Just Once - A Peterick Fic

Chapter 9

        After the show, Joe and I were sitting in his hotel room not doing too much when he finally brought it up.

        "That was not your best show," he told me sympathetically, knowing I already knew it. "Sure as hell wasn't Pete's either."

        "I know, and I feel like I should apologize to the fans. I told myself I'd never let personal problems hurt the music and I did exactly that tonight," I admitted with a sigh, rubbing my face with my hands.

        Wordlessly, Joe pulled out his phone. Evidently, he'd opened Twitter because he began reading things off to me. "@falloulboi wants to know 'What was up with Patrick and Pete tonight?' @falloutpanic: '@petewentz did something happen between you and Patrick?' Oh, here's a gem from @petessuiteheart: 'Do @petewentz and Patrick hate each other now or....?' They want to know what's going on. They're worried and deserve an explanation."

        "Well I can't exactly tell them the truth," I countered, knowing that would end badly. We'd agreed not to tell them during the relationship so why would telling them after the fact be any better? It wouldn't, simple as that.

        He shrugged, saying, "Do what you want but I didn't say the explanation had to be the truth."

        "Constructing a believable lie would require speaking to Pete in order to keep our story straight and I'm not too interested in that at the moment. I doubt he is either, considering the last thing I said to him," I told him, knowing my excuses were getting more and more elaborate and harder to believe.

        "What'd you say to him?" he questioned, looking worried about what it could be. "It couldn't have been too bad, I mean, you're Patrick."

        "Hey," I protested, feigning offense. "I can be mean if I want to."

        "Mhm, but not horrible. C'mon, what'd you say?" He sounded like a typical teenage girl, about to hear some gossip.

        "Well, it was more of a gesture than an actual word," I started and he bust out laughing, leaning back and clutching his stomach. "What?" I asked him, smiling slightly, confused as to what was so funny.

        "You flipped him off and you're acting like you just killed a man," he explained, wiping under his eyes. I wasn't sure if he'd actually laughed so hard he'd cried or it was just for show.

        "Well I doubt it helped the situation," I said meekly. "Plus, it was really rude. I feel bad about it."

        "He'll get over it, don't worry. You have nothing to feel bad about. If anyone does, it's him. What prompted it?" he asked, his tone unconcerned and relaxed.

        "Well, he held his hand up for a high five, you know, the let's-put-it-all-behind-us-for-now high five, and I really didn't want him to think I was forgiving him even the smallest amount so..." I told him, finishing with a shrug instead of actual words.

        "Oh god, Patrick. I think he got the message that you're pissed," he said with another laugh, but there was an edge to it this time. I think he was a little worried about what might happen to the band if we couldn't make up.

        "I just don't want this to impact the band any more than it already has," I said with a sigh, rubbing my face with my hands.

        "Me neither," Joe told me, a sobering tone to his voice. I was unbelievably worried and I had a feeling he was too. I'd be shocked if the thought hadn't crossed Andy and Pete's minds more than once too.

        This whole situation was making me realize how delicate a career in music really is when it depended on four guys getting along, especially when two of them decided it was a good idea to take things past friendship. Maybe we were just meant to crash and burn. Maybe we weren't meant to be one of those bands with a 20 year life, as much as I'd like for us to be. Fall Out Boy would just be one of those bands that no one remembers because we only lasted seven years and it would be my fault. I may have just crushed my own and my three best friends' dreams of becoming someone remembered in music and I wasn't sure how to deal with that.

        Joe speaking pulled me out of my thoughts and I could tell he was nervous about what he had to say, biting his lip. "So, I probably should've told you this earlier but Pete didn't want me to. Now it won't hurt anything, though. Anyways, the other day when you were late for that meeting, he and I were talking when you walked in," he started, stopping like he knew the next part would be hard for me to hear. I didn't care though, and I already had an idea of what he was about to say. "Pete had asked me what I thought he should do... You know, about you two. He was thinking about breaking it off then and I tried to tell him to stay with you but..." He stopped again, sighing and shaking his head. "I guess he had already made his decision."

        I didn't know what to say, or even do for that matter. I mean, what is the proper response to something like that? I hadn't really thought much about that day, but now I realize that was when Pete started noticeably distancing himself from me.

        "I-I'm gonna go," I said, standing up on shaky legs with an unsteady voice to match, and starting towards the door.

        "Patrick?" I heard Joe call as I left, a worried tone to his words. I didn't respond, acting like I hadn't even heard him. I hardly had, anyway. My tumultuous thoughts seemed to encompass my entire head, blocking out everything out side of me. It was as if I was on auto-pilot as I made my way back to my room and crawled into bed without even changing clothes. I didn't get much sleep that night and couldn't help but wonder if Pete did either.

A/N: Sorry if I used anyone's usernames when Joe was reading off tweets to Patrick. I'm not on twitter anymore and I don't feel like putting forth the effort to check. Also, I hope you guys even somewhat enjoy the little graphics I make for each chapter. I was basically just looking for something to do in Photoshop one day so I started making those.

I've got a new Patley one shot posted and I'd love it if you read that. (totally not shameless self promo) Either go to my profile and look for it, search for it under Call Me?, or search for it through this code on mobile: 65263510. Thanks for being so patient with me lately. :)