Just My Imagination...

Me and You

When I woke up the next morning, Pete was still there.

The day after that, Pete was still there.

I took the medicine they sent me, but Pete never left me. I even let Pete see me take the medicine. He was upset at first. He was hurt that I would even try to send him away. He stopped talking to me for half the day... But he came around. He didn't mind once it was discovered that he wouldn't go away. I just had to lie to my therapist... If I could ever get good at that.

I had been in this place for about a month now. I took my medicine like a good boy and continued to hang out with the group I had met on my first day.

"Patrick!" Ryan skipped over to me with a smile on his face, "Max isn't sad today! It's been the first time in weeks! Come on!" He excitedly grabbed my hand and pulled me to a table where Max sat with some people I had met a few days into my stay here: Steven (Who had the double personality of 'Hoodie'), a white haired boy who never spoke named Gerard, and a black haired boy who Pete had said was basically a serial arsonist named Frank. Brendon and Dallon were at a separate table with Lynn and another girl with dark hair, who Lynn was leaning on.

The group smiled at us as we sat down, including Max, who I had never seen smile before. The corners of his eyes crinkled, making them look almost closed.

"Hey Ry! Hey Pat!" He said cheerfully.

I gave him and the others a small wave while Ryan leaned his head on my shoulder. Pete didn't like the closeness Ryan had for me, but he couldn't really do anything about it either... Besides warn me that Ryan was 'bad news'... Although, with every look, I saw jealousy grow in Pete's eyes.

"I have to see Miss Elisa today..." Ryan pouted from my shoulder.

"Aw, poor baby." I teased just slightly, wrapping my arm around him for a slight squeeze.

"She's so much nicer than my old therapist." Max said, tracing his finger along the table. His smile was faltering a bit.

"We don't worry about your old therapist." Steven spoke up. He put his hand over Max's to stop the table tracing, "That lady wasn't helping. Miss Elisa is."

Max nodded quickly before smiling at Steven. "Just a wonder, who am I talking to?" He asked sweetly, looking down at their hands.

Steven looked around quickly before leaning close to Max, "It's Hoodie... But I promise, Steven thinks the same thing."

"You should be taking your meds, schnookums." Max said, running his hand down Steven's cheek.

"I'm afraid Miss Elisa will give me new meds..." Ryan said with a slight shiver. I turned to him and saw Pete Right next to Ryan. I gave Pete a look of 'not now' before addressing Ryan.

"Why? You seem to be doing perfectly fine..." I brushed some hair away from his eyes and he smiled weakly.

"I'm not as fine as I seem..." He whispered, uncertainty.

"Well..." I shrugged, "Things are never quite what they seem. I think you're doing wonderfully though. These meds seem to be keeping you sane enough."

His smile widened with my words. "I can't get over you, Patrick!" He leaned in and planted a quick kiss on my lips before standing up from the bench. "I have to get something from my room, be back in a second!"

Ryan hurried off and Pete slid over into Ryan's abandoned spot. I looked down at the table. Whenever I was with the others, especially Ryan, Pete got extremely defensive... And sometimes territorial.

"Patrick, I'm telling you, he's not the most stable person here."

"Neither am I..." I muttered, beginning to pick away at the sandwich that had been provided for lunch.

Pete looked irritated. "There is nothing wrong with you! If there was, the medicine that you took behind my back would of worked."

"I said sorry."

"And I said Ryan was no good!"

I shot Pete a glare. I didn't want to talk to him here. I was finally with people that didn't care if I was too weird or boring. I finally found people that enjoyed my company. I didn't want to ruin it by appearing to talk to myself again... Although it wasn't an odd occurrence here...

"Whatever happened to me and you?" Pete asked, "I'm so happy you're finding friends, Patrick, but you've been dealing with them more than me!"

"Because they're real!" I snapped, immediately feeling my heart drop. I could feel my four other table members look at me. I looked down at the floor. I could feel my face turning red as I tried to fight back tears.

I couldn't even look at Pete...

I stayed perfectly still, until I felt a familiar touch on my shoulder.

"Patrick? Wanna come here?" Ryan's soft, honey like, voice asked. I nodded just slightly, letting him guide me up from the table to the other side of the room. I was shaking and refusing to look up, relying souly on Ryan to not bump into anything. When we stopped, I felt his hand cup around my cheek.

"D-do you need more medicine?" He asked a bit shakily.

I shook my head. "It doesn't work, Ryan..."

"Have you talked to Miss Elisa?"

"I'm scared..."

"Scared of what?"

"Of losing Pete." I said, looking up into Ryan's hershy eyes. I was still trying to blink away tears as Ryan looked at me, considering my words.

"Pete's why you're here, hu?" Ryan finally asked quietly." I nodded. Ryan thought for a moment longer. "How long have you seen him?"

"Practically my whole life." I choked out, noticing Pete in the distance with a hurt expression on his face. I just couldn't hold it in anymore... And I certainly couldn't tell the therapist about a possible illusion lasting over ten years...

"Patrick... Remember, we're all a little broken." Ryan ran his thumb over my cheek, "Pete is your broken piece... I have a lot of broken pieces, but at least you just have him."

I shook my head, "When I'm with him is some of the only time I don't feel broken..."

Ryan tilted his head slightly. "Sometimes... We get so broken, that we don't know what being whole truly feels like anymore." His voice was soft as he spoke.

I looked down again. I didn't want to be broken... But what if it was Pete keeping me that way?..