Pete Wentz's Guide To Getting the Lead Role (And A Boyfriend) >> Petekey

VI.

-

Pete sat on the stairs, crying pretty hard for someone who didn't want to be found. He knew he was overreacting. He knew that Gerard and Frank meant no harm, but if they'd just known about his feelings for Mikey. Did Mikey know about Pete's feelings for him? This was all too confusing for Pete and he hated all of it.

"Pete?" Mikey called from in front of the stage. Pete tensed, and scrambled up to go and maybe even hide before Mikey saw him. He didn't want to see Mikey right now; he didn't want to really see Mikey ever. But, it was too late as Mikey stumbled down the steps of the backstage and looked at him. They stared at each other for a few moments.

Pete was tense and was trying to read Mikey as best he could. Was he angry? Upset?

"Pete, I am so, so, so sorry about that," Mikey mumbled. "That probably made you feel really uncomfortable, and I should've stopped it before it got out of hand. Gerard and Frank didn't mean anything by it, they just wanted an excuse to kiss each other," he offered a small smile which Pete returned, only half-heartedly. "You're not mad at them, are you?" He added, after the small, awkward silence.

"Mad, no... Embarrassed, a little bit," he murmured.

"Yeah," Mikey chuckled. "Me too. I know you don't really like me in that way."

Haha. About that...

"Yeah," Pete giggled a little. "Both totally heterosexual males," he grinned. Mikey chuckled, and Pete was trying really hard not to step closer and kiss him right now. He was being tested right now.

"So, um, would it be alright if I came over to your house so you could practice lines?" He grinned. "I have quite a few..."

"Like you haven't already memorized the whole play," Pete shot back, grinning. "I remember you reciting it back in elementary!"

"Or maybe I just wanted to spend some time with my friend, hmm?" Mikey replied, placing his hands on his own hips.

The smile dropped off of Pete's face and he coughed, turning red slightly.

"Of course you can come practice lines!" Pete nodded. Mikey nodded, too, stepping back a little. His phone buzzed and he looked down at it.

"Okay. We can figure out a time and place later. My moms waiting for me," he smiled, apologetically.

"Yeah, that's okay," Pete grinned, sighing gently as Mikey raced back up the stairs.

-

"I can't believe I didn't get Benvolio!" Patrick wailed, throwing himself on Pete's bed. "I'm a failure!"

"Stop being so overdramatic, Patrick," Pete sighed, sitting on the beanbag chair that sat across from his bed. "You're not a failure. Hey, the chorus is honestly an awesome part! You get to start the whole play off!"

"Yeah..." Patrick sighed, gently. "I guess you're right... But I still really wanted to be Benvolio..."

"You're too straight to be Benvolio. Everybody knows that he and Mercutio were totally doing it," Pete grinned, pulling a book from the bookshelf and flipping it open. "Let's get to know your lines, shall we?"

"Yadda yadda ya, something about star crossed lovers. I get it," Patrick pouted.

"Well if every body learns their lines like you do, this'll be a pretty bang up production," Pete teased him.

"Shut up, you asshat. I'm sure you'll woo Mikey with your awesome sweeping skills, won't you?"

"Now who's being the asshat?" Pete shot back. "You're just salty because Frank Iero is more dramatic than you. Stop Saltiness 2k16."

"Pete if you don't shut up-"

Pete's phone dinged and he looked down at it in curiosity.

"It's Mikey!" He squealed, unlocking his phone. "He said he wants to know when's a good time to come over and practice lines," Pete sighed, flopping back in the beanbag.

"It's kind of funny how he wants you to practice lines with him. Especially since his girlfriend is Juliet," Patrick giggled.

"Oh, don't give me false hope," Pete groaned, looking up at the ceiling. "Oh, Michael, Michael. Wherefore art thou heterosexual? Deny thy girlfriend and refuse thy straightness. Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love and I'll no longer-"

Pete's phone dinged again and he looked down, in excitement.

"Jesus Christ," Patrick sighed. "You really love him, don't you?"

"Yes!" Pete squealed at his phone, and not paying any mind to Patrick's question. "He asked if Saturday was fine!"

"You need help," Patrick shook his head at his friend.

-

Mikey set his lunch tray down next to Pete and Patrick, sighing gently.

"You okay?" Pete asked, worriedly.

"Wh-what? Yeah, I'm fine," Mikey waved him off, focusing on his lunch.

"Is it stuff with you and Alicia?" Pete asked, quietly. He winced as he noticed Mikey stiffen.

"What? Why would it be with Alicia? Do we look like we have problems? Are our problems so obvious to the world that every time I'm upset it's obviously about Alicia?"

"Mikey..." Pete murmured. "It was just a question..."

"She thinks I'm hanging out with you and Patrick too much. She says I might as well break up with her and go 'be gay' or whatever. She pisses me off so much sometimes," he sighed, rubbing his fingers over his scalp. "Am I not allowed to have friends?"

"She's just jealous," Patrick murmured. "By the way, are you going to eat your sandwich?"

Mikey passed it over.

"You should break up with her," Patrick grinned, over Mikey's sandwich. "She literally told you to! "

"He can't,"Pete replied. "His reputation will get ruined."

"Dude, sucks for you," Patrick murmured, mouth full.

"Plus, we already have our parts. It'll be too awkward and unbelievable if Romeo and Juliet literally hate each other," Mikey added.

"Dude, that's why it's called acting," Patrick replied.

"I can't. Wait till the show's over, and then maybe. Honestly, she changed. She's not the girl I first fell in love with. She changed so much..." He sighed. "I just want someone who will really love me for myself and not just because I'm popular, or whatever," he sighed.

Mikey looked down at his sandwich and sighed, gently.

-

:)