Rain

•32•

"Where's Patrick?" Pete asks, turning to face Ryan and Brendon.

"Maybe he went to talk to his friends?" Brendon shrugged.

"Oh shit, Joe and Andy...They probably know." Pete and Ryan crane their necks.

"What do they look like? I'm taller." Brendon stands on his toes, trying to find both.

"Mop head and fire head."

Pete elbows Ryan. "One of them has red hair and the other has-"

"Found them." Brendon points a long arm toward the outer corner of the crowd.

Joe and Andy are attempting to a cool trick together. Joe is in front of Andy with his hands extending between his own legs, Andy is holding Joe's hands and they're trying to make Joe do a flip. From the looks of things, it won't be working. They head over, watching as Andy pulls up their hands and Joe flips forward, though he falls short...

And onto his ass.

"Fuck!" His scrambles to his feet. "Let's do it again."

"Joe, Andy, can I ask you something?" Pete walks over.

Pete is entirely unsure if Patrick told them that he didn't create the picture. He hopes that he did because now isn't a good time to explain it.

"Oh..." Joe and Andy quickly get out of their stances. "We were just...uh....what do you need?"

So he did explain it.

"Where's Patrick?"

"Haven't seen him all night." Andy shrugs.

"We can help you look if you want. I want to see my best friend in a suit." Joe offers.

Pete and Ryan nod. "That'd be great."

All five split up. There's not a set plan, just searching for him. Pete tries to convince himself he's not concerned but it all falls apart when he passes a group of girls.

"Pete!" One calls. She's got a poofy red dress made out of a cheap looking material.

"Yeah?" He pauses for a brief moment. Ryan, who was next to him, pauses too.

"I saw your cow earlier. Wrangle him up because he's loose!" She and her friends start laughing.

"Shit." Ryan mutters.

"Hey!" Pete snaps.

The girls stop laughing.

"Fuck you. He's not a cow, you're just a fucking bi-" Pete is shushed by Ryan's hand.

"What he meant to say was 'Have a great night, your dress is gorgeous'" Ryan smiles and leads a fuming Pete away from the smug girls.

"You keep your temper." Ryan releases his hand. "I'm going to go find Brendon before he finds sugar."

Pete grumbles a response and pulls out his phone to continue texting Patrick. Ryan rushes around the cafeteria before finding Brendon toward the far left side, coming toward him.

"Brendon!" Ryan calls.

Brendon turns and smiles at the sight of his little cupcake. "Hey!"

"Did you find Patrick? Pete nearly told off an assload of girls."

"Yeah! I did!"

Ryan floods with relief. "Where is he?"

"He was with some friends."

"You guys find Patrick?" Andy and Joe walk over.

"Yeah...Brendon did."

"Oh...okay, well let's go tell Pete." Andy smiles, walking away to search for Pete.