What Twisted Webs We Weave

Saying How You Been

(Patrick's POV)

"So you're okay now?" I asked Pete from the passenger seat of his car.

After spending a ridiculous amount of time making out in the parking lot, we decided to go somewhere more private. I suggested we go to my place. I wanted Pete to see the way I'd fixed up his old house.

I would rather Pete have come by himself. But Tyler didn't want to go back to their hotel alone. Personally, I didn't care what the hell Tyler wanted. I'd known him for a few minutes and I already wasn't too fond of him. But Pete cared. All Tyler had to do was widen his eyes and pout his bottom lip at Pete to get his way. It annoyed me.

"I'm not in perfect health." Pete shrugged. "But I'm doing way better than I was when you last saw me."

"Clearly." I smiled. "But how much better exactly?"

"His white blood cell count is down by around 52%. Which is miraculous if you consider the short time span."

I glanced at Tyler in the back seat. Acknowledging that I'd heard him without actually having to reply to him. I didn't want to admit that he was right. Pete improving at that rate was nothing less than a miracle. If he'd actually improved that much. I wasn't calling Tyler a liar but I wasn't just going to take his word for it. I'd bring Pete into the office in a few days and go over his charts with Brendon.

"And what's with the blonde hair?" I ran my fingers through it playfully. The small smile Pete had been wearing for the past few minutes widened.

"You don't like it?"

"I love it."

"I wanted to try something new." He turned away from the road for a second to look at me. "Your hair is different too."

"Yeah." I blushed when he noticed the cut I got just for him. "I wanted to try something new." I mocked his words.

"Oh haha." He glanced at me again. "I like it. I like it a lot."

"Good." I smiled smugly.

"You don't wear your hat anymore?"

"I lost it at the bar."

"Must have been a crazy night."

"It was fun." I said after a few seconds of silence. "It was the first time I'd gone out since you left."

A look of guilt spread across Pete's face. Making him feel guilty hadn't been my intention. I was simply stating a fact.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be." My reply was quick and low. I wanted the fun atmosphere between us to come back. Now the car ride was feeling somber. He felt bad for leaving and I felt bad for making him feel bad about leaving. "I've been really busy with work and stuff." I lied.

"Oh that's right." Tyler spoke up instead of Pete. "You have your own office, right? I wish I had my own doctor's office."

"Well, you have to be an actual Doctor first, don't you?" The words came out more bitter than I'd intended them to.

The car went awkwardly silent again. And again it was my fault. I didn't even try to start another conversation. There wasn't a point. I reached down and placed my hand on Pete's knee as he drove. He freed his right hand from the steering wheel to intertwine our fingers. Butterflies chased through my stomach at the small contact.

Pete pulled into the parking lot of his old house. My new house. The house we had so many memories in. Kisses. Hugs. Arguments. Sex. Tears. Smiles. He'd dropped down to one knee and proposed to me in this very place. He'd accepted my proposal on the very same night.