Finding Lost Dog Tags

Chapter 5

I walked over to the refreshments table and reached for a water bottle. My hands were really sore so Patrick's father told me I could take a quick break before playing again.

"You played beautifully, darling." I whipped my head around and saw Patrick smiling at me.

"Darling?" He laughed and linked my arm with his, leading me towards the hallway.

"Where are you taking me, Patrick? I need to play again soon."

"I need to get away from there for a while." Patrick's face suddenly became dark and his eyes started to loose their carefree glow.

"Are you okay Patrick?" I stopped him from going further and sat down on a nearby bench. He followed my lead, and sat down next to me. After taking a breath, he looked at me, and I saw that his eyes were filled with tears.

"No. I'm not okay, Alice. I'm not okay pretending to be that bastard's perfect son. I'm not okay when he orders me around. I try my hardest to please him, but end up failing. I hate the disappointment in his eyes when he looks at me. And usually my mom would, you know, balance the strictness and the playfulness but-" He stopped at starred into the distance. I wrapped my arms around him and held him for a while, trying to come up with the words to say.

Patrick's mother left him and his father two years ago. I guess the pressure of being a military wife and mother just got to her and she ended up chasing some young man to Italy. Patrick never showed any emotion towards the situation. He just pretended that he was okay with it, but deep down, I knew he was anything but.

"Feels good, huh?"

"What?" Patrick squinted his eyes in confusion when I spoke.

"To finally let what you've been bottling up inside you out. I've been waiting for you to talk to me about this for a while."

"I wouldn't use the adjective good to describe this moment, but it defiantly feels... different." He chuckled and let out a deep breath.

"Patrick you are a very special person. You make me laugh when I want to cry and sulk. My day is always happier when you're there. Tyler and I are so grateful for what you have done for us. I know Cassie and Michael would say the same thing. I can't speak for your father, but know that I are very proud of you and will stand by you no matter what."

Everything I said was true. Patrick visited me everyday in that dreadful foster home and then right after seeing me, he went and saw Tyler. I got a progress report about how Tyler was doing every night and Tyler got one about me.

I never felt any romantic feeling towards Patrick, but he defiantly will always have a special place in my heart. I think he felt the same way about me.

"Thanks Alice." He hugged me one last time and wiped the tear that fell down his cheek. "Now go play some music while I escort some of the ladies to the dance floor." I laughed when he winked at me.

~

Towards the end of the night, I became very tired and almost called it quits, but the event was scheduled to end in less than an hour. I could manage.

The smell of cologne and pine filled my nose and a warm body took a seat next to me on the bench. What the?

"Know any duets, Ali?" Nate smiled at me while placing his hands on the piano as well. "I figured you wouldn't mind cutting the workload in half. I would be pretty tired too if I had to play for three straight hours." This man really had a way with involving himself in other people's business. But he was just so beautiful doing it. I couldn't find the words to scold him so I said the first thing that came to mind.