Everything You Are - Brendon Urie *completed* (part 2/3)

eighty-three: eyes like broken christmas lights

A/N: hey pals i know this update is long overdue and i know i have some explaining to do but trust me i'll do it all at the end, for now pls just enjoy this update thank u x

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It took them long enough, but my parents finally decided to sit down and talk to Jason and I about what was going to happen about the divorce. I was still angry, but I knew that avoiding them wasn't doing me any favors so with great reluctance, I sat through our typical family dinner and pretended to be happy like always. 

I sat picking at my mashed potatoes and let out a sigh, waiting for one of them to finally say something about this whole ordeal. Dinner had so far been painfully awkward with all of us, I was very aware of the fact that Jason got high just before coming to sit with us (not that I blame him) and my parents were both sitting rather stiffly, occasionally glancing over at each other, unsure who should say something first.

"Your father and I have decided it's best if we try not to think about anything too stressful until after the holiday season," my mother finally spoke up.

I glanced up at her from my food, expecting more but she looked over at my father. 

"It's going to be too rough on all of us if we try to figure out legal matters when we should be spending time together as a family," my father continued for her.

"Divorce," I said harshly. "Say it. That's what's happening, is it not?"

"Charlotte--" my mother sighed. 

"She's right," Jason said, taking a bite of his green beans. "No need trying to sugar coat it."

"The point is, we shouldn't be trying to figure out such complicated things when we should try to just be happy and get through the holiday season together, and we'll work everything out later," my mother continued, finishing with a bite from her roast beef. I didn't even try to mask the eye roll that followed her statement. 

It's not like pretending to be all happy and perfect is anything new for us anyways. 

I spent the days leading up to Christmas mostly in my room. I passed the time by wrapping gifts, painting when I needed a break, even picking up a book and reading it to keep my mind off of everything. I should have been mentally preparing myself but I wasn't focused on that. My mental health had had enough damage done recently, I didn't need to add to it. And Brendon's excitement for the holidays was starting to get a little contagious considering he suggested that we spend our post Christmas at his house instead of mine this year (which I was 100% okay with).

On Christmas Eve, I managed to escape my house since Brendon took me with him over to Dallon's house to bring him the gifts that we'd gotten for him. 

Brendon wrapped an arm around my waist as he knocked on the door of Dallon's house, waiting and was greeted by a smiling Dallon, wearing a Christmas sweater over a button up with the collar out, his glasses that he'd been wearing a lot more frequently resting crooked on his nose and his hair a bit messy. I could immediately catch a whiff of the cookies someone in his house was making, probably his mother, and he invited us in graciously.

"It's good to see the two of you together, back to being disgustingly cute," he said, leading us into the kitchen where his mother was moving a fresh batch of cookies from the cooling racks onto a platter. 

"Just in time for cookies!" she smiled at us. 

"Hello Mrs. Weekes, these cookies smell delicious," I smiled back at her. 

"Please, have one, or two or however many you want," she said, holding the platter out to us. I reached out and took a cookie, and they tasted just as amazing as they smelled.