This Happy Ending's Just Beginning

[wednesday_whimsy]

This Happy Ending's Just Beginning

Band(s): Panic at the Disco, Fall Out Boy (with Cobra Starship, The Academy Is... and plenty of familiar faces thrown in)
Pairing(s): Ryan/Brendon, Pete/Patrick, pre-Jon/Spencer
Word Count: 28,348
Rating/Warnings: PG13, language
Summary: The Disneyland parade has evolved into an all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza and Brendon wants to be part of it. Unfortunately there aren't a lot of opportunities for the guy who sells knick-knacks by the park gates. Enter Ryan, the parade's current star attraction, who might just have a plan to get Brendon everything he always wanted.

Part One
Part Two
Part Three


Bonus Tracks/Enhanced Content

Fanart:
The Happiest Place on Earth by lucentvictrola

Fanmix(es):
The Happiest Place on Earth by bestthingaround

Author's Notes: A huge thank you to ditchwitchbitch for letting me talk about this for months, and helping me in an endless number of ways, hand-holding and general cheerleading. Another big thank you to giddy_london for the fantastic beta work and advice. I couldn't have done it without you two. Thanks to lucentvictrola for the beautiful art and bestthingaround for the perfect mix.

I do not work at Disneyland or know anyone who works there, so this is in no way an accurate portrayal. The Golden Mouse is based on something at my current place of work.



This Happy Ending's Just Beginning

Brendon Urie worked in the second worst job at Disneyland. He sat next to a stall near the entrance and sold souvenirs, mainly to people desperate to buy one last memento on their way out of the park. It was the spot reserved for brand-new, inexperienced beginners at the park. Until you made it to that stand, no one trusted you with more than a dustpan and broom, and when Brendon got the job, a week after starting work, he'd been thrilled. Still, six months later it had started to lose its shine. Brendon could never hate working at Disneyland, but this was far from his dream job. His dream job involved a float, harem pants and a lot of singing.
 
The best part of Brendon’s day came around 3pm when Main Street filled with people waiting for the parade and the busy store cast members got a well deserved break. This was when Jon would bring him his daily doughnut and smoothie. Brendon had been begging Jon for cotton candy since his second day at the park and, even though Jon always refused, Brendon knew it was only a matter of time before he wore him down.
 
The parade had evolved over the years. Brendon still remembered visiting the park as a child with his parents and siblings, and watching the characters on the floats wave down at the crowd in time to the music blasting through the sound system. He'd wanted to be Aladdin way back then, but now... now it was so much more. Gone was the pre-recorded song and the ten step dance routine. Now it was an all singing, all dancing extravaganza, and only the best of the best ever made it that far.
 
Brendon knew you couldn’t go straight from stall worker to Aladdin. There were steps you had to follow; stages you had to go through. You had to have experience in everything Disneyland had to offer. Rumor had it that’s how Ryan got to be Prince Philip. 

He had never actually met Ryan Ross. Apparently, Jon heard from Pete who heard from Patrick who worked the Pirates of the Caribbean ride with Ryan’s best friend, that Ryan had worked his ass off for five years before he got to be in the parade. And Ryan was the best.
 
Everyone knew about Ryan Ross. Brendon didn’t know one person in the park who wasn’t jealous of Ryan and Keltie and their huge float with the dragon and the smoke and the sword. He had a fucking sword.
 
Every day, Brendon stood next to Jon, as far away from his stall as he dared move, and ate his donut and drank his smoothie and watched Ryan, and wished that he could be up there too.
 
~
 
Spencer walked the length of the boat and touched each safety bar. It was the most pointless part of his job, but people seemed to expect it. Really, if there was going to be a malfunction with the locking mechanism, it wasn’t going to be anything to do with him. He raised his arm as a signal to Patrick in the booth and sighed.
 
“Ladies and gentlemen, for your safety we ask you to remain seated for the duration of the ride. Please secure all valuables and keep arms and legs inside the boat.”
 
He lowered his arm and the boat set off with a jerk. In his ear, Patrick was laughing.
 
“You sound full of the joys of spring today, Spence.”
 
“I hate you,” he muttered, as he waved the next group of people through the barrier and into the boats. “I’m supposed to be up there and you’re supposed to be down here.”
 
“Hey, I won that coin toss fair and square. Three times.”
 
Spencer grimaced. The little blond girl who had been staring up at him shrank back against her mother.
 
“God, I hate kids.”
 
Patrick was still laughing. “Disneyland was a good choice for you, then.”
 
Spencer walked the length of the boat again and touched each safety bar. “That’s Ryan’s fault. I hate him too.”
 
Patrick snorted. “Sure you do.”
 
Spencer raised his arm and sighed.
 
”Ladies and gentlemen, for your safety we ask you to remain seated for the duration of the ride. Please secure all valuables and keep arms and legs inside the boat.”
 
~
 
Brendon appeared in the doorway of Jon’s hat store at 10:30am, and by the time Jon had finished up with his customer, he was modeling a huge white concoction with lace and flowers for a giggling little girl.
 
“What do you think, Jon? Does it suit me? Melissa thinks I look fabulous.”
 
The little girl - Melissa - giggled again and Jon nodded in agreement.
 
“It suits you. It makes your head look smaller.”
 
Brendon managed to look affronted for a whole thirty seconds before nudging Jon affectionately and placing the hat on Melissa’s head. “That’s much better.”
 
Melissa ran off across the store to her mother, beaming brightly, and Jon smiled indulgently at Brendon.
 
“You should be working in here.”
 
“I think so too,” Brendon said, and grabbed Jon’s arm. “I got a dance audition for the parade.”
 
“That’s awesome. When is it?”
 
“8am Tuesday. I probably won’t get in, but at least I’ll know what they’re looking for.”
 
“Think positive. You might be exactly what they’re looking for. You have enough enthusiasm for ten people here. You’re the only person I’ve ever met who can name every Disney film in order. Do you think Ryan Ross can do that?”
 
Brendon shrugged, but a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Ryan Ross doesn’t need to do that. He looks good with a sword.”
 
Jon patted his shoulder. “One day you’ll be up there looking good with a lamp. I know it.”
 
~
 
The schedule usually meant that every third week, Spencer and Ryan wouldn't see each other. Spencer worked the early shifts and Ryan worked the lates. Spencer would be in bed before Ryan got home and gone in the morning before he woke up.
 
There was a thirty minute window on a Thursday after Spencer’s shift ended, just before Ryan’s began, when they would meet to check in and catch up.
 
Spencer was red-faced and out of breath by the time he collapsed into a chair next to Ryan.
 
Ryan, who was lounging elegantly on the sofa in the staff room, with his feet propped up on the arm; who was dressed immaculately, with care and attention to every crease and curl. He looked far more cool and confident than he should, wearing what amounted to tights and tunic with huge puffed sleeves.
 
Spencer would hate him if he didn’t love him so much.
 
"I’ve seen this too many times,” Ryan said by way of greeting, gesturing to the Donald Duck cartoon playing on the TV. “I know all the words.”
 
Spencer reached over to tug on the feathered hat Ryan was wearing. “You don’t have to wear this when you’re in here you know. You’re not actually Prince Philip until you get outside.”
 
They’d had the same conversation so many times, Ryan didn’t even bother commenting anymore.
 
“What crawled up your ass today?”
 
Spencer grimaced. “Gabe’s a douchebag.”
 
Ryan blinked at him. “And?”
 
“He thought it would be fun to lead the guests waiting in line in a rousing rendition of ‘A Pirate's Life for Me’ before clocking in. So I was late getting off and now I don’t even have time to properly bitch to you about it.”
 
Ryan tried not to smile and looked back at the TV. “If there’s one thing you excel at, it’s bitching under any circumstances.”
 
Spencer glared.
 
Ryan swung his feet down and stood in one smooth move. Somehow every bit of clothing stayed where it was meant to. He reached for his sword.
 
“Go home, get some sleep. I’ll treat you to something nice on Sunday. Anything you like.”
 
“Would you stab Gabe with that sword?”
 
Ryan grinned and kissed the top of Spencer’s head. “In a heartbeat.”
 
~
 
Pete liked working the concession. Free food and drink (within reason) and no responsibility for anything more complicated than a corn dog. He liked meeting the people. He liked being outdoors. Mostly he liked the fact that he was working about a hundred feet from cast entrance to Pirates, where Patrick could always be found with ease. 

There had been a time, way back when Patrick first arrived, that Pete thought maybe, possibly, if he did everything right, he and Patrick would be more than the best friends they seemed to be after only a week of knowing each other. He'd been instantly enchanted by Patrick, with his fierce determination and shy smiles. Patrick was like no one Pete had ever met, and that made him irresistible. Patrick, on the other hand, seemed to have no problem resisting Pete. 
 
After six months of what Pete liked to call "the courtship of Patrick Stump" - something that made Joe and Jon laugh loud and long - Pete had resigned himself to being Patrick's best friend, and said an emphatic yes to pizza and a movie with the very next person who asked. 

Mikey Way.

~
 
When he worked late shifts, Patrick was always the last to leave. It was easier to ensure everything had been done if he did it himself. He took his supervisory role very seriously. Unlike some people he could mention – Mikey Way - over at Space Mountain.
 
Thursday night was no exception, but more difficult to bear because it was Gabe closing with him and not Spencer. Not that he didn’t like Gabe, but Spencer wanted to be gone even more than he did, so things tended to get done faster. It was almost 1am before he managed to get outside.
 
Pete was leaning against the wall waiting for him.
 
“Didn’t you finish at eleven?”
 
Patrick could have sworn Pete scuffed his toe along the ground.
 
“I wanted to watch the fireworks.”
 
Patrick bit his lip to hide his smile and nodded as though it made perfect sense for Pete to wait almost an hour after the fireworks had finished.
 
“Do you want a ride home?”
 
Pete seemed to spend a few minutes mulling the question over and they walked through the empty park as he did so. This was the time Patrick loved the park the most. The castle towered over everything, shimmering in the moonlight. There were no overexcited children or overanxious parents. It felt sort of magical.
 
“Would you mind?”
 
They’d reached Main Street by this time, so Patrick had to think for a moment what it was he might mind.
 
“You live right by me, Pete. It’s no trouble. I’d like the company.”
 
That seemed to settle things for Pete and he started talking happily about his day. Patrick was content to listen.
 
~
 
Brendon spent the weekend preparing for his audition. He sang and danced and watched the parade DVD more times than even he cared to, until he was sure he was ready. Getting in on his first attempt would be a long shot, he knew, but Brendon couldn't imagine waiting five years to reach his dream. And that was only if he could make it in five years. He'd been working in the same place for six months. He should at least be working on a concession stand by now if he stood any chance of getting into the parade before retirement
 
The audition was on Tuesday morning. Jon arrived to collect Brendon an hour beforehand with coffee and a danish, and drove them to the park. Brendon couldn’t eat. He was bouncing with nervous energy. Jon told him they’d probably let him be Tigger. Brendon was not amused.
 
“I don’t want to die, Jon Walker! I would die in one of those furry suits. In the heat!”
 
“You come from the desert,” Jon reminded him. Brendon would not be moved.
 
“I want people to see me. My face. My beautiful face!” He leaned against Jon until his face was pressed against Jon’s neck and Jon was laughing.
 
“Just try to relax. You’re good enough for the parade. Better. You just need to be confident. If they don’t pick you then they’re idiots.”
 
~
 
Spencer stood facing Patrick in the control booth, arms crossed and face set.
 
Patrick sighed. “I’m not saying I don’t agree with you…”
 
“It sounds like it.”
 
“But the kid was crying, Spencer. I can’t ignore complaints. You’re lucky they’re not making it official,” Patrick continued as though Spencer hadn’t spoken.
 
“I didn’t do anything wrong. He had his arm in the water. If the boat had moved it could have been ripped off. I explained all of this to the parents.”
 
“You shouted at them,” Patrick corrected. “You called them reckless and irresponsible.”
 
“They were reckless and irresponsible. Children are supposed to sit in the middle. We tell them that when they get in the boat. Don’t put your arms in the fucking water isn’t difficult to understand, is it?”
 
“There are better ways of explaining that to people than by shouting at them.”
 
Spencer snorted. “Sometimes that’s the only way to get the message across.”
 
Patrick sat down and took off his glasses, rubbing at his eyes, suddenly tired. “Sit down, Spencer.”

Spencer sat and waited.
 
“I love you working here. You know I do. You’re dedicated, efficient...” He trailed off thinking of something else Spencer excelled at. “You’re punctual. But you hate this job.”
 
“I hate the stupid people,” Spencer protested. “The job is fine. I enjoy working with you.”
 
“The thing is,” Patrick said, sounding genuinely worried, “you’re only one complaint away from being relocated.”
 
Spencer stared at Patrick in shock. “Please don’t be suggesting what I think you’re suggesting.”
 
Patrick shrugged. “There are guidelines to follow. If you’re relocated...”

"But that’s torture. You can’t make me.”
 
“Spencer, everyone has to work there eventually.”
 
“It’s punishment!”
 
“Fantasyland isn’t really that bad...”
 
“Mr. Toad?” Spencer asked hopefully.
 
“Storybook Land.”
 
Spencer jumped up angrily. “Jesus, why not just stick me on It’s a Small World and have done with it?”
 
“That can be arranged,” Patrick warned. Spencer sat back down.
 
“What do you want me to do?”
 
Patrick smiled and Spencer felt a sharp tug of fear in his stomach.
 
“I want you to win the Golden Mouse.”
 
The Golden Mouse was Disneyland’s own version of employee of the month. One thousand members of staff from the park proper were put forward for the award each month.
 
In the four years Spencer had been working at the park, he’d come second to last practically every time. He counted that as a special achievement.
 
~
 
Ryan loved photo hour. Meeting the kids was always fun. Even the really awful ones who whispered together and pointed at his tights while waiting in line turned into giggling balls of excitement when confronted with Keltie in her flowing pink gown.
 
“What’s your name?” she was asking now, her voice sweet and gentle in an affected sing-song lilt. She had watched Sleeping Beauty until she got it right. No one could ever accuse her of not being dedicated.
 
“Angelica,” the little girl with the red curls said, beaming as Keltie gave her a hug.
 
“That’s a beautiful name. Do you know who this is, Angelica?”
 
Angelica turned her attention to Ryan, tilting her head back and squinting up at him. She was sort of adorable.
 
“The Prince,” she said boldly, and then bit her lip as though she hadn’t meant to speak at all.
 
Ryan fought the urge to correct her. She was only five years old. She didn’t know the difference. Of course, she would never know the difference if no one told her.
 
He cleared his throat and Keltie squeezed his hand tightly in warning.
 
“Pleased to meet you, Angelica.”
 
~
 
“You didn’t have to break my hand,” Ryan complained as soon as they were through the gates and walking towards the staff buildings.
 
“She was five, Ryan. She didn’t need the whole speech about the difference between The Prince and Prince Charming and Prince Philip. She knew who you were.”
 
“I just don’t want them to think I’m The Prince. He’s boring. He didn't do anything but kiss Snow White. I killed a freaking dragon.”
 
Keltie gave him a look. “Who killed the dragon?”
 
“Who killed a dragon?” a third voice piped up.
 
They turned together to see The Prince in question leaning against a tree next to Snow White.
 
Snow White was chain-smoking.
 
Ryan groaned contemptuously. "Fuck off, Suarez.”
 
“Are you telling people you defeated mythical creatures again? 'Cause that might be why you never get a date.”
 
Ryan bit back a retort, refusing to blush. He shook his head, ready to ignore both Suarez and Victoria.

Keltie was glowering at Alex though, hands planted firmly on her hips. “Actually, he was just explaining your complete irrelevance. I’m sure the girl would have been upset if she could remember who you were.”
 
Suarez stepped forward to face her, eyes glittering. “Got your girlfriend doing your dirty work for you now, Ross?”
 
“Knock it off, Alex,” Victoria drawled, stubbing out her cigarette.
 
The two men continued to glare at each other until Keltie tugged on Ryan’s arm and Victoria kicked the back of Suarez’s leg.
 
“Let’s go,” Keltie hissed, pulling Ryan forcefully away.
 
“You’re being an idiot,” Victoria said as Alex glared after them.
 
“He started it.”
 
~
 
“Ladies and gentlemen, Space Mountain is a high velocity ride. For your safety we ask you to leave all valuables in the area provided near the exit to the cars. Please remain seated for the duration of the ride and keep your arms and legs inside the car.”
 
Mikey returned the microphone to its stand and went to check all of the restraints. He raced Nate back to the front of the ride and hit the release, sending the car shooting forward. Nate gestured for the next set of guests to approach the gates and Mikey looked back at Pete.
 
“Isn’t your break over yet?”
 
“It’s not a break,” Pete said brightly, munching on something deep fried and, Mikey assumed, disgusting. He seemed to be enjoying it. “It’s my lunch.”
 
Mikey released the restraints of the cars that had just returned and walked up and back with Nate making sure everyone got out safely. Then he unlocked the gates for the next guests.
 
“Pete, can I ask you something?”
 
“Shoot.”
 
“Why are you here bugging me and not over at Pirates bugging Patrick?”
 
Pete looked down at his deep-fried… was that a banana, really? ... and shrugged. “I’m not allowed in Pirates today. Patrick said I was distracting him.”
 
“Did he say ‘distracting’ or ‘irritating the shit out of’?" Mikey picked up the microphone. “Ladies and gentlemen, Space Mountain is a high velocity ride. For your safety we ask you to leave all valuables in the area provided near the exit to the cars. Please remain seated for the duration of the ride and keep your arms and legs inside the car.”
 
“Aren’t they strapped in?” Pete asked as Mikey walked over to check everything.
 
“You’d be surprised how many people try to get free.”
 
“Thrill seekers.”
 
“Idiots.” Mikey hit the release, pointing at a couple of the kids. “Don’t make me angry, boys.”
 
Pete laughed. “Yeah, you wouldn’t like him when he’s angry.” He nudged Mikey playfully. “He has these epic bouts of pouting.”
 
~
 
“Ryan looks annoyed today,” Brendon said, slurping the last of his smoothie loudly.
 
Jon tilted his head and squinted at Ryan. “How can you tell?”
 
Brendon shrugged.
 
As the float passed by Brendon had an epiphany, and instead of waving up at Ryan and Keltie like he usually did, he clutched Jon’s arm fiercely.
 
“Jon!”
 
“Ow! Brendon, retract your claws please?”
 
Brendon relaxed his grip but didn’t let go. “I’ve just had the best idea.”
 
“Oh really?” Jon said with a smirk.
 
“Really. I’m going to get Ryan to train me. He can tell me how he got to be in the parade and I’ll just do what he did.”
 
Jon looked skeptical. “It took him five years, Brendon. And that was fast. You’ve been here six months.”
 
“I can do it, Jon. I work hard, people like me. I can fast-track.”
 
“Fast-track? Brendon…”
 
“Help me meet him?”
 
Jon gave in, knowing it was useless to argue when Brendon had made up his mind. “How do I help you meet Ryan Ross?”
 
“Jon!” Brendon whined.
 
“Spencer Smith. He’s Ryan’s best friend. If you want to get to Ryan you have to go through Spencer.”
 
~
  
The days that he got to spend in the booth instead of outside with the public were Spencer’s favorite. He got to listen to the radio and drink his coffee and interact with no one besides Patrick on his headset.
 
Since Patrick had insisted that Spencer win the Golden Mouse the following month, his last week of freedom was going to be spent sitting there, doing nothing but checking the system and pushing a few buttons. It was bliss.
 
“Spencer, your stalker is here,” Patrick’s amused voice drifted to him and he sat forward suddenly in his seat, peering out through the window into the queue of people waiting to get on the ride.
 
Sure enough, the skinny kid with the red glasses was there again, his uniform letting him move freely through the crowd to the front where Patrick was waiting.
 
“Tell him I died.”
 
“That’s not very nice,” Patrick said looking up at Spencer and giving a little wave. “Who is he anyway? He’s been here every day this week.”
 
“I have no idea. Ask him what he wants. Specifically.”
 
“I think he just wants to talk to you.”
 
~
  
Spencer Smith was the most intimidating person at Disneyland.
 
Even Ryan, if he ever met him, Brendon suspected would not be as bad.
 
For one thing, Spencer Smith didn’t seem to be blinking. He was just standing there impassively with his arms folded, staring at Brendon. Not blinking.
 
Luckily, Patrick seemed to be a nice, polite guy.
 
“This is Brendon. Brendon works out on that stall by the gates.”
 
Brendon could have sworn Spencer muttered something along the lines of “Newbie.” Whatever it was, Patrick’s cough covered it.
 
“You know Pete Wentz?”
 
“My best friend Jon works in the hat store on Main Street .” And then, as though realizing how random the sentence seemed, “He’s known Pete since they were kids.”


Patrick smiled and said something about the hat shop being his favorite store in the park. Brendon tried not to let Spencer’s staring distract him.
 
“Are you Spencer Smith?” Brendon asked, cursing the way his voice broke in the middle of the question.
 
There was no answer for a very long moment.
 
Patrick nudged Spencer and frowned at him. “Golden Mouse.”
 
Spencer sighed and closed his eyes. “Yes, I’m Spencer Smith. Who the hell are you?”
 
Patrick cleared his throat and started humming the Mickey Mouse song in what appeared to Brendon to be a wholly innocent manner. Spencer merely glared at Patrick and then turned a blinding smile on Brendon.
 
”Hi, I’m Spencer. It’s good to meet you.”
 
Brendon began to think that they pumped behavior altering drugs into the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.
 
Brendon opened his mouth to speak and then closed it just as quickly when Spencer continued talking.
 
“Why are you here, though?”
 
Brendon hoped that Spencer would just kill him quickly and get it over with.
 


"MyfriendJontoldmethatyou’rebestfriendswithRyanRossandIneedtomeethimsothatIcanbeAladdinintheparade.”
 


Both Spencer and Patrick stared at Brendon, clearly confused.
 
“Do you want to say that again? With gaps between the words this time?”
 
“My friend Jon,” Brendon repeated slowly.
 
“From the hat store,” Patrick interrupted.
 
“Right, from the hat store,” Brendon continued, smiling at Patrick gratefully, “he told me that you, Spencer Smith, were best friends with Ryan Ross. From the parade.”
 
Patrick bit his lip, and when a giggle emerged anyway, he clapped his hands over his mouth. Spencer merely raised an eyebrow.
 
Brendon blushed furiously.
 
“And I wanted to talk to him about how he made it because... Because I want to be Aladdin. In the parade.”
 
“So,” Spencer drawled, and Brendon was suddenly very afraid. “Let me get this straight. You’ve been stalking me for the last week because you want me to introduce you to Ryan Ross. From the parade.”
 
Brendon began to nod slowly but stopped when Patrick burst out laughing.
 
Spencer turned to glare at Patrick. “You think this is funny?”
 
“You don’t?”
 
Brendon started to feel a little insulted. “Hey. I have a legitimate desire to…”
 
“Be in the parade?” Spencer asked, his voice dripping with disdain.
 
Brendon flushed.
 
Patrick hit Spencer’s arm. “This isn’t being nice. This is you being a jerk. Brendon came to ask for your help.”
 
“He came to ask for Ryan’s help,” Spencer corrected, but when he turned back to Brendon his voice was a little kinder. “Why didn’t you just ask Ryan?”
 
“I don’t know Ryan,” Brendon said with a shrug.
 
“You don’t know me either,” Spencer pointed out, but noticing the telltale blush crawling up Brendon’s neck, he sighed. “Thursday at 2:15. Meet me outside. And be prepared to run. If you’re late, forget it.”
 
~
 
Brendon arrived outside the cast entrance to Pirates at 2pm sharp. Pete waved him over but Brendon shook his head, afraid that if Spencer stepped outside and didn’t see him waiting there, that would be the end of everything. No meeting Ryan Ross. No fast-track. No Aladdin.
 
The first one was currently causing him the most problems, because Ryan Ross was... well...
 
Ryan Ross.
 
~
 
Six months earlier
 
The phone call came, and then an official letter on luxury letterhead that Brendon swore actually sparkled. Two weeks. He had two more weeks of freedom before he started working at Disneyland.
 
Shane had promised him a treat. "Whatever you want," he'd said as he slapped Brendon on the back. "You deserve a celebration."
 
There was only one thing Brendon wanted to do.
 
"Are you kidding me?" Shane exclaimed when Brendon asked, excitedly, if they could maybe, possibly, go to Disneyland. "You're going to be working there. Why would you want to spend your free time there?"
 
Brendon was patient as he explained that working there was different than going as a visitor. He wanted to ride all the rides and eat all the food and see everything there was to see before he learned all the secrets and everything had to change.
 
Shane put up a half-hearted fight, but went to fetch his coat and his car keys, leaving Brendon staring at the letter again.
 
They were there as soon as the park gates opened, and Brendon unfolded his map, explaining to Shane the route they were going to take. Shane nodded pleasantly, not really paying attention as Brendon rambled on and on, throwing out random pieces of trivia as he went. The morning passed quickly as they queued up for ride after ride. Somehow Brendon seemed to know exactly the right ride to choose to beat the hour long waits that most people had to suffer. Shane was impressed and supremely thankful. He treated them both to lunch at the Hungry Bear Restaurant and took the map from Brendon to read through the rest of the activities.
 
"It's the parade soon," Brendon said eagerly and Shane groaned.
 
"Aren't we too old for the parade?" Shane asked. "Seriously, it's just a bunch of floats and some stupid song on repeat."
 
Brendon slurped down the last of his Mountain Dew and shook his head furiously. "No, it's not like that anymore. It's new. They actually sing and dance. Why do you think I want to work here so much?"
 
Shane allowed himself to be dragged to what Brendon called 'the perfect spot,' right by the castle, and they sat on the curb, waiting for the parade to start.
 
The first float to pass was Snow White, and as it stopped in front of the castle, Snow White began to sing to her Prince next to a wishing well. The dwarfs marched behind the float as it set off again, singing and dancing as they went. Next was Cinderella, then Mary Poppins and the Little Mermaid, each one acting out scenes and performing songs from the movies.
 
The final float to pass was by far the biggest. Sleeping Beauty danced through a glade at the front of the float where she was joined by Prince Philip. They sang together before she ran back and up to the spinning wheel sitting on a raised platform. She pricked her finger and fell to the ground, while Prince Philip raced to grab his sword and fought the fire-breathing dragon which made up the back of the float. Once the dragon had been defeated, he woke Sleeping Beauty with a kiss.
 
Shane was clearly impressed because he applauded along with all the people lining the parade route. Brendon barely noticed. He was entranced, staring up at Prince Philip who was waving down at the crowd.
 
"Brendon," he heard Shane say. "Brendon, are you okay?"
 
Prince Philip caught his eye and winked, beaming down at him. Brendon felt his heart jump and he shivered.
 
"Brendon!" Shane said again and this time it snapped Brendon back to reality and he turned to face his friend with wide eyes.
 
"I think I'm in trouble."
 
~
 
Spencer stepped through the door at exactly 2:15. Brendon smiled brightly.
 
“We have two minutes to get to the staff room. That way. Run. Now.”
 
Spencer grabbed Brendon’s hand and tugged. The two of them ran through the park, dodging the children and parents strolling leisurely or bouncing eagerly around them. Brendon was laughing excitedly by the time they hit the staff only area.
 
“Why are we running?” he gasped out when the chatter and laughter of the guests faded slightly.
 
“Ryan and I only get thirty minutes of free time together this week,” Spencer answered, slowing down as they approached the door to the staff buildings. “This is it.”
 
Brendon immediately felt bad for intruding. “You should have said. I don’t want to get in the way of…”
 
Spencer gave him a firm push. “I promised I would help, didn’t I? Move.”
 
~
 
Ryan was lying on the sofa again watching High School Musical when he heard Spencer enter the room.
 
“Zac Efron, man.”
  
“Is this a ‘he's so hot I'd do him in a bathroom’ day or a ‘I hate him and everything he stands for’ day?”
  
“I haven’t decided yet.” Ryan tilted his head back and smiled at Spencer upside down.
 
Spencer wasn’t alone.
 
“Ryan, this is Brendon,” Spencer informed him as Ryan rolled quickly off the sofa to stand in front of them.

Brendon held out his hand and Ryan looked at it in surprise for a moment before remembering his manners and shaking it.
 
“I’m Ryan,” he said, looking Brendon over. He glanced at Spencer, curious as to why he would bring someone else to their only break together. Ryan couldn’t remember that ever happening before.
 
“It’s nice to meet you,” Brendon croaked, and then grimaced.
 
Spencer rolled his eyes. “Brendon needs your help.”
 
Ryan looked back at Brendon, surprised. “Help with what?”
 
Brendon seemed to be waiting for Spencer to answer for him. Spencer, on the other hand, shook his head and sat down on the sofa. “I’ve done my part.”
 
“I want to be Aladdin,” Brendon murmured, looking anywhere but at Ryan. “In the parade.”
 
~
 
Brendon was going to die. It had to be possible to die of embarrassment, right? If all the blood went to your face instead of your heart, surely it would eventually stop beating.
 
The worst thing about the whole experience was that Ryan was being really nice about it. When Brendon said he wanted to be in the parade – be Aladdin, in the parade – Ryan hadn’t laughed or scoffed or any of the other million things he could have done to shatter Brendon’s dream. No; Ryan had just blinked at him a couple of times and nodded as though he understood.
 
“You want pointers or something? Audition tips? Brian’s the one you have to convince. If you win him over you’re golden.”
 
“No, I had an audition. They said I didn’t have enough experience.”
 
Brendon thought that Ryan might have smiled at that, but if it was a smile, it was a kind one.
 
“They said that to me too. Pay no attention.” He glanced and the clock and swore. “I have to go. I’m sorry.”
 
Ryan disappeared through the door with a hurried “Bye!” to both Brendon and Spencer.
 
Brendon stared after him, unsure what to do next. His lunch break was almost over, but for the first time since he’d started working at the park he just wanted to forget work and go home to bed.
 
“I should go too,” he said for Spencer’s benefit. “Have to get back to work.”
 
He heard Spencer protest and call him back, but Brendon kept his head down and ignored him. Clearly the whole Aladdin thing just wasn’t meant to be.
 
~
 
Brendon was quiet the next morning as he and Jon drove into the park. Jon tried everything he could think of to get him to talk, but nothing worked.
 
“Brendon, will you at least tell me what happened? Did he laugh at you? Because I’m pretty sure I could take him down if he did.”
 
“No,” Brendon sighed, shaking his head. “He was really nice. I don’t want to talk about it, okay?” He fell back into silence and Jon spared him a worried glance.
 
“I’ll see you at three,” Jon said as they parted at the park gates.
 
Brendon shook his head. “I don’t want to watch the parade today.”
 
“But you always watch the parade.”
 
“Not today,” Brendon repeated and began to walk away. “It’s just a stupid parade.”
 
~
 
Spencer liked Pete in the way that everyone liked Pete. That is to say, in small doses or at a distance. Patrick seemed to be the only person who didn’t mind having him around for long periods of time.
 
And that was a problem for Spencer right now.
 
Because right now, Pete was slurping loudly on some brightly colored concoction and distracting his partner from their job.
 
“Pete,” Patrick tried for the third time. “Shouldn’t you be back at work?”
 
“They don’t really need me for another hour.” He took another slurp and then beamed at Patrick with red-stained teeth.
 
Spencer glared up at the control booth where they were sitting. He was getting a headache.
 
Pete bounced excitedly in his seat, which usually meant he had remembered some inane piece of park trivia designed to impress Patrick.
 
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Spencer announced, “for your safety we ask you to remain seated for the duration of the ride.”
 
“Patrick, you know Jon, right? Hat Shop Jon?”
 
Spencer rolled his eyes. This guy Jon’s name was getting dropped a lot lately. More so than Ryan’s, even.
 
“Please secure all valuables and keep arms and legs inside the boat.”
 
Spencer raised his hand to signal Patrick, who pushed the button to release the boat.
 
“Not personally,” Patrick’s voice drifted to him, a more calm and quiet than Pete’s. “But you’ve talked about him before. Why?”
 
“He was telling me earlier about this new kid, who works by the gates. He’s really down...”
 
Spencer could see Patrick nodding, waiting for Pete to finish.
  
“I told Jon you’d probably have an idea,” Pete continued. “You’re good at ideas.”
 
Spencer blinked, thinking through Pete’s words and then frowned. He switched on his microphone and pulled the headset on. “Wait. Are you talking about Brendon Urie?”
 
Pete jumped up and waved at Spencer from the booth. “Hey, Spence. How did you know?”
 
~
 
Brendon had been in a daze all day. He’d only sold half of what he normally did, mechanically swiping credit cards and staring back at the leaving visitors. He just didn’t have it in him to smile.
 
All Brendon had wanted the entire time he’d been working at Disneyland was to be Aladdin. In fact, if he was being honest, all he’d wanted since he’d first seen Aladdin when he was a kid was to be Aladdin. Now it seemed hopeless.
 
He made sure not to take any breaks, so at three when it was time for the parade, he could go into one of the nearby stores and not have to watch.
 
~
 
The next day at the same time, Brendon’s stomach was growling insistently, but he refused to move until 2:45. Eventually he figured he’d able to watch the parade again, but for right now he needed a break.
 
Jon strolled over to him five minutes before he was due to go for his lunch, holding a stick of cotton candy. Pete trailed behind him holding two snow cones.
 
“What’s all this?” Brendon asked as Jon presented Brendon with the treat. “You never bring me cotton candy.”
 
“Snow cone?” Pete offered, holding out the orange one. Judging by the color of his teeth, Brendon assumed the blue one was his. “Snow cones make everything better.”
 
Brendon wasn’t going to argue. He accepted the cotton candy and the snow cone, stepping away from the stall so as not to ruin anything.
 
“We’re going to watch the parade, you want to come?” Pete asked, motioning toward Main Street .
 
Brendon hesitated. He could see Jon looking at him, hopeful, and he knew what he was trying to do. But it wasn’t going to make a difference in the end.
 
“I don’t think so.”
 
“Brendon,” Jon protested, but Brendon cut him off, pushing the cotton candy back into Jon’s hand and shaking his head.
 
“No, Jon. Just let me get through this my way, alright?”
 
“I just want to help.”
 
“I know,” Brendon told him, patting his shoulder lightly. “You could help by watching the stall? I’m starving.”
 
Jon nodded and handed Brendon back the cotton candy. “Do me a favor and eat that.”
 
~
 
When the fireworks started, Brendon got a ten minute reprieve. Closing time was his busiest time of day. People were leaving and desperate for one last thing to remind them of a perfect day. Usually Brendon enjoyed it. He could cheer up the exhausted children and give their equally exhausted parents a break for the car journey home.
 
Today he just wanted it all to be over so he could go home, crawl into bed and convince himself that tomorrow would be a better day.
 
Finally he waved goodbye to his last customer and started cashing out.
 
“Aren’t you tired?” a voice drawled behind him. “I’m tired just watching you.”
 
Brendon spun around to find Ryan walking towards him, hands shoved into the pockets of his pinstripe trousers.
 
“You’re wearing normal clothes,” Brendon said, staring.
 
Ryan smirked a little. “Shall I let you in on a secret?” he asked, and leaned closer when Brendon nodded. “I’m not actually Prince Philip.”
 
He laughed, and after a moment Brendon joined in. “You’re an idiot.”
 
“So I’m told,” Ryan said with a smile, and started cleaning up the stall.
 
Brendon watched him for a moment, unsure what Ryan was doing. He shrugged and carried on cashing up. At least he was doing it right. 
 
“Spencer says you ran off yesterday before he could get your number.”
 
Brendon blushed and didn’t look up. “I’m not really interested in Spencer that way.”
 
A plush Pluto hit him on the head.
 
“Jackass. How am I supposed to help you get into the parade if I can’t even call you to arrange things?”
 
Brendon did look up at that.
 
“You’re going to help me?”
 
Ryan nodded. “If you still want me to.”
 
“I do,” Brendon said quickly, nodding emphatically.
 
Together they pushed up the shutters and locked them. Brendon grabbed his bag and they walked out towards the parking lot, depositing Brendon’s takings in the cast room safe along the way.
 
The cast parking lot was practically empty.
 
The blast of a car horn sounded, breaking the silence that had fallen around them.
 
“That’s Keltie,” Ryan said waving at a nearby Honda Civic.
 
“Nice parking spot.”
 
Ryan shrugged. “It’s a perk. Where are you parked?”
 
“Oh, I’m not. I get the bus when Jon’s not working late. It stops right outside.”
 
“The bus?” Ryan grabbed Brendon’s arm and dragged him over to Keltie’s car. “We can drive you."
 
~
 
On Sunday morning Ryan shuffled into the living room to find Spencer already awake and playing Grand Theft Auto.
 
Ryan slumped down next to him and pulled the throw around himself, snuggling closer and reaching for Spencer’s coffee.
 
“It’s cold,” Spencer told him, and Ryan snatched his hand back.
 
“Why are you awake?” Ryan said, yawning. “It’s Sunday. You should be asleep.”
 
“I couldn’t sleep. I had too much pent up… Just DIE!”
 
Ryan stifled a laugh. “Oh, right. You have to be nice tomorrow. For a whole month. To people.”
 
Spencer’s jaw clenched but he didn’t respond.
 
“Nice enough to win the Golden Mouse, even.”
 
“It can’t be that hard,” Spencer muttered, leaning heavily against Ryan as he tried to do something tricky on screen. Ryan had no idea what he was attempting.
 
“I’ve never won it.”
 
“That’s because you’re not as great as you think you are.”
 
“Wrong. I am exactly as great as I think I am.”
 
Spencer threw his controller onto the floor in frustration. “Fuck!”
 
“Did you die?”
 
“Do you want to?”
 
“I am immune to you being a bitch. I’ve known you too long.” Ryan stretched and sighed. “Make me coffee?”
 
“Make your own coffee.”
 
“It’ll be practice,” Ryan protested, but rolled smoothly to his feet and went to switch on the machine.
 
“What are you doing today?” Spencer asked, searching through his pile of video games for something suitably violent.
 
“Brendon is coming over to work on getting into the parade.”
 
Ryan felt, more than saw, Spencer staring at him.
 
“Shut up.”
 
“He’s coming here? To our house?” Spencer sounded torn between annoyance and amusement.
 
“He’s coming for help. You said I should help him. You brought him to me. Should I have told him to get lost?” Ryan could feel his face getting hot. He poured two mugs of steaming coffee and hoped he could blame that.
 
Spencer was still staring at him. Ryan pushed one of the mugs into his hands and sat back down. “I bet you a month’s rent you’re working It’s A Small World in three weeks.”
 
Ryan could be an even bigger bitch than Spencer when he put his mind to it.
 
~
 
Brendon arrived at 1pm sharp carrying two pizzas and a backpack full of Disney DVDs. He bounced nervously as he rang the doorbell, trying to ignore the swirling sick feeling in his stomach that came with being invited to the house of Ryan Ross.
 
Ryan Ross opened the door in his pajamas.
 
“Am I early?” Brendon asked, wondering if 1pm was secret Disney code for something and he was going to look like  a jerk.
 
Ryan shook his head and stepped aside to let Brendon enter. “You’re right on time. Please, come on…”
 
He stopped as another voiced drifted through to them from another room.
 
“Die! Just die, you fucker! Die!”
 
“…in. Sorry about Spencer. He’s competing for the Golden Mouse this month. Patrick thinks it’ll help his job performance.”
 
Ryan led his through into the living room.
 
“So he’s trying to kill things?”
 
“He’s expelling his pent up frustration,” Ryan said grinning. “Spencer, Brendon is here.”
 
Spencer didn’t answer.
 
“Why are you carrying pizzas?”
 
Brendon looked down at the forgotten pizza boxes and blushed. “Well, I thought I should bring food since you’re helping me out so much. But then I didn’t know what you liked so I thought pizza was a good bet, but I couldn’t decide on toppings so I got a meat feast in case you like meat and a vegetarian one, in case you don’t.”
 
Ryan smiled. “I like all pizza.” He took the boxes and set them down on the kitchen table. “Spencer, you’re missing pizza.”
 
Spencer was busy beating up a vampire.
 
“Is he playing Buffy the Vampire Slayer?”
 
Ryan nodded and sat down at the table, pulling his legs up under him as he reached for a slice of pizza. “You didn’t have to bring food,” he told Brendon, “but it’s appreciated.”
 
“You’re doing me a huge favor.”
 
“It’s not that huge. I really don’t mind.”
 
Brendon shrugged and fidgeted slightly before Ryan pushed the open pizza box purposefully towards him. “Aren’t you eating?”
 
Spencer eventually paused the game to come and eat with them and Brendon relaxed as they chatted easily and Ryan and Spencer teased each other affectionately.
 
Once the food was finished and Spencer had retreated back to the sofa to continue his game, Ryan sat up straight and fixed Brendon with a serious look.
 
“Now, tell me what Brian said at the audition.”
 
Brendon launched into his tale and told Ryan everything that had happened to him since he started at the park. Where he was, where he wanted to be, how he was failing to get anywhere at the moment.
 
Ryan nodded through it all as though he understood and Brendon hoped that he actually did. Because if Ryan Ross had been where Brendon was, there was no way Brendon could fail.
 
“Alright,” Ryan said slowly when Brendon finally finished. “I think I have a plan. It’s all about getting on the ladder. You’re at the bottom rung; you just have to start climbing. The first step is to move off your stall and into a concession. Who’s your supervisor?”
 
“Nick Scimeca.”
 
Ryan burst out laughing. Even Spencer turned to grin at him.
 
“Dude,” Ryan said, still laughing. “This is going to be so easy.”
 
~
 
Nick strolled over to Brendon early the next morning.
 
“Hey, Brendon.”
 
“Hi, Nick,” Brendon greeted him brightly. “How are you today?”
 
“Good, good,” Nick drawled and looked around at the people passing by, heading up towards Main Street and the castle. “Hey, you know Pete, right?”
 
“Pete Wentz?” Brendon asked, surprised. “I’ve met him. He gave me a snow cone.”
 
Nick smiled and nodded. “He needs some help on his concession. How would you feel about a promotion?”
 
~
 
Brendon hadn’t actually expected it to be that easy.
 
~
 
Patrick pulled out all the stops for Spencer’s first day as a reformed employee. He did everything he could to make it a smooth transition. Sure, he wanted Spencer to learn from it, but they were friends, and friends helped each out. And of course, if Spencer got reassigned, Patrick would only have Gabe for company.
 
So Patrick was there an hour before Spencer, checking everything that needed to be checked to make sure things went as smoothly as possible. 
At 7:55am he ran out to get coffee from Pete.
 
“Spencer needs coffee.”
 
“Is this a new form of greeting?” Pete asked as he wiped down the counter. “I still think good morning works nicely myself.”
 
Patrick sighed. “Good morning, Pete. How are you? I need coffee for Spencer.”
 
Pete smiled as he set about making the coffee. “I’m very well, thank you. I talked to Nick earlier. I think Brendon’s going to be promoted.”
 
Patrick took that to mean Pete had asked for Brendon to be promoted. “Nick’s a good guy.”
 
“Nick’s a great guy,” Pete replied with a fond grin. “One coffee,” Pete said, placing the cup in front of him. “Anything else?”
 
“Not right now,” Patrick said, shaking his head. “Thanks for this.”
 
“If you’re really feeling grateful, you could have lunch with me.”
 
Patrick ducked his head to hide a smile. “Yeah. Lunch. Okay.”
 
~
 
Spencer’s day got off to a bad start and went downhill from there. Guests had started queuing early, and by 10am his smile was tired and forced.
 
He had politely requested that a couple control their screaming child who had been ducking under barriers and pushing his way through to the front of the line. They’d screamed back at him as loudly as their son, and while the other guests looked on sympathetically, Spencer could only bite his tongue. He counted slowly to ten in his head and turned away.
 
Patrick told Spencer he was proud of him.
 
Spencer wanted to punch Patrick in the face.
 
~
 
Nick helped Brendon pack up the stall - some new kid would be there to open it later in the day - and then walked him up Main Street, and down to Pete’s stand outside Pirates of the Caribbean . Brendon was shaking.
 
Pete welcomed them loudly, and he and Nick did some complicated handshake fist-bump thing, that looked like they’d spent a long time practicing it.
 
“Welcome to the wonderful world of food service, Brendon,” Pete said eagerly, handing him a cap. “Put that on. No hair in the food is lesson number one.”
 
Brendon accepted the cap and slipped it onto his head. “No hair in the food. Got it.”
 
“Good boy. We’re going to get along famously.”
 
Nick stayed to chat with Pete for a while, and Brendon sat in the corner and read the health and safety manual from cover to cover. “There will be a test,” Pete told him seriously, then grinned widely. “Everyone passes, don’t worry about it.”
 
The health and safety manual, Brendon found, had been annotated by Pete with amusing drawings and comments that made the learning experience a whole lot easier to deal with.
 
“First question,” Pete said once Nick had wandered away and Brendon had finished reading. “If you drop food on the floor, where do you put it?”
 
Brendon frowned, confused. “In the trash.”
 
“Correct. What should you do to your hands before touching the different kinds of food?”
 
“Um,” Brendon said, thinking this was surely too easy. “Wash them?”
 
“Correct. Final question...”
 
“Final question? Pete, come on...”
 
“When a customer is rude to you, should you spit in their food?”
 
“What? Pete, no, of course not.”
 
“Wrong!” Pete started to laugh.
 
Brendon grinned and shook his head. “Don’t I have to have a real test?” 
 
Pete sobered. “Did you go to college?”
 
“Yes.”
 
“Do you cook food for yourself?”
 
“Yes.”
 
“Would you ever willfully or maliciously endanger the lives of any guest at the park?”
 
“Of course not!”
 
Pete shrugged. “Then you’re fine.”
 
~
 
Patrick had expected something deep fried or sugary for lunch, so Pete’s decision to treat them both to kebabs at the Bengal Barbecue was a pleasant surprise. To Patrick’s amusement, Pete still managed to find the bluest thing on the menu to drink. Patrick stuck to lemonade.
 
“So then the dad asks if we sell Starbucks, and I tell him no, but we have coffee flavored snow cones over at the Tiki Juice Bar, which are really almost the same thing...” Pete waved his hands around a lot when he talked. Usually Patrick got distracted halfway through Pete’s stories by his hands and ended up watching them draw patterns in the air instead of concentrating on the conversation.
 
Which was probably why he failed to notice Mikey Way until he was standing right next to their table.
 
Pete was grinning, wide and happy. “Hey, Mikey!”
 
Mikey was sipping a fruit smoothie and looking, Patrick thought, rather bored. Patrick narrowed his eyes at him a little.
 
“Hey,” Mikey said from around the straw.
 
Patrick saw Pete glance at him once, seeming uncertain what to do. The silence stretched on until Patrick couldn’t stand it any longer and he stood up suddenly. “I’m going to get another drink.”
 
Glancing back as he walked away, he saw Mikey slide into the spot he had vacated, while Pete began to laugh at something he said. Patrick felt his chest tighten. He knew he had no real reason to hate Mikey so much. Certainly everyone else seemed to like him. When they’d worked together on Pirates two years before, he’d been more efficient than Gabe and more friendly than Spencer. He didn’t seem to care about the job as much as Patrick did, but they’d both been promoted at the same time, and lack of enthusiasm was surely no reason to hate anyone.
 
Patrick took his time getting another drink, waiting and watching until Mikey stood and started walking towards the door before he made his way back to Pete. Unfortunately, he still had to pass Mikey on the way.
 
“Hey,” he said, hoping he sounded like less of an asshole than he felt.
 
“Patrick,” Mikey said, sucking more luminous green liquid up through his straw. Really, it was a wonder he and Pete hadn’t worked out with as much as they had in common. “Stop being a jerk.”
 
He walked off with an easy smile, leaving Patrick to walk back to Pete with the words resounding in his head.
 
~
 
Brendon’s first day working with Pete passed in a blur. Pete disappeared with Patrick during his lunch break and Brendon was left alone to deal with the demands of what seemed like a hundred customers. He walked over to the lake during his own break, enjoying the screams floating across from Big Thunder Mountain .
 
Finally his shift ended and Pete pushed him out the door laughing, right into the arms of a scowling Spencer Smith.
 
“Spencer?”
 
"I said hurry him along, not push him onto me,” Spencer was growling at Pete.
 
Pete ignored him. “Temper, temper, Smith. Think of the Golden Mouse.”
 
"I’m off duty. Fuck you.”
 
Pete laughed and stepped back inside the stand, waving goodbye to Brendon as he went. Brendon looked warily at Spencer.
 
“Um. Are you okay?”
 
Spencer grabbed Brendon’s hand and started pulling him along. “No. This has been the worst day since I started working here. People suck. I hate being nice when they’re all being so stupid and rude. I feel like an idiot.”
 
Brendon thought Spencer probably needed a hug, but the look on Spencer’s face made him think twice about actually doing it. “Where are we going?” he asked instead.
 
“Staff room,” Spencer told him, narrowly avoiding tripping over a pair of giggling four year olds. “Damn kids.”
 
“But I need to see Jon,” Brendon protested. “He doesn’t know what happened. He might think I’m sick. Or dead!”
 
“Ryan is in the staff room,” Spencer said as though it should have been obvious. “Once we’ve got him we can go and find the famous Jon.”
 
~
 
The scene that met them in the staff room made both Spencer and Brendon freeze in the doorway. The room was full cast members from the parade, all still in costume, all standing in a circle surrounding two people, all shouting loudly at one another.
 
“What the hell?” Spencer exclaimed, pushing his way through the crowd. Brendon followed, staying close to his shoulder.
 
In the middle of the group stood Ryan, shouting angrily at someone Brendon recognized only as The Prince from Snow White. Snow White herself stood behind him looking quietly furious. Keltie stood at Ryan’s side, her face the same hot pink color as her dress.
 
Brendon looked around at the rest of the crowd that now seemed to be divided into two. Prince Charming stood next to Snow White, but Cinderella had her hand on Keltie’s arm, clearly lending support. Ariel was perched on the arm of the sofa; her fins spread out in front of her, curling slightly around Ryan’s legs.
 
“Why would you do that?” Brendon’s attention was drawn back to Ryan. “What the fuck is your problem?”
 
“You’re my problem, Ross,” The Prince said, and took a step towards Ryan. Spencer and Brendon stepped forward too. “Oh, your posse arrived.”
 
Prince Charming leaned down towards The Prince. “This isn’t the old west, Alex. Stop talking like a dork.”
 
The Prince - Alex – simply glared even harder at Ryan.
 
“Look, this isn’t anything to do with them,” Hercules murmured from the other side of Snow White.
 
“He’s right,” Ariel said, clutching at the back of the sofa when she wobbled. “Let’s forget about it for today. We can continue fighting tomorrow if you insist.”
 
Snow White snorted and shook her head, but Prince Charming nodded and shooed the other cast members out of the room.
 
“Ryan?” Spencer said when the door closed behind them. “What the fuck is going on?”
 
Keltie was still shaking, Brendon noticed, and Cinderella helped her over to the sofa, which Ariel had rolled herself down onto.
 
“He said we were… Keltie and me. He said...” Ryan shook his head and turned away, pacing the room.
 
Brendon watched him, worried. Spencer turned his attention to Keltie.
 
“What did he say?”
 
Keltie didn’t answer. The room fell quiet. Spencer looked back at Ryan and they shared a long look before Spencer seemed to give in.
 
“Tell me later.”
 
~
 
Once Ryan had changed his clothes he gave Keltie a hug, told Cinderella and Ariel (whose real names Brendon had discovered, were Greta and Ashlee) to take care of her, and followed Brendon and Spencer out into the afternoon sunshine, sunglasses pushed firmly on his face.
 
They walked through the park towards Main Street . Brendon was looking forward to seeing Jon and telling him the good news about his promotion. He wanted to thank Ryan too, for pulling off the first step of his plan, but Ryan and Spencer were both quiet and Brendon wasn’t sure how to broach the subject.
 
Ryan finally solved the problem for him as they passed Pete’s concession stand.
 
“How was your day?” he asked, nudging Brendon’s shoulder with his own.
 
Brendon grinned. “It was amazing. You were right about Nick. I don’t know what you did, but honestly, thank you so much.”
 
The corners of Ryan’s mouth quirked up in the beginnings of a smile and Brendon felt something warm and happy burst in his chest.
Spencer visibly relaxed.
 
“And how was your day?” Ryan turned to Spencer to ask, his smile widening as though he already knew the answer and found it all very amusing.
 
Spencer proceeded to tell them everything he had suffered that day. Ryan laughed occasionally and Spencer hit his arm in return.
 
“You need a mentor,” Brendon told Spencer when he had finished, feeling some sympathy for everything he’d gone through. He grabbed Ryan’s hand and squeezed it. “Like I have Ryan.”
 
He stopped walking suddenly as an idea came to him, pulling Ryan up short and missing the blush that had blossomed on his face.
 
“Oh my God. That is the best idea ever. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before.”
 
“Think of what?” Spencer sighed.
 
“My friend Jon has won the Golden Mouse every month I’ve been here. He can totally be your mentor.”
 
Part Two