"Alright guys, we're shuttin' down," an employee says to us.
I look at the guys. Pete was either sleeping or passed out on the bar. Andy and Joe kept saying "No", and Patrick, well, at least I still had one sober friend. I didn't think these guys were big drinkers during celebrations.
"Okay, thanks a lot," Patrick says, politely shaking the guys hand. This man had to be the politest man on Earth. It made me smile.
"No, thank you. See you guys at the show later today," the employee says.
Later today. Where did the time go tonight. I look at my phone. Three in the morning, and I was wide awake.
"Well, I guess I should be going," I say, putting my phone back in the designated phone space on my wallet.
"Here, let me walk you out to your car, I'll take car of blacked out Pete after," Patrick says, getting up out of his seat. I smile.
Outside, the air was crisp. In the midst of October, you'd expect that. Wind blew slightly but not too much, and my straightened hair blew in the wind. I loved fall. It was always such a good temperature, in my opinion. Or maybe it was just because I was a big fan of sweaters and jackets.
"It was awesome hanging out with you guys. The show was awesome. Just, thanks for everything," I tell Patrick.
"No problem! We're glad we made you happy," he says. We hear a crash in the bar, and we see through the window that the guys tried to lift Pete up but failed, and they all fell down.
"Well, on behalf of me, we're glad we made you happy," Patrick says, both of us laughing.
Last minute reaction, I put my arms out for a hug. He smiles and hugs me tightly. I never wanted the hug to end. It was a longer hug, lasting at least five minutes. I wanted to cry. I'm going to say it: this man was and is perfect.
"Well, I'll see you around, okay?" I say, releasing from the longest hug ever. I don't even think that should be allowed when the guy is dating someone.
"Okay," he says, smiling. I smile and hop into my car. I watch him stand on the sidewalk through my rearview mirror, and just as I make a turn on the next street, he walks back inside.
I roll down my windows to get some fresh air. I was in panic. I think I'm in love with Patrick Stump. An off-the-market Patrick Stump. I put the car in park after pulling over. I sigh and rest my head on my headrest.
"DUDE YOU GOTTA TELL AVRIL LOVE YOU HER!" I hear someone yell. Confused, I look up in the rearview mirror. Pete was running, drunk.
I get out of my car, and I look at Patrick chasing Pete. I don't know where Joe went, or Andy. Andy was sober, though, he didn't drink. Joe, I wasn't so sure of.
"Pete, Pete, calm yourself," I say, grabbing his jacket as he runs past me.
"Thank you," Patrick says, breathing heavily from running.
I laugh. "Anytime," I say, handing him over to Patrick.
"Hey, so are you coming to the show later today?" he asks, as their tour bus pulls up. Andy walks out, yawning, and helps Pete onto the bus.
"No, I wish. I didn't even know there was a second show later today, remember?" I say, laughing, but disappointed.
"Would you like to come?" he asks, with a smile.
I smile. "I'd love to...but, isn't it sold out?"
Andy walks out just as Patrick is about to say something. "Hey...April?" he asks, hoping he'd get the name right.
"Yes," I say, politely, nodding my head.
"Right. I hate to cut your chat short, guys, but Patrick, Janelle is calling you," Andy says, handing Patrick his phone.
Patrick sighs, and takes his phone. He declines the call. "She can wait."
Shocked, I look at Andy. He was just as shocked as I was.
"Alright, man," Andy says, shocked at Patrick's decision, and heading back onto the bus. Just a minute later, before Patrick could even begin talking again, he was receiving another call.
Patrick sighs again, and closes his eyes. "Excuse me," he says, politely.
"No problem," I tell him, like it was nothing. He answers the phone.
"Hello?"
I could hear a "WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?" from Janelle. I was shocked. She seemed so nice. Then again, Patrick's been gone all day and they probably don't get much time to spend together.
He tries hard to not get angry with her. I could tell he was so annoyed. "I've been out with the guys and a fan. You could've came," he tells her. He puts the phone on speaker. I'm not sure why he did.
"You know bars aren't my thing, Patrick! You know staying out late isn't my thing, Patrick!"
"Look, all I was trying to do was make the guys and this one fan happy. Pete said-"
"OH, PETE SAID. God, when is that idiot gonna stop making you do ridiculous things?"
Patrick stands up tall. Now he was just pissed off. "Maybe I should go?" I whisper to him.
He motions me to stay. "Alright, stop. Pete doesn't make me do ridiculous things, or anything I don't wanna do. He's one of my best friends. He wouldn't do that."
"Then how come it's three in the morning and you still aren't home?" she asks, angrily.
"I stayed out for one night, Janelle. It kinda sounds like you're telling me what to do, like you said Pete does. Hypocritical much?"
Silence. I was so shocked. I was witnessing a fight between Patrick Stump and his girlfriend.
"Then forget it. Don't expect me to be here when you get back," she says. No, no, no. This was heading towards a breakup. Patrick would be so upset. I think.
"Thank goodness. So does this mean we're over?" Patrick asks. I was so shocked. So shocked.
Silence again, for a moment. "YES PATRICK, IT DOES. BYE!"
The phone hangs up. I just stand there, shocked, staring at Patrick.
"You okay?" he asks me, laughing.
"Um, maybe you should be asking yourself that," I tell him.
"Oh, that? I was gonna call things off with Janelle the other day. She's so attached, that was the life I lead right there. If I wasn't hanging out with her in my free time, she was pissed," he explains to me.
"Oh, wow," I say, with my eyebrows raised. I thought Janelle seemed perfect for Patrick. Then again, I only met her for a second or so.
"Anyways, I could give you a tour of the bus if you'd like," he says, looking at the bus.
I smile. "I'd love that," I tell him. He smiles and opens the door for me.
"Welcome to mi casa. Or our casa. However you say that in Spanish. Home away from home," he says, laughing.
"Oh hey, April," Andy says, glancing up from his laptop.
"Hey Andy," I say, casually.
"We're on our way to the hotel now but I think Pete's gonna crash on the bus," Andy says quietly to Patrick, them both exchanging looks at me.
Patrick just nods his head. "Here, I'll give you the grand tour," he tells me, holding out his arm. I wrap my arm around his and we start walking.
"Right here we have the bunks, here's mine right here," he says, pointing to the very top bunk. He hops in it and smiles. I knew he was asking me to hop in with him. Would that be awkward? Whatever. I jump up in the bunk with him and lay next to him. He wraps his arm around me.
"What is it like, living on the road all the time?" I ask, silently, in almost a whisper.
"It's alright, I guess. I like living at home more, though. I mean, anyone probably would," he says.
"This is so cool, though," I tell him. "Not to sound like a crazed fan, but this is really cool."
"Ugh you're such a crazed fan would you get out of here," he says, sarcastically. We both laugh and I grab his arm so I don't fall off the bunk, since he playfully almost pushed me off. As the laughing fades out, we just look at each other.
"It should be illegal for someone to be so beautiful," he tells me, looking right into my eyes. My heart melted. I smile softly.
