The Carpal Tunnel Of Love (Patrick Stump X Reader)

Chapter Five

*ITALICS ARE PATRICKS THOUGHTS FYI*

I've been driving for two and a half hours. Every minute, every second, I am getting closer to meeting the people who saved my life. When I meet them, I want to be chill. I really, really want them to like me. I don't want to be an annoying fangirl that just wants pictures and autographs and shit...I want to be their friend. I want to be able to call them up and invite them to my house and text them when I want someone to talk to. I want to be different than the millions of other people out there that consider themselves fans. I'm sure a lot of them are sincere, that's not what I'm saying, it's just that I...I can't explain it. They helped me through so much personal stuff and issues at home during high school, I'm just so thankful.

***
I pulled up to the small corner cafe at about quarter to six. It was a cute little place with tables of varied sizes. There were only two people in there that I could see, both with laptops on their tables and one with a small stack of textbooks beside their chair. The place was dimly lit, with most of the light coming from the windows facing the street outside. From the inside, you could look out and watch the cars go by and look at the small thrift shops lining the road. As I walked up to the cafe, I took a few deep breaths and opened the door, a little bell announcing my arrival as I saw four recognizable heads turn my direction. I blushed lightly, slowly walking to a booth along the right wall of the restaurant.

"Hello, Uh, Y/N!" Pete exclaimed, the guys standing up one at a time, each of them closely studying my appearance. I looked down at my faux leather jacket and blue skinny jeans, quickly looking for any unwanted stains or rips.

"Hi guys! How are you all?" I said, not knowing what to say. I was speechless.

"Oh, we're all fine. How was your drive down?" Patrick said softly, maneuvering around Joe to stand beside me, placing a hand on my upper arm for a brief moment before pulling me into a soft embrace.

Damn, she smells amazing. I don't know what that is, but it's...its like a flowery, fruity, minty concoction. Mmm.

"It was good, a bit of traffic but it was good," I said, trying my hardest not to stammer. I had always had a thing for Patrick, but in person...the way his hair fell into his face and his eyebrows moved with each word to show his emotions was breathtaking and made it hard to concentrate.

"Great! Well, we saved you a seat here, we'd love for you to sit down," Joe gestured to the booth and ad they filed back into their seats, I saw that I was left with a seat next to Andy and across from Patrick.

"Oh, thank you," I said, taking a seat.

"So, your name is Y/N?" Patrick asked.

"Yeah," I responded with a light giggle, pushing my hair behind my ear.

"That's a real pretty name,"

"Oh, thank you!"

"Yeah, no problem,"

The guys continued to make small talk until a waitress with black hair that converted to a dark fuschia at the bottom approached the table.

"What can I get you guys to drink this evening?"

"Uh, well, Y/N, would you mind being a designated driver? If not, Andy could, he doesn't drink anyways so it's fine," Patrick asked with a wink that I almost missed.

"Yeah I can drive, that's fine!" I wasn't old enough to drink anyways so what did it matter?

"Okay. Well, I'll have a Jack Daniels and root beer," Patrick said, looking to Joe at his left.

"I'll have a vodka and cranberry, thanks,"

Pete ordered the same.

"I'll have a water," Andy said, and finally I ordered a Sprite.

"I'll be right back with those," the waitress said as she turned and walked away.

"I love her hair," I mumbled, not really meaning for anyone to hear me.

"Yeah, it's pretty rad," said Joe.

"So, what are you looking forward to most regarding the tour?" Andy turned and asked me.

"Oh, I don't know...I think it will be really cool to get to know you guys, I think this will turn out really well and I hope to stay in touch with you all after this is over," I responded, not expecting the question.

"Interesting," Patrick mumbled under his breath.

She's so damn pretty. Those eyes, the way her hair falls around her face, that look when she's staring off into space...she's beautiful.

The waitress approached the table with everybody's drinks, placing them in front of their rightful drinkers and inquiring about our meal.

"Could I get the rice and tofu? Thank you,"  Andy ordered.

"I'll have the same," Patrick said.

And that ended up being what everyone ordered.

Patrick and Joe each took a sip of their drinks.

"Damn, this shit's strong!" Joe said regarding his drink, sliding it toward Patrick who picked it up, sipped it and grimaced.

"Oh, how do you drink that? That's gotta be half vodka!"

I laughed at Patricks grimace.

Oh, god, her laugh is so fucking cute.

We made more small talk until our meals got there, then we ate and Patrick and Joe ordered more drinks until you could tell they were clearly intoxicated. We finished our meals and ordered a couple more drinks, then started to pack up our things. With the three drinkers laughing their asses off, we left the cafe and piled into my car.

"Andy, would you mind sitting in the back with two of them to make sure they don't hurt themselves?" I asked.

"No that's fine, good idea," he laughed, getting into the middle seat.

Patrick got into the passenger seat and directed me to the hotel while Pete and Joe laughed about stupid stuff in the back with Andy looking like he was having the time of his life, as would anyone. Pulling into the hotel parking lot, Patrick helped me carry my bags in and we got ready for bed pretty quickly after that.

"We got a room with a fold out couch so we wouldn't have to pile into beds with each other," Pete informed me.

The sleeping arrangements were apparently Joe and Pete in one bed ("No homo," Joe made clear) and Andy and either Patrick or I in the other, with one person on the fold out couch.

"It's okay Y/N, I'll take the couch. Is that okay? As long as you're okay with being in bed with Andy, as long as that's not weird." Patrick went on, clearly unfocused having consumed a fair amount of booze.

"No, that's fine, you sure? You can have the bed if you want," I offered.

Just take the bed, I want you to be as comfy as possible.

"Yeah, it's fine."

"Okay. Thank you," I said, climbing in next to Andy, leaving quite a bit of space between him and I.

"Goodnight, everyone," Andy announced, shutting off the light and pulling the blankets over himself.

"Goodnight," I whispered.

A handful of jumbled goodnight wishes and whisperings of bedbugs biting reverberated through the room for a little bit after that, until Peter unnecessarily loudly shouted "SHUT THE FUCK UP, JOE," and the room quickly silenced.

Sleep well, beautiful.

***
Yay!!! I originally was going to hold off updating for a couple of days but I got the idea and couldn't help myself lol. Hope you guys like this! Xs