The Lonely Hour

Chapter 9: The Forgotten

"You're a fucking idiot" Patrick thought to himself as he climbed into the drivers seat of his truck. He had forgotten that today Melanie's family would be over. How could he have gotten black out drunk with Ella? He thought. Patrick's sense of control wasn't very good when he was drunk and things could have escalated with Ella.

Patrick was frustrated with himself, he now how to explain to Melanie why he hadn't returned to the apartment that night.

He finally arrives at the condo, and all that he can think about is how good she looked with her hair let free.

God he didn't need this right now.

Quickly he looked down at his shirt, it was a pale blue with "Chicago University" plastered across it. His hair was a real mess, every strand in every other direction. His pants wrinkled and his coat pocket had some were alcohol smell.

He was dead.

He headed up to the condo where he pushed the front door open, maybe he could sneak into the bedroom and change. But everyone was in the living room staring at him.

Her sister, brother, mom, dad and her.

"Hey guys" he tried to play it cool.

"Patrick" Melanie fake smiled, her eyes like daggers as she looked at him.

"I'm so sorry I forgot-"

"Where were you exactly?" Melanie's mother questioned. She didn't like him very much and this definitely was not helping.

"Went out with the team last night" He gulped hard, his palms suddenly became sweaty "I stayed at Jon's house last night" He smiles hard, trying to ease up Melanie which wasn't working.

"How about you go change and we can go to dinner?" Melanie's sister suggests. She was mysterious and Patrick could never quiet figure her out. She had saved him and Melanie countless times and always took Patrick's side and he didn't know why.

"Let me do that" Patrick says, tension was high.

"I'll help you" Melanie smiles so hard, smile lines around her eyes are visible. She waits until Patrick and her are out of sight before letting Patrick have it.

"Patrick how could you?" She mumbled as she pulled a dress shirt from the closet. "You know how much I stressed about this for the past two weeks" She began to cry.

Guilt set in on Patrick, he knew he screwed up big time. Patrick pulls Melanie into his arms but she pushes away.

"No Patrick! Not this time" She mumbles. "Just get dressed" She throws the shirt at him before storming out of the bedroom.

Patrick looks at himself in the mirror as he puts on his fresh shirt. Why did he feel this way? He wondered. Why couldn't he be happy, he had everything. He had a girlfriend, he had his dream job and beautiful home.

What was missing?

With a heavy heart he took Melanie and her family to dinner. He sat back and watched them converse with one another and enjoy each other.

Patrick excused himself from the dinner table, he needed a few moments to breath. He made his way to the one bathroom the restaurant had. Leaving be door open he walked to the sink and splashed cold water on his face. When he looked back up he saw Melanie's sister, Bradley.

"Bradley?" Patrick questioned as he patted his face try with paper towels.

"Patrick, what's wrong?" She questioned, her voice so soft and soothing.

"I uh don't know what you mean" Patrick tried to shake her off.

"Listen Patrick, don't want to tell me? Fine. I just know you're not happy with my sister. She's not the easiest to get along with" She rubs her arm "But you are better off leaving her now, don't lead her on. You both don't need this" She explains

"You're wrong" Patrick hangs his head "I love her" he mumbles. But somewhere deep inside of Patrick he knows it's a lie. If Melanie slept with another man tomorrow he wouldn't blame her. Patrick didn't satisfy her sexually, romantically over even emotionally. Honestly, Patrick didn't know why she was still wit him.

And to make matter's worse this morning Patrick awoke in Ella's dorm.

Ella.

Her hazel eyes were still so vivid in his mind. Shaking his head once more, Patrick suppresses the thought of her and goes on with dinner.