Everybody Wants Somebody [Patrick Stump High School AU]

Chapter One; Spotlight (Oh Nostalgia)

[Labeled under: Summer of 1997]

Moving trucks are not a completely unexpected sight in Glenview, it's a Naval town and people move in and out all the time. But that was in base housing. These boys did not live in base housing, so new people was an oddity.

Glenview was a small, boring town, well, technically village (it didn't qualify to be deemed a town), you wouldn't find many people moving into town and staying for long. Those who lived here had always been here, or would be moving away soon on a new assignment.

The moving truck had passed down the street and of course as nosy as young children are, the three boys found themselves trailing behind. It was the eldest boy's idea, driven by the thought that it would be some super cool guy who's in a band, or something like that. The youngest had no idea where they were going and why. He wasn't super bright, but a real nice guy. Then there was the middle boy.

Patrick liked people, they just weren't his forte. Now music was his forte, all puns intended. But meeting new people, whether they be kids his age, or adults - he didn't know what to say so he just kept quiet. Only spoke unless spoken to. But he agreed to tag along with his friends because he really had no choice. They stopped before the beginning of Imperial, and Kevin turned to Jamie and asked if Mr. Ward had sold his house, because he didn't remember seeing a sign.

In the driveway stood Ward, the movers, and a young girl they had never seen before. She looked about Patricks age and height, putting her at 13. Kevin leaned over and elbowed Jamie in the side, pointing at her and saying that he has a new friend to make and that the girl looks like she needs it. Her eyes looked sunken in and dark, her bright red nose a standout against her almost translucent skin. She looked sad and sickly, both she probably was, considering the way she seemed to be falling asleep where she stood.

Mr. Ward looked over, noticed the three sitting on their bikes and waved. The two made their way down the length of the truck as the movers opened the truck and began pulling out boxes, Ward stopped and told them hello. "This is Kay, you guys." He said motioning to the girl who had already went inside with a couple of boxes. He said to 'please look out for her' and went on about ''how much of a favor it would be' before one of the men called for him. He said everything again and went inside, leaving the three staring inside the door and watching the other man in the truck before they decided to leave; they'd found what they wanted, more or less.

Kevin and Jamie talked all about the girl and who she could've been and why she had moved in with Mr. Ward. They ruled out adoption because Jay Ward was too big of a child to take care of one himself. Jamie turned back to ask Patrick what he thought, but he had zoned out a while ago and hailed no answer. He was indifferent to the girl. She was not extraordinarily pretty or exceptionally different looking. He believed that he would see her at school and she would just add to the flow of students trying to get out and left it at that. He had his friends and was content with them.

But that summer was two years ago and the summer before Kay Moran and Patrick Stumph began to change each other for the worst.

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See chapter three for author's note.