Temptation and Reason

Chapter 4

They started walking down the street. The streetlights lit up as the sun sunk below the horizon. Pete focused on the cracks in the cement before the silence started eating him up.

"Where are we going?" He turned his head to look at Patrick.

"There's this place I know not far from here. I have a feeling you've never been there."

"And why would you think that?" Pete asked pretending to be offended.

"Seems like you don't go out and cut loose like this very often," Patrick answered with a shrug. Pete frowned. He got out plenty, Brendon made sure of it. "Now enough questions. Tell me about yourself." 

"What do you want to know?"

"Anything. Right now all I know is your first name." Pete smiled and looked back to the ground.

"Actually my name is Peter, but I like Pete better." Patrick chuckled. "Peter Lewis Kingston Wentz III."

"The third?" Patrick laughed while Pete nodded. 

"I know it sounds stupid."

"No it doesn't. It's just different," Patrick said still shining his smile.

"Well, what's your full name?" 

"Patrick Martin Stumph," he answered proudly. 

"I guess your parents didn't want to be too extra with your name."

"They went all out on my sisters name. Uma Trinity Stumph." 

"Uma? Like the actress?" Patrick nodded. "Is she your only sibling?"

"Yeah, she's awesome. What about you? Any siblings?" Pete chuckled nervously. He looked over his shoulder to Ryan. He was given an encouraging nod before looking over at Patrick.

"Only child. Parents got divorced not long after having me, so no time to have another kid," Pete said with a shrug. He saw Patrick frown and knew what was coming. It's a main reason he never told people about that. He didn't like pity. "Don't feel bad or anything. It happened so long ago. I'm used to it now."

Patrick nodded and slowed his pace till he came to a stop. Pete did the same, but more hesitant. He turned to Patrick with confusion. From the corner of his eye, he could see how Ryan and Brendon were equally confused. Brendon was looking around the building for any clue about what's going on.

"We're here." Pete turned to the building Patrick pointed at. In the window, Pete saw a neon sign. It wasn't on which made it hard for Pete to read.

"MCRcade?" Patrick smiled and nodded. Pete pointed at the closed sign, adding to his confusion. 

"Not for us." He walked to the door and knocked on the glass. It wasn't long before a man with bright red hair opened the door. 

"Patrick! Come on in" The man moved aside to let them in. He looked Pete up and down as he passed him. 

"Thanks Gee." Pete looked around the room, taking in all the flashing lights from the endless arcade games. He noticed a snack bar beside the counter with countless prizes. Pete turned after he heard Patrick speaking quietly. "Shut up." 

The red hair guy had on the biggest smirk while Patrick was almost as red as the man's hair. Gee gave Patrick a playful shove before heading to the room behind the snack bar. Patrick gave Pete a shy smile and led him to an empty table. 

"How'd you manage to do this?"

"Gerard and I went to school together. Now he owns this arcade and I get free tokens whenever I want."