Chapter Text
Brendon opened his dry eyes sleepily, the sound of Radiohead coming from his phone. He clicked his phone on and checked the time. 6:11 am. Right on time, He thought. He kept the music playing softly as he laid in his bed, too sore to move. He hummed along with the song, enjoying the darkness of his room.
Once the song had ended, he reluctantly made his way out of his bed and to his bathroom. He used the bathroom and washed his hands, his joints aching dully. He studied his face in the mirror. His face was tired, his eyes seemed to be darker than they usually were. His face had 'talk to me and I'll kill you' written all over it. He shook the thoughts out of his head before opening the mirror cabinet, and taking out his various medications. He sniffled as he filled his small blue cup with water and took his pills. He sighed, wishing he could lay down again. He didn't want to have to go out today, he was in no mood to talk or interact with anyone, especially at school.
Brendon trotted down the stairs to the kitchen where he made himself a cup of coffee in his french press, enjoying the smell of the fresh brew filling the quiet, cold kitchen. He smiled as he made his way back to his room, sipping the coffee as he went to his bay window, sitting on the soft cushions. That's the thing he liked about having his room in the attic, he two giant windows facing east and west. He loved to watch the sunrises and the sunsets. Brendon sat in silence, watching the snow glisten as the sun creep out from behind a row of houses. These were the moments he lived for, calm, silent, completely alone.
When the second alarm went off on his phone, the sun was well over the horizon, and his quiet neighbourhood had finally started to wake up. Cars were driving down the icy streets, people were out walking their dogs, and kids were making their way to school, bundled up for the cold weather. Brendon sighed, he'd much rather observe this day than be apart of it. He sniffled as he went over to his dresser and grabbed a pair of jeans, slipping them on his thin legs. Then he went to his closet and grabbed his lavender hoodie, slipping it over his head. He studied himself in his mirror again, fixing his long hair before heading downstairs. Some colour had returned to his face, he didn't look as grumpy as he did before.
"Morning," He called to his mom, who was busy flipping pancakes. He let his mother kiss his head.
"Do you know how grateful I am that I don't have to fight with you to get out of bed in the morning?" She asked with a smile. The smile was warm and natural, the kind of smile that's nurturing. He's seen this smile many many times.
Brendon smiled back, hoisting himself up onto the counter top. "I like waking up early to watch the sunrise, it's nice and quiet." He replied.
His mother smiled. "It is nice, isn't it? Your father used to love watching the sunrises, too. You take after him so much.." She said, quietly. Her face changed, her smile dropping slightly, remembering. Brendon's seen this smile quite a lot too.
"I'm glad. There's no one else I'd want to take after.." Brendon sighed.
His mother scoffed, an amused smile appearing. "No one else? At all?" She questioned sarcastically. Brendon leaned forward, hugging her.
"Well, maybe there is one other person.." He chuckled. His mother chuckled back, lifting another pancake onto the stack next to the stove. She poured more batter into the pan as Brendon hopped off the counter to go make his lunch. The kitchen was quiet for a while until Brendon sniffled again. His mother turned off the stove, adding one last pancake to the rather large stack.
"Are you getting sick?" She asked, walking over to Brendon and feeling is forehead. Concern was plastered all over her face.
Brendon ducked under her hand and went to put his lunch with his backpack. "No, I'm fine. I just sniffled." He said, trying to reassure his mother.
She sighed. "You know you can't hide being sick from me." She said.
Brendon chuckled. "You're a doctor, I'd be concerned if I could." He walked back over to his mother, hugging her. "Really, I'm fine. A little sore, but I'm fine.." He whispered.
"Did you take all your medication this morning?" His mother asked. Brendon nodded against her. She smiled, releasing him from the hug. There was still a hint of worry on her face. "Alright, you hungry?"
"I'm always hungry for my mom's world famous pancake breakfast!"
"Good," She said "Because I think I made too many.."
After eating and helping his mom clean up, Brendon bundled himself up for school. He has a car, but the high school isn't too too far from his house, and it was such a lovely day, even if it was a bit on the cold side. Though his mother protested the idea of him walking, Brendon assured her he would be just fine.
Brendon set out, still wishing he could be at home. He never liked missing anymore school than he had to, but today he just got stuck in a particularly bad mood. He walked along the sidewalk cautiously for a good while, enjoying the music playing through his headphones when someone almost knocked him over.
"Urie!!" Pete cried as he jumped on Brendon. Brendon pulled his earbuds out, laughing. "We missed you!!"
"Pete! Give him some space! He just got out of the hospital!!" Patrick yelled from behind them, running to catch up to the two. Brendon sniffled again, smiling.
"It's fine Patrick, I'm okay, really. It was nothing." Brendon reassured.
"I wouldn't call being hooked up to a ventilator for a week 'nothing'.." Patrick whispered, worry and sadness on his face. Pete's happy-go-lucky smile faded into concern.
"Guys, it was just a precaution. Just a little lung infection is all. I'm fine, I promise." Pete smiled again, though Brendon could still see concern behind it.
"Well, we're glad you're back. You missed a lot while you were gone." Pete said, getting right back into the gossip. The three started walking again "Tyler and Josh are official."
"Well, it's nice to see somebody fulfilling their new year's resolutions." Brendon shrugged as he started on his way again. Pete and Patrick followed, chuckling.
"They said they couldn't wait any longer." Patrick chimed in. Brendon scoffed.
"I mean I guess not. Coming out the first week back at school. It's ballsy to say the least." The two boys nodded in agreement.
"How was new year's in the hospital?" Pete asked. Brendon chuckled at the question.
"I mean, it was okay. No alcohol though, so it wasn't as fun as it could've been."
"Imagine that, they don't give alcohol to minors with lung infections at the hospital!" Patrick cried sarcastically. "I'm going to call my local senator and get that fixed immediately!" Brendon and Pete laughed.
"Since when do you crack jokes like that?" Brendon asked. Patrick shoved him playfully as they reached the school, making their way inside.
"You'd better tell me all about Josh and Ty in history!" Brendon shouted to Pete and Patrick as they parted ways to go to their lockers.
"Will do, captain!" Pete said as he saluted Brendon. He chuckled as he opened up his locker, disposing of his heavy winter jacket and getting out his textbooks. He was the first student in his homeroom as usual, greeted kindly by his favourite teacher Mr. Shea.
"Ah, welcome back, Brendon! How're you feeling?" Brendon smiled as he made his way to his usual desk.
"Alright, a little sore, but good." Brendon replied.
"Well, I'm glad to know you're okay. I've sent all the work you missed from all your classes to you, but you didn't miss much, so don't worry too much about it."
"Thanks," Brendon said as a few other students started making their way into class. He saw Dallon walk into the class. His face lit up and flooded with relief when he saw Brendon.
"Hey!" He greeted cheerfully as he sat down. "How goes it?"
Brendon smiled, unable to help it when Dallon was smiling back at him. "I'm alright, hey how was that basketball game? I'm really sorry I couldn't come."
Dallon laughed, placing his hand on Brendon's shoulder. Brendon's skin electrified at the touch, and a feeling or warmth spread through his entire body. He wished he had kept it there longer. "Hey I get it, we won."
He saw Josh and Tyler walk into the class, hand in hand. Tyler stood on his toes at the door to kiss Josh goodbye. He detached himself from Josh when he saw Brendon, running up to him and hugging him.
"Brendon! You're back!" Tyler cheered.
"And you're official with Josh!" Brendon replied "I can't believe you guys did it when I wasn't here!"
Tyler and sat next to Brendon in his usual seat. "We tried texting you, but you never replied to us." He said.
"I was basically asleep for the whole week, sorry."
The bell rang and all the students made their way to their seats. Mr. Shea stood up and began the lesson.
"Happy Friday, class! Today, we're going to be working on our..." Brendon averted his attention to the window, watching the clouds move along the sky.
"I'm telling you! It looks like a duck!!"
"Are you fucking crazy?! It's a rabbit!" Pete and Josh were laying in the snow near the running track debating on cloud shapes, high as all hell. Pete sat himself up and looked at Brendon, Patrick and Tyler. "Guys! Can you please tell Josh that that cloud is a fucking rabbit?" He called to the three who were sitting on the bleachers, pointing at the sky.
"You look like a fucking rabbit!" Josh said, kicking Pete. Pete laid down punched his arm, and they continued arguing. It had warmed up considerably since the morning and water was dripping off of everything. It was calming. Brendon took one last drag before handing the blunt to Tyler.
"Are you sure it's okay for you to be smoking?" Patrick asked Brendon.
"Totally fine, Patty. I've read that it's even good for me." Brendon said "Why don't you try some?"
"Someone has to be the responsible one in this "clique"." Patrick replied, looking over to Tyler. "Are we really calling ourselves that? It sounds ridiculously stupid and conceded.."
Tyler chuckled, taking a hit from the blunt. "It suits us." He said smugly. "The Clique. It makes us sound cool."
"Which we aren't.." Patrick sighed, rolling his eyes.
"Hey!" Tyler interjected. "We are some of the coolest people in this shitty town, right babe?" He called to Josh.
"You know it baby boy!" Josh shouted back. Brendon rolled his eyes at his friends. They're all so different, he wondered how they all clicked together. He checked the time on his phone, sighing.
"I should probably get going, I have a lot of homework to catch up on." He told the other two. Tyler groaned.
"No! Stay with us! We haven't seen you in so long, dude!" He whined.
"My mom's gonna kill me if I don't get it done, but we can hang out for as long as you want tomorrow, okay?"
Tyler sighed. He was disappointed, but Brendon could tell he understood. "Fine, see you tomorrow." He said as he took another hit. Patrick smiled and waved as Brendon started making his way back home. He had been walking for about three minutes before he heard someone yelling behind him. He turned around to see Dallon running after zero. Brendon quickly stepped in front of the small dog, grabbing it and picking it up. The dog licked Brendon as he giggled, Dallon running up to him.
"Thank God you were here to catch him or he would've kept running for another three blocks." Dallon said, out of breath, relief in his small smile. Brendon handed Dallon the leash and put the dog back on the ground. His heart fluttered when his hand touched Dallons.
"No problemo dudo!" Brendon smiled
"Are you high?" Dallon chuckled. Brendon's eyes went wide. Dallon almost fell over laughing.
"Am I being that obvious?" Brendon questioned in a hushed tone. Dallon nodded through his laughter.
"I know you must have a bunch of homework to catch up on, but do you want to come over for something to eat? Besides, you look like you need it." Dallon smiled kindly. Brendon smiled too. There was something about the smile Dallon had on his face, Brendon couldn't tell what it was. He knew Dallon was happy, but there was a hint of something foreign that he was unsure of.
"It'd be dumb of me to pass up free food." Brendon said, disregarding the thought as they started walking to Dallon's house.