"I don't know," Pete answered as he raises a hand up to ring the doorbell. "When he brought it up earlier he seemed a little bummed about it. I hope he's okay, though."
Joe nods in agreement and understanding. Nothing good ever came if Brendon was in a bad mood. "Me too."
After a few clicks of locks being turned the door swung open, revealing a smiley Hayley instead of their boss. "It's about time you two got here. Come on in." She stepped aside and let the boys enter, closing and locking the door behind them then returning to her seat.
All of the employees of Urie's café were now sitting in the room, the TV was off and the air was comfortably quiet. Brendon was seated on his coffee table, facing the couch where Tyler and Hayley were currently sitting.
"Hey, guys. Come have a seat." Brendon said, gesturing to the couch in front of him. His voice didn't have its usual enthusiastic tone, which already made everyone assume the worst.
Joe plopped down onto the couch beside Tyler while Pete sat on the furthest end by Hayley. Everyone now had their eyes on Brendon, waiting for him to say what he needed to say.
"Well since the whole crew is here now, I can tell everyone what's up." Brendon let out a sigh and ran a hand through his hair, not making direct eye contact with anyone and instead staring at his shoes. For a moment he didn't say anything. Seemingly mentally preparing himself or thinking of what to say and how to say it. He looked back up, then began.
"As you all know, I've owned the café for a little while now. My dad passed it down to me when I was nineteen --may he rest in peace, the old bastard-- and I've had the place ever since. I love that place to death, but... I can't keep it."
The looks on his employee's faces were all confused and questioning but no one spoke up, hoping Brendon will continue. When he saw that none of them were going to interrupt, he went on and got right to the point.
"I sold the café."
And that was when they finally spoke.
"What?! Why would you sell the café-"
"Who'd you sell it to-"
"What does this mean-"
"No fucking way, man, why-"
Brendon could answer their questions if they'd just be quiet and listen for a few more minutes. He wasn't finished explaining yet. "Everyone, shut the fuck up!"
And everyone did.
Once it was silent again Brendon took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment before letting it all out and continuing.
"The café isn't making enough money, I can't afford to keep paying you guys and also pay my mortgage. I sold the place to some guy named Chris or something, he wants to turn it into a club. He said that no one goes to cafés for coffee anymore, they just go to Starbucks, or some bullshit like that. And a club will bring in lots of young and horny little fucks --not his exact words-- and it'll make better profit than the café ever did." He sighs a final time, looking at the employees he's come to know and love with a sad glimmer in his eyes. "I really, really hate to do this, and I'm sorry but, I um... I have to let you all go." His voice cracked on the last word, struggling to even get it out of his mouth.
The silence that spread throughout the room wasn't nearly as comfortable as it was when they first walked in. It was now thick and heavy and weighing on everyone's chest. No wonder Brendon was so bummed out earlier, he lost something that has been in his family for years in the blink of an eye. He has no source of income anymore --none of them do--, he'll have get an actual job to pay the bills now.
Brendon sat with his head in his hands, probably to hide the fact that he was beginning to shed tears. No one's ever seen him so upset, let alone cry. This has completely destroyed him.
Pete's the first to get to his feet, looking down at the man before him, then sits beside Brendon on the coffee table. He wraps his arms around him, resting his head on his shoulder.
"It's alright, Bren," He whispered. "You still have us."
Brendon leaned into the embrace, sniffling once or twice. Then someone sits on his other side, it's Joe. And he does the same as Pete, wrapping his arms around his former boss and embracing him. Hayley and Tyler join in, scooting forward on the couch to reach their friend and hugging him as well.
Brendon finally brings his hands down from his face, eyes slightly puffy and red, glancing around at everyone hugging him. If anything, it makes him want to cry even more. These people care about him and are showing that they will be by his side if he ever needs them.
"Oh, guys," He sniffles, causing everyone to pull back just enough to look at him directly. "I love you all so muh-huh-huch!" Then he's full on sobbing.
They all smile, despite the fact that Brendon is crying both happy and sad tears. But he doesn't cry for too long and once the tears subside and he can talk normally again, eyes still red and skin a little blotchy, he says, "One of you get my fucking ice cream out of the freezer."
"I'll get it." Tyler chuckles, releasing his hold on Brendon and standing to retrieve the ice cream.
|| I C E C R E A M ||
Start from the beginning
