Lay in the Atmosphere (Brendon Urie) Wattys 2017

NINE

"Brendon, honey?! Is that you? I've been waiting for hours it feels-"

Down from that same set of steps I had ran down nights previous, a beautiful, silver haired woman strolled. Her hair was in fine pin up curls and she wore an apron, a stuffed ball full of pins in her hand, and a pin in her mouth, as if she had already been working on something.

"Mother, Amelia, Amelia, this is Lisa."

"Brendon, please. Amelia is it? You can call me Momma Lisa." She laughs, taking my hand in hers.

Her hand shake was hard, her grasp firm, she was a powerful woman and I could already tell. I immediately liked her, and I had to give her props for putting up with a son like Brendon.

"Well? Let's see the dress!" She laughs wildly into the halls, her voice booming an echo.

She was astonishing. I looked over to Brendon who also stared in bewilderment at his mom, the admiration pouring through. He was a mommas boy, and part of me wanted to point it out at this very moment but I thought it would be best until we were alone. But whoever said I'd want to be alone with him ever again?

"Come on, lovely." His mother gestured, wrapping an arm around my shoulder, standing on her tip toes to reach me.

I laughed and turned my head around to Brendon who simply just shrugged as his mother pushed me up the steps.

"Go on, darling, I won't look." She says, covering her eyes.

Lisa had a large smile on her face as she waited, the pin in her mouth being twirled with her tongue.

"I just know you're going to look astonishing in that dress. Brendon chose his best for you. It's my personal favorite of the new line, too. You're also a very lovely girl. I'm glad to see someone like you with him."

I didn't want to correct her, the smile, her anxious, bouncing knees, she was so ready for something good to happen to her son, and I didn't want to disappoint her.

"Someone like me?" I laugh a bit.

I wasn't truly sure what that meant.

"You know. Brendon never brings women around. The only ones I've ever met have either been leaving or haven't had their clothes on-"

He did that shit in front of his mother?

"All blondes, busty, using him- I- I'm very old, Amelia. I know a good girl from a bad one. And you- you're too sweet for Brendon. And that makes me so, internally happy."

His mom was a little weird, but she was such a sweetheart. I wanted nothing more than to make her wish come true and for the time being, I could. I didn't even care about the money anymore.

I zipped up my dress and walked toward Lisa, lacing my fingers over her hands and pulling them away from her eyes.

"He's nothing I can't handle, Momma Lisa." I smile warmly, noticing a tear in her eye.

"Darling, you look wonderful. The top just needs a bit of an adjustment. Oh... goodness I'm a mess..." She sniffles, wiping a tear from her eye.

"Thank you."

"No, dear, thank you. He finally seems... ready."

"Ready?" I raise a brow at her, her eyes brightening at my question.

"Never mind that dear, let's get this dress fitted."

His mother was skilled, her long fingers pinching at the fabric of the gown, pins between her teeth and a long strand of hair in her eyes as she worked every small, intricate detail, not letting a single thing phase her.

"Oh! Dear! I didn't poke you, did I?!" She asked worriedly, causing me to giggle a bit.

"No at all." I push my hair off of my collar bone and over my shoulders as she made her way toward the middle of my chest.

"What a sight." I hear from the doorway, causing me to jump slightly.

"Dammit, Brendon! Don't scare the piss out of the poor girl! I could've jabbed my eye out!" His mother scolds, causing me to smile.

"Couldn't help myself." Brendon smiles, walking toward us.

"Well, you better help yourself, young man. This woman is a keeper."

"You've known her for thirty minutes mom."

"Mother knows best, dear."

Brendon rolls his eyes at his mother.

I loved this. Everything about this. This wasn't a scheme, this wasn't some weird game anymore, this was Brendon being genuine, and I was loving every second of it. His mother quipping back and forth like it was second nature, as if everything else in the world was non existent, including me. He was being himself, and I adored this version of the millionaire.

"Oh, shoot! Brendon, honey? Hold this piece of-"

"Mom, I'd rather-"

"Brendon Boyd Urie." She said sternly, causing me to blush.

He walked over to me and took the fabric at my hips into his fingers in replacement of his mothers.

"I'll be right back, it'll be a flash, I promise! I just need a black pinned needle otherwise I won't find the damn thing! White is a tricky mistress." She nods, rushing out of Brendon's room.

It was dead silent, neither of us speaking, only breathing. It was.. awkward, where his hand was, how close we were, in all reality, given better circumstances and maybe a better person, I'd be kissing him.

"She... uh... really likes you." Brendon's face went red.

Brendon Urie was blushing... because of me. I could tell he was nervous. Had I scared him earlier? I was sort of harsh when we made this whole arrangement.

"She's wonderful, Brendon."

I glance down at him, Brendon finally looking up at me.

His smile was larger than I had ever seen it, and his eyes wider than I could've ever imagined. Like a little boy on Christmas morning.

"I'm really happy you like her-"

"Brendon?"

"Amelia." He says softly, his grip on my dress not nearly as stiff.

"I... don't want you to pay me for this."

"We had a deal, Amelia."

"I know, but-"

"Please don't back out of this, you said you'd accompany-"

"Brendon, I know, but-"

"God dammit, Amelia- no buts."

"Brendon-"

"Amelia!"

There's the stubborn Brendon I know and somewhat... adore.

"Brendon! Shut the hell up! I want to go with you! WANT! As in you don't need to pay me to come! Because I want to come!"

Brendon quickly looks down again.

"O-oh."

"Oh?" I laugh in disbelief of his response.

"I just, after last weekend...."

"Don't even bring it up. I said don't pay me, that doesn't mean I magically like you but... I do really like your mom."

"Oh..." Brendon sounding a bit disappointed.

Part of me really wanted to believe all of this was real. This Brendon, this side of him, his sweet generosity, his tender mannerisms, but only time could tell and only a couple hours just wasn't enough for me...

I wasn't going to let myself dive in so quickly. Not with this womanizing playboy. It was going to take a lot more than a cute play date with mom. A hell of a lot more. If he even wanted anything remotely close to what I wanted. I saw a future here, and I was sort of foolish to even think of the possibility. Someone like him with someone like me. It was... laughable.