Rain

•25•

Sore

That's the first thing that Pete and Patrick can say as they wake up.

Patrick's cheeks that were as raw as they could've been last night, have scabbed over already in the morning.

Just after his shower, Pete stares at his body in the fogged up mirror. Lots of bruises. His eye is a nasty shade of dark purple with a touch of yellow. Small cuts on his cheeks, purple bruise sprinkle his face. He's a fucking mess. Pete heads down the stairs, legs sore and stiff. Jason shouldn't be at school, as his final fight with the teacher suspended him and got him kicked out.

Which is fantastic for Pete.

Though, about 50% of the school saw the picture, which he didn't hear the end of.

"Who is the cow?"

"You asked someone to prom?"

"Wait, are you actually taking a cow?"

It didn't stop. More and more things were constantly asked. Pete was surprised Jason didn't actually leak who it was. Instead he gave untrue humor and peaked the student body interest.

And Pete hated him for that.

"He's not a cow."

"Yes, I asked someone."

"No, I'm taking an actual human."

He had to continue answering them all. People didn't even care about his cuts and bruises. They only cared about the picture.

The poorly photoshopped, terrible quality, fake lying photo.

"Holy fucking shit, Petey." Ryan says after-school.

Pete is too tired to correct him. He doesn't even want to talk to Ryan. Ryan is luckily they're at school or else Pete would sock the perfect skin.

"Pete...what happened to your face?"

"What happened to our friendship? Our secrecy? Our trust?"

"Pete..."

"Ryan, you told Jason all this, Jason made the fucking post off of your information that I told you in privacy! I don't trust you anymore."

Ryan's eyes go glassy. Pete tries not to look, he has a weakness for crying. He never knows how to deal with it.

"Don't you fucking cry." Pete mumbles.

"I'm sorry, I know you hate it." Ryan fans his eyes.

"Ryan, why did you tell him? Why?"

"I don't have a filter! I just...say shit!"

"You keep my other secrets...why not this one? God forbid Patrick saw the post!" Pete whispers.

"Did he!?" Ryan covers his mouth, feeling guilty as hell.

"I hope not...I'm going to talk to him today."

"C-can I come with you?"

"Ryan, I doubt he wants to-"

"I don't give a singe fuck who he wants to see, I damn near ruined the kids life and I need to apologize."

Pete was shocked, Ryan usually ran away from problems or would easily turn it on someone else.

"Ryan..."

"I'll meet you there." Ryan blows a kiss before walking a few spots down to his Beetle.

~~~

The protectiveness in Patrick's dad flares at the sight of the two boys.

"He's busy." His dad crosses his arms.