I Do I Did

Twenty Five

"What were you even thinking?"

Ryan began freaking out as soon as Pete's office door closed. He was pacing the floors fast enough to scuff his pretty Prada shoes. There was a stack of magazines being held under his arm. He was running his hands through his hair every twenty seconds.

"It's not that big of a deal." Pete shrugged.

Ryan snapped his head towards Pete. His stare practically burning into his skin.

"Not that big of a deal?" He repeated. Stalking towards Pete's desk with a dangerous look in his eye. He slammed the magazines down in front of Pete. "This looks like a pretty big deal to me."

Pete lifted the first magazine up in his hand. There was picture of him and Patrick leaving the hospital. Pete was looking straight ahead. An emotionless look on his face. Patrick was staring at Pete. How that man made those hospital clothes look good, Pete had no idea. In the picture it looked like Pete was pulling him towards the car. The header read.

Sophomore Slump or Comeback of the Year?

Pete rolled his eyes. He looked at the magazine under it. The bottom half of the magazine pictured Pete and Meagan's wedding. They were standing over the ridiculously large wedding cake. Meagan was smiling wide enough to split her face. Pete was gazing down at her intently. They both had one hand on the cake cutter. It was cute.

The top half of the magazine pictured Pete and Patrick's wedding. Just like in the bottom picture, they were standing over their large wedding cake. This picture didn't look as professionally done as the first. Patrick held the cake cutter high in his hand. His face was red with laughter as he looked over at Pete. Pete was laughing too. Just not as hard as Patrick. There was cake smeared down his nose.

Pete stared at the two pictures. Comparing and contrasting each wedding day in his mind. Trying to decide which was more memorable. But then he stopped. He didn't want to choose which meant more to him. He was afraid of the answer.

The top of that magazine read Pete's Polygamy Problems. Pete laughed. He looked up and Ryan was still glaring at him.

"This is such bullshit. These magazines are trash." Pete pushed them to the edge of the desk.

"I'm glad you think it's funny."

Ryan strode to the other side of the office. Lifting up the remote. He pointed it at the television hanging in the corner. Turning it on and flipping to the first channel he could think of. That channel just so happened to be E! news.

"He was spotted entering the unnamed bar with his pregnant wife and model, Meagan Camper Wentz."
The bleached blonde woman told the viewers. "But he was seen leaving alone together with former husband and artist, Patrick Stump."

Ryan switched the channel.

"Next up, the footage of Peter Wentz manhandling his husband outside of a bar downtown. But Patrick was going down swinging-"

Switch.

"Patrick Wentz is alive and ready to party. He was spotted in a bar last night with this man." A picture of Patrick and William dancing closely together popped up on the TV. "This is the second time they've been spotted together since Patrick woke up from his two year coma."

Switch.

"The American Made painter was dragged to the car and practically thrown in-"

Switch.

"Patrick Stump-Wentz, who was thought to be dead on arrival after the car crash two years ago is alive and dancing?"

Switch.

"It's been Centuries since we've heard any real exciting news from the Wentz family."

Switch.

"As he dragged him out of the bar, witnesses said he looked angry enough to erupt. Like a young volcano. Others said he looked like he was on some kind of drug." The dark footage of Pete pulling Patrick began playing. It was bad. "In my opinion it's drugs. Hey what to I know, right?" He shrugged. "But if that's not a side effect of cocaine, I don't know what else it could be."

Switch.

"We all witnessed the live footage of his first wedding. Where his current wife, Meagan Camper set out to ruin it with a few friends. Making it almost impossible to say I do. But maybe Meagan wasn't the reason it was a difficult wedding. Maybe Peter always wanted her." She lifted the stack of papers in front of her and tapped them on the desk. "Because you know what they say." She looked directly into the camera. "Its hard to say I do when you don't."

Ryan flicked the television off and turned to face Pete.

"It's everywhere. Investors are backing out from the bad press. And our consumption rate has dropped over night. Buyers don't like abusive polygamy rumors, Pete."

"This is fucking ridiculous." Pete threw his head back in frustration.

"This is how it is." Ryan sat the remote on the desk. "And as head of your PR team, I have to tell you that if this continues, you will lose millions. And I'm talking big millions."

"What the fuck am I supposed to do?" Pete rested his elbows on his desk. And hid his face in his hands.

"I'm glad you asked." Ryan shuffled through the magazines on Pete's desk. Pulling a manilla folder from between them. He sat it in front of Pete.

"What's this?" Pete glanced down at it and frowned.

Ryan flipped it open. Exposing the crisp sheets of paper inside. Pete read the top of it. Divorce Agreement.

"Make a choice." Ryan stately blunty. His phone rang in his pocket. Killing the serious mood in the room. He glanced down at the name and frowned. Placing it to his ear. "Why are you calling me from downstairs?"

Pete could hear the buzz of the other person talking. But not any actual words.

"It's not that kind of meeting." Ryan sighed. "Yes, you can go to jail for cutting someone's dick off."

He rushed to the door. Opening it and walking out without saying anything else to Pete.

"Babe, put the scissors away. I'm coming downstairs now."