Birthdaypresent(s) [Broshler]

Twenty four + two

April 14th

"It feels so... weird." Josh shrugged as he grabbed his carkeys. It was monday now and he had to go back to school, for at least a few more weeks. He would soon be graduated if everything worked out, but leaving from Brendon's - or well now his home too - was strange. Everything felt strange.

It got even more weird when he arrived at school, he was quite early, passing by the offices to get to het first class, when his mentor saw him walk by and called him back. An unnerving feeling crept up his chest, he'd never been called back, why suddenly now.

"Is there a problem, Mr. Morgan?"
"Please come in Josh, there's something I need to talk to you about."
Josh sighed as he walked into the office and sat down. Okay. This was it. The next thing. He couldn't help but wonder what his parents had come up with, how hard they were really going to make it for him.
"I have gotten some... disturbing news Joshua, I hope you could fill me in a little more."
"What's the news, sir?"
"For some reason your parents stopped all funding to your education, even demanded a partial refund. Which means from this exact day you would officially not be able to go to school anymore."
Josh swallowed hard. They really did that? They stopped paying for his school, even demanded a refund for the few weeks left.
"S-so I can't finish my last year? I can't believe they did that.." He hid his face behind his hands, leaning on his elbows.

"Well, thats why I want to talk to you. This has never happened before, and we have a hard time understanding this because you have always been a good student and-."
"They kicked me out, Mr. Morgan. They want nothing to do with me anymore."
Mr. Morgan looked at him, astounded.
"Excuse me?"
"How much do I have to pay to finish school? I mean, i'll try to get the money somewhere? Get another job? So I can graduate, I don't want to drop out, sir. I really dont."

Mr. Morgan cleared his throath, shussing Josh to stop rambling. "Josh. Why would they kick you out?"
Josh sighed. There really was no reason to hide it any longer, since his parents obviously found out anyway.
"You know my parents, right?" Mr. Morgan nodded. His parents were a known 'thing' in their community. Their work was controversial, so pretty much everyone from town knew about the Dun's. "Alright well, they figured out i'm dating a guy. I think."
"Oh. You're gay?"
"Well, i'm dating a guy. And they must've figured that out because I found all my clothes and things stuffed into suitcases and trashbags on the side of the road yesterday. They changed the locks, phonenumbers. I no longer excist."
Mr. Morgan rubbed his eyes. "You're serious? My god, Josh, i'm so sorry. That is horrible."
Josh hummed, shrugging because he didnt really know what to feel.

"Alright, uhm, here's what we're going to do. You'll continue your classes, and I will have a talk with the principal, to see how we solve this problem, money-wise. If thats okay with you. And if you need any help, with anything, you come right to me and I will see what I can do okay?"
"Really?"
"Yes. This is extremely intolerant behaviour Josh, putting you're 19 year old son out on the street. Do you have a place to stay?"
Josh nodded, and mumbled a "my boyfriend."
"Okay. I'm sorry about this Josh, thank you for sharing. I'll get back to you if there are any developments."
"Thank you so much, sir. Thank you." Josh got back up, headed towards the door as the bells for the first class rang.
"Don't worry about school and funding Josh. I'll make sure that will be arranged. Be safe, alright? Otherwise let me know."

——

Josh
They cut off the funding for school. My mentor is trying to get it all arranged, but if it was to them they'd make me drop out 5 weeks before graduating.

Brendon
Goddamnit. Are you okay?

Josh
I dont know. I guess so. Mr. Morgan says he'll make sure I wont drop out, but I don't know yet.

Brendon
You will make it, Josh. If he doesn't fix it, I will.  Love you, see you when you get back home.

Josh
💓💓

——

Since they hadn't been able to get a new key for Josh yet, he rang the doorbell, waiting for Brendon to let him in. As soon as Brendon opened the door, Josh's smile dropped. There was something wrong. "What?" Josh asked, concern keeping up his veins, clouding his brain. "Jordan's here."

Josh hurried in, dropping his bag in the hallway, searching for his brother. "Jordan! Are you okay? What are you doing here?" His last sentence wasn't meant to be disapproving, he was just worried. Jordan being here was risky.

Jordan just launched forward, hugging his older brother tightly. "I'm okay, are you? I'm sorry for what happened." His voice was shaky, making Josh's emotions a mess. He had always tried to protect Jordan from everything, protect from whatever happened at the camp, protect from his parents, protect from everything horrible the world could give him. He only realized just now that the fact he was kicked out meant that he couldn't watch over Jordan anymore and a flash of guilt struck his nerves. "I'm so sorry I let you down", he whispered, hugging his brother tighter before letting go.

Jordan shook his head. "Don't worry about me, I will be fine." They both sat down, Brendon coming in the room and somehow feeling too much, like an intruder in a world he couldn't understand. "I'm just going t-." He started, thinking of a fake excuse to leave the brothers alone. "No, please", Josh reached out for him, and Brendon hesitantly sat down across from him, holding Josh's hand uncomfortably.

"What happened?" Josh questioned a little while later, gathering the courage to hear Jordans answer to that question.
"Dad saw you. And Brendon."
"When?"
"Saturday. Right here. You two were... y'know. Kissing."
"Oh", Josh groaned, gazing at Brendon, who's cheeks were pink and eyes sad. Josh squeezed his hand, shaking his head when Brendon mouthed an "i'm sorry". 

"I got home about 10 minutes after dad got home. He passed by here after he visited someone for business, and he was frantic. He... he threw your stuff around your room, pushing it into bags as a maniac. When he stormed downstairs to get garbagebags I quickly put in your laptop and stuff, I couldn't think straight and.. and when he got back I tried to stop him, but he..." Jordan swallowed hesitantly, only making Josh's concerns skyrocketing. "He what?!" He gulped.
"He grabbed me by my arm, and locked me in my bedroom for more than a day."
Silence.
"Without my phone or anything so I couldn't warn you. And then.. I heard you. Sunday. I'm so sorry you had to go through that Josh, and I yelled for you but you couldn't hear me."
Josh nearly crushed Brendon's hand, as if it was the only thing pulling him down, two feet on the ground instead of floating on rage.

"Don't worry about me Josh, really. Mom and dad are acting as if nothing happened, as if..."
Josh nodded. Already knowing what Jordan meant. It was exactly as he had always imagined it to go. Sad part was that he always thought he wouldnt be hurt. That he wouldnt care, because he hated his parents anyway. But apparently, now it was real, it wasn't like that. It did hurt. It hurt like hell, having the two people who should love you the most, unconditionally, just dump you that easily. And it wasn't like he just killed someone? No all he did was fall in love.
It hurt like hell, like a knife in his back, with his hands and feet already tied.
"As if i never excisted", he finished Jordans sentence, his brother too ashamed to do it himself. The younger nodded.

After a few minutes of trying to calm down, let it all sink in, Josh sighed. "Alright, so they kicked me out, changed the locks, you all got new phonenumbers? They stopped paying for school... anything else? Or are they planning on anything else?"
Jordan looked from Josh to Brendon, sighing in defeat. "I'm not sure. But... they're secretly  trying to figure everything out about you too, Brendon."
The one mentioned looked startled, gaze questioningly directed at Josh.
"Fuck." Josh shook his head. "I won't ever let them get to you Bren. Whatever they're thinking of." He held Brendon's hand against his chest.

"Just.. be careful, alright?" Jordan questioned when he was about to leave. "You too brother.. please. And get out of there as soon as you can." Jordan nodded, hugging his brother once more, and shaking Brendon's hand. "You're alright, Brendon", he smiled. "I'm sorry you got dragged into this crazy family." The oldest carefully opened the door, checking if the street was empty. Noticing it was, Jordan sneaked out after giving Josh a new phonenumber.