Broken - A Ryden fanfic

Chatpter eleven- Sweating to a Dance Song

There's nothing more bittersweet than watching your old friend prepare to go on stage for your old band.

Could he really call it his "old band" though? The only person that was still here after all this time was Brendon. Though knowing him, Brendon could've been a one man band from the very beginning and he'd still treat it all the same. He was incredibly passionate; it was something that Ryan envied to some extent. He was passionate, and he had the energy of at least ten people.

Ryan stood by idly as he watched the four of them do a sound check in preparation for their show. There wasn't a lot else he could do to help. After all, he wasn't even supposed to be there in the first place. Sure he /could/ make conversation with Brendon, but he felt bad for distracting him every time he did.

Once everything was ready for them to go out on stage, the four of them got together in a lounge-like area. At a table by the wall Ryan could see all different kinds of snacks and beverages. He had gone to this table a couple times for snacks while he was waiting around for them to get ready, but he didn't stop to realize just how much food was here. How he hadn't noticed that before baffled him.

Brendon made his way to the table and grabbed four shot glasses and a bottle of liquor. It was a "pre-stage ritual," according to Brendon.

"You want any, Ry?" He had asked, his hand hovering over a fifth shot glass.

"Pass."

Brendon gave a nonchalant shrug and moved to a small table in the center of a couch and couple chairs. The band stood around the table, all looking almost as excited as Brendon was for this. Almost.

Brendon gave his friends each a glass and filling each one with liquor. Once each was filled, he held up his own. "You all look great, I love you guys a lot, and I know that tonight's gonna be a great show. Let's fuckin' do this!"

The four of them let out a cheer before downing their shots.

Ryan leaned against a wall by the door that lead out to the stage. It was nice to see their excitement, but he couldn't help but feel like he was out of place. He let his attention wander a bit as they talked, beginning to wonder if being here was really worth it.

He looked back and the band had already left the room to head out on stage, leaving him and Brendon alone.

Brendon moved to him and smiled. "I'm glad you can be here. I.. we've come so far with the band since you left. I can't wait to show you just how good I've gotten."

Ryan couldn't help but grin. He took a step forward and put a hand on his friend's shoulder. "I know you'll do great. I feel like I don't even have to wish you good luck, that's how much faith I have in you." He pulled his friend into a hug. "So knock 'em dead, loser."

"You know I will. Loser." Brendon chuckled. He broke apart from the embrace when he heard someone behind them clear their throat.

Ryan turned to see a man standing behind them. He couldn't place it right away, but something about him looked familiar..

"Hey Zack- Ryan, you remember Zack right?" Brendon asked, moving to stand next to the man, "he was one of the bodyguards during our first tour. Now he's our manager!"

"Now that you mention it, I do." Ryan nodded. Zack was either the first one to scold you for doing something wrong or the first to join in on the fun, and there was no in between. "God, it's been a while, huh?"

Zack looked flabbergasted to see Ryan here. He stared at him in utter disbelief for a moment or two before finally speaking. "How.. how did you- and why are you-?"