Book of my favorite Petericks

Alone Together

It's cozy and dark under the blankets where the boy sleeps. The whirring of a small fan in the corner of his room is the only noise, and his gentle breathing is becoming deeper and deeper as the seconds pass by, barely noticeable. With each breath he's getting closer and closer to dreamland. He sighs in contentment, snuggling further into his blankets. He can't even remember the last time he got a proper night's sleep that wasn't disturbed by the bus hitting bumps on the road or one of the guys being too loud. But tonight, the boy feels like he can finally do it, like he can finally fall asleep without interruption-

Zzzp! The vibration of Patrick's cell phone against his nightstand spurs him awake, and he's so livid he grips it tightly in his hand, ready to throw it across the room, before he realizes the consequences of doing so and decides against it. He rubs his forehead in exasperation before answering the phone.

"Hello," Patrick mutters in a snippy tone. He tries to calm down but it's hard when all of his coping mechanisms had flown out the window days ago.

"Hey," a raspy voice scratches through the receiver. Instantly, Patrick's anger dissolves into concern.

"Pete? Are you alright?" Patrick asks. He sits up in his bed, the nest of blankets he was previously in forgotten.

"What do you think happens after we die, 'Trick?" Pete questions, ignoring Patrick's previous inquiry. Patrick is confused, but Pete is always cryptic so he's used to it by now.

Patrick thinks for a few moments, and Pete lets him, his faint breathing on the other line the only noise.

When Patrick comes up with his answer, he makes sure to formulate it carefully. "I think that we go. We leave our bodies. Our soul detaches and goes somewhere, though I don't know exactly where yet. All I know is that there's too much energy in the world around us for it to just die out when our bodies do. Energy never goes away, it just changes forms. But I don't think it can be forced. You have to let nature take its course. If you don't let it happen by itself, your energy won't go where it's supposed to be. Does that make sense?" Patrick is feeling self-conscious now, having put such a personal thought out into the air.

"What's your favorite color and why?" Pete asks, as if Patrick had never said anything. Patrick is relieved but at the same time disappointed and confused. He's trying to figure out what's wrong with Pete, and he thought that by listening to him talk a little, Pete would open up. That isn't the case. Patrick decides to play along and humor Pete, even though he's worried.

"Orange, because I like sunsets."

"Do you miss me?" Pete's next question leaves Patrick confused, and he wants to ask Pete what he means. But Pete would just answer, "never mind" and Patrick wants to figure out what's wrong, so he thinks about it. Of course he misses the guys. He misses going on tour and all of the sweaty hugs and the crowds screaming their names, shouting their lyrics, jumping in time to the beat of their music.

But that isn't Pete's question. Pete wants to know if Patrick misses him personally. And of course Patrick does. Pete is his best friend, but it's been months since they've seen each other in person. Patrick's had some short phone calls with him, a few Skype calls, and a text or two here and there, but for the most part, since the hiatus, the band's been apart doing their own separate projects. The last time Patrick saw Pete in person was at a Soul Punk show, when Pete sat on a fan's shoulders to see Patrick better, and Patrick saw him waving. After the show, they talked for a few minutes before Patrick had to leave for the next show.

Patrick misses seeing Pete every day. He misses the way Pete flashes him these dazzling smiles and he misses the way Pete would run up to him after a show, his caramel eyes wide with excitement and adrenaline, talking to Patrick about all the things he saw and the way he felt and the pure happiness that was plastered all over him when he performed. He misses the way Pete would call bunking with Patrick because he knew Patrick would stay up with him if he couldn't sleep because of his insomnia.