Brendon and Jon are lying silently in the grass at the local park. There are crickets chirping, and the wind is blowing just slightly and things are okay. For now, at least. They don’t speak for a long time. They just lay there and enjoy each other’s presence. They’ve been out so long that the moon is starting to disappear behind the hills in the distance.

“You’d think with so many things to talk about, it wouldn’t be so quiet,” Jon sighs.

Brendon frowns and says, “I just don’t want to think about it right now, Jon.”

“That’s okay. I’ll force it out of you some day. I’m never going to let you- this go,” Jon replies. “You’ll never hear the end of it, kid.”

Brendon’s frown turns up into a smile and he lets out a small chuckle.

“I don’t know what I would do without you, Jon” he murmurs. “You’re the only reason I’ve smiled in days.”

“Days, huh?” Jon laughs. “That’s crazy, especially for you.”

“Well, it’s hard to smile when you don’t know if what you have is what you really want. How do you do it, Jon?”

“How do I smile?” Jon repeats. “I know what I want. And I’m close enough to it that I can be content.”

“What do you want? Please, give me some ideas so I can work this out.”

Jon leans on his elbow and twists so he is leaning over Brendon. He smiles fondly and Brendon tries to smile back, but it comes out awkward and strange. He gives up after about thirty seconds of trying.

“What makes you so happy, Jon?” he whispers.

Jon leans in and brushes his lips against Brendon’s lightly. Brendon doesn’t hesitate to pull him down for a deeper, more passionate kiss. When they break apart, Jon’s lips hover over Brendon’s as if he can’t decide whether to speak or whether to steal another kiss.

“You make me happy, B,” he sighs. “Every little thing about you. I love you.”

“Jon, I lo-”

The two are startled by the squealing of tires against asphalt. Jon quickly backs away from Brendon and turns to see the source of the noise. And of course, it had to be Ryan. He does not look happy.

“Brendon!” he fumes. “Get in the car.”

Brendon remains seated on the ground.

“N-no,” he mumbles defiantly.

Ryan’s face is beginning to glow red, and he presses through clenched teeth, “Get in the car. Now.”

Brendon stands and plants his feet firmly on the ground. Jon stands up beside him and their hands brush slightly before Brendon grabs Jon’s for support. He squeezes it tightly to remind the boy that he’s still there. That he’ll always be there.

“I said no, Ryan,” Brendon repeats. “You have no authority over me.”

Ryan’s eyes narrow and he stomps over to where they’re standing. He grips Brendon’s arm tightly and pulls him out of Jon’s grasp. Brendon whines at the lack of contact and reaches out for Jon again. But Ryan is too quick pulling him away.

“You know what happens when you don’t listen to me,” Ryan whispers meanly. “Now get in the car.”

He doesn’t wait for another protest. Instead, he swings open the door to the car and shoves Brendon inside roughly. He then slams the door in Brendon’s face and walks over to the other side.

As Ryan opens the door to the driver’s side of the car, Jon shouts, “Ryan!”

Ryan glances up at Jon, his eyes still narrow and vicious. “What?” he demands.

“I know. I know everything,” Jon says.

Ryan’s eye widen and his jaw drops slightly. Without another word, he climbs into the driver’s seat quickly and drives off. As he speeds away, Brendon stares at Jon through the window, tears streaming down his cheeks. Before he gets out of eyesight, he mouths something that looks like ‘I love you, too.’

But Jon can’t be sure of anything currently.