I'm Going Nowhere Fast (Peterick)

20. Music Or The Misery

(Pete's P.O.V)

Walking through the halls the next day felt different. No one stared at Patrick or me or any of our friends as if we were toxic waste that should be disposed of, we were treated . . . normally. I walked past Tyson and Carl only to be nodded at instead of being called a traitor for leaving them to be with Patrick. I waited for someone to come out of nowhere and shove Patrick against a wall of lockers but that didn't happen either. It was strange but a good strange. I glanced around at the students walking around and hanging out in the hallway. Once I was satisfied with what I saw, I quickly slipped my hand into Patrick's and waited for someone to insult us but that didn't happen either.

It felt strange walking through these halls and not being bullied for who I loved or what I believed in. It was the strangest thing but it felt nice for a changed. The pervious monotony of the school routine had driven me up the walls but now that it was gone I felt strangely empty, as if I had relied on the bullying to get me through the day.

As I got closer to my locker I could hear students whispering about Jake. They talked about how much they disliked him after his display in the cafeteria the previous day. Everything had done a complete 180. Jake was now the outcast and it seemed like all of my friends - myself included - were no longer the toxic waste that needed to be disposed of.

"It feels weird," Patrick whispered. I glanced over at him to see that he was staring at everyone with weary eyes. "I'm so used to getting push around and now . . . now Jake is the outcast.'

I opened the door to my locker and nodded in agreement. "Now he's in the position we were in."

Patrick played with the straps to his school bag. "Pete, is it bad that I feel guilty for what we've done? I know it may sound stupid but I feel as if we have stooped to Jake's level."

"We may have played a part in his downfall but I don't feel guilty. Yes we may have stooped to his level but he stooped even lower when he grabbed you and started yelling at you," I replied.

Hot anger burst through my veins like a dam wall bursting. My hands curled and uncurled under their own free will, they desperately wanted to punch Jake. I took a deep breath and calmed myself down before glancing into Patrick's eyes.

"That didn't answer my question Pete. I asked of it was bad that I felt guilty," Patrick said.

"It's you Trick, that's why you feel guilty. You're such a kind hearted person that wouldn't normally do what we've done because you more than anyone understands what it's like to be in Jake's position." I smiled slightly at Patrick. "So to answer your question, no it isn't bad that you feel guilty. It just means you're more kind hearted and patient than the text of you."

"I'm not super patient," Patrick pointed out with a blush. "I only took so much before I punched Jake."

I grinned at him. "And I'm very proud of you for doing that."

We burst out into laughter. It did my body good to be able to laugh the way I did. When I was friends with Jake I had never laughed as hard as this because he never gave me reason to. But with Patrick and his friends I had been given plenty of reasons to smile and laugh and to be myself. Patrick and I were still laughing as I wrapped my arms around him.

The students grew silent around us and I thought that it had something to do with me hugging Patrick, but that wasn't the case at all. I pulled away from Patrick to see that everyone was staring towards the end of the hallway. I followed their gazes to see that Jake was walking down the hallway with his good pulled over his hood pulled over his head. Slowly, students began to whisper causing Jake to look up. His eyes scanned the hallway until they landed on me and Patrick.

Patrick shrunk against my side and gripped my hand tightly and I knew that he was starting to panic slightly. Jake started moving closer to us and I was vaguely aware that some of the students were moving closer to Patrick and me in case we needed the support. I was strangely touched by how things had changed, by how everyone now supported us since they weren't under Jake's influence.

"I need to talk to you," Jake said to me after he had approaches Patrick and me.

"Talk," I snapped.

Jake glanced around at our audience and clenched his teeth. "Alone," he spat.

Patrick's grip on my hand tightened a little more. I glanced down at him to see that he was staring up at me with wide eyes.

"You don't have to go," Patrick whispered, his tone and eyes pleading with me.

I squeezed his hand gently and pulled my hand free. "I know I don't but I'll be fine."

"Just get a room already!" Jake snapped.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Do you want to speak with me or not? If you do you should be a tad more respectful."

Jake shoved his hands into the pocket of his hoodie and lowered his eyes to the ground. "Sorry."

For a moment I was struck by the sincerity behind that one word. Jake had never said sorry and actually meant it. And the way he lowered his eyes and tried to make himself smaller just reminded me of Patrick before I even spoke with him.

"Can we just go and talk?" Jake asked.

I sighed. "Lead the way."

Jake spun on his heel and stalked through the hallway with his head and shoulders hunched. I followed a couple of steps behind Jake watching the way he walked, the way Patrick used to walk. People snickered at Jake as he walked passed them. I could see how it affected him and it started to make me feel slightly guilty for what we had done. I knew I shouldn't have felt that way but I just couldn't help it, I think Patrick's personality was starting to rub off on me after the amount of time we had spent together.

Jake led me to a secluded spot outside of the school. He stopped under a tree and slowly turned to face me his lips pulled into a thin line.

"It looks like you and your friends get your wish," Jake said with a bitter laugh. "I'm moving to New York whether my parents want me to or not. I want to get as far as possible from you, from Stump, from everyone!"

"We didn't ever do anything to you!" I lied.

"Bullshit!" Jake shouted. He took a deep breath to calm himself. "Look I didn't come here to argue with you. I just wanted you to know I'm leaving and now you can go and spread the word that I'm gone."

"What are you gonna do in New York?" I demanded. "Torment more people like Patrick?"

Jake clenched his hands into fists then laughed bitterly. "I think I learnt my lesson about fucking with emo kids."

"Good because you're honestly a dick," I replied.

Jake stared at me with wide eyes. "You seriously have some nerve Wentz."

And with that Jake turned and stalked off towards his car. I watched Jake go feeling completely stunned, did I just offend Jake?

I was still standing in the area Jake had left me in when the tardy bell ranging. I knew I had to go to class but I couldn't bring myself to leave this spot. I felt terrible for treating Jake the way I had. We had stooped to his level by bringing him down and I understood what Patrick had meant about feeling guilty and I had just been making excuses for us.

A hand landed on my shoulder and I spun around to see Patrick staring at me with worried eyes.

"What happened?" Patrick asked me in a hushed tone.

I glanced at the empty space where Jake had parked. He was actually gone. Through all the guilt I still managed to be relieved that he was gone for good.

"Jake's gone," I whispered.