Of All The Gin Joints In The World

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*Trigger Warning*

PETE POV


I followed Patrick downstairs, feeling slightly worried. Before they moved, Mrs Stump had had liked me, but now it seemed her opinion had changed. The table had six places set, and three people were already sitting at the table. David was at one end, and I was surprised to see who else was there. Meagan, Patrick's older sister, and a guy who I was assuming was her boyfriend were watching us as we sat down at the table, leaving the other end empty for Mrs Stump, who was pulling something out of the oven.

"Pete?" Meagan tilted her head to the side. I nod.

"Yeah." I give her a smile smile. "Good to see you." She nods.

"Hey Zac." Patrick says to the guys next to Meagan. "I didn't realize you were up."

Zac smiles. "I drove up after school for the weekend."

David clears his throat. "Is anyone going to introduce Zac and Pete or what?"

"Pete this is Zac, my boyfriend." Megan gestures to Zac. "Zac this is Pete, Patrick's friend."

David coughs and Mrs Stump makes a noise of distaste from the kitchen.

"Uh, actually Meagan-" Patrick bites his lip and looks at me.

"I'm his boyfriend." I explain. Meagan's eyes go wide.

"You're gay?" She gapes. I shake my head.

"Uh, you're close. I'm bi."


Mrs Stump walks over to the table and places down a plate of chicken before taking her place at the table.

"Lets say grace shall we?" Her voice is clipped and her lips are pressed in a thin line. We all join hands and Mrs Stump recites a prayer. I bow my head, awkwardly repeating 'amen' at the end. Even though I remembered doing that whenever I stayed for dinner before they moved, I still found it extremely awkward.

"Lets eat." David clapped. Everyone started dishing up food from the various pots in the center of the table.

"So Pete." Mrs Stump says formally. I looked up at her, surprised she was talking to me. "This will be your first decent meal in a while won't it?"

I smile politely and laugh a little. "Yeah, hospital food isn't all that great."

"How long were you in for?" She asks. Patrick glances at her and shakes his head slightly.

"Uh, nearly a week." I keep the polite smile on my face and hope she'll drop it.

"Were you sick?" Meagan asks curiously.

"Uh, well-" I pause.

"Meagan." Patrick says quietly and shakes his head.

"Patrick, its okay." I look over at Meagan. "I've uh, been on suicide watch." I roll back the sleeve of hoodie a little to reveal the white bandage. Meagan's mouth forms an 'O' and Zac looks slightly comfortable. We all eat in an awkward silence for a few minutes before Mrs Stump speaks to me again.

"Patrick told us about your father."

My chest constricts slightly and Patrick glares at his mother while Dad shoots her a warning glance.

"How did your sister take the news?"

I grit my teeth. "I haven't actually spoken to her yet."

"You poor things. First your mother and brother, and now your father."

"Patricia!" David snapped at her at the same time as Patrick shouted 'stop it'. I clenched my jaw and stared at my plate, focusing on keeping my breathing even.

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