Pretty Odd (A Ryden fic)

New People

Brendon POV

I was talking to my friend Brent about his 'new friends' who wanted to start a band with us. At first I was skeptical, honestly who wouldn't be, but I caved in and agreed to meet them. He had told me their names were Ryan and Spencer, and they were pretty odd, but then again so were we. Brent parks the car at the strange house across town. He informs me that this was Spencer's house. I nervously smile at Brent, him being the only friend I still had in high school. I follow him to the door and wait as he knocks. The door opens and a man with longish brown hair appears. He hugs Brent, and turns to me introducing himself as Spencer. I politely smile and tell him I'm Brendon. He invites us in, and I follow them to the basement where an in home studio was set up. Another guy was sitting at the computer, going through some of the audio programs on there. He turns around and I can't see his face well because most of the lights were off. He introduces himself as Ryan and goes back to working on the computer. I stand next to him and see a notepad with what I assumed were lyrics on it. I pick it up and read over the lyrics, finding a beat. Ryan looks over and sings the melody for me. I excuse myself and run back up to the car to grab my guitar. I return and find the other three jamming out to Blink 182, I quickly set up my guitar and join in. I find a moment when Ryan has the guitar part down, so I peck out a small counter melody I made up on a piano.

"Brendon can you play piano? That was amazing." Ryan smiles.

"Yeah, I can play a lot of other instruments too. Brent says I'm a virtuoso, but I don't really believe him."

"Brendon a virtuoso is just a person that's really good at a lot of instruments AKA you." Brent argues. We go back to playing some more Blink before Ryan has to leave. Brent takes me home, and tells me several times that Ryan and Spencer love me as a new bandmate. He drops me off before handing me a slip of paper. "That's the address for our rehearsal space, at Spencer's house. Meet us there Tuesday at 2." He backs out of my driveway, and I'm left standing alone. I walk into my house and lay down- happy that I have cool people to get away from reality with, and just play music.
~~~~~

I finally find Spencer's house after ten minutes of driving in circles, and park in his driveway. Before I had a chance to knock, Ryan opens the door.

"Oh, Brendon you're here early. I was just running to the store before practice. Wanna come with?" His voice was smooth and had a hint of an accent that I couldn't place. It went well with his face, now fully visible in the light. Needless to say, he was very pretty, for a dude. Remembering he was talking to me, I nod and follow him to the car. He drives to a nearby Wal-Mart, following him in I grab a few bags of chips and a thing of salsa for later. He grabs all he needs and picks the register with the shortest line available. While waiting he asks me about what kind of music I listen to. We end up discussing The Beatles and Frank Sinatra for 20 minutes, before Spencer calls on our way home interrupting us. Ryan talks to him on the phone up until he pulls into the driveway. I follow him back into the house where Brent and Spencer were set up in the living room. I quickly set up my guitar and amp while Ryan does his guitar and mic. I start randomly strumming on the guitar and the rest of the guys start playing behind me. My thoughts wander off to Ryan. I snap out of my thoughts when Brent starts smacking my arm.

"Brendon? Are you okay? You've been staring off into space for a while dude." Brent asks seeming genuinely worried.

"Bren? Here's a glass of milk. Help clear your head." Ryan hands me the glass, and I quickly drink it. I stare into his eyes until he breaks eye contact with me and takes the empty glass back to the kitchen. Shit I just weirded him out, what is going on with me? Do I like Ryan as more than a friend? No I'm straight, and I'm going to keep it that way.

"I just got dizzy, I'll be fine. I'm gonna go home now." I say before walking out the door, leaving my guitar and amp behind. I pace back and forth talking to myself about Ryan. I can't like Ryan, its against everything I've stood for, but then again he is very feminine looking. Maybe its not my fault for liking him, maybe it's his for being so pretty. What am I talking about Ryan's a guy, I'm a guy. It just can't work. But what if it can? No stop thinking like that Brendon. I stop thinking aloud when there's a knock at my door. "Come in, its unlocked." I yell. Hopefully its nobody super important that can't see me in this state. Brent opens the door.