Help Me (Peterick AU) [COMPLETED]

3

Patrick's POV

The whole thing starts off like every therapy I've gone to with everyone saying their name, age and what they're here for. It's kind of useless because I'll forget most of these people before the end of the session but it's a nice attempt.

By the time it gets to me I just say "Patrick, 17, I tried to kill myself" then Pete mumbles "Pete, 15, you already know". I didn't think he'd get away with not saying what he's in for but the therapist just shakes her head and moves on. It's a shame because I'd kind of like to know but I'm willing to wait until he's ready. I'm guessing something really bad happened to him and ended him here so I don't want to pressure him to talk about it.

It does surprise me a little that he's so young but I did know he was a lot younger. Me and Brendon are 17 and Ryan's 18 so it's kind of cute that he's so young. Now I want to love and protect him even more than before and I'm determined to do it.

I lean over to whisper to Pete but he shakes his head and the therapist looks over at me "You're new aren't you Patrick? I'm Dr Williams, how are you?" Talking in front of a lot of people is awkward so I just stutter out "I'm good, I don't mind it here".

I'm hoping she won't force me to talk about why I'm here but she asks something possible more awkward "Are you and Pete friends? How's that going?"

That makes me and Pete both blush so I nod quickly "We're becoming friends, he's really cool, I think it'll be good". I don't wanna talk about this anymore so I'm glad when Dr Williams turns away to someone else. 

Pete's tucked his knees up to his chest and is hugging them tight so I'm slightly worried. I want to touch him and ask if he's ok but I know that won't do anything good so I just watch him. Hopefully I didn't say anything bad because I really do like him and want to be his friend. Upsetting him sucks so bad and I really just want to avoid anything that'll make him sad.

After a lot more questions we do an awkward ice breaker activity where we talk about what we like. I talk about the instruments I play and what music I like which makes it not too bad. I love music and I can always cheer myself up with it so that can even make awkward socialising good.

Once I finish talking I flop back down on my seat, just glad to be done with it. Being the centre of attention is never nice so I'd much rather just sit here and listen to other people.

I'm keeping my head down biting my nails when Pete puts his hand over mine for a second then pulls away quickly. No one else seems to notice but I feel a rush of warmth through me that he trusts me. I drop my hand down beside my chair, trying to subtly beg him to touch me again and I get lucky.

I was slightly hoping he'd hold my hand but I'm more than happy when Pete bumps my hand. He easily rests the back of his hand against mine, making it almost impossible to focus on anything else.

Pete's the last person to talk about himself so when Dr Williams looks at us I cringe a little. I don't know if she sees our hands or not but she doesn't comment on it. After a lot of promoting Pete murmurs that he plays bass and likes music then she lets him relax again.

That's the end of the session but before we go she asks us if people know about visiting day and if we're inviting anyone. My parents will definitely come and yell set me for everything that's happened so it'll be pretty horrible. Pete shakes his head frantically at the question and his hand pulls away from mine which breaks my heart a little.

When Dr Williams says we can leave he runs out of the room as quick as he can. When I get out I find him fiercely hugging Ryan who looks slightly worried until I say "She asked about visiting day" which makes him nod and hug Pete tight.

I don't know what's going on and would never ask but I presume someone who might come hurt Pete really bad. I really hope people don't come to see him and make him upset, I don't want him to hurt in any way.

Pete goes back to his room with Ryan so I go to mine and let Brendon leave as I continue on my book. I'm reading Divergent and I know it's considered a teenage girls book but there's no one here to judge me on what I read.

When the door opens I don't look up because I presume it's Brendon but then a cup is in front of me. I look up and break out in a huge smile when I see Pete looking down at me. "Hi Pete, I asked Dr Williams for hot chocolate and got one for you, is that ok?"

He looks like he's considering running away so I take the mug and pat the end of my bed "That's really really nice Pete, thank you, you wanna sit down?"

Now that I've said I like this Pete happily curls up at the end of my bed, sipping his own drink. He doesn't seem like he wants to talk so we both drink in silence until I get too curious. "Is this something they do a lot or is the hot chocolate just for you?"

Pete licks his lips adorably then nods "It's usually just me, I'm really close with Dr Williams so she gets me stuff like this, I want you to have it too though"

Just the fact he thought of me is the sweetest thing. Having someone think about you and get nice things like this for you is the sweetest thing.

Now that we're actually talking and getting along I really want to keep the conversation going. He's obviously really shy and anxious but hopefully I can make him feel more comfortable and we can get close. "Is your room close to here? Do you have a roommate? Are we allowed in each other's rooms and stuff? How does this stuff work?"

I sound kind of stupid but Pete just giggles and kicks his feet out over the side of the bed. "My rooms a couple doors down and I don't have a roommate, some people do but I never have. We're allowed in each other's rooms as long as our helper people are with us, Ry is outside with Brendon"

Pete looks so happy that they're together which I definitely agree with. Obviously him and Ryan are pretty close so it's super cute that he's so supportive of him.

I've finished my drink so I watch Pete sip at his and wonder if asking him about it would be weird. I know he has eating issues but I guess he must not mind drinking at all since he seems so easy with this.

Eventually I decide to just go with it and hope he won't get offended. I can't exactly ask him about every single thing he likes and dislikes so I'll have to go for it and hope it's ok. "Are you ok with drinking Pete? I guess it's easier for you than eating"

Pete silently stared at me for a while before reaching over and gently resting a hand on my arm. He strokes the skin gently until he relies "I like drinking, it helps me with my eating which everyone says is good for me"

His voice is so soft and quiet so I give him a soft smile and push my arm closer to him, urging him to keep touching me. Pete does what I was hoping for and keeps touching me but I don't risk it by trying to touch him back.

Slowly Pete's hand works down my arm and eventually gets to my bandages. His pale fingers slide over them and he shakes his head "You're too pretty for these". My heart almost explodes from that but Pete quickly pulls away and looks totally humiliated. It looks like he's about to get spooked so I lean closer and put my arm out for him again "Don't worry Pete that's really sweet, please don't be scared of me. You're the sweetest person I've ever met and I'd never be upset about such a sweet compliment"

That seems like it was the right thing to say because Pete's hand goes back on my arm. He avoids the scars now, probably nervous about saying anything else embarrassing but I couldn't mind less. A beautiful boy thinking I'm pretty would never be an insult and having someone accept my scars is super nice.

Eventually I decide sitting in silence letting an underage kid grope my arm is a little too awkward. I can hear Ryan and Brendon talking outside the door so I go to sit cross legged by the door to listen. Pete joins me with a giggle and we listen to their silly flirting until the door opens. Pete scrambles out of the way easily but it knocks me sideways because I'm not quick enough to get out of the way. They all laugh at me sprawled on the floor then Pete has to go back to his own room for the night and I'm alone again.