New Perspective -Ryden-

Straight As A Circle

Friday came quickly and I was confident that Brendon and I were prepared to preform the song.

Parts of me wanted to cringe as I looked around the room at all the pairs of fresh faces, ready to give it all to their performance.

I looked over at Brendon. He was wearing a black button-down top with grey skinnies and converse. He looked really good. Compared to me, anyway. I was wearing a Pokémon t-shirt and some black skinnies I found in my closet this morning. I bit my lip half-consciously and nudged Brendon's arm.

He looked over at me and smiled. I smiled back, quickly remembering what I was going to say. "Do I look to..." I looked myself over. "Casual?"

Brendon smiled widely and shook his head at the ground. He grabbed his backpack from the back of his chair. "I had a feeling you would forget."

"What is that supposed to mean?" I leaned onto the table and watched Brendon dig through the black-hole that he called his backpack.

He made a small noise that sounded close to an 'aha' and shoved a dark grey pile of fabric at me. "What's this?" I asked.

"It's a shirt." Brendon pointed at a large door in the corner of the gigantic theatre room. "Now go change."

I nodded and walked over to the door, stepping in and locking it quickly.

The room I was in was small. It held a rack with tons of multi-colored costumes on it. In the middle of the room alone side a long-ish wall, a vanity with boxes and bags of assorted stage makeup. On the other side of the room was a full-length mirror. Due to lack of a better place to put it, in the corner was a small table with a box on it full of every colored bow-tie I could think of. They were all the strap on kind though, because apparently nobody in this damned school knows how to tie a tie.

I flattened the shirt and set it on the back of a vanity chair. I pulled my t-shirt over my head and tossed it onto a separate chair.

I looked myself over in the mirror, studying the figure staring back at me.

Honestly, what did Brendon see in me? I was a muddy stick with a bad haircut.

I had no muscles what-so-ever, my arms were like thin lines that hung down to my waist, my legs were long and lanky, and all-in-all, I saw nothing attractive about my reflection.

I sighed and picked up the shirt. I held it close to my body and looked at it. It smelled like Brendon.

I quickly pulled the shirt on and flattened it to my body.

I looked myself over in the mirror, checking in different poses.

Something was missing...

My eyes wandered over to the box of bow-ties in the corner and I found myself being drawn to it.

I was genuinely surprised at all the colors and patterns I found. I picked up a bright green silky textured one and held it against my grey shirt.

I like this.

I quickly strapped it on and went back to find one for Brendon. I decided on getting him a red, silky textured one.

I picked it up, grabbed my shirt and walked out of the dressing room. Brendon raised an eyebrow at me as I approached him, smiling widely.

"Nice tie, it really brings the outfit together." Brendon smiled.

I nodded. "Doesn't it though?"

He stared at me.

"That's why I got you one too!" I grinned and flung the tie around Brendon's neck, clasping it and tucking it under his collar. "Amazing."

"Uh," Brendon looked at me, wide eyed. "Thanks. I feel completely violated."