What If?

Chapter 2

I was only a couple sips into my drink when I heard a goofy laugh I would recognize from a mile away.  I thought it may be the tequila talking, but when I turned around I saw Patrick stuck in a circle of fans.  Of course I would run into him today.  His glance quickly met mine.  He gave me his famous half grin as I turned away from him.  I saw a couple of the girls notice me and pull out their phones.   I knew he would come over, but I pretended I didn't notice anything going on around me.

He slid onto the stool beside me and waited for me to meet his stare.  "You're ignoring me?"  Did he really just quote the show?  At this point, I could tell the girls that were falling all over him were now taking videos of us.  Might as well give them something good!

"Uhm trying to.."  I tried to hold a straight face.

"You shouldn't ignore me."  He waved for a drink.

"Why not?"  

"Because I'm someone you get to know to love."  He flashed his full, flirty smile this time.

"Really?"  I did my best to recreate every facial expression.

"Oh, yes!"

"So, if I know you, I'll love you?"  I kept my eyes locked with his insanely blue ones.

He leaned onto the bar. "Oh, yes!"

"You really like yourself, huh?"  I rolled my eyes a little.

"Just hiding my pain."  In the scene, we both fake chuckled.  This time the laughter was real.  "So, what's your story?"

"I don't have story, I'm just a girl in a bar."  

"I'm just a guy in a bar."  This caused a flood of 'oh my gods' to come from the people behind us.

"You know so many rumors are going to start because of this?"

"I know!"  He winked. "Bartender, another round for my wife."

"So, you're a ghost now?"  I went along with his improvisation.  The chemistry hasn't changed!

"No.  I am just the newest victim of a death rumor. I actually survived the whole thing and have been waiting for you to come get me for a year.  I heard I was replaced though."  He was managing to keep a straight face, but I couldn't hold back the laughter.  I had to take a few deep breaths before I could speak again.

"I haven't replaced you, yet. Next time you seemingly die, maybe you could call and let us know you're alive... Did you hear you have a new daughter to meet?  She's a couple months old, I think daddy will be on diaper duty for a while as punishment for not calling. You'll also need to grow your hair back out, McDreamy."  I put my hand on top of his head and ran my fingers through his much shorter hair. 

"Fair enough." He kissed my cheek then stood up and faced our crowd.  He pulled me up beside him and bowed.  I followed suit hoping that they would leave.  When they didn't, he handed me a napkin with a number on it.

"It's my new number, call me and we can have lunch or something to catch up!"  I nodded and gave him a goodbye hug.  I could see the phones coming back out all around us.  I'm sure we'll be on the cover of the tabloids by the end of the week.  That wasn't really bothering me though as I watched him walk away.  I felt like I had just been reunited with my best friend and then he was gone again.  It stung more than it did the first time we said goodbye.