What About Us

Sixteen

"I leave for five minutes and you're smoking in a hospital room" I said to Pete. He was sitting in the windowsill trying to get all the smoke out the window. I placed some food in front of him. Andy and Brendon were awake, however Joe, I was worried about at this point. "Is he alive?" I asked Andy. He lifted Joe's arm and dropped it. Joe sat up quickly looking around at us all.

"Yeah he's alive" Andy said. Joe glared at the kid he loved. Andy smiled at him, and it made him smile back. Pete put his cigarette out on his shoe and shoved the evidence in his pocket. I leant up pressing my mouth to his. He'd been coarse with me lately, and I didn't like it. He was nice to everyone else. He pulled away suddenly and looked out the window. I felt my heart drop to my stomach. I couldn't bare to look at everyone else. I grabbed my phone and left the room.
——
I ended up at the cafeteria drinking a smoothie in the back with my feet up on the other chair. I pouted at the styrofoam cup. What'd I do? Why was he being so mean to me? All I did was take care of him. I grabbed my smoothie taking a sip.

"Patrick Stump?" I looked up.

"Mr. Lander" I said. One of my parents dinner guests. He was about 25 and extremely rich.

"What're you doing here?" He asked.

"Avoiding confrontation, what about you?" I asked.

"Talking to you" he said sitting down scooting my feet off the chair. "Now the real reason you're here?"

"If by in the cafeteria is what you mean, my answer still stands. The general hospital, well thats a different answer"

"General hospital" he said.

"My boyfriends mom's in a coma. He's been a dick to me so I walked out" I said gently.

"I didn't know you were gay" he said.

"Really? You didn't? We dont spend much time together then" I said.

"Your parents never mention it" he said.

"Makes sense" I said. "Anyway, why're you here?"

"To talk some sense into this boyfriend of yours" he said. I smirked. "Joking of course, I've a co worker in surgery right now. He's a good buddy, not much family, so I came to make sure he made it through"

"That's kind of you" I said gently.

"Thank you" he said "You love this boy?"

"Your co worker?" I asked in confusion "I've never met him-"

"No" he laughed "Your boyfriend, do you love your boyfriend?"

"Well yeah" I said "I wanna get married and live together and adopt a baby. But, maybe all eighteen year olds say that in a serious relationship" he chuckled a little.

"I never said that" he said "I still dont say that"

"I'm crazy about him then" I said "He's treating everyone else nice except me"

"Maybe your easy to take his stress out on. He knows you'll still be there in the end. People do that sometimes. It's not right of him, but it doesn't mean he doesn't love you" he said gently. "Call him on his bullshit next time"

"Maybe" I mumbled "Or maybe I'll avoid confrontation until the wedding day"

"How's he gonna propose?" he asked.

"A text message" I said. We both laughed a little. "Or he could just, walk into the cafeteria" I sat up a little straighter. Pete walked over to me with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

"Hi" he said gently.

"Hi" I said coarsely. He made a pained face at me.

"Can we talk?" he asked.

"I dont know" I said.

"Patrick come on" He said.

"He's big and scary. I'm really glad I didn't try talking sense into him" Mr. Lander said. Pete looked over at him.

"He's a teddy bear" I said getting up. Pete crossed his arms at me "You cried over a puppy that got kicked by accident in a movie" He blushed like a red light.

"Awh that's sweet" Mr. Lander said. Pete glared at him "Okay, never mind"

"Thanks for the pep talk, Mr. Lander" I said grabbing my smoothie.

"Any time kid" He said. I walked side by side with Pete.

"Look, I'm sorry I've been a dick to you lately.
I'm under a lot of stress, that's not a reason" We stopped at the cafeteria entrance.

"What I don't get is how you can be nice to everyone else but a dick to me" I snapped. He sighed.

"I don't know okay? Causing you pain makes me wanna throw up, and I'm sorry. I just don't know why I felt the need to hurt you. I'm sorry. I love you" He stared at me with tired, sad eyes.

"It's okay" I whispered. I grabbed his hand and kissed his cheek. "I love you too"

"Come on" He said gently. He lead the way to his moms room.
——
I can't remember falling asleep.  I was on Petes lap, and it was one in the morning.  I sat up slowly, and a pair of eyes met mine.  Petes mom stared at me.  She smiled weakly.

"You must be Patrick" she whispered.