The Rhythm of the Rain (Patrick Stump / Fall Out Boy Fanfic)

Chapter 3 - Only Say My Name

Lily Matthews

A week before tour started, we were just finally getting somewhere in the Just One Yesterday video. I was sitting off to the side of the set, admiring my handiwork on the guys as they stumbled around the set. Patrick looked particularly great today, if I do say so myself, and I was really just very pleased with the way his hair turned out. He was on the ground at the moment, laying on his back with a bright red milk snake crawling over his belly. He was strangely comfortable with the snake being all over him, whereas I would have completely lost my mind if that were me.

The music started up, and Patrick fell right into character. It was interesting to watch him, having never really pegged him as an actor, but he was great at it. After shooting his first scene, he wandered over to where I was sitting, taking a short break while thy filmed Pete's scene with the snake. He stood beside my chair, smiling at me with his hands in his pockets. "What do you think?" He asked, looking up at Pete as he got into position.

"I like the concept for this video," I said, "And you know it's my favorite song on the album."

Patrick grinned and looked down at me. "I know," he stated, blushing slightly. I was remarkably great at making him blush, but I didn't think too much into it. We watched Pete's scene quietly, as well as Joe's and Andy's after him. When it came time for Patrick to hitch a ride with Foxes in her red pickup truck, Pete wandered over to keep me company.

"Lily!" He shouted, jogging over to crouch down in the grass beside me. "I saw that."

"Saw what?" I asked, watching Patrick climb into the truck.

"You and Patrick," he stated, smirking at himself.

"We were just talking, Pete," I insisted. He only smirked some more, so I rolled my eyes and laughed. "Why, when there are hundreds of people on set, do you only insist on annoying me?" I asked.

"Because you're my favorite, Lily, obviously," Pete chuckled, looking up at me with that Cheshire Cat smile. "And because I want you two together, if it's the last thing I do."

"Well what if we don't want to be together?" I asked, incredulously.

"Lily," Pete muttered, "Look me in the eyes and tell me you don't want that." He pointed towards Patrick, who just so happened to be bent over next to the truck, picking something up off of the ground. I couldn't help but stare for a moment, then shook my head and looked at Pete.

"I don't," I insisted.

"Right," Pete said, grinning when I couldn't quite make eye contact. "Well, anyways, we're having a meeting tonight at my place to talk about tour stuff, and I think you should go."

"Why?" I asked a little sarcastically, "So you can try to hook me up with Patrick?"

"Nope," Pete smiled, "To talk about wardrobe design and whatnot. I thought your opinion should be there to help decide on things. But if you really want me to hook you guys up –"

"No no," I laughed, "I'll be there to give input, but that's it!"

"If you say so, Matthews," Pete chuckled, "If you say so."

***

That night, I showed up at Pete's house around six. He answered the door the moment I knocked with an over-exaggerated smile. "Lily! Come on in. Your boyfriend's in the living room." I glared at him and punched his arm as I walked in, making him laugh. Sure enough, Patrick and Andy were both there already, sitting within earshot on the couch. Patrick was blushing profusely, having heard Pete calling him my boyfriend. Well, tonight was off to a great start.

"Hey guys," I said, going to sit on the couch beside Andy. Pete walked in behind me as sat in a chair across from us.

"Long time no see, Lily," Andy joked, smiling at me. I laughed and glanced at Patrick, who was still a bright shade of red.

"So Lily," Pete said, "I might have kind of lied a little bit earlier."

I looked at him curiously and furrowed my brow. "What do you mean?" I asked.

"Well...we're definitely not meeting to talk about the tour tonight."

I looked around at the three of them in confusion, and Patrick only looked down at his feet, almost guiltily. Pete chuckled and leaned back in his chair. "We just wanted to hang out, and I knew you wouldn't trust me if I said I just wanted you to hang with us."

"You're right about that," I teased, "But I wouldn't have said no."

"See?" Pete said, sitting up and pointing at Patrick, making him blush again. "I told you she likes us enough to hang out!"

Patrick immediately dropped his head into his hands, letting out a nervous laugh as I looked over at him. "Pete, you are literally the most embarrassing human being on the planet," he groaned, finally looking up at me again. "Sorry, Lily."

"It's okay, Patrick," I giggled, shooting daggers at Pete with a glare. I knew exactly what he was doing, and he was not going to succeed. "So what are we going to do?" I finally asked, looking around expectantly.

"Movie night!" Pete exclaimed, getting up to find a stack of DVDs in the entertainment center. Andy got up to get drinks for everyone, coming back with a bottle of water and a six pack of beer. He set the beer on the coffee table in front of Patrick and I, then sat with his water by Pete in another chair. Pete glanced over at me with a smirk, and now I was certain that Andy was in on his plan too. Great. "How do we feel about scary movies?" Pete asked, glancing around the room, Patrick grabbed a beer and shrugged, and Andy smiled. I shook my head vigorously; I hated horror movies with a passion. "Well, grab a beer and cuddle up, Matthews. Majority rule."

I glared at him, then glanced across the couch at Patrick, who was, yet again, redder than a tomato. Hating the fact that I was giving in to Pete's whim, I scooted to the middle cushion that Andy had previously occupied. Patrick glanced at me with a nervous grin, and I smiled back. I reached for a beer, knowing I was going to need a few of these just to make it through the night.

The movie began and Pete shut off all the lights. Once it got going, I realized that this was going to be one of those horror movies made up of nothing but jump-scares, my least favorite thing to ever exist. I jumped a few times, nearly dropping my beer once and almost choking on it another time. Patrick glanced at me with concern every time, but it wasn't until the fifth time that I jumped before he actually did something about it. "Lily," he whispered, making me turn to look at him with wide, frightened eyes. He moved his arm to the back of the couch and gestured for me to move closer to him.

I glanced nervously at Pete, then slid into Patrick's side in the hopes that he wouldn't see. There was nothing to this other than the fact that I was terrified and Patrick was willing to protect me. That was it. A friendly gesture, nothing more. I curled into his side, his warmth comforting me the slightest bit until another jump-scare made me nearly leap out of my skin. I buried my face against his chest and he gently shushed me, his arm tightening around my shoulders and his other hand moving to the back of my head to hold me against him until the scene was over.

When I finally lifted my head again, I kept myself pressed against Patrick, afraid to move away. After sitting there for a while, I glanced over to see Pete watching us. He smiled kindly at me, not at all smug or proud of himself. It was simply kind, and I couldn't help but smile back before I looked back at the screen. He could think what he wanted, I suppose; But I knew this had nothing to do with either of us having any kind of feeling for each other, other than friendship.

Patrick was becoming a great friend, and I wouldn't give it up for anything. I was thankful for every day that I got to work with this band, and even more thankful that I was as close with them as I was. But honestly, there was nothing between Patrick and I, nothing at all. Nevertheless, I knew Pete wasn't anywhere near finished trying to force us together.