The Beauty Behind The Psycho's Creation

Centuries

(Patrick's POV)

I was nervous as hell. It was almost 3:00pm. 2:51 to be exact. Which meant I had nine minutes to metally prepare for the guys to get here. It wasn't like it had been when we'd first come off hiatus. We had released Save Rock and Roll just last year. But it was still nerve wrecking when you had to talk about the making of a new album. What if no one liked it? What if it was too soon? Or not soon enough? What if they reacted to it the same way they reacted to Folie? So many people had said so many mean things about my lyrics. I just couldn't take that kind-

"Patrick? We're here!" I heard Pete yell from upstairs.

"Down here!"

I was waiting in the basement. We always met in the basement when we were talking about things that pertained to the band and music. It was where I kept all the instruments. It was also where the recording studio was located. It helped give me inspiration. And the guys never complained about it. Well, except for Joe. But Joe complained about everything so I didn't take it personal.

Pete was the first one through the door. He was wearing his usual dark jeans and pull over hoodie. He smiled when he saw me. He always smiled when he saw me. It made me feel good inside, like someone was happy I existed. He kicked his shoes off and I watched them fall in different spots on the floor. He never put his stuff away neatly. Joe and Andy were just a few seconds behind him. They both kept their shoes on.

"Hey, Patrick!" Andy greeted me with a smile.

"Sup dude?" Joe nodded towards me.

He sat down on the sofa. Andy sat next to him. Pete stood a few inches away from me. Probably wondering why I was standing up. So I took a seat in the recliner. Instead of going to sit on the couch where there was room, or even on the empty love seat across from me, Pete decided to sit on the arm of the recliner.

"So..." I started awkwardly.

"We all know why we're here." Pete cut in for me. "To discuss the possibility of another album."

"I'm not too sure we should. It seems pretty soon. And Save Rock and Roll was just last year. Wouldn't it look like we were overcompensating?" I should've expected Joe to be the pessimist.

"But it won't come out until next year." I put in.

"When next year?" Andy asked.

"Early?" I didn't mean for it to come off as a question. I just really wanted it to be the right answer.

"Too soon!" Joe shook his head.

"Well when would be good for you, Joe? Another three years?" Pete mocked.

This was why I was always nervous about new albums. Even talking about them caused arguments in the group. Soon someone would storm off declaring that 'They were so done with this crap'. It happened almost every time we had a disagreement. Last time it was Pete. I hoped it wouldn't be him again. It took a lot of convincing to get him to come back into the house even though it was below 30° and raining that day.

"Maybe. Three years away from your crap was good for me."

"Oh haha!" Pete said loudly. "This was our dream ever since we were teenagers. And now you don't even know if you want to keep going?!"

"Exactly, Pete! Teenage dream. We're all grown ass men. Those dreams have to be preserved. Put on ice. Things change alright? That's normal."

"For you maybe." Peter mutters and looks away from Joe childishly.

"If we just stop making music again, the rumors will  spread just like before." Andy was the voice of reason in the room. When Andy spoke, we all usually listened. "Everyone was coming up with their own versions of what caused the break."