"What the fuck, Joseph?!"
Pete was just returning home from the store when he found his friend standing in the living room as if he was waiting for Pete to arrive. The result was Pete dropping two bags --thankfully not containing anything fragile-- and getting the shit scared out of him. As Joe had realized what he'd done, he decided it'd be best to take the remaining groceries from Pete and help put them away. Pete picks up the two bags he had dropped and follows Joe to the kitchen.
"Sorry, dude. Patrick had to be somewhere so I had him drop me off here, so that you --hopefully-- could give me a ride to Brendon's later." Joe explains as he reaches into one of the plastic bags and takes out the cereal.
Pete rolls his eyes and crosses his arms over his chest, shifting his weight to one leg. He guesses since they're going to the same place that he could provide transportation, but Joe could have at least called or sent a text. But no, that is not what Joe does, he just drops everything on Pete without the slightest warning. "How'd you even get in here?"
"Oh," Joe reaches into his pocket and pulls something out of his pocket, Pete puts a hand out and Joe places it in his palm. "Spare key." Only problem was that Pete never gave him a spare key to his apartment.
"You had a key made?!"
Joe puts his hands up in defense. "It's for emergencies!"
"Since when is needing a ride an emergency?"
"Since Brendon said there was something urgent he had to discuss with us."
"Goddammit, Trohman." Pete groaned, throwing the little metal key in Joe's direction. He moves his head to the side just in time to avoid it smacking into his face, it lands in the counter. "Keep the damn thing."
Joe smiles at his friend before retrieving the key and putting it back into his pocket. He's lucky Pete considers him as his best friend or else he would've kicked his ass out and made him walk to Brendon's. But beyond all that hair and weirdness lies a good person.
The two put away the food --mostly Joe since he was being... Joe today-- and Pete stopped a third of the way through to grab something for them to eat. He pulls out a frozen pizza from one of the plastic bags.
"Ooh, pizza," Joe says as he puts away the last of the groceries, collecting the bags afterward. "Are we gonna watch a movie too?"
Pete shrugs as he preheats the oven and opens the box. "I guess, but just until it's time to go."
"Sweet. I wanna watch Transformers."
"No, we're not watching that."
Joe hops up on the counter while Pete places the frozen hunk of bread, cheese, and sauce on a pan, putting it into the oven. "Why not?"
"Because, for one thing, you have the movie at your place, not here. And two, we have watched it so many times that we both know all of the dialogue. So pick something else."
"Okay, okay fine. What about... uh, Space Jam?"
"Oh, dude, I love Space Jam."
"Space Jam, yes!" Joe hops off the counter and runs into the living room in a blur of hair and excitement to get the movie set up.
They eat the pizza when it's ready and binge on movies until they have to head to Brendon's.
***
"Do you think it's something bad?" Joe asked as they walked up the few steps to their boss' front porch. They arrived about twenty minutes after seven and judging by the number of cars already parked by the curb, he and Pete were the last ones to arrive. But it wasn't their fault that Jumanji was just getting to the good part when they were supposed to be leaving.
"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.