Lost, But Found // Patrick Stump

chapter four

there was now a mark by pete's jawline, in a bright shade of red. the mark was the exact same shape as anna's hand.

patrick gasped, for he had never seen this side of her before. he quickly took anna by the hands and tried to hold her back.

"are you insane?" he hissed at her. "you can't just go around attacking people like that. what possessed you to do that?"

"i'm sorry," she mouthed.

patrick wrapped his arms around her. "i know you are," he said softly.

pete stood up then.

"what has gotten into your girlfriend?" he slurred.

"back off, pete," patrick said. "she's not my girlfriend."

"but i know you want her to be," he fired back.

"would you just shut up?"

"i just couldn't, patrick," pete replied. "what would your girlfriend think about that? oh wait, she obviously wouldn't care. after all, she apparently enjoys punching people in their jaws!"

"she's very sorry," patrick said.

"i'm sorry, pete," anna mouthed.

"oh, sorry isn't gonna cut it. this beautiful face is gonna require an hour or two of cosmetic surgery, thanks to you." pete was, once again, exaggerating the situation. and both anna and patrick knew this.

"oh, stop thinking about yourself, wentz," he said in disgust. "would you start taking other people into consideration, besides pete wentz?"

"i care, patrick," pete spat. "you may not notice, but i really do care. this band, it's been a huge part of my life for over 10 years. you, and joe, and andy. you guys are some of my nearest and dearest friends. and for you to say that i'm self absorbed, really does hurt my heart."

anna rolled her eyes, taking note of the very dramatic tone in pete's voice. part of her wanted to punch him out of anger, similar to the first punch.

but another part wanted to just burst out in laughter because of the ridiculousness of this situation.

"go home, pete. you're drunk. and besides, what kind of grown man-what kind of father-gets drunk early in the morning? and on top of that, treats the day like some little kid's show, where a problem can be quickly, simply, and easily solved?"

"my problems are very simple, patrick."

"bull. right now, your problems are more complicated than anyone i know. doesn't that embarrass you, pete? just a little bit?"

pete shook his head. "nah. if you would have seen my problems ten years ago, this would've been nothing. oh, wait. you should know what i'm talking about. after all, it's not often that a good friend of yours tries to commit suicide. isn't that right, annabelle?" he now turned to anna.

"don't bring her into this," patrick warned.

"she's the one who punched me, so she's automatically a part of this. tell me something, annabelle. what's it like to feel alone? to feel like no one cares deeply about you?"

"shut up, pete," patrick muttered, but pete continued.

"it must not feel very good, right?"

anna nodded.

"so, anna. you tried to commit suicide, right?"

she nodded again.

"don't," patrick said.

"shut up, patrick. anyways, you certainly know how i must have felt, right?"

she, once again, nodded.

"good. because i don't think your boyfriend has an understanding of it."

"you better shut your mouth right now," patrick growled. "i mean it, pete. you're making annabelle uncomfortable."

and this was true. pete was putting anna in a very awkward situation.

"oh, you old soft serve. i'm trying to have a lovely conversation with your girlfriend. would you stop trying to interrupt me?"

"well, this conversation is over, because anna and i are leaving. it's been quite lovely talking to you, pete. i mean that. the best time of my life." sarcasm dripped from patrick's voice. "but you obviously need more time to mature."

"you need more time, too, patrick stump," pete said icily.

"good bye, pete wentz," patrick said, taking anna's hand and leading her out of the restaurant.

-

"i'm so sorry you had to deal with that," was the first thing he said when they were back in the car. they just sat in the parking lot; patrick was in too much disbelief to even think about driving.

anna shrugged, as if it were no big deal.

"i can't believe he would put you in that position. and after all i did for him, after all he did for me and for you. it really makes me angry."

she nodded in agreement.

"i just feel so ashamed." his eyes began to fill with tears. "i've been friends with pete for so long. and he has never done anything like that before. he's one of the nicest people i know. i could've done something to help him. so he wouldn't have spiraled out of control like this. but i didn't. annabelle, what have i done?"

anna knew that patrick had already done so much to help pete. and now here he was, treating this entire thing like it was all his fault. if anything, it was all pete's fault.

she desperately wanted to talk, but it was if someone had locked her throat shut with a key. words couldn't muster the courage to come out. and she felt terrible about it.

she closed her eyes, and just like that, she was out like a light.

patrick noticed this, and he smiled through his tears, before grabbing her left hand and placing it in his right hand.

"i know you don't really want to talk right now," he sniffled. "but i know that you'd probably say something nice about me if you wanted to. and i'd probably deny it, because i'm like that. i can't find the courage to say this to you when you're awake, but i like you, annabelle. a lot. i always have, and i always will, whether you know it or not. if you ever speak again, i hope you say that you feel the same way."

and as patrick poured his heart out to her, she slept soundly.

and she was unaware of everything he had just said.

-

thanks for reading this chapter! i actually had quite a time writing this one, so i hope you had quite a time reading it!

i'm going to see fall out boy! and i'm so excited! i'm not very excited about wiz khalifa, and i probably will not watch his set.

anyways, good bye!