FEVERISH [RYDEN] [REPOST]

HOODED HALLWAYS AND SPOTLIGHT SENSUALITY

"Alright, kid. Let's go."

Pete grabbed his bag off the kitchen table before tossing a piece of paper at Brendon's head.

"God, kid! Don't be nervous. It's just a release party!"

Brendon fidgeted with his tie before stealing a glance to Pete.

"But he'll be there."

"Yeah, no shit! He's your guitarist!"

At this, Pete kicked his door open in a less-than-gentlemanly attempt to hold it ajar for Brendon, who followed, fingers playing over the dog tag he had yet to remove.

"But he's-"

"Gonna be as conflicted as you are?"

Brendon let out what could only be explained as a long, drawn-out teenager eye-roll before shuffling after him.

Stuffy hotels and gay love affairs.

All wrapped out into one.

Great.

-!-

-!-

-!-

They entered the hotel together for the release party, Pete exchanging a slight nod with Ryan as they entered.

He had a girl on his arm, a platinum blonde.

Brendon bit his lip.

There were smiles and pats on the back, and, though it was hard in a twenty-person room tops, Brendon and Ryan ignored each other.

Ryan tried not to.

Brendon did.

No matter how many times Ryan tried to talk to him, he had snaked through the crowd, away for another champagne-glass click and faux laugh. There was an executive or two, and the man who helped record in Maryland.

There was a smile.

A laugh.

A nod.

"Yes, livejournal! Crazy, isn't it?"

"I'd love to do one with RockSound!"

"But of course!"

And then, it was too overwhelming, and Brendon had to take a break.

He snuck down the back hallway, moving to get a breath of air out the back of the hotel.

Ryan, his eyes trained on his back, decided to follow, handing the girl on his arm his glass and excusing himself for the restroom.

"Brendon! Brendon, stop ignoring me!"

Brendon paused, his hand on the door handle, ready to flee.

He sighed.

"Who is she, Ryan?" He asked, resignation sewn into his voice and glued to his lips. He removed his hand from the cold metal and turned towards the elder boy, exhaustion on his eyebrows and aging his cheeks.

"What?"

"The girl. What's her name?"

This was a standoff, a duel in an eighties-carpet hotel hall, the door bolting them in.

"Jac."

"Just Jac?"

"Vanek. Jac Vanek."

Brendon paused, watching the incomprehensible emotion flicker over Ryan's eyes.