Peterick Ch.4 Engagement

I felt Ashlee's eyes on me every second, her death-stare burning a hole into the side of my face. As we played, everyone else seemed relaxed, but there was something in the air that kept me tense and robotic. "Come on dude, loosen up!" Joe chimed, noticing. "Yeah dude, you alright?" Andy asked, looking concerned. "I'm fine." I replied, trying to add a note of enthusiasm. Patrick avoided my looks and grabbed the tuner of the table, proceeding to tune a perfect note. He was nervous, just as he had been when we first met all those years back. He had shown up in a sweater vest and dress pants, his little nerdy smile putting everyone at ease. I was pulled into the present when Ashlee's arms wrapped around me, sensing what everyone else had already caught on to. If she wasn't so drunk I would tell her... I would tell her, and I would tell Patrick, and everything would be good for once. But she was drunk, and I'm sure Patrick didn't want to hear what I wanted to say. Patrick gave up on the charade of tuning the perfectly in-tune guitar, and instead fiddled with pointless notes. By the end it sounded like he was playing something along the lines of "Hey There Deliliah" But there was no way to be sure. The next half an hour or so went by at an agonizingly slow pace, Ashlee never leaving my side except when I excused myself to the bathroom. Strangely she stayed behind, seemingly not afraid that Patrick would try to hook up with me in the bathroom. Damn. She trusted me. But then I heard voices in the kitchen and paused by the sink. I pressed my ear to the door, but the voices were still muffled. I made out a voice that seemed to be Patrick's.. but maybe Andy's.. with Ashlee. Why did his bathroom door have to be so well sound-proofed?I opened the door quietly and stood against the wall, spying on the two so close to
me. "I promise, Ashlee... I don't..." Patrick was interrupted by the horridly smooth voice of my nearly-sober girlfriend. "I know you do! So just 'fess up already Patrick. It's over. Your little charade isn't fooling anyone." The disgust rang through her words, and I pressed myself up against the wall even more. "Believe what you want Ashlee.. I.. I don't..." Patrick paused, taking a deep breath. "Believe what you want about yourself, Patrick. But I know the truth. It's all there in your eyes. And I don't want you and Pete hanging out together unless it's professional." "What?!" I shot out from behind the corner and walked over to her. "Ashlee, you're insane." "I'm not insane, but reasonable. I know Patrick likes you. And I'm not about to loose my fiance to another guy." "He doesn't, Ashlee..." No matter how much I wanted him too, I knew he didn't. He never would. I looked over at Patrick, catching his eyes. "Or do you?" The question came out shakily. "No. Of course not. You're my friend...
I think. Oh I don't fucking know. No, I don't. I... I have to go take a walk. Clear my head. I'm sorry..." He shook his head to cover up a tear running down his red cheeks and grabbed his coat, heading out the door. "Great fucking move Ashlee." I glared at her, at her disgusting smile of satisfaction, and sat down on a nearby chair. "Pete, don't worry about him.. he'll be oka.." "No, he won't Ashlee." I interrupted her. "I know Patrick better than that. He's really hurt..." "But I'm worth it." She sat on my lap, crossing her legs in the air and wrapping her arms around my neck. "Not really, Ashlee." "What?" "I mean we're over. I mean I can't have you acting like this every time you fucking feel like it!" "You're breaking up with me?" She shot up from my lap as if burned, not believing what I was saying. "I guess so..." Honestly, I couldn't believe it was happening, either. "Well then. I guess this is yours." She snarled and placed the diamond ring in my open hand, the warm silver cooling in my grasp. Without another word she left, grabbing her coat and heading out the front door.
And that was the last time I had seen her, her blonde hair fleeting out the door to the rhythm of her boot strides. A few minutes later the door opened and Patrick came in, not bothering to take out his jacket. "I'm sorry." I blurted out, walking over to the gently shaking figure. "It's not your fault. I'm sorry I walked out like that." "Don't worry, it's..." "I love you, Pete." he stated nervously, looking at his feet. I felt my heart stop for a second, and then pick up at ten times it's original pace. "W...what?" Maybe I wasn't hearing right. "Y...you heard me." He raised his eyes and caught mine, examining my expression. "When did this come about?" I almost began laughing out of pure nervousness, but stopped myself. "I guess it has always been there.. but Ashlee made me realize it.. I mean..." "Do you mean it?" I felt bad doubting him, but I wasn't about to let him know how I felt unless I was positive I felt the same way. "Yeah, I mean it, Pete." He seemed to be becoming more nervous by the second, so I figured I should get it over with. "Well I.. I love you too, Patrick." His entire head lifted to look at me. "Really?" "Really." "But what about Ashl..." "She's gone." I showed him the ring on my pinkie finger, and noticed what looked like a smile dance across his lips. He pulled me in for a hug, practically crushing our bodies together. We were finally together, something I had wanted ever since I met him that first time back in Chicago so many years ago. A dream that was now, finally, reality.


--Alternate Ending--
I showed him t he ring on my pinkie finger, and noticed what looked like a smile dance across his lips. He pulled me in for a hug, practically crushing our bodies together. I could feel other people in the room, and wasn't suprised when Joe spoke up. "Another happy bandslash ending." he laughed, and pulled Andy in for  a final kiss.