Folie

Act II, Scene 5

Finished.

Pete let out a sigh of relief as he put down his pen. He finally finished the last scene of the third act. Glancing over the scene one more time, he began to feel wistful as he realized he wouldn't have to write this musical anymore. He had become rather accustomed to having to work on it every day for the past six months.

Nah, fuck that, he thought, I'm sick of writing this shit.

He got up to walk to Patrick's room, but then he stopped. He still didn't feel totally comfortable talking to him since the kiss, and the worst part was, he didn't even know why the kiss bothered him so much. How could he talk to Patrick about his problems when he didn't even know what the problem was?

Regardless of his feelings, though, he knew he at least had to tell him about the musical. He left his room and walked across the apartment to Patrick's room. He raised his hand to knock, but a small, sniffling noise stopped him in his tracks. He pressed his ear against the door, and the sound became unmistakeable. His heart sank as he realized Patrick was crying.

"Patrick, are you alright?"

"Just go away, Pete."

"I'm worried about you, 'Trick."

"No, you're not, you've been an asshole to me like everyone else," Patrick spat, his words slicing guilt into Pete's chest. Wincing, Pete slowly began to speak again, more quietly this time.

"'Trick, please, let's just talk. At least let me in to show you the musical. I finally finished it," Pete said, his voice rising at the end of his sentence.

"Just slip it under the door."

"Please, Patrick?"

Soon, the door clicked open, and Pete nearly began to cry as he took in the sight of Patrick's plum-red face, tears still flowing down his cheeks.

"Oh my god, 'Trick," Pete cried, quickly wrapping Patrick in a hug, "I'm so sorry."

"It's okay, Pete," Patrick sniffled, "well, no it's not, but at least you aren't being distant anymore."

"I know, it's not okay. Can we just talk? Like we used to do?"

Pete could feel Patrick's lips curl in a smile. "Sure."

Patrick went to lie on his bed again, and Pete lied down next to him. A pregnant silence passed before Patrick spoke again.

"So?"

Pete took a heavy breath. "The thing is, I don't really know how to explain the way I've been acting. I just know I've been acting shitty."

Patrick simply hummed in response.

"It's just- ever since I saw you and Dallon kiss, I felt bad, like something was wrong, but I didn't know what. I think it's jealousy, but I don't know why I feel jealous. It's not because I think I'm in love with you, at least, I don't think I am, but why else would I feel so hurt over this?"

Patrick turned to face Pete, mulling carefully over his next words before he spoke.

"Are you sure you're not in love with me?"

Pete turned to face Patrick back, as his own eyes began watering.

"No. I don't know. It doesn't feel like it, but there doesn't seem to be another explanation. And, I don't know, like I wasn't trying to intentionally avoid you, it's just that I felt bad being around you, and I didn't even know why I felt bad."

"Well, how do you think I felt?," Patrick interjected, frustration coloring his tone, "I needed you, Pete. I needed my best friend. Dallon stopped talking to me too, and as soon as Brendon found out, he started treating me like shit. Joe is the only one who's actually been talking to me, and I barely know him. I barely know him," he repeated more quietly, more painfully, "and he was the only one willing to treat me like a friend."

"I'm sorry, Patrick. I'm so sorry," Pete sobbed, "I should have just talked to you. I'm sorry I treated you like shit when you needed me the most. This isn't how you treat someone you love, I'm sorry."

"I know, Pete, I love you too. That's why you need to be there for me when I need support, because I love you too. You're my best friend. It hurt when Brendon and Dallon stopped talking to me, but it felt like absolute shit when you did the same thing. I started to think that maybe it was all my fault, that maybe I really was this shitty person if even my best friend didn't want to talk to me anymore. I started to blame myself, and that's not okay. It took a lot of work to get my mental health where it is now, and I don't want to go back."

"It's not your fault, Patrick. It's mine. I'm sorry."

"I know it isn't. And I forgive you, Pete. I just need you to understand that what you did isnt okay. If you need to talk to me, if something is bothering you, just tell me. For god's sake, we tell each other everything, you know you can tell me whatever's bothering you."

"I know, 'Trick, you're right. I'll never do it again. I love you," Pete said.

"I love you too," Patrick said smiling.

"So, you finally finished writing that goddamn musical?"