The Middle - Volume Three ✔️

Chapter 69 (Patrick)

Patrick

"Jay!" I call out. I have a feeling he isn't here.

"Jay! Benji!" I run up the stairs from the garage to the kitchen and frantically run around Jamie's house, checking every room for any sign of Jay or Benji. I know they aren't here, I'm just acting this way because I'm all jumpy and my adrenaline is rushing around inside of me.

I admit defeat after checking the back yard. Jay must be out taking Benji for a walk right now. His car is in the driveway. I just need to wait. I can wait.

I check the time on my phone, it's only 7 o'clock. Her flight doesn't get in for another six hours. Jesus Christ, I need to calm down. I have time.

I sigh and head back into the kitchen. I sit down at the table. I stand up again and lean my back against the kitchen counter. I sit back down on a different chair. I stand back up. Oh my god, where the fuck are you, Jay?

I really need to calm down. I still have six fucking hours. But I've made a decision, and I wanna see it through. I'm done fucking around with this, I'm gonna tell Jamie how I feel – how I really feel – once and for all. Fuck Noah, fuck the band, fuck all of the uncertainty I've had about how she actually feels about me, and fuck everything that's been getting in the way of this. There's nothing holding me back now.

I get up to start pacing around the kitchen, and pull my phone out of my pocket quickly when it starts ringing. Maybe it's Jay. It's not, it's Joel. Fuck.

"What!?" I shout into the phone.

"Um, good thanks, how about you?" Joel says sarcastically.

"Sorry, I'm a little on edge." I say, rubbing my face with my free hand. I have six fucking hours! I can talk to my best friend on the phone for a bit. "How's New York? How's Sarah?"

"Why are you on edge? Did something happen?" Shit, I've worried him.

"No, nothing's happened." I assure him. "But I'm going to pick Jamie up from the airport later, so..."

"You are?! I thought she was still pissed at you? I thought you wanted to keep your distance from her? Patrick, what's going on!?" He's freaking out, great.

"Joel, there's nothing going on." I consider telling him the truth, but I don't wanna worry him anymore. "I want to make things right with her, that's all."

"Is Jay going to the airport too? You're not going alone, right?" He sounds calmer now, but still a little freaked out.

"I don't know yet." I tell him honestly. I fucking hope Jay will let me go alone though. Otherwise, my plan is gonna go to shit. "I haven't talked to Jay yet, he's out with Benji. I'll ask him as soon as he gets back."

"Where are you? Are you in Jamie's house right now?" He's panicking again, for fuck sake.

"Yes, Joel, I am in Jamie's house. I've been here plenty of times before, you need to relax. Everything is fine. How is Sarah?" I ask him sternly.

"Sarah's good. She's out on the balcony smoking with Erin." He sounds stressed, shit.

"Joel, have you been smoking too?" I ask him.

"No." I can tell that he's lying.

"You have. How many?"

"Just a couple." His voice is small now.

"Dude, I'm not giving you a hard time." I assure him. "But I thought Sarah was meant to be a good influence on you."

"She is! She's given me shit both times I've asked her for a smoke."