uh- he isn't. Isn't mine, I mean. Like he's my roommate but not my Ryan."

"Brendon." He was cut off and Ryan would be forever grateful for that. "I understood what you meant. It's okay."

"Is he asleep?" Came a voice Ryan hadn't heard yet. Must have been the Patrick guy.

"I think so."

"Shouldn't we leave him alone? Maybe go somewhere else?"

At least someone had common courtesy. Please let them go somewhere else.

"No it's okay. He's been like this for a while. He probably can't even hear us."

"Oh, okay." There was an awkward silence around the table. Ryan wanted to lift his head up and make sure they weren't talking about him. Secretly mouthing words at each other. "I'm going to finish my card game with the guys."

"I'll go with you." Ryan felt rather than heard the two men get up. "See you later, Brendon."

Brendon didn't verbally respond. Ryan assumed he'd just waved or something. Now all he had to do was wait for Brendon to finally go away.

It took Ryan about ten minutes to realize that wasn't going to happen. Brendon stayed by his side the entire time. Quietly humming to himself. Singing a few parts of songs out loud randomly. Ryan hated to admit it, but he had a nice voice. It was strangely relaxing. He found himself seriously on the brink of sleep.

"Ryan." He heard his name being whispered just as he was dosing off into his dreamland. When he didn't respond, Brendon gently shook his shoulder. "It's time to go in."