The Kiss Bet July 2022 Ship Challenge

#16 Complicated

A/N: Listen, I don't necessarily personally ship Patrick with Rose... but I wrote it anyways because sometimes you get inspired. I completely understand if you skip this story because of that, but I hope you give it a chance anyways because Patrick is basically my man in this story and that makes it special to me. (Patrick and Oliver both remind me of my man in different ways because he's for real a guitar-playing mathlete, with a goofy sense of humor and a sassy mouth)
Anyways, here you go.

"I like you the way you are
When w'e're driving in your car
And you're talking to me, one on one
But you've become

Somebody else 'round everyone else
You're watching your back like you can't relax
You're trying to be cool
You look like a fool to me
Tell me

Why do you have to go and make things so complicated?
I see the way you're acting like you're somebody else
Gets me frustrated
Life's like this, you..."

"STOP! SINGING. That song."  A very deep breath followed by what was obviously was an afterthought of "...Please."
Patrick looked at Rose and smirked. "You got a problem with Avril Lavigne?"
"Noooooooo, I have a problem with you scream-singing that song in my ear on repeat for like a week straight. I understand that you're trying to tell me something but do you have to be so annoying about it?" Rose rolled her eyes. Honestly, she liked Patrick but he could be a lot to handle sometimes.
The boy's smirk turned suddenly serious. "Rose,  I tried to have a real conversation with you about it and you didn't want to listen."
"Because you're being ridiculous!" She raised her voice. "I'm not acting like someone I'm not to impress anyone!"
He looked at her and shrugged his shoulders "if you're not willing to listen to me, I'm not going to fight about it."
Rose sighed and held her hands up palms out "Wait. I'm sorry. If this is going to work I should be able to at least hear you out when you have something to say."
He gave her a small but genuine smile "Thank you. I know that can be uncomfortable and I appreciate it. I'm not trying to hurt your feelings or attack you, but I want to tell you how I honestly feel. If I say something in a hurtful way let me know and I'll try to explain it better."

Though they hadn't been... whatever it was they were... for very long, that was something Rose appreciated about Patrick. He was goofy and sassy, but he was also very caring. He definitely had the capacity to accidentally take a joke to far, or to be irritating and push buttons. But he would do anything he could to avoid causing real pain that he didn't need to when he cared about someone.
"Ok, I understand. Now tell me." Rose took a breath and got ready for what she knew was coming. He had tried bringing it up before, and she hadn't listened. But this time she would.
"I feel like I can't tell my friend's that we're... together... because they'd be upset with me. And I honestly can't blame them because you've treated them pretty terribly in the past. But that's the thing! You're not a terrible person! But I think you're too worried about what people think and it makes you..."
"I think the term you used that time you got me to cut gym was "a bitter old hag"" Rose arched her brow.
"Noooooooo I said you were going to END UP one. You're not one yet. But that time cutting class is a perfect example! You let your guard down and relaxed with me and that was nice. If you acted more like that around everyone we wouldn't have an issue. But instead it's like you've decided to make Sara-Lin your mortal enemy. She's my best friend and I can't even tell her about... us..." He finished, petering out at the ending with the mention of their undetermined relationship.
"To be fair she was my, what was the weird term you guys kept using? "Love rival" For a good while before she got together with Joe. And after that when I had my "mini crush" on you, you were still pretty hung up on her." She rolled her eyes as she said mini crush, still remembering how ridiculous she'd felt during THAT particular conversation. "So it's not like I haven't had a reason to be a little extra catty with her. And that blowup in the hallway doesn't count. I was extremely flustered by what we'd just done and took it out on her. I shouldn't have done that, but it's not like I can explain what happened." She folded her arms against her chest, wanting to listen and keep an open mind, but still feeling the need to explain and defend herself at least a bit.

Patrick hummed slightly to show that he'd listened to what she'd said and was thinking about it. "Could you try to STOP being her enemy now that you're not love rivals anymore? I understand if you're not going to be FRIENDS, but I just think that you're not really acting like your true self and if you did it would go a long way in making things easier."
Rose looked at him and huffed "I can try." She looked away and started fidgeting with her fingers slightly "whatifyou'rewrongthough?" She said so quickly and quietly he could barely understand her.
"Please repeat that and maybe explain?" He said confused.
"What if you're wrong though?" She said at a normal volume and pace, though still not looking at him. "What if I'm not actually like your stupid song and I am just a boring stiff girl on her way to becoming a bitter old hag? What if there's not some hidden side of me that I just need to let out?"
"I'm not wrong. You know how I know?" Patrick put his hands on her cheeks and lifted her face until their eyes met again.
"How?" She whispered, the word catching in her throat.
"Because you asked me that. You wouldn't be so vulnerable and worried if I was." He spoke gently leaning in to rest his forehead against hers, and as he did so Rose began to blush.
"Not here." She said, speaking about the empty newspaper room which had become their unofficial meeting spot. They made sure to never touch when they were in there however, not since that first time. To worried about being caught.

Patrick sighed and pulled away. He wanted so badly to be allowed to touch her. He didn't just mean kissing her again! He wanted to hold her hand, run his fingers through her hair, bop her on the nose. Ok maybe that last one was silly, but he just craved a relationship where he didn't have to hide that they were even FRIENDS much less... whatever they were. He wanted to ask what they were but was afraid of what the answer might be. They obviously both liked each other,  but that wasn't the only factor.
Was it?
He thought about the song he'd been singing just moments ago. Yes it applied to Rose, but did it also apply to him? Was he so worried about what his friend's would think that he was denying himself, and someone he cared about,  a chance to try to be happy?
He thought carefully about what he wanted to say next and then cleared his throat.
"Rosemary... what are we and what would you like us to be?"

Rose did NOT see that coming. She had thought that it was an unspoken rule for the two of them that what they were doing would remain... well... unspoken. But as she watched Patrick nervously blush and scuff his shoe she realized how wrong she was to think that could last. He deserved to have it communicated to him how she felt.
"Ummm... I like you. But I don't want to ruin your friendships. So I honestly don't know. Maybe we can see how me being nicer goes and reassess?"
Can I tell you what I think?" Patrick asked her with a soft look.
"Sure." She answered back somewhat nervously.
"I think my friends will be happy for my happiness if they're true friends. They'll see you working to change and that will help long term, but for now? I just want to be able to hold your hand and if anyone has a problem with that it's their problem." He spoke confidentiality.
Rose looked at him and thought about what he'd said. She reached out her hand and grabbed his.
"Ok. I still don't know exactly what our relationship is or what I want it to be, but I want to hold your hand too. So if you're OK with doing that publicly, I'll follow your lead."
Patrick smiled wide and hugged her tightly "That works for me for now."

As they walked out of the newspaper room, they continued to hold hands. Yet again Sara-Lin came bursting down the hallway holding a stack of papers, though this time she didn't collide.
"Uhhhh... What's going on with you two? Patrick I thought you said you liked Tammy! Why would you lie to me? And why are you holding hands with HER?" She glared at where their hands were clasped.
Patrick and Rose looked at each other and then back at Sara-Lin.
"It's complicated.

A/N: The song at the beginning is "Complicated" by Avril Lavigne. I used to love the album it's off of when I was little, so I saw the prompt and my brain instantly started singing that song lol.

Like I said, I don't necessarily ship Patrick with Rose, but my brain gave me a story and they were the characters that fit best.
I definitely wrote Patrick's healthy communication with heavy real-life inspiration here. Love you babe