And the next thing I know is I'm helping him through an attack.
I'm aware there's people staring and judging us, but I frankly don't care. They can judge all they want, Patrick will always be the better person. I finally am able to get him to stand up and escort him to the bathroom where he sits down against the wall. I see a couple tears in his eyes and wipe them away, sitting beside him.
"You good?" I ask, rubbing his shoulder.
"No," He smiles and laughs a bit, adjusting his fedora and cleaning off his glasses.
I frown, "Did something happen while I was waiting?"
It takes him a bit to respond but he nods, taking a breath, "This lady . . . she came up to me while I was sitting there she sat down across from me and very rudely asked me to not hold your hand in public because she didn't like her kids seeing that sort of thing. It made me feel awful, and I was trying to process what she said but the next thing I know is I'm not able to breath and-"
I cut him off, "Hey, you're fine now, alright? You made it through. That wasn't as bad as your previous ones, your medication is definitely helping. How about we take it to go?"
Patrick shakes his head, standing up and helping myself up as well, "No. I'm not leaving just because some lady doesn't appreciate me displaying affection for you." His expression makes me smile, he's so determined. I peck him on the lips and pull him into a hug.
When we walk back out, our food is still slightly warm 'cause of the foam trays it's enclosed in. I can tell something else is on Patrick's mind, but he does a good job of keeping himself busy. We talk mostly about music and other plans for the week throughout the rest of breakfast.
-
I hold Patrick's hand as we enter the guitar shop and holler to Joe, "Hey Joe I'm here with Patrick!"
Andy walks out, his tattoos showing as he's wearing a tank top, "Oh hi Pete!" He smiles, coming to greet us. I notice Patrick hold my hand tighter. "You must be Patrick, right?"
"Yeah," Patrick smiles, holding out his free hand, "I'm assuming you're Andy? Pete mentioned you once."
"Yeah, that's me," He smiles, "So I heard you're into music too?"
Patrick grins, "Definitely. My first instrument is drums, I heard you play?"
"Oh hell yeah!" Andy grins, and I decide to leave the two to talk while I look for Joe.
I find him in the back room struggling with a large cardboard box and I'm quick to assist him maneuver it through the racks of old records and CDs and instrument pieces.
"Thanks man," Joe smiles, slinging the box over his shoulder and carrying it out into the shop. It isn't too busy today, only a couple people browsing.
"No problem. New bass?" I question, sitting on one of the seats nearby.
He shakes his head, "Nah, just a guitar. It's a . . . ," Joe opens the package, pulling out a sleek black brand new Gretsch guitar, then reads the label, " . . . I always forget the names of these things but it's a Gretsch, obviously, G5425 Electromatic Jet Club Electric Guitar Black. Pretty sweet huh?" He grins, setting it up on a rack.
I whistle, "Hell yeah. I bet 'Trick would like to take a look at it, I'm gonna go get him." Joe nods, going to throw out the packaging.
I find Patrick sitting at the drum set in the corner. Yes, the shop is mainly for guitars, but there's other instruments too. "Hey 'Trick you gotta see this Gretsch."
His eyes light up, "Okay!" When I show him the instrument I swear his eyes gloss over. Patrick runs his fingers over the surface, "Dang, this thing is sweet." He slings it over his shoulder and tunes it in a couple minutes, strumming the chords.
"It's awesome," I agree, noticing Joe come back over. Andy's helping out a mom and her daughter try out a bass.
"Now I know Pete doesn't specialize in singing, but what about you Patrick?" Joe asks him, clasping his hands after sitting down.
He blushes, "Only in the shower."
I laugh, "Yeah, but you sure are good."
"Like, really good?" Joe asks, "Did you have any vocal lessons while in school? What about choir?"
Patrick shrugs, "I'm not that good, and I was never in choir and never had any vocal lessons. I've really only played drums and guitar and piano or keyboard."
"Well, I don't know about you guys but I want to hear this dude sing," Joe grins excitedly.
I smile, "Are you okay with that, 'Trick?"
His face turns red, "Oh, um, right now? I- I kind of wasn't planning on-"
Joe waves his hands, "No, no, not here, sometime at my place or yours? So you can prepare yourself or whatever."
Patrick bites his lip, contemplating on this, then nods, "Yeah, sure, I guess I will. We could do it at my place tonight after you shut down?"
Joe grins, "Sounds like a plan."
"Can we order pizza? And invite Andy?" I ask, more excited about pizza than Andy, to be quite honest.
Patrick shrugs, "Sure. When do you guys shut down?"
"9:00," Joe responds, standing up to stretch his arms out, "I'll be there around 9:20 and I can bring Andy too. I gotta get back to work, so I'll see you losers there." He grins, going to greet a new customer walking inside.
Patrick carefully sets the Gretsch back in its place then sits down again, running a hand through his hair after taking off his fedora, "Pete, I've never sang in front of anyone before."
"You'll do great, 'Trick. It's only Joe and Andy and I," I smile encouragingly.
"Fair enough," He shrugs, placing his fedora back on. We exit the shop, heading back to the apartment in order to get ready.
-
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