Chapter Text
Brando walked his bike at the top of his driveway, Wil was stopped in the middle of the road with his hand out, paused and still.
His eyes looking at him intently, exchanging the few words about Brans soccer ball. A nice thank you from Bran and a wave.
Wils figure was down the road, shadow disappearing from sight.
Brans hair was still slightly damp, his flannel draped over him loosely hanging on.
He set his bike right by his door and continued to walk in, his mom lay asleep on their couch.
Bran didn’t mind, he walked towards the kitchen to see what they were eating.
Just then, Ms. De Backer woke up.
“Oh sorry sweetie, today was quite busy and I was kinda tired-“ “it’s fine mom” “okay Bran but there’s just rice and some mandarins for dinner”
Brando quickly nodded and headed upstairs
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The first floor was very open; stairs in the back left corner, kitchen on the right side of the back wall five feet away from the door. The right wall held a small TV with a small worn couch, opposite of that had a wobbly wooden rectangular table and chairs.
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The stairs creaked every other step, making each one not very discrete.
His younger sister might hear him, though she should’ve already been asleep-
“Brando!!!” Caroline shouted, running into Brans arms catching him by surprise.
“Woah woah, slow down line’ you shocked me. And you shouldn’t even be up. It’s past your bedtime” Bran said, casually scooting his feet to the right so he wouldn’t be hanging over the stairs.
They quickly hugged but Bran slightly pressed Caroline for an answer
“I guess I should be asleep but I heard you! And I wanted to say hi” she replied
“It’s sweet but you should be in bed. Did you at least have some food?”
“Yes and I really liked it, mommy found some baby oranges in the kitchen and we had some!”
“Okay but I need to drop some things off in my room and then I’ll put you to bed”
“Okay Bran…”
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The upstairs was set up in this way: master bedroom directly in front of the stairs with a bathroom connected to it in the back right corner. Ms. De Backer slept there.
Brando and Caroline shared the bathroom that was right next to the stairs. Lines’ room being next to the bathroom in the corner with Brans on the right of hers.
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In Brans room, he had his bed and night stand uin the left back corner. His dresser and cabinets on the right wall. He usually kept shoes on the left front wall.
Bran slipped his shoes off and pulled his flannel off, setting it on his bed and walking back out.
Caroline was more reluctant to go back to bed, only for her brother she’d go though
Bran sat on the edge of her bed and talked about his day to Caroline, she replied with hers.
She very much enjoyed the cartoon Ducktales before dinner.
Bran walked out with a small goodnight, “goodnight Brando” Caroline said.
“I hope she wasn’t lonely today” Bran thought to himself while retrieving back down the stairs for some food.
Bran grabbed a small bowl, filled it with rice and ate it at the counter. He also peeled a mandarin to pair with it.
After he finished his meal he retreated back upstairs, hoping to take a hot shower before his mom asked him a question
“What’d you do with your friends today?” She asked from the couch, turned around and looking at him.
“Went to the creek with Wil, we also just did some random stuff” Brando replied
“Like what?”
“Not much really if you want to hear anything exciting, like we talked, rode bikes, I showed him some moves with my soccer ball”
“Believe me that anything else is exciting when I’ve spent all day in a musky swimming pool area- did you already bring your soccer ball upstairs?”
“I actually forgot it at Wils by accident, he’s gonna bring it over tomorrow though. It’s fine, its cool nothing to be bothered by”
“Mmm”
Ms. De Backer sighed a heavy sigh as Bran walked away. Exhaustion got to her after the end of each day no matter her what her work involved.
Bran let his face rest as he walked up, his day was exciting enough and that wasn’t the cause of his troubles. Senior year is tomorrow, a great big change.
He peeked through a window, darkness covered the outside.
Bran grabbed a new pair of boxers and an old white tee from his bedroom
Bran was able to quickly and quietly shower, dry off, and change to not wake Caroline
By now it was 10 pm, and Bran was drowsy from his sleep schedule being completely fucked and an unusual amount of weight on him.
Bran had to step in to care for Caroline whenever as his mom worked her butt off to keep them stable. It was always enough with small lows rarely.
Caroline was pretty independent usually, just lonely. Lonely after most of her interaction were through her babysitters.
With no father figure it’s harder for a new 2nd grader to be busy.
“I need to stop thinking negatively” thought Bran, though it was a good idea.
He got into bed, shoved his flannel onto the floor, probably where half his closet was, and covered himself in sheets.
“Ugh it’s getting hot” thought Bran, he moved his sheets away from his face and got up to open his window.
He pried it open slightly to let a small breeze in, the warm coolish feeling made his heart tingle. The breeze really getting in his damp hair and letting a sadish feeling seep in.
The feeling of emptiness, though Bran had much in his heart.
Suddenly, the phone on his nightstand rang and Bran being the person he is, picked it up:
“H-hello?”
He asked, shifting over to be sitting on his bed than on his knees by the window
“Is Brando De Backer there?” Said a soft anxious voice.
“Uh yeah”
“Oh great it’s you, I’m feeling so bored right now it’s suffocating”
“Wilson?”
“Yes this is he”
Bran chuckled slightly, “oh my god Wil”
Wil joined Bran in a slight laugh too
“Okay but is stressful that tomorrow is the start of senior year”
“You have your schedule right?”
“Yeah… uh d-do you”
“Yeah”
The line went slightly quiet*
“Were we really gone that long?” Asked Bran
“I-I guess so, when I got home the clock said like 9:20 or something”
“I’m tired”
“Me too… today was fun”
“Y-yeah it really was” said Bran, slowly smiling through the phone
“Oh so what exactly are you doing right now” asked Bran
“Uh actually nothing, I-i mean I was just thinking before I called you and then like called you and I’m laying in bed” Wil replied
“Thoughts about what?” Bran asked, twisting his finger around the cord at this point
“Just like random stuff, tomorrow and like thoughts?”
“Wow Wilson you’re being so mysterious” Bran said with slight sarcasm
Wilson audibly laughed slightly*
“I-i guess you’re right but it’s really hard being along most of the time”
“Aw that sucks, I get so scared and worried at the thought of of Caroline being lonely but even you would be bad”
“What do you mean Brando?”
The other side of the line went quiet…
Bran, looking for the words
“W-well like Caroline being lonely is something I’m scared of yaknow with like the divorce” -“hmm, yeah”- “okay ummm like you, my best friend I wouldn’t want you to be lonely. But it’s also weird cause the age difference and you’re not totally alone alone, you still have me. You got me sweating Wil while thinking of these words”
“Oh my god woops”
“No you’re fine”
“But as in ‘alone’ I feel it as in I’m bored out of my mind and yearning to talk to a person. But even just calling someone, someone else could be listening in…” Wil said
“And it’s also like; the only people on my street are old people, it’s in a nice way but there’s no actual teens our age”
“More to add too! They only leave their house when I’m not home. And then like my house just stares out into trees, just trees. And- oh fuck I keep saying and- okay but yeah it’s so fucking boring…”
Brando was melting at Wilson’s words, his crisp voice giving Bran warmth when he felt empty. Like they could telepathically find each other in times of need.
The summer air shot Bran back to his senses and attention on his best friend’s voice after zoning out.
“Sometimes I hear fireworks on holidays from the people behind me, so you ever?” Wil said
“Uhh I don’t think so? But I also fall asleep early on those days” Bran replied
“Yaknow…”
“Yes”
“Youve been asking the questions-“ “uh huh” “and I’ve been doing all the talking-“ “okay” “- so let’s switch! You yap and I ask the questions”
“Sure, that’s good with me Wil”
“Okay so first: what were you doing before I called you”
“Um well for starters Caroline woke up and u had to say goodnight to her and stuff. Then I did the regular stuff like eating, showering, uh and then it got so hot and I opened up my window and that’s when you called me”
“You seem pretty basic ‘Bran the Man’”
Wilson and Brando suddenly burst into laughter. “O-okay but who’s to say people don’t call me that?”
“Mmm, maybe me?”
“Okay now we can switch the subject- ask me another question Wil”
“Great! Yeah so; what are you doing right now?”
“Sitting on the edge of my bed, you’re so simple Wilson”
“Ha ha ha, you’re so funny Bran”
“Wil…”
“Yes” said Wil with a grin
“Do you have any other nicknames?”
“Geez I don’t think I do, it’s just Wil”
“But anyways I’m the person who asks the questions, and you’re the one who answers them”
“M’kay Wil, but I’m gonna make a nickname for you this school year”
“Whatever sporto, then what is your favorite…”
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Over time and conversation; their voices blended, creating a smooth talking session of random thoughts. Anything on their mind went through the phone.
As the clock hit 11:15, with all thoughts drained and slow stupid questions continuing the call.
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“Mmm what about this:” said Wil
“I’m listening” said Bran, laying on his stomach on his bed
“What time do you think it is, I’m gonna find out the same moment as you too”
“Oo god that’s a little hard, I’ll say 10:35?”
“Let me grab my alarm clock” said Wil, he set the phone down and Bran could hear the sounds of clutter as Wil searched his nightstand for it
“Okay here it is… the time is:
11:15?!? No way, my mom should be getting home soon since today is a later shift”
“Oh god, I-I’m guessing this is where we say goodnight?”
“Yeah… uh goodnight Brando De Backer” said Wil
“Goodnight Wilson West”
Click*