Chapter Text
I hadn't lived in Los Angeles for long. I’d lived here for almost ten months after finding out I got into UCLA and an avalanche of tasks had to be done. A lot of them hurt, like having to leave my mom alone back in Texas with our Australian shepherd Poppy, leaving my best friend Kara, taking down pictures that have been on my walls for years, but the worst of it all, leaving Brando.
Bran and I had met way back in the seventh grade in Ms. Spencer's history class. I had just moved counties for the fifth time in two years. He was the only person who wanted to talk to me on my first day. He had offered me a stupid piece of gum and for some reason that always stuck with me. For seven entire years, Bran and I stuck it out through so much and he was always at my side when I needed it. I know it's impossible to even fathom that it might happen, but I always wished we could be more than just friends. He hated the fact that I had to leave, hell he probably would’ve convinced me to turn down the offer of going to my dream school just to stay in Texas with him. We haven’t talked much since we said our goodbyes way back in August, all I’ve gotten was some care packages of some snacks from back home with little letters from my mom, Kara, and Bran inside of them. You know, he never really wrote much, but I know he wants to talk.
It was almost summer break for me and I did not want to spend my summer in L.A. at all. I constantly longed for the sweet summer heat back in Texas. I wanted to go back to those summer nights at the drive in with all my old friends or watch the stars and eat Dairy Queen. Most of all, I couldn’t wait another month, let alone a day, without seeing Brando again. I miss the days when we were still within minutes of each other.
I miss him.
As I was going through my clothes to try and convince myself to pack and go to Texas, I found Bran’s brown racer jacket I stole from him before I left for L.A. and tucked in a pocket was a crumpled napkin. I unfolded the napkin and at the top, it read “This Song.” I had completely forgotten I had written this before I left. I wrote a little chorus to a song the night I told him about me getting into UCLA. To think that this tiny piece of napkin from Sonic could be the major factor in a possible life changing decision. This was absolutely my sign to go back to Texas and tell Bran everything or at least something. Before I even begin to pack my bags, I frantically race to the school store and find a post card to send to everyone, letting them know I’m coming home for the summer. I found one that was perfect for Brando, it had a perfect pink and orange sunset over rolling oceans of bluebonnets tucked away in a forest somewhere in Texas. It was his and I’s favorite time of year so it was incredible that I found it tucked away in a college campus store.
I got back to my dorm and flew to my room to write Bran his postcard. My roommate, Alexis, looked at me like I was either absolutely insane, but then again, that’s just an ordinary Tuesday for the two of us.
“Yo, Wil, why are you so manic all the sudden?” Alexis sighs, holding their steaming herbal tea at my door.
“Uh- Nothing… much.” I scramble to cover up the postcard with my arm. “I’m going back to Texas to see family for the summer so I’m writing up some postcards to send to them.”
“Wilson, don’t you dare tell me you’re going back for that fling you had with that one guy… Bran Flakes or whatever.”
“It wasn't a fling! We’re just friends or at least that’s what has been communicated in the almost decade we’ve known each other. I’d be surprised if he would even like someone like me, let alone actually consider dating me if he did. And his name is Brando, Lexi.”
“Wil, you know that I love you, but you really have to figure that whole thing out with this Brando kid.” Alexis throws their hands up in defeat. “Keep writing your love letters and chasing that fantasy of yours.”
As Alexis walks out they shout, “Also you’re calling me weekly for updates because I’m invested!”
“Fine! But don’t expect me to give you the gory details if anything does happen.” I shout back.
As I ran over that conversation in my mind, there was one thing that stuck out to me. Alexis had said, “You know that I love you,” which has a nice ring to it, almost like a hook to a song. I could be going insane but the jacket, the napkin, and now these simple phrases turning into rhythms in my head cannot be pure coincidence. No… This is fate.
I scramble to find a pen that actually works and that will hopefully not dry out half way through me writing. I find this old, blue fountain pen that's been harbouring dust for months now and I sloppily write a message onto the card:
Brando,
I’m coming back to the suburbs for the summer. I’ve missed you kinda. Not a lot though.
P.S. I may have “borrowed” your brown racer jacket for all of the past year. Thanks.
-Wilson