Mr. B. Urie

11

After a few movies all cuddled up on the couch with Brendon, my phone starts to ring. I check the wall clock, it's already 3:30, maybe it's Taya.

But as I look at my phone I see the word 'Dad' on the screen. "Hey, dad," I say, feigning nonchalance when I'm actually nervous about why he's calling. If he calls me while he's away, it's usually later in the evening.

"Hey, I got a call from the school saying you weren't in today, everything okay?" Shit. Shit shit shit! I forgot to call in to say I was 'sick'.

"Oh, yeah, I'm sorry. I wasn't feeling good this morning so I decided to stay home. Guess I forgot to call in." I throw in a cough for good measure, and I can practically see my dad shaking his head.

"Don't forget next time, okay?" He sighs. "I can come home early if you want-"

"No!" I say too quickly. Dammit, what am I supposed to say to cover that? "I mean, no. Dad, you have enough to worry about. You'll be home in what, two weeks? I'll see you then, okay? I love you." I say, hoping he won't argue.

"You're right, I'll see you when I'm home. Love you too. Bye," he hangs up and I turn to Brendon, letting out a dramatic sigh of relief.

"So," he says, pulling me into his lap and wrapping his arms around my stomach. "We have two weeks to pretend we live together. Why don't we have a special dinner? I hope you like pancakes!" He kisses my neck and pushes me off of himself, jumping up and running to the kitchen.

"Um, I love pancakes!" I reply, following him, and laughing. I bask in his enthusiasm, it makes me want to be just as spontaneous and childlike as him. I wonder how he can be a teacher, how he can act like an adult when he is so obviously a ten year old stuck in a twenty two-year-old's body.

*****

I've invited Brendon to stay at my house for a night, mostly because I really want to sleep in my own bed. I have to get back into the feel of things before my dad gets home in the next couple of days. He never told me the specific day, but usually it's a Friday night. Today is the Wednesday before he is supposed to be home. Plus, I secretly roped Brendon into helping me clean up the house, because I can't possibly do it all myself. Normally I get Taya to help, so she's probably grateful to get a break.

"Hey, you should park in the garage so that people don't ask about the random car in the driveway," I say to Brendon as we finish cleaning. It's about 6:30, and aside from our little fifteen-minute makeout break, we've been cleaning nonstop for hours.

"Alright, I'll do that. You call the pizza place." He smiles, grabbing his keys off the table and kissing my cheek before walking out the door.

I dial Pizza Pizza and wait for someone to pick up. By the time Brendon is back, there's finally an answer, "Pizza Pizza, what can I get you?" A chipper man's voice says.

"An extra-large pizza with bacon, pepperoni and sausage, please." Brendon's eyes light up at the names of so many meats. I almost laugh, but that would be rude to the pizza dude.

"Alright! Can I get your name, address and phone number?" He asks. I can hear him clicking his pen in the background and smile.

"Ariella Alvos, 157 Cedar Brooks drive, check the caller ID." He laughs at this and then I tell him my number because I'm not actually a bitch, I just like to act like one.

"Thirty minutes or your pizza is free," he says, hanging up the phone. Brendon raises an eyebrow at me and I mimic his expression.

"You are quite the character," he chuckles, taking my phone and placing it on the coffee table. Then he squishes my face between his hands and kisses me. It's so easy to melt into him, and too soon I hear a knock on the door.

"The pizza's here," I say between kisses. I give him one last peck and quickly answer the door. When I open it, it's not the pizza man standing on my front steps, but Taya.

"Hey!" She smiles, walking past me into the house. I try to grab her arm, but miss. She successfully makes it to the living room, where I hear her cluck her tongue. Closing the door, I turn around to see her shaking her head at me in the most motherly way.

"What? We were just cleaning." I say, crossing my arms. Brendon is wearing the biggest smirk and, frankly, I want to smack it off his pretty little face.

"Cleaning? Without me?" Taya says, aghast, although I know she's happy she didn't have to vacuum, dust or sweep anything.

"I figured you could use the break. Anyways, we just ordered an extra-large pizza, and I know that Brendon could probably finish it all by himself, but we could use help eating it."

"Hey!" Brendon shouts in mock offence, but he's grinning broadly.

"Really? I wouldn't be intruding on your 'cleaning'?" She asks with her hands on her hips. She adds pursed lips to complete the sarcastic effect.

"Nah, we finished a little while ago," Brendon answers, looking at me with pleading eyes. He wants me to send her home so that we can have our night alone, but it's been a while since Taya and I have talked. She needs to stay, otherwise I'm in for a stern talking to.

"Come on," I coax as the doorbell rings. "Hey, it's here. Now you have to stay." Taya sighs, but plops herself onto the couch with a smile.

"So, what have you two been up to for the past two weeks? You seem to be spending a lot of time together . . ." She addresses Brendon as I answer the door. I can just imagine the eyebrow waggle she gives him, and his laugh confirms my speculation. I grab the pizza and mentally prepare for the awkwardness of the next couple of hours. This is going to be a long night . . .