Chapter Text
Alex had called in a favor with a friend of a friend and managed to book a huge, glass mansion in Los Feliz for the release party of Ryan’s EP. It was a pretty low-key affair, all things considered– there was booze, but no one was plastered, and the music was fun enough that people were dancing but not so loud that you couldn't have a decent conversation. But then again, the night was young.
Ryan was the center of attention, which was quite the change from what Dallon was used to. He seemed to be taking it alright, chatting happily with everyone as they all wished him well. Dallon was able to watch him at a distance from the balcony, a tiny brunette speck in a vortex of partygoers.
Anthony tapped him on the shoulder, and Dallon jumped a bit, before breaking out into a smile.
“You made it!”
“Wouldn't miss it for the world,” Anthony said, giving him a hug. “Sorry we’re late. Did we miss the set already?”
“No, it should be at midnight,” Dallon said, glancing at the clock. “You’ve got almost half an hour.”
“How late is this thing going on for?”
Dallon made a sort of neither-here-nor-there motion with his hand. “According to Ryan, they used to have parties here that lasted for weeks at a time, so I'm not sure exactly what the feel is. I'm going home at 3, though, even if I have to get an Uber.”
“If it comes to that, we can drive you,” Hailey said, with a laugh. “I'm not cut out for the all-nighter thing anymore.”
“Definitely,” Anthony agreed.
“You wanted to meet Ryan, right?” Dallon asked, glancing over the balcony. He’d been standing near the couch a minute ago, but Dallon had taken his eyes off of him for a second too long and he’d slipped out of sight. “I can introduce you if I can find him.”
“If it isn't a bother.”
“Trust me, it isn't.”
Anthony and Hailey followed Dallon down the curved glass stairs, down into the fray. Dallon scanned the crowd for Ryan, but didn't see him, and moved toward the kitchen.
“Hey, Dal,” Darren said, nearly colliding with him. “And Anthony, and Hailey!”
“Hey, Darren,” Dallon said. “Have you seen Ryan? I promised Anthony a proper introduction.”
“Yeah, I think he said he forgot his tuner in the car. He just stepped out to get it.”
“Great,” Dallon said, clapping him on the shoulder. “Seeya in a bit!”
The night was hazy and unseasonably warm, the marine layer hanging heavy over the city and making everything foggy and bright despite the hour. Sure enough, Dallon found Ryan digging in his trunk, searching for his lost tuner.
“Hey, Ry,” he said, descending the stairs with his hands in his pockets. “You alright down here?”
“I can't find my tuner,” he said, poking his head up. “Oh, hi Anthony.”
Anthony blinked, and Hailey laughed.
“What?”
“I was here to introduce you two, but I guess you already know him,” Dallon said, clocking Anthony’s terrible attempt at masking how excited he was.
“Yeah, you’re guitar for Dallon, of course I know of you,” Ryan said, extending his hand. Anthony shook it, and then Ryan turned to Hailey. “And you are?”
“Hailey,” Hailey said.
“Anthony’s wife,” Dallon explained. “And, Hailey and Anthony, this is… my boyfriend Ryan.”
Anthony laughed a bit at that, Hailey nudged him, and then Ryan laughed at both of them. Then, Ryan sighed, shutting his trunk.
“I swear I packed it, but it isn't here,” Ryan said, locking the trunk and returning his keys to his pocket. “I wonder if Alex has a spare.”
“You’re looking for a guitar tuner?” Anthony asked, looking between Ryan and Dallon. “I’ve got one if you want to borrow it.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, it's all the way down the hill, though,” Anthony said. “We just got here, so we had to park way the fuck out there.”
“You guys just got here. I can go get it,” Dallon said. “It's a green Toyota, right?”
“Are you sure?” Hailey asked, watching as Anthony took his keys from his jacket pocket. “It's a pretty long walk.”
“Like Dallon needs an excuse to leave a party,” Anthony said dryly, handing the keys over. “Enjoy your walk. It's in the black bag, back seat, front pocket. The zipper one.”
“Sure thing. I'll leave you kids to it.”
Ryan ushered them back up the stairs and back toward the party, coming in the front door and slipping into the kitchen.
“Do you guys want drinks?” he asked, gesturing vaguely to the bar. There was someone mixing something in a pitcher, but he wasn't entirely sure what it was.
“You guys got soda?”
“Yeah,” Ryan said, with a laugh. He walked over to a bucket of ice, digging in for a moment and pulling out a Dr. Pepper. “How’s this?”
“I can tell Dallon helped plan this,” Anthony said, handing it to Hailey. Ryan handed him another, and then took a bottle of water for himself.
“That was actually Alex. But he did it for Dallon, yeah.”
The three of them meandered vaguely in the direction of the living room, ducking through an archway and into the fray. Immediately, Alex appeared, taking Ryan by the arm.
“You find that tuner?”
“Dallon’s getting one from Anthony’s car,” Ryan explained. “Can't find mine.”
“Okay,” Alex said, frowning. “You’re supposed to start in 10 minutes, you think he'll be back by then?”
“He’s a fast walker,” Anthony assured them. “Long legs.”
“Good point,” Alex said, taking a breath and looking into his eyes. “You need anything else before you go on?”
Ryan grit his teeth, looking around. “I would absolutely love it if everyone here suddenly disappeared.”
“Okay, well that’s not gonna happen,” Alex said, not entirely unsympathetically. “Look, everyone here is a friend. They're not going to throw tomatoes at you. It's going to be low-key and fun.”
“I know,” Ryan said, his voice small. “I just get nervous.”
“I know,” Alex said, squeezing his hand. “Seriously– anything you need from me.”
Ryan swallowed. He felt like the entire room was getting smaller and bigger at the same time, the seventy-five or so people who were in attendance crowding in and multiplying until it felt like they may as well have been a million.
“Um. Some water would be nice.”
Alex glanced at the still half-full bottle of water in Ryan’s hand, but didn’t comment on it. Anthony and Hailey looked at each other, concerned.
“Sure. I'll be right back.”
“You get stage fright?” Hailey asked, with a frown.
Ryan nodded. “I didn't used to. But now I do.”
“It’s gonna go great,” Anthony assured him, taking a sip of his drink. “It's like Alex said— everyone here knows you, and it’s your first performance of most of the songs. Everyone knows there’s gonna be some snags, it just comes with the territory.”
“Thanks,” Ryan said, scratching the back of his neck. “Man, how far away did you park?”
“About a half mile, maybe?” Hailey estimated. “I'm sure he'll be back any minute now.”
“I'm going to get my stuff ready by the stage. Can you point him in my direction when he comes back?”
“Sure, man,” Anthony said, with a nod. “Good luck. You'll kill it.”
It was another ten minutes before Dallon appeared at the door with the tuner, looking out of sorts and kind of distressed. Anthony and Hailey flagged him down, pointing him toward the side of the raised platform where Ryan and Alex were talking. He thanked them, and disappeared.
By some miracle, the set only started five minutes late.
“I can’t believe I forgot the words to my own damn song,” Ryan said, kicking his shoes off at the door.
“Happens to the best of us, Ryan,” Alex assured him, patting him on the shoulder as he took off his coat. “...me especially.”
“Sure, but you have a million songs. I only have, like, 10.”
“Yeah, but you still did a great job,” Alex continued, following him up the stairs. “Anyway, no one’s gonna realize you sang the second verse’s prechorus with the first verse’s. For all they know, the song was written that way. Right Dallon?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah,” Dallon said, snapping to attention. “What?”
“I’m sorry the party went on for so long,” Ryan said, undoing Dallon’s tie and tucking his hair behind his ear. Behind them, Alex went into the bathroom, closing the door and turning on the shower. “I really appreciate you staying for the whole thing, I know that events like that aren’t your scene.”
“It’s not that,” Dallon said, shutting his eyes and allowing Ryan to unbutton his shirt.
“Well then, what is it?” Ryan asked, pulling back and letting Dallon step out of his slacks.
Dallon was quiet.
“No really, what is it? You’ve been weird since the performance. Everything was normal when you introduced me to Anthony, and then suddenly you got all moody on me.”
“I didn’t wanna tell you during the party ‘cause you were having so much fun,” Dallon said, his voice small. “It’s your big day, I don’t want you to be sad.”
“Okay, well, now it’s gonna bother me until you tell me what it is,” Ryan argued, pulling on his pajamas and lying down in bed. “Out with it.”
Dallon sighed, sitting down next to him. “I saw Brendon.”
“What?”
“Told you it’d bother you.”
“What did he do?”
“Nothing,” Dallon insisted, rubbing his eyes and leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I was out on my way up that hill after grabbing the tuner for you, and he just… walked up. I don’t even know how he knew the party was happening, but I told him to fuck off.”
“Okay, back up,” Ryan said, crossing his legs and trying to think. “What exactly did he say to you?”
Dallon sighed. “Well, first he said ‘what are you doing here,’ and then I said ‘I was invited, which you weren’t,’ and then he said something stupid that I don’t remember. He asked how we even knew each other and I told him I knew Alex, and then he asked if we were fucking each other.”
“...and you said?”
“I told him to fuck off and get out.”
Ryan sighed, burying his face in his hands. “And then he left?”
Dallon nodded. “Told you it’d ruin your day.”
Ryan laid down flat on the bed, suddenly feeling incredibly heavy. Tentatively, Dallon joined him, lying next to him and pulling the sheets over them.
“I was gonna say something tomorrow morning. Figured it’d be the kind of conversation not to have in the middle of the night,” Dallon explained. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m not mad at you,” Ryan said, trying not to sound bitter. “I’m not even mad at him for what he did, not anymore. Just frustrated, I think.”
He reached out, and Dallon wrapped his arms around Ryan, pulling him in close. His feet were freezing against Ryan’s legs – they always were – and he was starting not to mind it.
“What about you?”
“What about me?” Dallon asked.
“Are you mad? At Brendon?”
Dallon frowned, thinking for a long moment.
“Depends on the day.”
“...today.”
Ryan could feel Dallon swallow. “Yeah.”