Moonlight Love

You need help.

A/N: irl they're about 3/4 years apart so there is no way this could happen, but to acknowledge the age difference I had Patrick repeat 5th grade- yes 5th. East coast commonly has middle school as 6th-8th, and so this allows Patrick to be in her class. He's 12 already going to be 13, she's 11 turning 12.
----
"This is the last time. I can't do this, it's unacceptable Patrick." His mother waved the report card in his face, sighing. This was the second term of school, and another F in English. Patrick looked down, feeling bad about the whole thing. He was already behind his friends, having stayed for an extra year in elementary. Bad grades seemed to follow him like bad luck. It was his sixth grade year, and he couldn't afford to not move on with his current, small group of friends. They didn't realize he was already 12, nor seemed to mind.

"Your father wants to try military school if you can't do this. Look at me," His mother sat down in the chair across from him, cupping his face. "I love you Patrick, and I know, I know you have a hard time reading, but you are not a dumb boy. You are my smart angel, and I want your grades to show that." She said. Patrick looked into her blue eyes and then pulled back, angry at himself.

"I'll try mama." He promised before getting up. Patrick quickly turned into the garage, pulling down his bike. He hopped on, starting to pedal himself down the street. Patrick found himself gaining more and more speed, wind whipping his messy curls all over the place, sweat dripping down his back as all his frustrations were let out. He closed his blue eyes for a second, imagining he was flying through the sky, free of all cares when-
Crash
"Watch where you're going!"

Patrick opened his eyes to see himself mangled and tangled up with a girl. Oh shit. He thought, nervously trying to get up. Patrick groaned, looking at the girl. "You can hurt people doing that you know!" She said, still upset. She stood up, dusting off her now black streaked jeans.

"I'm sorry." Patrick mumbled, blushing. His eyes met hers, startled by the striking blue green color.

"Do you live around here?" The girl asked, pulling up her bag of books. Her dark strawberry blonde hair was pulled back in messy braids. Patrick stuttered, standing up.

"Down past the bridge, say you live here? Never seen you 'round before, and I know most people," He said quickly, before realizing how awful that sounded. The girl giggled.

"We just moved here. From central Boston, not a big move I'm afraid. But my dad wanted to follow his girlfriend here so we moved. Mid sixth grade year." She replied, giving a soft sigh. Her eyes flickered up to Patrick again. He looked away sheepishly.

"Oh uh sorry uh I forgot, my name's Patrick." He said quietly. The girl put a hand on her hip,

"Patrick." She repeated him. "I like that. I'm Ellen," She said. Patrick looked up at her again, studying her soft features.

"Ellen. Well I'll see you around at school maybe," He said, turning to leave. Ellen stopped him, her hand pulling his jean jacket.

"Wait- you said you live close right? I can't go back to my house looking like this, daddy and his girlfriend would cause a ruckus, can I clean up and get some band aids?" She begged. Patrick turned, his eyes scanning her body, he saw her ankles bruised and bleeding from the crash. He instantly felt bad, having causing it.

"Hop on the back of my bike, come on," Patrick offered, his heart fluttering. He didn't know why, she was just a nice strange girl. It wasn't a big deal, he just didn't want her going home looking like a mess. Ellen climbed on after him, leaning over, wrapping her hands around his shoulders.

"Is this okay?" She asked nervously. Patrick laughed,

"'Course it is. It's how you ride two to a bike, right?" He asked her in response. Ellen giggled, holding on as he began to pedal.

"I wouldn't know. I never have." She told him. Patrick rode up to the bridge, crossing over it gently.

"Don't you have siblings?" He asked, knowing his sisters showed him before they got into gossip and tiger beat. Ellen looked over the bridge at the river running through, smiling at the water.

"They're all older. Maureen's the youngest of the old. She's 16." She explained as Patrick picked up pace, flying through the town. He listened to Ellen, as she listed off the dynamics of her family. Both sets of grandparents used to live across the street, her nonno and nonna were thinking of moving with them but unsure. Her grandpapa and nanna from her mothers side stayed in their home, feeling inappropriate to move from their where their daughter had lived.
Patrick pedaled up to his house and quickly knocked the door. His mother answered, stern look on her face.

"Patrick, you're all bloody-" She said before noticing Ellen. "Who's this?"

Patrick turned pink, his mom had mentioned something about not bringing girls over without parents permission...all of the rules were getting jumbled in his head because he was too focused on school.

"Ellen. I crashed into her on my bike, she needs band aids." He said, his blue eyes big and sad. His mother rolled her eyes, letting them come in.

"Be careful next time Patrick, and nice to meet you Ellen." She warned. Patrick led Ellen inside, pausing as she smiled at his mother.

"Thank you so much," She gushed, going to Patrick as he walked into the bathroom.

"Come on, they're in here." He said, standing on his tiptoes to open the medical cabinet. Ellen sat on the toilet lid, watching him grab the first aide small box. Patrick jumped down from the counter, holding the white box in his hand.

"Here you are...everything in here," Patrick said, sitting beside her, opening the box. Ellen grabbed a few bandaids and the antibiotic cream. Patrick slathered some on his scraped arms, and put bandaids over them. Ellen giggled at him.

"Oh what?" He asked, watching as she delicately smoothed down a bandaid with her long fingers.

"You're messy. Let me," Ellen poked his crooked bandage before peeling it off. It was soaking wet with antibiotic cream. She threw it away and opened up a new one, a thicker one. Gently she placed it on his arm. "There. That's how you do it."

Patrick looked down sheepishly and nodded, it was much better. He smiled, he was starting to like this girl. She wasn't like the girls in his classes or like his sisters. Patrick glanced at her knees, seeing the bruises and the bright red blood running down her ankles. He took one of her bandaids, added a little of the cream and stuck it on. Ellen watched him, giggling at his touch.

"What's so funny Ells?" Patrick asked, looking up at her with big blue eyes. Ellen giggled as he kept putting pressure on the bandaid so it stuck, his fingertips tickling her ankle.

"It's-nothing," she managed between giggles. "I'm just- ticklish," Ellen covered her mouth with her hands as she giggled one more time.

"Patrick, come on you gotta go wash up. Ellen, are you all better dear?" His mother came over, smiling at the pair. Patrick hopped up, throwing away the trash, and nodding. Ellen smiled,

"Thank you so much ah um, Patrick's mother," She thanked her, starting to walk out.

"Oh,  come here. Ellen yes you, I will drive you home, it's getting late," She told her, opening the garage. Ellen waved at Patrick.

"See ya later paddy,"