Kick Me Like A Stray

Chapter 9: Some Princes Don't Become Kings - Patrick's P.O.V.

So Patrick's chapters are formatted differently, kind of like one big paragraph but broken up. It will be explained later, or well, you will figure it out later :) ...

I was walking down the hall, listening to my shoes click on the floor.

Left.

Right.

Left.

Right.

Left.

Right.

There.

The blank door in front of me that bore Pete's name.

And Mikey's.

I wanted it to be my name.

I raised my hand to the door.

Knock,

Knock.

A loud bump came from inside.

Like something had fallen.

7 seconds later, Pete opened the door.

He looked at me in a funny way.

Like he didn't want me there.

"Hey, Patrick!" he said. "What do you need?"

Sounding welcoming.

His pained smile said something different.

"I - just wanted..." I trailed off.

Mikey was on the floor by a bed.

The thump I heard.

Was that him?

"... to ask you if you wanted a movie night to commemorate the start of school. But I guess you're busy, so I'll just go."

I made to turn around, but Pete stopped me with an arm.

"Hey, 'Trick, of course I want to watch a movie with you!"

He didn't mean that.

"Nah, it's fine. You probably want to spend some more time in your dorm to get used to it. And with Mikey. I'll just watch Moulin Rouge. I know that's not your favorite."

"Patrick-"

"No, seriously, it's fine. I could even see if Spencer wants to watch it with me. Or one of his friends."

Pete looked hesitant (alien).

He glanced back into the room.

At Mikey.

"If you're sure..."

I smiled.

My smile lies.

"Yeah, you have fun."

I leave and this time, Pete doesn't stop me.

I want him too.

I want him to grab me and force me to stay.

I want him to realize what is going on in my head.

I want him to see what I hide.

But he doesn't.

He never has.

And he never will.

I walk back down the hallway.

Listening to my shoes click on the floor.

Left.

Right.

Left.

Right.

Left.

Right.

Alone.

---------------

He didn't know the truth.

My mind.

How it works.

He thought I was normal.

I'm far from it.

My mom questions why I didn't tell him.

"He's your best friend, Patrick," she says. "Don't you want him to know?"

No.

I don't.

I don't want his pity,

I don't want his protection,

I DON'T WANT HIM TO KNOW.

She doesn't understand.

He'd act different.

He'd be different.

I want him to stay the same.

But Mikey

Is

Ruining

That.

Pete

Never

Turns

Me

Down.

Until Mikey.

I don't like Mikey.

I never will.

Not if he asked nicely.

Not even if Pete

Begged

Me.

But then Pete would be sad.

I don't like Pete sad.

I become sad when Pete is sad.

So I'll hide my hate.

Keep it tucked away.

Hide it like everything else around me.

And keep up the

'Normal'

'Happy'

'Sane'

Patrick exterior.

He can never know.

He can never know what I see.

What I hear.

Who they are.