Loose Change
Title: Loose Change.
Author: Shazi nosebleed_seats
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: Patrick/Pete, Jon/Ryan, Brendon/Ryan, Brendon/Spencer, Jon/Spencer
POV: Third
Summary: Ten more song drabbles because it's been way too long since I posted anything.
Disclaimer: These events never happened, I do not own any of the people involved and all that's mine is the writing.
Prompt:
1. Pick a character, pairing, or fandom you like.
2. Turn on your music player and put it on random/shuffle.
3. Write a drabble related to each song that plays. You only have the time frame of the song to finish the drabble; you start when the song starts, and stop when it’s over. No lingering afterwards!
4. Do ten of these, then post them.
1. Feel It In My Bones - Tiësto (feat. Tegan and Sara) {3:27}
Patrick liked control. He liked being in control of himself because that enabled him to control others. Well, somewhat. What Patrick came to learn however, was that Peter Wentz was uncontrollable. At least, in all the ways Patrick knew how to handle control. Pete was something else, truly. Patrick’s sharp sarcasm and dry humor, which would usually leave someone at least slightly taken aback, only had Pete laughing and grinning like a shark at Patrick. Patrick’s (mostly unintentional) self-deprecating manners that usually left others feeling pity for him (or wanting to get away from his depressing self as soon as possible), only made Pete cling to him more and attempt to convince Patrick that he was the most beautiful thing this Earth had seen since Michelangelo’s David. The worst bit about this was that Pete was beginning to break through Patrick’s protective exterior, a layer of himself that he hadn’t even known he had. It seemed as if Patrick was no longer in control and maybe that’s what threw him off so much.
2. Minnesota - The Color Fred {3:25}
Patrick could feel another fight coming on-there was that kind of tension in the air-but one glance at Pete told him that wasn’t what was going down that night. He gave a little huff and removed himself from his beloved Macbook before standing and opening his arms out to Pete. Pete, looking more like a zombie than a rock star, just walked into Patrick’s open arms and rested his head on Patrick’s shoulder. Patrick understood in little bits and pieces. He understood as much as Pete would let him. Pete wasn’t angry with him or with anybody, really. Pete probably wasn’t even angry with himself for once. But routine did get tiring and this career was turning into a routine. The new upped prescription wasn’t really helping either, Patrick figured. Those pills were doing more harm than help. They drained Pete of whatever energy and personality he had left in his small body at the end of the day. It seemed like the only solution though because if they took Pete off the medication, well…he wouldn’t even be anymore.
3. Drilling - Minus the Bear {5:02}
Ryan still vividly remembers his first time smoking with Jon. It had been real casual. Jon caught Ryan’s eye on the tour bus one night, patted a small bulge in his side pocket and motioned with his head towards outside. Ryan hadn’t fully understood, but this was still in the early days of the integration of Jon into Panic! and Ryan wanted to do his part. Besides, Jon Walker seemed like a cool guy. They’d gotten outside and Jon leaned against the bus, wasting no time retrieving a freshly rolled joint from his pocket. Though he’d never smoked it before, Ryan had seen weed before. He’d never smelled it though. Whatever Jon had was strong. They were in the middle of who knows where and there was barely any breeze, but that thick, musky smell kept wafting by Ryan’s nostrils. There was something intoxicating about the smell alone. Jon smiled softly at Ryan’s wide, inquisitive eyes.
“You smoke?” he asked, still very casual. It wasn’t a necessary question. It was obvious Ryan hadn’t before. But Ryan shook his head anyway and Jon laughed quietly. “You’re gonna love this.”
Ryan knew he would.
4. Outsider - The Daylights {4:37}
Brendon was trying his goddamn best not to cry onstage. He gripped the microphone with all his might and forced the strongest smile he could muster onto his lips. He had to look happy, for the fans if not for anyone else. He had to look happy so Spencer wouldn’t worry and ask questions and he had to look happy so Jon wouldn’t rush off to make him sympathy hot chocolate and stare until Brendon broke down and confessed what was troubling him. Brendon didn’t have to look happy for Ryan, but he was trying to anyway. Some part of Brendon felt that looking happy right now in front of Ryan would be the best revenge he could come up with-at least for now. But it’s hard to concentrate on revenge when you’re still so freshly broken up over…well, your heart breaking.
Now Brendon felt like a fucking outsider and the very stage he was supposed to own. Ryan made it very clear that since the tour was coming to a close, whatever they’d been doing had to too. And Brendon knew their non-relationship had an expiration date from the moment it started, whenever that had been. But he’d expected some kind of gentle letdown, a mutual parting of sorts. Ryan had fucked him and then been really abrupt with it, saying it was over. They still had a whole week together and then there was still Vegas. A whole week of Brendon sleeping mere feet away from Ryan every night. A whole week of Brendon singing Ryan’s songs-singing their songs-and pretending that he didn’t feel pain, pretending that he didn’t obsessively mull over the words before he fell asleep. As if he didn’t pick them apart trying to find out if any of them had anything to do with him.
But no. Ryan had made it very clear that Brendon was just a pit stop on his journey even though his destination was anywhere (read: nowhere) and that he would be moving on. Alone.
5. Fix You Up - Tegan and Sara {2:53}
Spencer had always been the fixer-upper in their group-the most stable one. And maybe Brendon hadn’t expected that to change when they started getting involved with one another. Maybe Brendon didn’t fully understand that the added “with benefits” changes the “friends” bit. Whatever it was, Spencer didn’t feel as if he was getting the support he needed and most certainly deserved. And maybe that was because Brendon didn’t even think about that. Maybe Brendon didn’t even consider that Spencer needed some release and care the same way he did. Maybe Brendon was unconsciously selfish. Whatever it was, Spencer decided they needed to take a break. Not a final break-he made that very clear-but Spencer needed some time off from Brendon-sitting. He needed some time for himself.
Because Spencer wasn’t actually as invincible as Brendon thought he was. He could break too.
6. Bike Scene - Taking Back Sunday {3:35}
It started out as an experiment. Mostly because Ryan wasn’t gay. Or, well…he didn’t think he was gay. Actually, he did admit to occasionally having some pretty gay thoughts. But then again, some of his friends had questionable sexualities. And Brendon. Well, Brendon had just recently come out of the closet (to his closest friends at least), so Ryan was sure he could approach Brendon about this in total confidentiality. And he was right. Brendon didn’t say a word to anyone (mostly because he figured everyone else already knew Ryan was gay, but Brendon didn’t say that to Ryan).
Brendon might have been a little too eager to be part of Ryan’s experiment. Ryan just wanted to see what it was like to actually do gay things, as he said so eloquently himself. And Brendon had nodded and gone along with it with wide brown eyes and if Ryan sheepishly asked for a kiss, Brendon would oblige. (He kind of thought this shy Ryan was kind of cute. Except he sometimes had to remind himself that Ryan was only so shy because he was unsure or confused or ashamed, maybe-about his sexuality, not his repressed feelings for Brendon or anything like that.) And that’s how the experiment had started. Little pecks on the lips every now and then (Brendon never told Ryan that that had been his first kiss; some secrets weren’t meant to be told), maybe a bit of cuddling, some taped episodes of Sex and the City…
But then things escalated and spiraled out of control (for Brendon, at least), as these things often do.
7. Second Chances - October Fall {2:57}
It was the night before Jon’s birthday and he had no plans of going to sleep that night. He was antsy, excited-everything. Tonight was the night that Spencer was finally going to come back home. After almost three weeks of doing business in New York, Spencer was finally coming back home especially for Jon’s birthday. It was the best present Jon could imagine. Spencer had been away for his own birthday and although they’d had an hour and a half long Skype conversation, it just didn’t feel the same. Nothing could compare to having Spencer right next to him.
But it was nearing 9 PM. Spencer said he’d be in by 10 at the latest. Jon hadn’t received any calls from Spencer all day which was especially odd. Spencer always called hours before he returned, when he was leaving his hotel, when he was at the airport, when he was about to board his plane and so on. It never felt excessive. Jon saw so little of Spencer nowadays that the constant phone calls were pretty much his only solace. Jon didn’t want to give up just yet. He was sure Spencer would walk through that front door at any moment, bright smile and weary eyes, but so happy to be reunited at last. So Jon settled down in front of the TV and twiddled his thumbs and absent-mindedly watched whatever was on TV Land.
Seconds passed. Seconds turned into minutes which turned into hours and Jon continued to just sit on the couch, his lips forming a thin line as he tried to focus on the black and white program on the screen in front of him. He tried to think about anything except his missing boyfriend. Jon almost couldn’t bring himself to glance at the clock, but he knew that he had to.
12:01. Jon clenched his jaw. It was officially his birthday and the one thing he wanted wasn’t there.
8. Everywhere - Michelle Branch {3:40}
The first time Brendon opens his eyes, his room is empty. He feels woozy and uncoordinated and there’s not even anyone there to help him out. No nurse, no visitors… Just the steady beep from the heart rate monitor beside his bed. But that sound was hardly as comforting as it should have been. Brendon sighed and turned his head slightly to the left, taking note of the great crick in his neck. He closed his eyes from the slight pain and when he reopened them, his breath hitched in his throat. There was someone in his hospital room. And not just anyone.
The guy who put him in this room in the first place.
If he’d had the physical strength, Brendon would’ve shot straight up and given that guy a piece of his mind, but as it was, he could barely turn his head without feeling pain. His joints ached but thankfully nothing was broken. He had a fractured wrist at most. Still, being in a car crash had shaken him up. And now the guy that he’d almost run over was sitting on a ledge near the door on the other side of his hospital room. It was all too surreal. “You.” Brendon tried to speak, but his voice was rough and cracked and his throat was far too dry. There had to be some water around here somewhere…
“Are you okay?” the guy asked him, sounding genuinely worried. Brendon didn’t answer. That man had suddenly appeared in front of Brendon’s car-just stood there as Brendon came towards him-and then Brendon had madly swerved and ended up hitting a street light, thus ending him up on this hospital bed. He was sure the man had not been in the street moments before. In fact, Brendon had the light. He’d been driving just fine.
And just like then, this man had suddenly appeared before him again. It felt a little more invasive this time, but a small part of Brendon felt a bit of relief that he wasn’t completely alone in this all too sterile room.
9. Give Up - Young Love {3:08}
Brendon was raised with the ideals of generosity and aid. He learned to always be willing to help someone in need, no matter how little your action seemed to you. Maybe that little action could have a big impact and make a change in someone’s life. Brendon attempted to help Ryan once. He tried to show Ryan affection and coddle him and give him all the support that it seemed Ryan never really had. To Brendon, Ryan was kind of like a broken toy-he had incredible character and there was a story behind it, but he was so tattered, worn and used that nobody came near him anymore. Brendon didn’t want to be like those other people. Still, he’d never met someone just quite as stubborn as George Ryan Ross.
Brendon was also taught to understand the word no although that was one lesson that kind of went in one ear and out the other. He understood what denial was. He was sure that Ryan was in denial of all his problems and that was why he pushed Brendon (and countless others) away. And sometimes Brendon got so fed up with it that he wanted to give up on Ryan. Sometimes he just wanted to walk away from Ryan and tell him to deal with his own seemingly unsolvable issues.
But then Brendon would turn and see that broken toy all over again and he knew Ryan was making this hard before Ryan could be fixed. Brendon just didn’t have the right tools.
10. Show Me Love (Extended Version) - t.A.T.u. {5:08}
It was meant to be light hearted fun, or something like that. The sex was supposed to be just that-sex. Some kind of release. There were never supposed to be any real emotions involved. This was for the pleasure, for the thrill, for the euphoria. It was a kind of experimental game but it warped into something less experimental with more games. Mind games. Games that played with the emotions that weren’t supposed to be there. Lots and lots of games. The loser would be the first one to admit that there was something more than just the physical and the winner-well, the winner kept their pride and dignity. Or so it seemed. In reality, the winner really got away with nothing. In reality, both got hurt in the end.
Spencer started the games. When he began to miss and long for Jon’s company in ways he hadn’t before, he started playing around. He couldn’t have the two of them getting serious. Flings were supposed to stay flings. It was supposed to remain no strings attached. Spencer couldn’t actually want Jon-he could only want Jon’s body. So when something he liked to keep unnamed started to develop, he knew he had to take this “fling” in a new direction.
So he started cheating. Well, it would be considered cheating if he and Jon were actually in a real relationship, which Spencer liked to stress that they weren’t. Which was why it was okay for him to start coming home with a different person every other night. Which was why how Jon felt about that didn’t matter. But Jon wasn’t going to be left out on all the fun. He started playing his own games until the two were in some kind of unspoken tournament to see who could sleep with the most people. Ryan and Brendon placed bets on who’d be the first to sleep with a prostitute or contract a STD, just to make it seem like a joke. The whole concept was a joke; just not the funny kind.
Author: Shazi nosebleed_seats
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: Patrick/Pete, Jon/Ryan, Brendon/Ryan, Brendon/Spencer, Jon/Spencer
POV: Third
Summary: Ten more song drabbles because it's been way too long since I posted anything.
Disclaimer: These events never happened, I do not own any of the people involved and all that's mine is the writing.
Prompt:
1. Pick a character, pairing, or fandom you like.
2. Turn on your music player and put it on random/shuffle.
3. Write a drabble related to each song that plays. You only have the time frame of the song to finish the drabble; you start when the song starts, and stop when it’s over. No lingering afterwards!
4. Do ten of these, then post them.
1. Feel It In My Bones - Tiësto (feat. Tegan and Sara) {3:27}
Patrick liked control. He liked being in control of himself because that enabled him to control others. Well, somewhat. What Patrick came to learn however, was that Peter Wentz was uncontrollable. At least, in all the ways Patrick knew how to handle control. Pete was something else, truly. Patrick’s sharp sarcasm and dry humor, which would usually leave someone at least slightly taken aback, only had Pete laughing and grinning like a shark at Patrick. Patrick’s (mostly unintentional) self-deprecating manners that usually left others feeling pity for him (or wanting to get away from his depressing self as soon as possible), only made Pete cling to him more and attempt to convince Patrick that he was the most beautiful thing this Earth had seen since Michelangelo’s David. The worst bit about this was that Pete was beginning to break through Patrick’s protective exterior, a layer of himself that he hadn’t even known he had. It seemed as if Patrick was no longer in control and maybe that’s what threw him off so much.
2. Minnesota - The Color Fred {3:25}
Patrick could feel another fight coming on-there was that kind of tension in the air-but one glance at Pete told him that wasn’t what was going down that night. He gave a little huff and removed himself from his beloved Macbook before standing and opening his arms out to Pete. Pete, looking more like a zombie than a rock star, just walked into Patrick’s open arms and rested his head on Patrick’s shoulder. Patrick understood in little bits and pieces. He understood as much as Pete would let him. Pete wasn’t angry with him or with anybody, really. Pete probably wasn’t even angry with himself for once. But routine did get tiring and this career was turning into a routine. The new upped prescription wasn’t really helping either, Patrick figured. Those pills were doing more harm than help. They drained Pete of whatever energy and personality he had left in his small body at the end of the day. It seemed like the only solution though because if they took Pete off the medication, well…he wouldn’t even be anymore.
3. Drilling - Minus the Bear {5:02}
Ryan still vividly remembers his first time smoking with Jon. It had been real casual. Jon caught Ryan’s eye on the tour bus one night, patted a small bulge in his side pocket and motioned with his head towards outside. Ryan hadn’t fully understood, but this was still in the early days of the integration of Jon into Panic! and Ryan wanted to do his part. Besides, Jon Walker seemed like a cool guy. They’d gotten outside and Jon leaned against the bus, wasting no time retrieving a freshly rolled joint from his pocket. Though he’d never smoked it before, Ryan had seen weed before. He’d never smelled it though. Whatever Jon had was strong. They were in the middle of who knows where and there was barely any breeze, but that thick, musky smell kept wafting by Ryan’s nostrils. There was something intoxicating about the smell alone. Jon smiled softly at Ryan’s wide, inquisitive eyes.
“You smoke?” he asked, still very casual. It wasn’t a necessary question. It was obvious Ryan hadn’t before. But Ryan shook his head anyway and Jon laughed quietly. “You’re gonna love this.”
Ryan knew he would.
4. Outsider - The Daylights {4:37}
Brendon was trying his goddamn best not to cry onstage. He gripped the microphone with all his might and forced the strongest smile he could muster onto his lips. He had to look happy, for the fans if not for anyone else. He had to look happy so Spencer wouldn’t worry and ask questions and he had to look happy so Jon wouldn’t rush off to make him sympathy hot chocolate and stare until Brendon broke down and confessed what was troubling him. Brendon didn’t have to look happy for Ryan, but he was trying to anyway. Some part of Brendon felt that looking happy right now in front of Ryan would be the best revenge he could come up with-at least for now. But it’s hard to concentrate on revenge when you’re still so freshly broken up over…well, your heart breaking.
Now Brendon felt like a fucking outsider and the very stage he was supposed to own. Ryan made it very clear that since the tour was coming to a close, whatever they’d been doing had to too. And Brendon knew their non-relationship had an expiration date from the moment it started, whenever that had been. But he’d expected some kind of gentle letdown, a mutual parting of sorts. Ryan had fucked him and then been really abrupt with it, saying it was over. They still had a whole week together and then there was still Vegas. A whole week of Brendon sleeping mere feet away from Ryan every night. A whole week of Brendon singing Ryan’s songs-singing their songs-and pretending that he didn’t feel pain, pretending that he didn’t obsessively mull over the words before he fell asleep. As if he didn’t pick them apart trying to find out if any of them had anything to do with him.
But no. Ryan had made it very clear that Brendon was just a pit stop on his journey even though his destination was anywhere (read: nowhere) and that he would be moving on. Alone.
5. Fix You Up - Tegan and Sara {2:53}
Spencer had always been the fixer-upper in their group-the most stable one. And maybe Brendon hadn’t expected that to change when they started getting involved with one another. Maybe Brendon didn’t fully understand that the added “with benefits” changes the “friends” bit. Whatever it was, Spencer didn’t feel as if he was getting the support he needed and most certainly deserved. And maybe that was because Brendon didn’t even think about that. Maybe Brendon didn’t even consider that Spencer needed some release and care the same way he did. Maybe Brendon was unconsciously selfish. Whatever it was, Spencer decided they needed to take a break. Not a final break-he made that very clear-but Spencer needed some time off from Brendon-sitting. He needed some time for himself.
Because Spencer wasn’t actually as invincible as Brendon thought he was. He could break too.
6. Bike Scene - Taking Back Sunday {3:35}
It started out as an experiment. Mostly because Ryan wasn’t gay. Or, well…he didn’t think he was gay. Actually, he did admit to occasionally having some pretty gay thoughts. But then again, some of his friends had questionable sexualities. And Brendon. Well, Brendon had just recently come out of the closet (to his closest friends at least), so Ryan was sure he could approach Brendon about this in total confidentiality. And he was right. Brendon didn’t say a word to anyone (mostly because he figured everyone else already knew Ryan was gay, but Brendon didn’t say that to Ryan).
Brendon might have been a little too eager to be part of Ryan’s experiment. Ryan just wanted to see what it was like to actually do gay things, as he said so eloquently himself. And Brendon had nodded and gone along with it with wide brown eyes and if Ryan sheepishly asked for a kiss, Brendon would oblige. (He kind of thought this shy Ryan was kind of cute. Except he sometimes had to remind himself that Ryan was only so shy because he was unsure or confused or ashamed, maybe-about his sexuality, not his repressed feelings for Brendon or anything like that.) And that’s how the experiment had started. Little pecks on the lips every now and then (Brendon never told Ryan that that had been his first kiss; some secrets weren’t meant to be told), maybe a bit of cuddling, some taped episodes of Sex and the City…
But then things escalated and spiraled out of control (for Brendon, at least), as these things often do.
7. Second Chances - October Fall {2:57}
It was the night before Jon’s birthday and he had no plans of going to sleep that night. He was antsy, excited-everything. Tonight was the night that Spencer was finally going to come back home. After almost three weeks of doing business in New York, Spencer was finally coming back home especially for Jon’s birthday. It was the best present Jon could imagine. Spencer had been away for his own birthday and although they’d had an hour and a half long Skype conversation, it just didn’t feel the same. Nothing could compare to having Spencer right next to him.
But it was nearing 9 PM. Spencer said he’d be in by 10 at the latest. Jon hadn’t received any calls from Spencer all day which was especially odd. Spencer always called hours before he returned, when he was leaving his hotel, when he was at the airport, when he was about to board his plane and so on. It never felt excessive. Jon saw so little of Spencer nowadays that the constant phone calls were pretty much his only solace. Jon didn’t want to give up just yet. He was sure Spencer would walk through that front door at any moment, bright smile and weary eyes, but so happy to be reunited at last. So Jon settled down in front of the TV and twiddled his thumbs and absent-mindedly watched whatever was on TV Land.
Seconds passed. Seconds turned into minutes which turned into hours and Jon continued to just sit on the couch, his lips forming a thin line as he tried to focus on the black and white program on the screen in front of him. He tried to think about anything except his missing boyfriend. Jon almost couldn’t bring himself to glance at the clock, but he knew that he had to.
12:01. Jon clenched his jaw. It was officially his birthday and the one thing he wanted wasn’t there.
8. Everywhere - Michelle Branch {3:40}
The first time Brendon opens his eyes, his room is empty. He feels woozy and uncoordinated and there’s not even anyone there to help him out. No nurse, no visitors… Just the steady beep from the heart rate monitor beside his bed. But that sound was hardly as comforting as it should have been. Brendon sighed and turned his head slightly to the left, taking note of the great crick in his neck. He closed his eyes from the slight pain and when he reopened them, his breath hitched in his throat. There was someone in his hospital room. And not just anyone.
The guy who put him in this room in the first place.
If he’d had the physical strength, Brendon would’ve shot straight up and given that guy a piece of his mind, but as it was, he could barely turn his head without feeling pain. His joints ached but thankfully nothing was broken. He had a fractured wrist at most. Still, being in a car crash had shaken him up. And now the guy that he’d almost run over was sitting on a ledge near the door on the other side of his hospital room. It was all too surreal. “You.” Brendon tried to speak, but his voice was rough and cracked and his throat was far too dry. There had to be some water around here somewhere…
“Are you okay?” the guy asked him, sounding genuinely worried. Brendon didn’t answer. That man had suddenly appeared in front of Brendon’s car-just stood there as Brendon came towards him-and then Brendon had madly swerved and ended up hitting a street light, thus ending him up on this hospital bed. He was sure the man had not been in the street moments before. In fact, Brendon had the light. He’d been driving just fine.
And just like then, this man had suddenly appeared before him again. It felt a little more invasive this time, but a small part of Brendon felt a bit of relief that he wasn’t completely alone in this all too sterile room.
9. Give Up - Young Love {3:08}
Brendon was raised with the ideals of generosity and aid. He learned to always be willing to help someone in need, no matter how little your action seemed to you. Maybe that little action could have a big impact and make a change in someone’s life. Brendon attempted to help Ryan once. He tried to show Ryan affection and coddle him and give him all the support that it seemed Ryan never really had. To Brendon, Ryan was kind of like a broken toy-he had incredible character and there was a story behind it, but he was so tattered, worn and used that nobody came near him anymore. Brendon didn’t want to be like those other people. Still, he’d never met someone just quite as stubborn as George Ryan Ross.
Brendon was also taught to understand the word no although that was one lesson that kind of went in one ear and out the other. He understood what denial was. He was sure that Ryan was in denial of all his problems and that was why he pushed Brendon (and countless others) away. And sometimes Brendon got so fed up with it that he wanted to give up on Ryan. Sometimes he just wanted to walk away from Ryan and tell him to deal with his own seemingly unsolvable issues.
But then Brendon would turn and see that broken toy all over again and he knew Ryan was making this hard before Ryan could be fixed. Brendon just didn’t have the right tools.
10. Show Me Love (Extended Version) - t.A.T.u. {5:08}
It was meant to be light hearted fun, or something like that. The sex was supposed to be just that-sex. Some kind of release. There were never supposed to be any real emotions involved. This was for the pleasure, for the thrill, for the euphoria. It was a kind of experimental game but it warped into something less experimental with more games. Mind games. Games that played with the emotions that weren’t supposed to be there. Lots and lots of games. The loser would be the first one to admit that there was something more than just the physical and the winner-well, the winner kept their pride and dignity. Or so it seemed. In reality, the winner really got away with nothing. In reality, both got hurt in the end.
Spencer started the games. When he began to miss and long for Jon’s company in ways he hadn’t before, he started playing around. He couldn’t have the two of them getting serious. Flings were supposed to stay flings. It was supposed to remain no strings attached. Spencer couldn’t actually want Jon-he could only want Jon’s body. So when something he liked to keep unnamed started to develop, he knew he had to take this “fling” in a new direction.
So he started cheating. Well, it would be considered cheating if he and Jon were actually in a real relationship, which Spencer liked to stress that they weren’t. Which was why it was okay for him to start coming home with a different person every other night. Which was why how Jon felt about that didn’t matter. But Jon wasn’t going to be left out on all the fun. He started playing his own games until the two were in some kind of unspoken tournament to see who could sleep with the most people. Ryan and Brendon placed bets on who’d be the first to sleep with a prostitute or contract a STD, just to make it seem like a joke. The whole concept was a joke; just not the funny kind.