The Steam Lounge

Disc 1 - Track 20

End Of Me – A Day To Remember                                                                                   "We lost all meaning, we lost the magic so good luck to you on your way." 

A nudge to the chest disturbed Patrick at 2am. Mercy was sweating, her body thrashing around in his arms. The only sound he could hear was her breathing, loud and heavy next to him. He flicked on the bedside lamp, seeing that she had tears down her face. He reached for her hand softly but she gripped back straight away, digging her fingernails into him slightly.

Patrick couldn't watch it a second longer. He shook her, saying her name in her ear so she would wake up quicker. After pulling her up so she leaned against him, he tried again, being a little louder.

When she finally opened her eyes, she gasped and threw her arms around him. Mercy chest ached with anxiety and her hands trembled in Patrick's. "It was just a dream Mercy. You're gonna be okay." He whispered, pulling her into his arms tightly.

Mercy felt her heartrate soaring, crying onto Patrick's shoulder. She couldn't tell him the nightmare was about Joe and Pete. She didn't want to see the look on his face when he realised she was afraid of them. Even laid in Patrick's arms, she was scared of him, although she'd never admit it to anyone but herself.

Patrick waited until he knew she was asleep again before he let himself doze off.

In the early morning he found himself alone in his bedroom, the covers beside him pulled back. He could hear footsteps moving around in the kitchen and he stood up to go see who it was.

When he opened the door, Mercy was stood before him holding a tray, looking startled. "Patrick! I- I made you breakfast." She stuttered out, wide eyed. He smiled, taking the tray from her.

"Thanks, that's very sweet of you." He said, placing it on the bed. "How are you feeling after last night?" He asked, getting her to sit back on the bed with him.

"I've got a bit of a headache but mostly fine. I can't remember coming to bed last night, I just remember being in the kitchen with you and then it's all hazy." She admitted, sighing slightly.

Patrick paused before speaking. She doesn't remember kissing me. He smiled convincingly and replied. "You started to look tired so I carried you back here and you fell asleep pretty much straight away." His voice was casual, due to his best efforts to forget it had happened.

"Thank you for calming me down last night. Especially when I was having a bad dream, you didn't have to look after me like that." She replied, standing up and going back to the door awkwardly. "I really appreciate everything you're doing for me." She finished, leaving his room.

Patrick tried to call after her, but she didn't come back. Nevertheless he sighed with relief, thankful that he had avoided talking about what had happened. He began to eat the tray of food Mercy had prepared.

In the kitchen Mercy was washing up when she heard a door closing quietly from the corridor. She waited a moment before turning around to look but she was met by hands clutching hers tightly.

A desperate Pete looked down at her. "You came out of Patrick's room. Did you sleep there last night?" He asked. Mercy couldn't look away from him, there was something wrong and he knew it. She nodded. "Was it because of what Joe gave to you?" Mercy tensed at the mention of him. I didn't think Pete had anything to do with it. 

"You knew about it?" She shouted without meaning to. Both her and Pete were surprised by her tone. He nodded, looking down in shame.

"I didn't know that he was going to hurt you. He told me that it was just so you would sleep. I should have taken you to my room." He replied. Mercy pushed past him, putting a pan back in the cupboard.

"I'm sure you'll remember next time it happens. Or perhaps the time after that." She said bitterly, turning her back on him. He span her around so she had to look at him.

"No, I won't because I won't need to. There won't be a next time, I'll make sure of it. I'm not letting him hurt you." He responded firmly, trying to get his point across. Mercy just rolled her eyes.

"And why would you do that? Why would you go to that effort?" She asked.

Pete paused, looking at her properly. Loose curls framed her face, the strikingly blue eyes glaring at him. Lips forming a small smile as he didn't answer him, cheeks blushed slightly against the pale skin.

"Because I like you." He said, regretting the decision immediately. The smile left her face as uttered those words. She shook her head slightly but he persisted. "Yeah, I do. I can't help it. I really like you Mercy. You're amazing and beautiful; I don't want you to be scared of me anymore."

"Don't you dare Pete, seriously. Just give up already. Don't say those words to me when they mean nothing." She said forcefully, feeling sadness pool in the pit of her stomach. Mercy pushed Pete from her and began to walk away.

His hand found hers again and held it tenderly. "They mean everything Mercy, do you not understand? I mean it. You're absolutely perfect. Holding you in my arms makes me feel like I have a purpose. I don't just like you, I love you. What I've done is wrong but it brought us together. Everything happens for a reason." He told her.

Mercy looked at the floor, processing the information. He loves me? Shit. She thought carefully about her options. She could either ignore Pete and act like it never happened or she could say it back. If she went with the first option, he could get mad again. If she went with the second, she could end up in even deeper shit.

What have I got to lose? It's not like anyone else here gives a shit about me. Mercy glanced up at Pete. "I love you too." She whispered, watching his face flood with happiness.

He scooped her up in his arms and kissed her slowly. Mercy had to admit it felt good. She could see Pete's eyes shining back at her as he leaned in for another kiss. What she failed to see was Patrick stood at the end of the corridor, a look of disappointment on his face as he watched her kissing his best friend instead of him.