Vacant

Title: Vacant
Author: Fandango
Type: Fanfiction
Rating: R
Genre: Drama | Teen

"Ryan is good at pretending."

From the start of the story Fandango paints a somewhat subtle picture of a dejected Ryan. Though no emotions are stated outright, it is clear to the reader exactly how Ryan sees himself and the world around him. Descriptions are sparse but not needed. Sentences are short and blunt, never containing more than a few words. The tone sets itself though, within the first few sentences it is clear that this is a short story that will leave you thinking.

Ryan gives off a constant feeling of desperation, whether intentional or not, masked by his unwillingness to be close to anyone. This is portrayed right from the start when he gives a cigarette to Brendon. It's clear that there is something about Brendon that he likes but doesn't want to like at the same time. Their initial banter is awkward, the way you would imagine two young adult boys to be. I couldn't stop the amused smile while reading the simple line "Somehow they still ended up fucking that night."

Fandango seems to be determined to cut straight to the point, not to linger around over describing scenes and wasteful dialouge. The story gets right down to it, showing the reader exactly how each boy feels about the other without ever saying it out loud. Like Ryan's distant nature, it's obvious to the reader that things will not end well, despite wishing they would. Both boys seem equally afraid, though of completely different things. Their fear makes the story that much more realistic and endearing.

Anyone who reads this, whether a Panic! at the Disco fan or not, will be able to relate to the theme of the story and both characters personalities. This short story is brilliantly written, not an error in sight, and the layout only adds to the beauty of it. Unfortunately, it seems to have gone underappreciated, with only three reccomendations and eight comments. This is a short story that will leave you grasping for more.