Always and Forever

I browsed through the jewellery store at the local mall, looking for another charm. I knew what I wanted, I just couldn’t find it. I wanted something to represent Brendon.
I was looking at a guitar or maybe a treble clef seeing as he was so into music however, then, my eyes fell upon one particular item on the counter.

“Umm, could I take a closer look at that one?” I asked the assistant pointing to the charm in the glass cabinet. It was a black motor bike, it was perfect. I smiled widely “I’ll take that one thanks.”

“Holly! What are you doing here?” My eyes widened and my breath hitched inside my throat when I heard the all too familiar high pitched squeal of Kelsey.

“Hi” I smiled, my voice rising unnaturally high as I kissed her on both cheeks.

“I thought you were away with the family” Anna said crossing her arms over her chest.

Shit.

“I-I am” I lied grabbing the bag off the counter “We’re just heading off now” I started off out the shop.

“What did you-”

“I’ve gotta go...bye!” I yelled practically running out of the shop.

***

I met Brendon at his house later that day, the new charm hanging from the bracelet which I haven’t taken off since Brendon gave it to me.

“You ready?” Brendon asked stuffing his hands into his pockets.

“Y-yeah” I said nervously.

He pecked me lightly on the lips and rested his forehead against mine “thank you.”

We got into the car and drove down the highway to Nevada County Jail, Brendon wanted me to meet his dad. I was terrified; I had never been to a jail before. We were driving out through the desert, passing a few small townships along the way. We were driving through a completely baron patch of desert when in the distance, I saw the fortress like structure in the distance.

Every cliché you’ve ever seen regarding prisons was true. The building was tall and grey, every five metres there watch guards armed with different guns. There was barbed wire surrounding the building and practically no escape anywhere.

“Are you sure?” Brendon asked nervously after he parked the car.

“Y-yeah” I breathed sounding less that convincing.

Brendon looked at me hesitantly “I-I probably s-should’ve warned you, I’m sorry babe, but y-you might need to umm...cover up a bit more.”

I glanced down at my out outfit, jeans and a tank top after all, it was quite warm today “What’s wrong with it.”

Brendon scratched his neck awkwardly “Umm, well you know, some of the guys in here h-haven’t seen a girl i-in ages and some of them are in here for se-”

“Oh, uhh, okay, wha-”

“I might have a sweater in the boot” Brendon said quickly opening up the boot and pulling out a massive black Nike sweater.

“Brendon, that a really horrible sweater.”

“Shut up” Brendon smiled playfully “this used to be my favourite one.”

I laughed and threw the jumper on.

We walked into the visitor’s room and sat down at one of the tables. I glanced around to see many pairs of hungry eyes on me cautiously, I shifted towards Brendon. I immediately recognised Brendon’s father when he walked inside. He was much taller than Brendon and very muscular but his eyes and most of his facial features were a picture of Brendon’s and his hair was the same untameable black mess just greying slightly and a little out grown. Brendon stared at the ground, not watching his father as he was bought in chained and held by guards. As soon as he arrived at the table Brendon leapt up, throwing his arms around his dad’s body.

“Hey hey hey!” one of the guards yelled ripping Brendon away from his father and throwing him roughly into the plastic chair “No physical contact.”

Brendon rolled his eyes “He’s my dad for fuck’s sake!”

“No physical contact with prisoners.”

“So can I-”

“Brendon” his dad narrowed his eyes at Brendon; his voice was deep and stern. It was the type of voice that made you sit up and listen “Shut up.”

Brendon just crossed his arms over his chest “Are you okay?” I asked resting an arm gently on his.

“I’m fine” Bren don said shrugging me off him.

“Brendon” his dad said warningly.

“What? This is fucking bullshit! I see you what? Once a month and I can’t even fucking give you a hug, that bu-”

“Brendon, stop speaking like that, we’ve only an hour here okay, I don’t want to hear you speak like the. Now,” he smiled looking at me “This must be Holly.”

I smiled back politely “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

We all spent about half an hour talking, Brendon cautiously asking his dad about everything whilst filling him in life outside of prison.

“How’s your mom?” Brendon’s dad asked.

Brendon glanced around at me awkwardly and I took it as my cue to leave. I stood up, stuffing my hands into my pockets, said my goodbyes and wondered outside.

It was almost winter in Vegas, but I could already tell that this winter wasn’t going to be a cold one. The sun was warm against my pack, so I immediately pulled off Brendon’s sweater and sitting on the car park gutter drawing pictures in the sand with my fingers.

“What’s a pretty lady like you doing down here?” I glanced up to see an officer standing above me, speaking in a deep southerner accent.

I smiled at him and looked back down at the ground again “Waiting.”

“For?”

“My boyfriend.”

The officer nodded, I couldn’t help but wonder why he was speaking to me “Is he on the inside, I’m telling you m’am, ladies like you shouldn’t be attracted to them boys, they ain’t go for ya’ll.”

I smiled at him “We’re just visiting his dad.”

“Really? What’s the name?”

“Uhh, Urie, I don’t know his f-”

“Yeah, Michael Urie” the officer nodded “Nice guy, like the rest of ‘em, caught up in the light
of Vegas, oh, shit m’am, I shouldn’t have said that.”

I smiled again “Don’t worry, it’s fine.”

“So you’re that Urie boy’s girlfriend?” the officer smiled “There’s a temper on that kid huh?”

“Y-”

“Holly! Get in the car” Brendon hissed approaching the car “Why aren’t you doing your job” he glared at the officer.

The officer rolled his eyes “Sir, I don’t want to have to-”

“Can you leave?”

“I’m sorry sir” I said trying to apologise to the officer for Brendon’s behaviour.

“Holly! Hurry up!”

I rolled my eyes and got into the car slamming the door roughly “I really don’t know what gets into you sometimes,” I told him.

“You don’t know what he could’ve done to you while you out there alone!” Brendon hissed.

“We were talking Brendon” I said rolling my eyes.

“Yeah I know,”

“Then why do you act like such an ass for?” I cried.

“Well think about it, how would you feel when you’re getting fucking abused by fucking police and you can’t fucking speak alone to your dad be-!”

“Okay Bren” I said quietly “I get it.”

“Sorry Holly” Brendon said focusing on the road.

I pecked him lightly on the cheek and held warmly onto his spare hand “It okay Bren.”

I would never know what it was like to have a parent locked away, or even to be with out them for anymore than three days. I couldn’t imagine how Brendon felt as we drove back to Vegas, I tried to watch him, to see if his face would give me any signs, but he was as cold as stone.

“Bren, can we go to Ihop?” I suggested, because well, pancakes cheer everyone up.

We ate in silence but I couldn’t help but feel that through holding onto his hand the whole way through lunch I was defiantly showing him that I still cared, even if I wasn’t saying it.

“You got a new charm,” Brendon tilted his head “can I see it?”

I nodded and let him pull my wrist across the table.

“It’s a motorbike” Brendon said examining it closer.

I smiled and shyly bit on my lip “Yeah, it’s to remind me of you.”