I Drew You Once in Art Class

Eighty-Nine

Pete Wentz had done something he shouldn't have.

Pete had this... friend.

A childhood best friend. They didn't see each other all that often and hadn't talked in forever.

They had been really close as kids, seeing each other almost every day before Patrick had moved to New York, almost an hour away.

Every time he saw Patrick since he moved away, Pete had always sort of had some sort of tightening in his chest.

He knew not to act on it, though. He couldn't lose one of his closest friends, even if they didn't see each other so much.

Anyway, they had a sleepover last night, just to get time to talk.

They'd built a big fort in the middle of Pete's room, decked out with fairy lights he'd found in the garage.

They talked a lot, about their significant others, Mikey and some person that Patrick was with. That bit made Pete feel a little bit sick to his stomach, which he reminded himself was stupid.

They talked for hours, making up for all the lost time. But they were laying way too close to each other as they climbed into their fort-bed to pass it off as friendly.

Pete remembered as he had inched his hand toward Patrick's, eventually linking his fingers in his. He remembered leaning over to kiss Patrick's forehead, both of them half asleep.

Patrick had leaned over and kissed his back.

Pete's heart pounded, suddenly wide awake.

He didn't know what it was, but he had the strongest urge to just lean over and kiss Patrick on the lips.

So he did.

Patrick gasped, not expecting the sudden contact.

"Did you mean to do that?"

Pete wanted to die.

"Yeah."

"I have... I'm dating someone."

"Yeah, I know. I decided to not think about that for a second."

"Pete..."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah... do you want a hug?"

There was unmistakable pity in his voice.

"Sure."

Patrick leaned over to hug Pete. He then turned over, and so did Pete, so they were no longer laying with their bodies touching but facing away from each other, pretending to be absolutely still when they were both completely aware the other was staring at their side of the fort, wondering what the hell had just happened.

Pete dreaded the morning. His chest ached, and he waited until gentle snoring emerged from Patrick before he allowed the tears to drip down his face, biting his knuckle to stifle the sobs from forcing their way from his throat. God, what if he'd ruined everything? He shouldn't have done that. But he was just a
kid. Kids make stupid mistakes; that's how 13-year-olds work.
He didn't know that, though.

Pete had only kissed one other person besides Mikey, and it had led to their friendship ending.

Every single kiss he'd ever had, not including the ones from Mikey, had ended terribly and in the loss of a relationship.

If we're being honest, Pete wasn't even really attracted to Mikey.

He enjoyed spending time with him, but he rarely thought of him as cute or anything.