It's almost like I've found a friend

Who's in it for the bitter end

~~~

"What do you mean he doesn't know?" Brendon shrunk in his seat as Spencer stood in front of him. "Why the hell haven't you told him? Don't you think that's something that should be brought up if you're gonna see each other. 'Hey, I think you're cute. Let's go on a date. Oh by the way, I have cancer and refusing treatment so if I just die one day, sorry'," Spencer ranted in a mocking voice.

Spencer had been friends with Brendon since they were kids. When Brendon told him he didn't want to go through chemo, he was ready to go on a rampage. Eventually, he made peace with the decision and had been beside Brendon the whole time.

"When you say it like that, it sounds really bad." Spencer glared at his friend and dropped into the empty seat beside him.

"You always get yourself into bad situations, Bren," he sighed and dropped his face in his hands. Brendon smiled and nudged his side.

"Must not be so bad if you're always helping me get out of them." Spencer shook his head with a smile up at him.

"You're a pain in the ass, you know that?"

"Shut up. You're gonna miss me when I'm gone." Brendon's smile faltered when Spencer's completely slipped.

"Don't talk like that." Both of them knew with Brendon's steady decrease in health what would eventually come, but Spencer always had hope that he would change his mind or that it would just magically cure itself and he wouldn't have to say goodbye. Fool's hope. He let out a heavy sigh then leaned back, staring at the ceiling.

"So, does this mean I have to share you?" Brendon chuckled softly, the tension in the air easing up.

"Not too much. His job keeps him pretty busy I would assume."

"What does he do?" Brendon ducked his head and tried to hide his face with strands of his hair.

"Um... he's a doctor." Spencer broke down laughing. Brendon peaked through a gap in his hair to see his friend bent forward, clutching his stomach. After a minute, he calmed down. He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye and took a deep breath.

"Sorry, but you're kidding right? A doctor?" Brendon shook his head. "Are you in some kind of soap opera? You can't have a terminal illness while dating a doctor."

"We're not really dating. We've only had coffee."

"But he's taking you out again."

"Yea."

"So does Dr. Perfect have a name?"

"Ryan," Brendon said with a grin paired with a light blush. Spencer eyed him with concern.

"You know if you don't tell him and keep seeing him, it's gonna blow up in your face," Spencer warned.

"I won't let it get serious. There's nothing to worry about." Spencer rose a skeptical eyebrow.

"You know how worried I get when you involve yourself with anyone. You fall too hard too fast. I don't want you to get hurt. You don't want what happened last time to happen again, do you?"

"But this time is different. We can just hookup or something and I'll move on. Same thing I've been doing for the past year," Brendon said with a shrug. He kept his gaze to the ground, not wanting to show how little he actually believed in what he said.

"Bren." The worry in Spencer's voice slowly started to irritate him.

"I'll be alright."

"B, c'mon."

"I said it's fine," Brendon snapped. He turned to Spencer. "I've got it under control. Quit worrying." Spencer bit his tongue to keep quiet. Brendon huffed and ran a hand through his hair.

"I'm hungry. I'll go get us a bite to eat," Brendon mumbled with irritation. Spencer nodded and watched Brendon leave. He stared at the door and let out a tired sigh.

"Oh Brendon, you don't realize how much trouble you're in already," he whispered to the empty room.

---

A/N:

Soo I noticed a lot of people are not writing Ryden anymore with everything that's going on which I understand. I have my opinions on the matter, but regardless on how I feel about it I'm not gonna stop writing these stories. Writing has been a way to relax and cope with everything going on in my life. I don't know why but it's really easy for me to come up with Ryden stories and more fun for me cause I don't need stop writing. So as long as someone wants to keep reading my stories, I'll keep posting 🖤 Thank you for anyone who's read or is continuing to reading what I write. I appreciate you ❤️❤️