The Storm Comes Before The Rainbow

•4•

Enjoy:

Mentions of depression and suicide.

"Patrick and I dated for about 3 years." Pete starts.

He doesn't like to go back.

"I know." Mikey states, somewhat annoyed.

"I'm senior year...we applied to colleges. Any mail we received from the colleges...we'd keep in a stack, waiting for one specific Saturday to open them all." Pete's voice shakes.

"Whoa, you got more than me I think." Pete frowns, staring at Patrick's pile.

They were tucked away in the gazebo. People walking by outside with their children and dogs. It was a gorgeous day. They'd carried their bundle of envelopes around all day throughout their date. They had gone for lunch and ice cream, finally settling in for the big reveals.

"1...2...3...4...5...6." Patrick counts his out.

"We only applied to five." Pete frowns, waving his 5 envelopes in the air.

"Well fuck..." Patrick frowns. "I'll save this one for after I guess." Patrick sets it to the side.

"Where's it from?"

"University Of Southern California."

Pete's eyes widen. "Patrick, that's a really good school."

Patrick shakes his head. "I didn't apply to it."

"I know but it's better than half of what we applied to."

Patrick shrugs. Pete's astonished he doesn't care as much.

"Lets just open up Parkdale Technical Institutes letter first." Patrick grabs his.

Pete does the same. "Ready?"

Patrick nods and together they rip open the envelope.

"Denied." Pete frowns.

"Accepted." Patrick frowns too.

"Why are you sad?"

"Because I wanted you to get accepted."

"That was my last choice anyways." Pete shakes his head. "Let's do Emory University next."

They grab their envelopes.

"Accepted." Pete smiles.

"Accepted!" Patrick grins happily as well.

They share a hug and a brief kiss before going back to their envelopes. They open the next.

"Denied." Patrick looks up to Pete.

"Accepted." Pete tosses his aside, it doesn't matter, they're hoping for the same college.

"Accepted." Patrick smiles.

"Denied."

Tossed aside.

"Last one." Pete smiles. "Not for you." He winks and they tear them open.

"Denied."

"Denied."

They shrug.

"So one out of five..." They sigh. "Emory is so far away too."

"We'll see what our parents think." Patrick says, gaining a nod from Pete.