Temptation and Reason

Chapter 6

(Time skip to Friday)

Pete was waiting outside, nervously pacing as he looked up and down the street. Ryan and Brendon were sitting at a table nearby, smiling as Pete looked down at his phone for the fifth time. Pete sighed and went to sit down at the table.

"What if he doesn't come?" 

"He will. He's just late," Ryan reassured Pete. "Just take a breath." Pete nodded and did as he was told.

"Hey Petey." Pete looked up and saw Patrick smiling at him. Pete felt himself smiling back as he stood up. "Sorry I'm late. Got a little caught up helping my sister."

"It's alright," Pete shrugged like he wasn't just pacing the past ten minutes. "Ready to go inside?" Patrick nodded and took the hand Pete offered out. Patrick was buzzing with excitement as Pete led them inside the cold building. A girl behind the counter greeted them with a chirpy 'hello.'

"Hello. Um.. just the two of us and we need to rent skates too," Pete said nervously. The girl smiled and nodded. 

"What sizes," Pete and Patrick answered. When they got their skates, Pete paid the girl. "Alright, you're all set. You guys will be in rink five on your left."

"Thank you," Pete smiled. The pair headed down the hall, looking for the door with a number five. Patrick squeezed Pete's hand as he got more excited. "You alright?"

"Yeah," Patrick blushed. "Just really excited."

"Have you skated before?" 

"Yeah. I love it. What about you?" 

"Oh yeah, totally," Pete answered with a shrug to hid his nervousness. "I could basically out skate Tonya Harding." Patrick smirked, but played along with Pete's obvious lie. 

"Well, I can't wait to see you on the ice." Pete nodded as they found their rink and went inside. It was much colder in the room than it was in the hallway. There was one other person there who looked like they were getting ready to leave. 

Patrick pulled Pete over to a bench beside the opening to the ice. He quickly starting putting on his skates while Pete moved more slowly. Patrick carefully went out and started skating on the ice. Pete watched him moving in a perfect figure eight. Patrick slide over to the wall in front of Pete.

"C'mon Petey. Come join me," Patrick was beaming with joy. Pete continued to move slowly as he made his way to the opening. He held onto the edge as he made it onto the ice, almost losing his balance already. 

Patrick slide further from the wall which Pete decided was a way to mock his lack of skating skills. Patrick motioned for Pete to let go of the wall and move furthering onto the ice. Pete nodded and hesitantly pushed himself forward. 

He let himself slide forward until his lost his balance and landed on is back. Pete groaned from the impact and let his closed his eyes tightly. He could hear Patrick giggling as he skated up to help him. 

"I thought you've skated before," Patrick said teasingly. 

"I'm a little rusty," Pete opened his eyes to see Patrick smiling over him. He took the hand Patrick held out and got pulled onto his feet. Patrick held onto him until Pete was balanced enough to stand alone. 

"Have you ever skated before?" Patrick asked as Pete kept his arms out to stay balanced.

"Maybe," Pete answered, focusing on not falling. 

"Keep your knees bent. It helps with the balance." Pete did so and smiled at Patrick. "Now turn your back leg and push off to move forward." Pete's smile dropped and he shook his head fast, almost falling again. 

Patrick moved an arm around Pete and began moving them forward. 

"Woah, woah, woah!" Pete grabbed Patrick's hand. Soon, he was smiling and laughing as Patrick guided him around the ice. 

"I'm gonna let go now."

"What?" Pete's eyes widen as Patrick pulled away.

"Don't worry, you got it." Pete held his hands out for Patrick as the boy moved out of reach. "See. You're doing great. Now push off." Pete carefully did as he was told and moved forward on his own. 

"I'm doing it!" Pete smiled at Patrick. As they neared the wall, Pete kept his hands out to stop himself. Patrick let out a laugh as Pete took small steps to turn himself around. He pushed off again into another straight line. 

Patrick would skate around Pete to watch the man freak out when he would almost lose his balance. Pete liked watching Patrick move away and do a few tricks before coming back to tease him. They continued this for a while as Pete was getting the hang of skating.

Pete was moving slowly as he looked over to Patrick. The boy was skating across the ice before jumping into the air. Pete was in total awe before he hit the wall he didn't realize was so close to. He was once again laying on his back, groaning in pain. 

"You okay panda?" Patrick giggled next to Pete.

"Just peachy. I'm just gonna lay here for a little." Patrick squatted down beside Pete.

"What happened? You were doing so well." 

"I got.. distracted." Pete gave a shy smile as he looked up at Patrick.

"And what did you get distracted by," Patrick asked with a smirk. Pete noticed how the light behind Patrick gave the illusion that he was wearing a halo. 

"An angel," Pete whispered loud enough for Patrick to hear. Patrick blushed and helped Pete to his feet. 

"I'm not an angel," Patrick replied, looking down at his hands. 

"Maybe not, but you look like one." Pete tilted Patrick head up with a hand on his chin. 

"How would you know?" Pete gave a side glance to Ryan and Brendon skating around before locking eyes with Patrick. 

"Trust me." Patrick smiled and wrapped his arms around Pete's neck. Pete placed his hands on Patrick's waist as he leaned in. Their lips pressed gently against each other. Pete smiled against the short boy's lips and deepened the kiss. 

He moved to hold Patrick more securely against him. He felt his foot slip under him and fell back onto the ice for the third time that day. He managed to pull Patrick down with him, cushioning the boy's fall with his own body. 

Pete kept his hands on the small of Patrick's back and stared up at him. The two laughed at Pete's lack of skating skills. As their laughter died down, they started into each other's eyes with smiles on their faces. They leaned in again, connecting their lips for another kiss as they laid on the ice.