Patrick
April 7th
This motherfucker just kicked me in the shin.
"What the fuck! Ow!" I yelp.
Gerard looks through the rearview mirror, "kids, no fighting back there please."
Frank snorts, Travie laughing at me.
"Right here." Travie points to a nice-ish two one story house. It's gray and covered in snow—quite pretty looking. I'm sure by the way Pete is smirking at the houses that he's got quite the memories in there.
"Alright, bye dudes." He hops out of the car and hogs to the front door.
And I can see his mother greeting him at the door and hugging his tightly. That's sweet—seriously. I know Travie would never want me to know that he cares about his mom, but he does. And I know because he's hugging her back.
We drive off.
"Who's next?" Gerard coughs, "actually I know where you two live, but Pete what about you?"
"I'm like 15 minutes from here." Pete says monotone.
"Frank, you coming home with me?" Gerard smiles at him.
Frank smiles back with loving eyes, "I think I'm gonna go home...my mom has to be worried sick about me. I texted her but still."
Pete snorts, "sounds like my mom."
I smile lightly.
"Sounds like my aunt." Gerard laughs, and Frank and I agree.
Pete lowkey tilts his head at me in confusion. I frown at him, then look towards Gerard.
"Can I...explain..?" Gerard cringes, "...vaguely?"
He breathes out heavily, "go ahead, Patty, I trust you."
"So um," I start, "Gerard and...you know Mikey," he nods, "their uh, their mother passed away from breast cancer and their dad...he, um...he killed himself shortly after. They live with their aunt."
Gerard looks uncomfortable and I feel guilty for bringing it up.
"I'm sorry, Gerard." Pete says.
I'm surprised he has the mental capacity in his dumb jock brain to feel emotion.
"My dad died during 9/11. We used to live in New York, and he was a first responder. My mom and I moved out here to...get away. I was just baby then, though."
And Pete says it with such ease. Such grace, and calmly with no feeling to it; and it's not like it's careless—it's just peaceful and...so full of acceptance.
"That's not great." Frank frowns, "I'm so damn lucky I have two amazing parents."
I smile at him wider.
"What about you, Patrick?" Pete turns to me, "you're still a mystery."
I cringe. Do I really want to tell him this? I guess I should.
"My mom's in the process of detoxing in an institution, and my dad's in jail." I say it simply.
Pete's face twists with sadness and almost fear, I want to say. It's the 'I can't even imagine' face.
"He's in for sexual assault. Used to hit mom." I finish.
I'm only a light uncomfortable sharing those first details, but when that last part is shed into the light, I loose it. And I'm honestly trying really damn hard not to cry.
"Who...who do you live with—if you don't mind me asking..." Pete speaks quietly.
"My mom has a boyfriend. I live with him. Asshole's too drink to notice I'm there, though..." I mutter.
"You know what?" Gerard jerks the stirring wheel. "Can we all just hang out today?"
"Gee, I need to see my mo-"
"Can we go over yours?" Gerard pleads.
Those damn puppy dog eyes seem to get Frank every time.
"Fine."
"Um, I did not agree to this-" I start.
"Oh, would you rather go home to Darin?"
I think about it for a moment. Yeah, no. I don't, honestly.
"Okay, you're right."
"Pete, you in?"
He looks a little out of place, hand fisted together in his lap uncomfortably.
"Yeah, sure. I need to...call my mom though." He says embarrassed almost.
"Me too." Frank laughs, "she'll be confused, but she'll be fine with it."
———
"Hi, Frankie!" Mrs. Iero hugged Frank, "and Gerard, always nice to see you, honey!"
She hugged Gee, bounding over to me, "Patrick! I haven't seen you in s week or so, how's your mom?"
I frown, "same old...same old."
She smiles sadly, nodding. She turns to Pete. She looks him up and down, a hesitate and slightly judgement look crosses her face.
"Hello, What's your name, honey?"she smiles softly at him.
Pete just keeps his normal, annoyed look glued to his face. "Pete."
And I can feel the awkwardness, and all the judgement and the nervous looks from Gerard and Frank and I just need to do something to make this less tense-
"My boyfriend."
Mrs. Iero does a double take, Gerard and Frank eyes wide but understand the move I made. Pete look astonished, and I see the farmhouse rage cross his eyes, but I kick his leg and make a face of expectancy and he gets it.
"Yes," he glares at me, "Patrick's boyfriend. It's nice to meet you, ma'am."
I smile proudly and slip my hand into his just to piss him off. He makes a pained face, but covers it up with a smile.
"Well it's nice to meet you Pete!" Mrs. Iero hugs him.
"We're going to be in my room." Frank cuts in.
Pete backs away harshly and chuckle under my breathe. Frank's mom smiles, "Okay! Lunch is at noon!"
Frank pulls Pete and me up the stairs, Gerard trailing behind.
Through the vintage smelling hallways, and up the creaking wooden stairs; we arrive outside Frank's room. At soon as we enter, Frank dives down on his bed and starts hysterically laughing, and I can see Gerard holding back giggles too.
"I hate you." Pete says to me.
"You love me."
He groans as I laugh at him, and he takes a seat on Frank's desk chair. I sit on the desk, Gerard moving to lay Frank's head in his lap.
"So," Gerard starts, "I think we just need to take this time to cool off. That was an emotional moment back at the church."
I nod, legs swaying below me. "Anyone wanna share feelings?"
Pete snorts, "the fuck? 'Share feels', seriously? That's what we're doing?"
Frank sighs, " I know your fragile masculinity can't handle it, but this is how we solve issues."
Gerard laughs, I roll me eyes at Pete's mad expression.
"YOU KNOW-"
"Pete, this is exactly the problem. Our issue with you here is that we need to calm down and not get angered. You need to calm down and listen. Please, just listen for once in your life." I smile weakly at him.
He breathes in, "o...okay."
