On your knees // Bandom

39. Better Than Love

Taylor was lying on her brothers bed in a manner that can best be described as 'rich gay victorian gentleman'.

"So," she said authoritatively. "New years party?"
"I'd love one," Dallon replied honestly.
"Fantastic. Would people come?"
"Unless someone else is planning on hosting one, probably. Any excuse to get drunk."
"Y'all still in high school you should not be drinking regularly yet."
"You're just saying that because everyone at your school is posh and doesn't even know what drugs look like."
"Fuck you, Ashley knows whats up."
"He's your boyfriend?"
"Kind of? We're on and off. Currently off."
"Are you throwing this party to hook up with my friends?"
"You went to the last one to split people up you cannot talk." She accused.
"Fair enough."

Dallon: Taylors throwing a nye sesh anyone wanna come?
Gee: Taylor?
RyanS: his twin sister
Patrick: you have a twin?
Dallon: yeah, you in?
Brendon: sure

"Brendons coming. Everyone else'll follow suit."
"Great," she grinned at him. That big summer smile he'd spent his whole life trying to produce. As had everyone, really. She was impossible to refuse and she used it as a weapon.

His phone kept vibrating against his leg, confirmations that people actually wanted to come over, to count in the new year at his house. He was starting to feel part of things again, like people truly liked him. Maybe they did.

"Is Ryan coming?" Taylor asked.
"Ross or Seaman?"
She shrugged. "Which one did you date?"
"Seaman."
"Then him."
"I think so,"
"Do you want him to?"
"Yeah, I miss him."
"You're not getting him back, y'know. You need to get over him."
"I know," Dallon sighed. "Its just not fair."
"You were the one that cheated on him." She pointed out.
"I still miss him."
"You can't complain, though."
"I know."
"Whatever. We're going to throw a party and have fun and get tipsy together and hit on cute boys, okay?"
"Okay."
"Say it with feeling." She commanded.
"Okay!"

He smiled properly then, and their roles were momentarily reversed. Her wanting her brothers happiness back, because it was too rare by far. She got up off the bed and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his chest.

His smile reminded her of all the best parts of life: talking late into the night, pillow fighting; winter nights, curled up in warm clothes with warm drinks, summer vacations, visiting cities or walking through woods; he'd been there for every achievement, cheering her on with that wide smile.

"I love you," She murmured
"Where did that come from?" He asked, amused.
She stood up and ruffled his hair. "No reason."

~

"This is a horrible idea," Ryan groaned.
"Oh, so you remember monopoly?" Brendon was setting up the board.
"In painful detail."
"Great. I don't have to teach you the rules."

Brendon picked out a top hat and put it at the start.
"Makes sense," Ryan commented. "Since you belong in a circus."
"You're cute when you try and trash talk."

Ryan chose the dog.
"Your choice makes sense, too, since you're a little bitch."
"Is this going to end up in us breaking up?"
Brendon nodded. "That or fucking, depends who wins,"
"So you're a sore loser and will definitely break up with me if I win but if you win we'll fuck?"
Brendon changed the subject. "No buying on the first round, three doubles in a row you go to jail, cards money goes to free parking and if you land on it you collect it all?"
"Naturally. Im estate agent, you're banker."
"Of course."