Josh rubbed his eyes. He was never able to sleep on flights, and he had been too anxious to sleep before he got on the plane. He was exhausted.

He would have fallen asleep in the airport if Brendon hadn't have arrived just as he was dozing off, looking puffed and slightly worried.

"Welcome to America," Brendon smiled, obviously trying to compose himself.

Josh ignored the way his friend was acting, too tired to talk about it. "Can we just go already?"

Brendon nodded and ushered his friend forward. He helped carry some of the bags as he lead the pair towards one of the parking lots, where a classic Mercedes was waiting for them. Josh chuckled when he saw the car.

About halfway through the drive, Josh began to laugh. Brendon turned to him with a look of concern.

"What?" Brendon asked.

"You can't drink!" Josh practically wheezed. "I just realised that you can't drink! Oh, you're a child! You're too young to drink!"

Brendon scoffed. "So are you."

"Yes, but you're Mr. 'I Can Go To Bars'. How does it feel, Brendon? How does it feel to be underage?" Josh beamed.

Brendon flipped him off. "I'm twenty, Joshua. I can drink in this country in seven months. You, though? You still have years."

Josh rolled his eyes. "You're just angry that you're underage."

Brendon hummed sarcastically. "Well, we're almost at the apartment, so you can shut up."

Josh's smile fell suddenly. "Will my 'husband' be there?"

Brendon shook his head. "No, he's coming tomorrow."

"I feel sorry for him," Josh sighed. "He's young. He shouldn't be involved in this."

"Nothing bad will happen to him," Brendon said. "He is safe, especially with you."

Josh rested his head on his hand. "Don't lie."

Brendon didn't reply, but he shot Josh a worried glance. He pulled into a parking space outside of a large-looking apartment building and got out before running around the car to open Josh's door and dramatically bowing to the younger boy. Josh laughed, making Brendon smile.

Brendon threw a pair of keys and a card to his friend, which flew straight past Josh and skidded to a stop on the pavement. Josh turned towards him with a tired expression, as if to say 'really?' Brendon shrugged and grinned.

"Fetch, boy," he teased, waving his hand towards the keys.

Josh scoreless but went to get them anyway. He followed Brendon into the building and then used the card to access the elevator. The two rode up in silence, elbowing each other every few moments and stifling laughs. There was a woman in front of them, shootings x the pair odd looks every now and then. When she met Brendon's eyes, he smiled widely and waved. She turned away without a word and walked out as soon as the elevator door opened. Josh playfully shoved his friend, who laughed and shoved him back. For a moment, as they continued to shove each other and laugh, they both forgot. They forgot about who they were, where they were and why they were there. They were just a couple of friends, messing around after a long day.

After a moment, their smiles faded. They stood next to each other awkwardly, both drowning in their own thoughts and unsure of what to say.

Josh broke the silence. "Where are you staying?"

"Down the hall," Brendon replied. He smiled, but it was empty. "So you can come crying to me whenever you want."

Josh didn't laugh. He hummed emotionlessly, to acknowledge the words, but he didn't say anything. He didn't even look at Brendon. Instead, he stared at metal doors until they opened.

Brendon stepped out first. He had been to the apartment before, when everything was being moved in. He knew his best friend well enough to know where he wanted everything to go.

When they arrived at one of the dozens of identical doors, Josh paused. He stared at the keys in his hand. One of them was engraved with the words "this one, idiot". Josh would have found it funny if the circumstances were different. He looked up to see Brendon, who looked just as solemn. Together, they pushed open the door.

Josh looked around. He had to admit that it was nice. He was about to explore when he heard Brendon let out a yelp, which sent him running to what he assumed was the living room. He looked at he couch and his eyes widened.

"What the fuck?"