Boarding School~Ryden

Nine

Hey, guys! I'm giving you a big fat apology as well as a big fat "you're welcome" in advance.

Also, 3rd Person Limited POV for this chapter, though it switches between the two.

This cute little edit that's up there ^ was made by @living_indigo

***
When Ryan reaches the dorm the next Friday, he hears muffled noises.

Sighing, he presses his ear to the door. He doesn't need to walk in on Brendon having sex or something equally as disturbing and/or arousing.

"Hey, Ryan. Look, I know this is sudden, but--fuck, no, that won't work!" Brendon's voice says, and Ryan frowns.

What?

"Ry, I know you don't feel the same, but you see... no, can't just dive in like that...." He says, and Ryan is biting at his lip, because, woah. This sounds like...

"I'm just going to say this. Ryan... I love you." Brendon's voice calls, and Ryan freezes. His stomach feels funny, and before he realizes it, he's opening the door and facing an astonished Brendon.

"You what?" He asks slowly, and Brendon blinks, gulping and staying silent. Ryan feels fury well up in his body. After all this time... it was this simple?

Brendon gulps, smiling awkwardly. "I love you, Ryan." He says, and despite everything, his tone is hopeful. Brendon has to have hope.

"You... you can't be fucking serious." Ryan says, his tone almost angry. Brendon blinks. Shit. He shouldn't have said anything.

"I'm sorry." Brendon says, although he's kind of annoyed now. Seriously, does Ryan think he can control his feelings?!

"You." Ryan starts, his voice getting caught in his throat. "You love me? Since when, Brendon?!"

Brendon sighs. It's time to confess his sins, so to speak.

"I don't know. But I always f-found you ridiculously attractive. The first day we met, I gave you a joint and took off my shirt. I thought it was obvious..."

"So?!" Ryan cries. "You're a fucking slut, Brendon. That's what sluts do."

Brendon freezes, closing his eyes. Images rush to the forefront of his mind, sickly and uplesant. He glances at Ryan, who is now smirking nastily.

He knows what he's doing. And it makes Brendon so, so angry.

"Fuck you, Ryan!" Brendon snaps, stepping forward and shoving Ryan, who presses his lips in a hard line.

"Oooh! Little fucking Brendon is stepping out of his bubble! He isn't crying, for once, or bitching about his fucking backwards hick parents!" Ryan mocks, grinning. Brendon feels anger bubble up in his chest, red hot and getting hotter.

"At least my dad isn't a junkie! At least my mom isn't dead! Maybe my parents suck, but I'm not unwanted."

Ryan looks shocked, looks hurt for a second, but the expression is replaced with rage. "You aren't wanted. You're here. They sent you back after Thanksgiving, didn't they?"

"Don't you dare mention Thanksgiving!" Brendon screams, fists balled. "Fuck you, Ryan Ross! I'm not a slut, I'm not a whore, and you are an asshole! You call me a slut and yet you fucking sleep with gutter trash Jac Vanek, you kiss me and practically gag for me at the dance and then--"

"What?" Ryan asks, blinking.

Brendon laughs bitterly. "Yeah, asshole. That 'girl' who stayed the night? Me. Except I didn't sleep with you, because--"