Dick Pics (Peterick) **REWRITTEN**

15

CH. 15 -- PETE

"I have good news." I say when Andy goes to the bathroom. Patrick looks up at me from his phone, an eyebrow raised as he sits up.

"Spill." He says immediately, a grin pulling on his attractive features.

"I think I might have found you a job." I say, and Patrick's eyes go wide as he leans in, gesturing for me to continue. "It's not much, but my English professor needs an assistant to his teaching assistant in his Tuesday and Thursday classes. All that's required is a high school diploma. You think you're up for the job?"

"Uh, yeah. I love English." Patrick beams at me, his eyes crinkling. All I can think of is how breathtaking he is. Somehow, I manage to smile back at him, though, and that's when Andy comes back in.

I lean back in my chair and say, "Yeah, practice was alright. Would've been better if you'd have been there. Bryar had to catch my bullpen, and he missed, like, every ball I threw."

"I bet that took a while." Patrick plays along when he sees Andy, laying back down. "Y'know, I'm feeling a lot better. I think I'm gonna go to class tomorrow. I might even pick up that creative writing class on Tuesdays and Thursdays that we were talking about, Pete. You wanna try that out tomorrow?"

"If you're up for it, I am." I say, shrugging. Of course, I'm already in the class, and Patrick has no desire to join it, but hopefully he'll be grading our papers soon.

"I didn't know you liked English, Rick." Andy says, eyebrows raising, and Patrick just nods.

"I could use a break from psychology all day every day. And Pete just so happens to want to join one, too. So I'm figuring it would be pointless not to join the same one. We can even compare notes on the flights to and from games." Patrick says, and he's better at lying than I thought he would be. The only hint that could give him away is the fact that there's a faint blush arising on his face.

"I actually wanted to join a creative writing class, also. It'd give me a good excuse to drop that Anatomy and Physiology class-" Andy's phone cuts his sentence off, and Patrick and I both sigh in relief as he excuses himself to answer it.

"Okay, we have to stop making this class seem like it's a breeze. I don't want anyone else knowing that I could be getting a job." Patrick says, and my eyebrows furrow.

"Why? Is letting everyone know that you have to work for your own money embarrassing to you, Patrick?" I cross my arms, my jaw clenching. I get that he's a rich kid and has been all of his life, but having to work for something for once shouldn't be embarrassing.

"No, Pete, fuck. It's not that." He rolls his eyes at me before continuing. "When things change, people begin to ask questions. I don't need everyone asking why I need a job and then why I got cut off, alright? Contrary to popular belief, I'm not just ecstatic to be telling people that I'm being disowned because I'm a queer."

"You're right, I'm sorry. I just thought that since you're having to, y'know, work for once that you're embarrassed." I explain, and then Patrick looks offended.

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" Patrick says, and then he's throwing his legs over the bed and standing on wobbly feet.

"Sit down before you fall." I say, but he doesn't listen to me, instead crossing his arms.

"Tell me what the fuck that's supposed to mean, Pete." He demands, and then I stand up to where we're almost the same height.

"It means I figured you'd be embarrassed that college isn't just getting handed to you like everything else in your goddamn life has been!" I scream back at him, and his mouth drops open. I take a deep breath and look at my feet before glancing back up at him. His eyes have darkened, and he doesn't look happy. "Look, Patrick, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to lose my cool."

"Get out." He says, and my eyes widen as I try to stutter out an answer. "Shut up. Get the hell out."

Andy decides to come back in at that moment, eyebrows raising as he rushes to Patrick's side. "What's going on? I heard yelling. Why are you out of the bed?" He sounds concerned, but Patrick shakes him off.

"Nothing. Pete was just leaving. As I said, I'm alright. You can go, too. Dallon will be here any minute. I'll be fine." And then Patrick sits back down, taking a deep breath.

"Patrick, maybe I should-" Andy tries, but Patrick cuts him off.

"I said I'm fine." Patrick repeats, and fuck, I feel like a dick. But the last thing I want is for Patrick to punch me in the face, so Andy and I both oblige, walking to the door and leaving.

"What the hell happened?" Andy asks as soon as the door shuts behind us. I shake my head.

"I'm a dick, is all." I say, and Andy nods.

"I already knew that. I just want to know why Patrick kicked me out because you're a dick." Andy says, and I should be offended, but I just shrug.

"My guess is that he doesn't want to punch you. He has a really bad temper. Really bad." I shudder thinking back to that one time when he did punch me. Right after I graduated, actually.

"Define 'really bad.'" Andy says, and I grimace, swallowing the lump forming in my throat.

"So remember when Beckett asked me where I got the scar beside my left eye from?" I ask, and Andy gasps.

"You're fucking with me. Stump punched you and left a scar?" He asks disbelievingly, and I nod. "You must've done something bad."

"Just told him I was coming here. He said it was too far, and I asked if he was going to miss me. So instead of denying or confirming, he just hit me. That was the last time I spoke to him before this season started." I admit, and Andy just shakes his head.

"So he has a mean right hook?" Andy asks, laughing when I nod my head quickly.

"I'll be the first to tell you." I say, and we both laugh, but I know it doesn't reach my eyes. Andy doesn't seem to notice.

so three chapters in three days is probably a record high for me

how was it?

did anyone expect pete and patrick to scream at each other?

probably because i'm a sucker for make ups

thx for reading !!