Brotherhood.

19.

**Urie's Pov.**

"So he just flew in on his magic carpet, declared he was still in love with you and expected you to just up and drop the idea of seeing Ryder?" Chloe was sipping her milk in the cafeteria with an arched brow.
I picked at my carrots.
"It sounds romantic in a way but I honestly want to see where it goes with Ryder, I mean I didn't tell Nathan to come back here, I let him go and moved on." I told her as she made a face.
"Oh!" She clapped her hands.
"You know what you should do?"
"Tell Nathan I'm going to keep seeing Ryder?" I arched a brow.
Her expression fell into an annoyed one.
"Well when you say it like that-"

"Are you guys talking about the Nathan situation?" Alex and Mateo joined us and Alex's eyes were locked on me already.
"Yes and I think Urie should let Nathan go and focus on someone like Ryder, he seems like a nice guy-"
"Despite trying to get in your pants." Mateo teased as my face grew warm.
"He's forward-"
"Way too forward." Mateo ripped open his lays bag taking out a few of the BBQ chips and eating them.
"He's also pretty handsy, do your brothers know he has no problem being touchy feely?" Mateo questioned munching on the chips and making a mess in the process.

I looked at the other.
"No the last thing I need to deal with is Jackson, Jason or Lawson putting me on lock down, I think they already heard us over the phone-"
"Yo yo yo, tmi." Mateo made a face and I arched a brow.
"You're gay, Mat."
"Your point?"
"What do you think will happen once you finally start seeing a guy? You'll get flirty with him too." I pointed out.
"Well I definitely won't talk about it out loud with my friends." He finger gunned me as my face grew warm.

"Any way." Chloe grinned at me.
"Even though he's back in town after being gone for almost two months? I think you should still keep seeing Ryder, especially if you like him." She looked at me smiling.
"I mean he may not be the one you've had a crush on since you guys moved here and your big brother brought him over, but the highlight of this is the fact, you're two years apart and not eight." She told me.
"Plus! He seems to be okay with the idea of you being open about dating if you two did get serious." She added.

"She's right." Alex agreed taking a bite of his grilled cheese looking at me.
"I think if you two did start dating it'd do you a lot of good not to mention, Lawson might sleep at night knowing his best friend isn't dating his younger brother." He grinned as I rolled my eyes with a smirk.
"Yeah okay I see where you guys are getting at." I got up with my tray as Chloe arched a brow.
"Where are you going? It's still lunch." She looked at me and I blinked.

"Oh right, I told Mrs.Turner I'd come to her class during lunch to earn some extra credit to get my grades up." I told them.
"Gross what a nerd." Mateo grinned.
I fought back the urge to flip him off simply because the teachers who monitored the cafeteria were present and I didn't need them chewing me out or in worse cases.
Calling home.
I just ignored his comment and headed out of the cafeteria.

"I think it's a great thing that you're wanting to up your grades, Urie." Mrs.Turner smiled at me at her desk.
"Not a lot of kids care at this point they just think if they make it, cool." She shrugged and I swear I loved her at times due to the fact she acted like a teenager most of the time.
"Well when I graduate and hopefully go to a good college, I want my teachers to know I'm serious about not failing." I told her.
She blinked before her eyes widened.
"Oh right." 

She opened a drawer rummaging through it before pulling out an envelope.
"You actually got an invite to a university." She handed it to me as my eyes grew wide.
"I did?" I opened it without thinking and read over it.

"Long Beach University?" I read out loud as she smiled softly.
"They're a great school, Urie. I think you'd enjoy it and wouldn't have an issue fitting in there once you officially enrolled and got settled-"
"But I still have two more years before universities should even be considering sending out invites-"
"You're a smart kid, I'm sure that's why they're wanting you. And it's like you said, you have two more years, this isn't an official invite it's just a suggestion for the future for you." She explained looking at me.
I held the letter in my hands reading over it.
"It just feels unreal.. I never thought.."
"That a school would be interested in you? Dear you have potential." She smiled at me.
I looked at her then at the letter before folding it and placing it in my bag.
"Thank you, I'm going to head out and get ready for the next class." I walked out and everything felt off.

I wasn't even sure why a school would start sending invites so early in the year, it was just the beginning of May and I still had a while before I even thought about what college I wanted to go to.
I knew Long Beach University was for the privileged and well mannered and I honestly don't know if I'd fit in at a school like that.
I didn't want to turn into a stuck up over their grades.

"There you are."
I paused turning to Ryder who came up to me at the lockers and without warning.
His lips were pressing to mine.
I felt squeamish but happy at the same time.
But also insanely confused.
"You were looking for me?" I smiled.
Ryder blinked but he smirked softly.
"Of course, I went to the cafeteria to see if you wanted to have lunch together, but then I found out you already ate and were somewhere being a nerd? Or at least that was in your friends words, not mine." He grinned.

I rolled my eyes opening my locker.
"That's Mateo for you but yeah, I was talking to Mrs.Turner about extra credit and then she told me this university was already scouting students and I turned out to be one of them." I frowned and Ryder made a face.
"Isn't that a good thing though? I mean you got scouted Urie, not a lot of sophomores can brag about something like that-"
"But I don't want to brag about it." I frowned at him.
"I don't even know if Long Beach is somewhere I'd want to go after I graduated from Riverside, I mean sure knowing some university is after me is an honor and it's a nice feeling, but that's also ten hours from here and I don't want to leave anyone behind, especially if it's far from home." I frowned deeply.

Ryder looked at me then leaned against the lockers with crossed arms.
"I think you should just get through your junior and some of your senior year before you make a decision, when you're a senior you may change your mind over the idea of distance. I mean your three older brothers are bound to move out soon right? And then Rhys will follow behind, sure you'll still have Devin, but what if you two start distancing yourselves?" He looked at me and my stomach twisted.
"Good news just suddenly turned into bad news, I feel like I'm going to be sick." I covered my mouth and ran to the bathroom.

Why did this have to ruin my day?

When I got home the last thing I wanted was to talk about my day.
But I knew uncle and he was bound to tie me down and make me talk.
He was weird about school. 
And I wasn't exactly sure why?
He went to school, mom went to school.
So I didn't understand why he was hung up over the subject.
Maybe he wanted to be a teacher or something..
Or maybe he got bullied?
..
Nah.
He'd kick some major ass if anyone tried to bully him.
Gay or not.
He was pretty well built and always hit the gym after church.
Just to come home and eat a small pint of ice cream as his reward.
He was pretty weird.

I dropped my bags on the bed and took a seat with a frustrated sigh.
This shouldn't be bothering me like how it is.
But it is!
 Why did Mrs.Turner give me that letter?
Did she purposely want to distract me so my grades would slip?
..
No.
She isn't that type of person either.
She's really kind and there for her students.
I just wish she didn't give it to me.
Because now I was stumped on what to do for college.

I didn't even want to look into my choices until the end of my junior year so I knew where I'd be going afterwards.
But here I was.
With a university invite.
Biting my lip.
I groaned laying back on the bed with my forearm covering my eyes.
"This sucks." I said out loud.

"What sucks?"
I sat up to find Jason there against the doorway of my room, Jackson peering over his shoulder with a slushy in hand.
I blinked but looked through my bag before offering the envelope to the two oldest.
Jason made a face walking in taking it before reopening it.
Both of their eyes scanned over the letter then looked at me confused.

"Aren't you a sophomore?" Jason frowned.
"I am, but Mrs.Turner pretty much justified that it was normal for a university to start sending out invites, even though I still have two years." I frowned at them.
Jackson snatched the letter from the other reading over it again.
"But why is Long Beach interested in you? I mean sure you hold promise and you're smart, but why? That's a school for only the best and nothing but uptight rich kids attend there bragging about how much they're loaded and how they have no issue spending their mommies or daddies money." He looked disgusted holding the letter before shoving it back into Jason's hands.

"You don't have to go there, you know?" Jason smirked at me as I blinked.
"But it's an invite-"
"Exactly, just because you're invited to go to a college like that, does not mean you're being pressured or forced to go. There are different colleges all over this area that will be lucky to have you, and if you play your cards right with your classes and grades, you'll be getting more invites from all across. Long Beach is just the  one of many, so don't let something like this drag you down. You're free to go to whatever college you want." He told me.

"He's actually right." Jackson looked to us with an arched brow.
"Long Beach is a prestigious school and honestly little bro?" He came up to me.
"I don't think prestigious suits you." He told me.

"Just like using big words doesn't suit you." I covered my mouth to fight back the laugh that tried to come out.
Lawson stood there smirking as Jackson glared.
"Oh screw you guys I can use big words if I want too,  I did graduate high school you know." He argued.
"We all did." Lawson looked to me.
"And I happened to overhear your conversation about a invite to as Jackson called it, a prestigious school." He came into the room and looked over the letter that Jason handed him.

"You know what you do with a letter like this?" He asked.
I arched a brow but my eyes grew wide seeing him ripping it in half.
"You throw it away because you're a sophomore and if those guys are desperate to have you, they'll just keep sending out more invites until you cave. This letter is just the start so don't overthink anything about it." He told me tossing it in the trash.

I looked at the other as Lawson looked at the time on his watch.
"So I won't be home when it's time to eat, I have to take Quinn to the doctor to see about a check up on the baby, and then we volunteered to pick up groceries, so please don't kill each other while we're gone." He told us.
We glanced to each other then back to him.
"I think we're long past wanting to kill each other." I shrugged.
Jason smirked as his eyes met Lawson's.
"I'll make sure to hold down the fort while you're gone." He told him.

Lawson nodded looking to us then back to me.
"Did you have homework?" He asked heading to the door.
"Fixing to work on it now actually." I got my books out of my bag as he nodded and walked out talking to Jackson about something.
Jason looked to me before walking out himself.

I opened up the history book with a soft sigh.
Well now that Lawson and the twins settled that issue.
I still had the other one.
What was I going to do about Nathan?

"So there's something I just realized." Devin began at the dinner table.
Uncle was missing in action once again.
"What's that?" Rhys looked up from his salad looking at the blond who glanced to Jackson.

"Jackie is the only brother who isn't dating someone, or well seeing someone." He pointed out.
Jason paused from taking a sip of his tea looking to Jackson as well who seemed irritated that this subject was even brought up.
"Because I don't care to see anyone right now? It doesn't bother me being single." He frowned.
Devin made a face.
"But I mean you've never dated like ever! Doesn't that get lonely-"
"Devin." Jackson looked up smirking.
"If I ever decide to get with someone, you'll be the last to know." He got up and Jason frowned.
"Jackson, come on-"
"I've lost my appetite." He told us before leaving the room.

Devin frowned softly.
"I wasn't trying to upset him-"
"We know." Jason said tightly rubbing the side of his neck.
"Jackson is just being his usual asshole self about things, don't worry about it. Just finish up eating, do your homework and then do whatever else you want until it's time for bed. I'm going to go check on him." He told us taking both of their plates and bringing them into the kitchen to be washed later.

"Does anyone else think those two are being close here lately?" Rhys looked at us watching Jason leave.
"Close how?" Devin frowned at him as my brows knitted.
"You're not meaning-"
"I am." Rhys said tightly.
"I mean we're brothers but-"
"There's no way." I looked at him frowning.
"For starters Jackson told us he was straight and secondly, that's his twin-"
"I get that trust me." Rhys laced his fingers frowning at me.
"I've just gotten to the point I watch those two because they've been acting weird around each other lately, and yeah Jason is supposedly seeing Briar, but what if he isn't?" He looked at us frowning deeply.

"Are..Are we supposed to support that..?" Devin looked uncomfortable.
"Well most people don't and I don't think we should either but.." Rhys hesitated on his words before running a hand through his hair.
"Honestly? I could just be over thinking it so don't go around seeing those two differently, it could just be the lack of sleep I've been getting." He rubbed his eyes and I frowned softly.
"Why haven't you been sleeping?" I questioned.
He only shrugged.
"Maybe it's because Madison has gotten clingy here lately, or maybe it's the fact I'm still trying to get over the fact we watched our old man kill an innocent guy in cold blood." He frowned deeply.

I nibbled my lip nervously looking to Devin who blinked but then frowned deeply.
"Right." He said tightly before getting up.
"Well, let's clean up the kitchen before uncle gets home, I'm suddenly tired and don't want to be up much longer." He walked out of the dining room and Rhys just sat there looking away partially angry.

"Why did you say that? You know Andy died trying to guard Devin-"
"It slipped, like I said. I'm tired." Rhys hissed getting up now and cleaning his side off before storming out of the room.
I ran a hand through my hair sighing softly.
"Well shit."

I walked down the hall after cleaning up the kitchen, I was ready for a shower after today.
I noticed Jason's door was still wide open with the light off.
Was he still in Jackson's room?
I made a face not wanting my curiosity to get the best of me.
There was no way they were like that..
Were they?
What would Lawson or uncle say?
Would they be so grossed out they'd kick them both out?

I stood in front of Jackson's door and could feel my heart pounding hard against my chest.
I went to knock to only jump back in surprise when the door opened to reveal Jason there.
He looked confused.
"Urie?"
I blinked looking back at him.
"Oh hey.." I felt awkward as he arched a brow.
"Were you needing to talk to Jackson?"

"I'm fixing to sleep so fuck off!" He shouted from his bed.
I bit my lip as Jason smirked softly.
"Can it wait until tomorrow?" He suggested.
I looked at him before nodding.
"Yeah no it can wait, I actually forgot what I even wanted to ask him in the first place." I rubbed my neck feeling awkward.
He only made a dace in response.
"Oh? Then I guess it wasn't important." He told me.
"I guess not." I agreed before walking toward's my room.

"Hey, Urie?" I turned to Jason who looked bothered about something.
His eyes fell on me and I could see the question in his eyes that he wanted to ask.
He hesitated before looking at me.
"You'd come to me if our brothers started talking about me, right?" He questioned.
I felt confused for a moment but I nodded looking at him with a soft smile.
"You know I would, I'm terrible at keeping secrets." I shrugged walking into my room before closing the door and letting out a soft but shaky sigh.

What was Jason keeping from us that could lead to unwanted drama?
I bit my thumbnail thinking.
It couldn't be that.
There was no way they were like that.
..
Were they?