The Flaw in the Plan, Fueled By Ramen/Decaydance, Patrick Stump/Travis McCoy
Title: The Flaw in the Plan
Author: Donner/becomingblurred
Pairing: Patrick Stump/Travis McCoy, implied Pete/Patrick
Word Count: 2711
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Patrick and Travis attempt to experiment.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fall Out Boy, Gym Class Heroes, or Fueled By Ramen/Decaydance.
Author's Notes: I guess I was inspired by two friends of mine experimenting and having rather interesting results, and the fact that I keep trying to write Patrick/Travis, but I never find an idea that I like enough to conclude. Well, I finally did.
The Flaw in the Plan
By Donna
Patrick and Travis sat side-by-side on the floor of the hotel room, listening to the same sound file. When the timer on the top of the music player clocked out, Patrick looked up at Travis and asked, “So what d’ya think?”
Travis nodded, as if he was attempting to find the right words. “I like it a lot. When’d you put it together?”
“I slopped it together last night. I fell asleep on my arm and it went pins and needles on me so I worked on it with my other hand until feeling came back to it.”
Travis smiled. “Not bad, not bad, even with a handicap it was awesome.” He rubbed Patrick’s thigh and dragged his hand onto the carpet. “But in all honesty, I vote we stop working and get something to eat. We’re, like, the only two guys on tour that aren’t calling or with their girlfriends right now.”
“We don’t have any,” Patrick said, laughing nervously.
“Which makes me wonder. I mean, I know why I’m single, but why are you?” Travis asked, shutting off the lap top.
“Me?” Patrick asked, “Uh... you know... I’m too busy. It turns girls off.”
“That’s because all you look for it a wife. I swear to God, I sometimes think you’re still a virgin the way you act around girls.”
Patrick rolled his eyes. “I’m not.”
“You should just pick a girl up, then. You’re a fucking rock star. Abuse your privileges.”
“Do I look like the kind of guy that can possible do that? I’d just stand there studdering.”
“You need to some training, is all. We can do it now. Pretend I’m a girl.” Travis pushed his hair down as if it’d make him appear feminine. “Hey, aren’t you that guy from Fall Out Boy?”
Patrick shoved him. “Cut it out! Between you and Pete...”
Travis rolled his eyes. “Hey, it’s just a little obvious you haven’t been with anyone in, like, years. You sure you don’t want to practice on me?”
“Yes! I’m positive!” Patrick tossed his laptop onto the bed and asked, “Do you want to go to the bar in the hotel or a diner or something?”
“I’m all up for diner food,” Travis said, getting up and checking himself in the mirror. “You know, just curious, but have you ever experimented with a guy?”
“...What?”
“Did you ever experiment with a guy?” Travis repeated, in a calm tone (Patrick was beginning to theorize if he was on assignment from Pete), “I mean, like a real experiment. None of that quick smooch photo-op stuff. Like you were really conflicted and you wanted to see what would happen.”
“...Not really.”
Travis bent down and faced Patrick, who still sat on the floor. “Hm?”
“...I mean. When Pete and I were... younger... we did some stuff.”
Travis gasped. “Shit, you were...”
“...underage. Yeah. I know.”
Travis smirked. “I knew you couldn’t be a goody two-shoes.” He stood up and grabbed a hoodie.
Patrick sighed, getting up and followed Travis toward the door. “Have you?”
Travis nodded quickly, as if he didn’t really plan on telling Patrick about it.
Patrick ripped the red flag from out of the ground. “Well?”
“...He was my friend in high school.”
“What happened?”
“Well, I liked it. So did he. But stuff happened.”
“Like?”
“Like he had a girlfriend. And his mom hated me. Did you like experimenting?”
“Oh. That’s not very good,” Patrick murmured, biting his lip. “Do you mean experimenting with Pete?”
“Yeah.”
“Would you believe me if I couldn’t tell the difference between kissing a guy or a girl?” Patrick asked, opening the door. “If you liked it so much, why don’t you go out with a boy?”
“Maybe you’re the point oh-five percent of the population that is really-truly bi. And I never found the right guy. I’m afraid to, I guess. I don’t want to go out with a guy and he ends up telling every magazine or whatever. Being out’s kinda scary.”
“W-well. I don’t know about the bi part. I mean, I don’t know if I could be with a boy.” Patrick was beginning to get lost in the two-three different topics at hand.
Travis glared at Patrick. “Are you saying that because your mommy told you she wanted grandchildren you’re not even going to try?”
“Well, you just told me you were afraid your imaginary boyfriend telling some magazine you like guys. Besides, I don’t want to break some guy’s heart because it doesn’t work.”
Travis sighed. “Touché. But, you experimented with Pete.”
“How far do you think I possibly got? I was sixteen, Travis, Pete has some form of self-control.”
“Hm. So experiment some more. You’re a big boy now.”
“With?”
Travis hugged him. “Yes, Patrick, I’d love to experiment with you.”
“Oh. Uh. That was fast,” Patrick whispered, opening the door, still lost in the fabric of Travis’ hoodie.
***
“We should set some ground rules before we get into this,” Travis said, taking a bite out of his burger, “Alright?”
“Yeah, probably a good idea,” Patrick replied.
“Okay. So. Nothing in public. I mean, you got your loveless loser image, and I’m supposedly Casanova.”
Patrick rolled his eyes. “Right.”
“And we can be open relationship-wise,” Travis added, “I mean, this experiment thing could only be the night, right? No feelings, really, just trying to figure out if a certain kind of body fits against your own.”
Patrick nodded, nibbling on his fries. He didn’t mind listening to Travis talk like this. He had a habit of stringing words with a constant flow and accidental poetic style to them.
“Oh, and we shouldn’t tell the guys.”
“Why not?”
“...their mentalities are at a median age of two.”
“Good point.”
“Oh, and relax,” Travis said, rubbing Patrick’s shoulder. “This isn’t a death sentence. If you like guys, it’s not the end of the world. Just trust me and this’ll be fun.”
Patrick nodded, smiling, He continued to nibble on his meal and kept his breath slow and easy. Travis was right. He was making this a much bigger idea that it really was.
“So, we have the rest of the day. You wanna give it a shot?” Travis asked.
“Uh, okay, do we just go back to the hotel room?”
“No, we put on headdresses and dance around a fire. Yeah, we go to the hotel room.”
“Okay. That sounds good,” Patrick said, wiping his mouth and tossing it into his plate. They paid and walked back to the hotel, going upstairs to their room. Patrick made sure to put on the lock.
“Ready?” Travis asked.
“Huh, yeah,” Patrick replied, standing straight.
Travis brushed his cheek and frowned. “You sure you want to do this? I don’t want to push you.”
“I want to do this, trust me, I’m just afraid to... I don’t know... like it with you too much, I guess.”
“Hm, you know, if I like it too much, too, we could have ourselves a pretty awesome situation.” Travis took off his hoodie and dove on the bed. “Come on, this bed’s huge!” He slapped the space next to him. “Get you ass on this bed now! I want to feel a guy with actual meat on his bones for once!”
Patrick crawled onto the bed and curled up against him. “What do you mean?”
“Once William and I were drunk and we tried to share a couch. I swear to God, I got bruises from his hipbones.”
“...I think that’s from trying to sleep on a couch you were probably too long for.”
“No, it had to be his hipbones, man.” He unzipped Patrick’s jacket and tugged it off him. He tossed it on a nearby chair and fixed Patrick’s hat and hair. “I’m just going to say it, you are really tiny. I’m sure I’ve said it before, but I could fit you in my pocket, man.”
Patrick rolled his eyes. “You want to give me an inch or two?”
“Once you get an inch or two, you’ll want three or four.”
“Good point.”
“But in all honesty, it sucks to be tall. I hit fans, sideview mirrors, lighting...” he laughed, rubbing Patrick’s arm. Patrick shook his head and smiled. “Didn’t you hit my fan once?”
Travis nodded. “Yeah, I did.” He shrugged. “What can I say? This world isn’t meant for tall men.”
“Oh, the horror!” Patrick gasped. “Can we do something? We just keep laying here.”
“I knew there had to be another side of you.”
Patrick sat up, helping Travis up as well.
“What are you scheming?” Travis asked.
Patrick shrugged, kissing Travis. Travis’ eyes widened as he kissed back. They broke the kiss and Travis had to ask: “Do you feel a difference between guys and girls now?”
“Between you and Pete, yeah,” Patrick said, scooting into his lap and hooking his ankles behind Travis’ back.
“And?” Travis asked, their noses touching. “What is it?”
“What do you think?”
“Seeing as though you are now in my lap, I’m going to say I’m pretty damn good.”
“I’m just trying to get a feel for everything,” Patrick said, grinning. In all honesty, he was trying to figure out how fingers met and muscles flexed. How roles were played and which points could be pressed. He was giving this one hundred percent. He dragged his hands from Travis’ shoulders to his hips and watched Travis’ chest rise and fall from under his shirt. He slipped his fingers under Travis’ shirt and pressed the pads of his fingers on Travis’ skin. Travis kissed him and said, “You’re serious about this whole feeling it out thing.”
“Well, sorry, I’m trying to figure out if my life’s been a lie.”
“It hasn’t,” Travis said, shutting his eyes and letting out a laugh. “That tickles! Stop it!”
Patrick smiled, slipping his fingers out from under Travis’ shirt and onto the bottom of it. He eased the fabric off over Travis’ head and traced his collarbone.
“Don’t look too much into this,” Travis said, tapping his chin. “I swear to God, lasers are going to come out of your eyes.”
“Huh?” Patrick asked, looking up.
“Let yourself go,” Travis irged.
Patrick pushed Travis across the bed and laid across him. “Okay, I’ll try my best.”
***
Travis and Patrick stood at the entrance hall of the latest hotel side-by-side.
“You never really told me how you felt about our little experiment,” Travis noted.
“Mm? Oh, well...” Patrick started.
“What?”
“I-I liked it. A lot. But I don’t have time for a boyfriend. We’re on tour, and... why are you giving me that look?”
“You give the same excuse with guys or girls. Maybe you’re just asexual.”
“...Well. I’m not exactly an amoeba.”
***
Travis was approached by Pete after a show. “Dude! Dude! Patrick just left with a guy! Fuck, Patrick actually left with someone! Who cares if it was a guy, he left with someone!”
“Wait... Patrick?”
“Yeah, you know, short, wears hats constantly, and talks in tune for some ungodly reason?”
“I know! Just... I was surprised.”
“I know, all of us are! Dude, this is awesome!” He ran off, probably to tell someone else.
Travis sighed. He looked up at the ceiling and bit his lip. He couldn’t help but feel the slightest bit jealous.
***
When Patrick slipped onto his bus, attempting to be quiet, Pete was there to pester him. “How was it? Who was he? What’d you do?”
“I didn’t... what?” Patrick asked.
“The guy! The guy you left with! I told everyone about it.”
“Everyone... including Travis?”
“Yeah, why?”
Patrick groaned. “Pete!” he cried, exiting the bus dramatically.
Pete scratched his head and cringed.
***
Travis smoked a cigarette in the parking space next to the bus, thinking. He looked at his shoes and up at the stars, trying to organize his thoughts on an uneven, but predictable memo pad. He heard a person’s heels on the cracked asphalt. He looked straight ahead and saw Patrick appear amongst the lamp posts and empty parking spaces- looking smaller than ever. He stared at Travis, disheveled and searching for something to say. Travis took a final drag of his cigarette and dropped the butt on the ground. He pressed it under his shoe and attempted to get up. He noticed Patrick’s feet dance nervously on the pavement and decided to sit back down. He realized Patrick had to be scared. He looked like he was about to cry and run. Travis attempted to beckon him with his hand. Patrick gulped and got closer, clenching his fists and whispered, “Travis, I--”
“Sit,” Travis said, “Seriously, you look like you’re about to fall apart.”
Patrick sat next to him and mumbled, “Travis, I’m so sorry, Pete exaggerated, I...”
“Patrick, I don’t care, I told you that this whole thing was open.”
“That’s bullshit. I mean, we’re friends, nothing’s open like that. But. It was nothing.”
“What really happened?”
“I just wanted to be with him one-on-one. We kissed and I realized I was following the same formula you and me used and I told him I had to stop. I didn’t think he’d be so disappointed... or understanding, for that matter. It wasn’t supposed to end up even remotely like what it did, or how Pete took it.”
“Okay. But tell me, Patrick. Are you going to think of me every time you get close to a guy?”
“Well, no. Unless. I don’t know. I’m messed up.”
“Same here.”
Patrick looked up at Travis. “What are we going to do?”
“I don’t know,” Travis replied, fumbling with his lighter. “We gotta get going soon. I’m gonna try and sleep, okay?”
“Okay. I should, too,” Patrick replied. He got up. “I-I’m sorry I fucked everything up.”
Travis shrugged and looked back down to his shoes.
***
“So, are you gonna tell me about what happened with that guy?”
“Pete, shut the fuck up.”
***
“Travie, are you okay?”
“...Would you leave me alone if I said yes?”
***
Patrick pressed his forehead against the tile of the hotel shower. He was slowly considering some form of an escape route from his current situation, be it running away, or leaving certain ventures. When he left the bathroom, he saw Travis sitting on his hotel bed. “I want a do-over,” Travis pleaded.
Patrick gasped. “Can I get some clothes on first?”
“I want a do-over,” Travis repeated, “I really don’t think this statement matters if you’re in a towel or not.”
Patrick groaned, sitting down next to him. He made sure to press the towel down between his legs. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t want this little experiment to be between us. I want to start over as two open-minded guys with a lot of free time and a pair of pretty broken hearts, okay?”
“Please leave so I can get dressed.
***
Travis and Patrick didn’t speak for the rest of the day. A confused Joe appeared at the Gym Class Heroes’ soundcheck and said, “Hey, uh, Travis?”
“What?” Travis asked.
Joe walked closer to him. “I dunno what’s going on between you and Patrick, but...” he searched to find the exact words, “He said he wants a do-over, too. I dunno what happened... never ending board game or whatever... but that’s it.” He shrugged, raking his fingers through his mop of a head of hair and said, “Uh, I’ll leave now.”
Travis nodded. “Thanks, Joe.”
“Anytime.” And just like that, Joe was gone.
“What was that about?” Disashi asked.
“I’ll let you know if anything happens,” Travis mumbled.
***
After the show, Travis met up with Patrick in the dressing room. “I got your message from Joe.”
Patrick nodded. “That’s good. Uh.” Patrick faced him and reached his hand toward him. “Hey, I’m Patrick Stump.”
“I didn’t mean a do-over like entirely start from scratch,” Travis whispered.
“I know, but these are my rules for the do-over.”
“Okay. Well, hi, I’m Travis McCoy.”
Patrick kissed him on the lips.
Travis smirked. “You know, it’s a pretty bad idea to kiss strangers.”
“You don’t know me or anything, but I have done quite a few things that were pretty bad ideas.”
end
Author: Donner/becomingblurred
Pairing: Patrick Stump/Travis McCoy, implied Pete/Patrick
Word Count: 2711
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Patrick and Travis attempt to experiment.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fall Out Boy, Gym Class Heroes, or Fueled By Ramen/Decaydance.
Author's Notes: I guess I was inspired by two friends of mine experimenting and having rather interesting results, and the fact that I keep trying to write Patrick/Travis, but I never find an idea that I like enough to conclude. Well, I finally did.
The Flaw in the Plan
By Donna
Patrick and Travis sat side-by-side on the floor of the hotel room, listening to the same sound file. When the timer on the top of the music player clocked out, Patrick looked up at Travis and asked, “So what d’ya think?”
Travis nodded, as if he was attempting to find the right words. “I like it a lot. When’d you put it together?”
“I slopped it together last night. I fell asleep on my arm and it went pins and needles on me so I worked on it with my other hand until feeling came back to it.”
Travis smiled. “Not bad, not bad, even with a handicap it was awesome.” He rubbed Patrick’s thigh and dragged his hand onto the carpet. “But in all honesty, I vote we stop working and get something to eat. We’re, like, the only two guys on tour that aren’t calling or with their girlfriends right now.”
“We don’t have any,” Patrick said, laughing nervously.
“Which makes me wonder. I mean, I know why I’m single, but why are you?” Travis asked, shutting off the lap top.
“Me?” Patrick asked, “Uh... you know... I’m too busy. It turns girls off.”
“That’s because all you look for it a wife. I swear to God, I sometimes think you’re still a virgin the way you act around girls.”
Patrick rolled his eyes. “I’m not.”
“You should just pick a girl up, then. You’re a fucking rock star. Abuse your privileges.”
“Do I look like the kind of guy that can possible do that? I’d just stand there studdering.”
“You need to some training, is all. We can do it now. Pretend I’m a girl.” Travis pushed his hair down as if it’d make him appear feminine. “Hey, aren’t you that guy from Fall Out Boy?”
Patrick shoved him. “Cut it out! Between you and Pete...”
Travis rolled his eyes. “Hey, it’s just a little obvious you haven’t been with anyone in, like, years. You sure you don’t want to practice on me?”
“Yes! I’m positive!” Patrick tossed his laptop onto the bed and asked, “Do you want to go to the bar in the hotel or a diner or something?”
“I’m all up for diner food,” Travis said, getting up and checking himself in the mirror. “You know, just curious, but have you ever experimented with a guy?”
“...What?”
“Did you ever experiment with a guy?” Travis repeated, in a calm tone (Patrick was beginning to theorize if he was on assignment from Pete), “I mean, like a real experiment. None of that quick smooch photo-op stuff. Like you were really conflicted and you wanted to see what would happen.”
“...Not really.”
Travis bent down and faced Patrick, who still sat on the floor. “Hm?”
“...I mean. When Pete and I were... younger... we did some stuff.”
Travis gasped. “Shit, you were...”
“...underage. Yeah. I know.”
Travis smirked. “I knew you couldn’t be a goody two-shoes.” He stood up and grabbed a hoodie.
Patrick sighed, getting up and followed Travis toward the door. “Have you?”
Travis nodded quickly, as if he didn’t really plan on telling Patrick about it.
Patrick ripped the red flag from out of the ground. “Well?”
“...He was my friend in high school.”
“What happened?”
“Well, I liked it. So did he. But stuff happened.”
“Like?”
“Like he had a girlfriend. And his mom hated me. Did you like experimenting?”
“Oh. That’s not very good,” Patrick murmured, biting his lip. “Do you mean experimenting with Pete?”
“Yeah.”
“Would you believe me if I couldn’t tell the difference between kissing a guy or a girl?” Patrick asked, opening the door. “If you liked it so much, why don’t you go out with a boy?”
“Maybe you’re the point oh-five percent of the population that is really-truly bi. And I never found the right guy. I’m afraid to, I guess. I don’t want to go out with a guy and he ends up telling every magazine or whatever. Being out’s kinda scary.”
“W-well. I don’t know about the bi part. I mean, I don’t know if I could be with a boy.” Patrick was beginning to get lost in the two-three different topics at hand.
Travis glared at Patrick. “Are you saying that because your mommy told you she wanted grandchildren you’re not even going to try?”
“Well, you just told me you were afraid your imaginary boyfriend telling some magazine you like guys. Besides, I don’t want to break some guy’s heart because it doesn’t work.”
Travis sighed. “Touché. But, you experimented with Pete.”
“How far do you think I possibly got? I was sixteen, Travis, Pete has some form of self-control.”
“Hm. So experiment some more. You’re a big boy now.”
“With?”
Travis hugged him. “Yes, Patrick, I’d love to experiment with you.”
“Oh. Uh. That was fast,” Patrick whispered, opening the door, still lost in the fabric of Travis’ hoodie.
***
“We should set some ground rules before we get into this,” Travis said, taking a bite out of his burger, “Alright?”
“Yeah, probably a good idea,” Patrick replied.
“Okay. So. Nothing in public. I mean, you got your loveless loser image, and I’m supposedly Casanova.”
Patrick rolled his eyes. “Right.”
“And we can be open relationship-wise,” Travis added, “I mean, this experiment thing could only be the night, right? No feelings, really, just trying to figure out if a certain kind of body fits against your own.”
Patrick nodded, nibbling on his fries. He didn’t mind listening to Travis talk like this. He had a habit of stringing words with a constant flow and accidental poetic style to them.
“Oh, and we shouldn’t tell the guys.”
“Why not?”
“...their mentalities are at a median age of two.”
“Good point.”
“Oh, and relax,” Travis said, rubbing Patrick’s shoulder. “This isn’t a death sentence. If you like guys, it’s not the end of the world. Just trust me and this’ll be fun.”
Patrick nodded, smiling, He continued to nibble on his meal and kept his breath slow and easy. Travis was right. He was making this a much bigger idea that it really was.
“So, we have the rest of the day. You wanna give it a shot?” Travis asked.
“Uh, okay, do we just go back to the hotel room?”
“No, we put on headdresses and dance around a fire. Yeah, we go to the hotel room.”
“Okay. That sounds good,” Patrick said, wiping his mouth and tossing it into his plate. They paid and walked back to the hotel, going upstairs to their room. Patrick made sure to put on the lock.
“Ready?” Travis asked.
“Huh, yeah,” Patrick replied, standing straight.
Travis brushed his cheek and frowned. “You sure you want to do this? I don’t want to push you.”
“I want to do this, trust me, I’m just afraid to... I don’t know... like it with you too much, I guess.”
“Hm, you know, if I like it too much, too, we could have ourselves a pretty awesome situation.” Travis took off his hoodie and dove on the bed. “Come on, this bed’s huge!” He slapped the space next to him. “Get you ass on this bed now! I want to feel a guy with actual meat on his bones for once!”
Patrick crawled onto the bed and curled up against him. “What do you mean?”
“Once William and I were drunk and we tried to share a couch. I swear to God, I got bruises from his hipbones.”
“...I think that’s from trying to sleep on a couch you were probably too long for.”
“No, it had to be his hipbones, man.” He unzipped Patrick’s jacket and tugged it off him. He tossed it on a nearby chair and fixed Patrick’s hat and hair. “I’m just going to say it, you are really tiny. I’m sure I’ve said it before, but I could fit you in my pocket, man.”
Patrick rolled his eyes. “You want to give me an inch or two?”
“Once you get an inch or two, you’ll want three or four.”
“Good point.”
“But in all honesty, it sucks to be tall. I hit fans, sideview mirrors, lighting...” he laughed, rubbing Patrick’s arm. Patrick shook his head and smiled. “Didn’t you hit my fan once?”
Travis nodded. “Yeah, I did.” He shrugged. “What can I say? This world isn’t meant for tall men.”
“Oh, the horror!” Patrick gasped. “Can we do something? We just keep laying here.”
“I knew there had to be another side of you.”
Patrick sat up, helping Travis up as well.
“What are you scheming?” Travis asked.
Patrick shrugged, kissing Travis. Travis’ eyes widened as he kissed back. They broke the kiss and Travis had to ask: “Do you feel a difference between guys and girls now?”
“Between you and Pete, yeah,” Patrick said, scooting into his lap and hooking his ankles behind Travis’ back.
“And?” Travis asked, their noses touching. “What is it?”
“What do you think?”
“Seeing as though you are now in my lap, I’m going to say I’m pretty damn good.”
“I’m just trying to get a feel for everything,” Patrick said, grinning. In all honesty, he was trying to figure out how fingers met and muscles flexed. How roles were played and which points could be pressed. He was giving this one hundred percent. He dragged his hands from Travis’ shoulders to his hips and watched Travis’ chest rise and fall from under his shirt. He slipped his fingers under Travis’ shirt and pressed the pads of his fingers on Travis’ skin. Travis kissed him and said, “You’re serious about this whole feeling it out thing.”
“Well, sorry, I’m trying to figure out if my life’s been a lie.”
“It hasn’t,” Travis said, shutting his eyes and letting out a laugh. “That tickles! Stop it!”
Patrick smiled, slipping his fingers out from under Travis’ shirt and onto the bottom of it. He eased the fabric off over Travis’ head and traced his collarbone.
“Don’t look too much into this,” Travis said, tapping his chin. “I swear to God, lasers are going to come out of your eyes.”
“Huh?” Patrick asked, looking up.
“Let yourself go,” Travis irged.
Patrick pushed Travis across the bed and laid across him. “Okay, I’ll try my best.”
***
Travis and Patrick stood at the entrance hall of the latest hotel side-by-side.
“You never really told me how you felt about our little experiment,” Travis noted.
“Mm? Oh, well...” Patrick started.
“What?”
“I-I liked it. A lot. But I don’t have time for a boyfriend. We’re on tour, and... why are you giving me that look?”
“You give the same excuse with guys or girls. Maybe you’re just asexual.”
“...Well. I’m not exactly an amoeba.”
***
Travis was approached by Pete after a show. “Dude! Dude! Patrick just left with a guy! Fuck, Patrick actually left with someone! Who cares if it was a guy, he left with someone!”
“Wait... Patrick?”
“Yeah, you know, short, wears hats constantly, and talks in tune for some ungodly reason?”
“I know! Just... I was surprised.”
“I know, all of us are! Dude, this is awesome!” He ran off, probably to tell someone else.
Travis sighed. He looked up at the ceiling and bit his lip. He couldn’t help but feel the slightest bit jealous.
***
When Patrick slipped onto his bus, attempting to be quiet, Pete was there to pester him. “How was it? Who was he? What’d you do?”
“I didn’t... what?” Patrick asked.
“The guy! The guy you left with! I told everyone about it.”
“Everyone... including Travis?”
“Yeah, why?”
Patrick groaned. “Pete!” he cried, exiting the bus dramatically.
Pete scratched his head and cringed.
***
Travis smoked a cigarette in the parking space next to the bus, thinking. He looked at his shoes and up at the stars, trying to organize his thoughts on an uneven, but predictable memo pad. He heard a person’s heels on the cracked asphalt. He looked straight ahead and saw Patrick appear amongst the lamp posts and empty parking spaces- looking smaller than ever. He stared at Travis, disheveled and searching for something to say. Travis took a final drag of his cigarette and dropped the butt on the ground. He pressed it under his shoe and attempted to get up. He noticed Patrick’s feet dance nervously on the pavement and decided to sit back down. He realized Patrick had to be scared. He looked like he was about to cry and run. Travis attempted to beckon him with his hand. Patrick gulped and got closer, clenching his fists and whispered, “Travis, I--”
“Sit,” Travis said, “Seriously, you look like you’re about to fall apart.”
Patrick sat next to him and mumbled, “Travis, I’m so sorry, Pete exaggerated, I...”
“Patrick, I don’t care, I told you that this whole thing was open.”
“That’s bullshit. I mean, we’re friends, nothing’s open like that. But. It was nothing.”
“What really happened?”
“I just wanted to be with him one-on-one. We kissed and I realized I was following the same formula you and me used and I told him I had to stop. I didn’t think he’d be so disappointed... or understanding, for that matter. It wasn’t supposed to end up even remotely like what it did, or how Pete took it.”
“Okay. But tell me, Patrick. Are you going to think of me every time you get close to a guy?”
“Well, no. Unless. I don’t know. I’m messed up.”
“Same here.”
Patrick looked up at Travis. “What are we going to do?”
“I don’t know,” Travis replied, fumbling with his lighter. “We gotta get going soon. I’m gonna try and sleep, okay?”
“Okay. I should, too,” Patrick replied. He got up. “I-I’m sorry I fucked everything up.”
Travis shrugged and looked back down to his shoes.
***
“So, are you gonna tell me about what happened with that guy?”
“Pete, shut the fuck up.”
***
“Travie, are you okay?”
“...Would you leave me alone if I said yes?”
***
Patrick pressed his forehead against the tile of the hotel shower. He was slowly considering some form of an escape route from his current situation, be it running away, or leaving certain ventures. When he left the bathroom, he saw Travis sitting on his hotel bed. “I want a do-over,” Travis pleaded.
Patrick gasped. “Can I get some clothes on first?”
“I want a do-over,” Travis repeated, “I really don’t think this statement matters if you’re in a towel or not.”
Patrick groaned, sitting down next to him. He made sure to press the towel down between his legs. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t want this little experiment to be between us. I want to start over as two open-minded guys with a lot of free time and a pair of pretty broken hearts, okay?”
“Please leave so I can get dressed.
***
Travis and Patrick didn’t speak for the rest of the day. A confused Joe appeared at the Gym Class Heroes’ soundcheck and said, “Hey, uh, Travis?”
“What?” Travis asked.
Joe walked closer to him. “I dunno what’s going on between you and Patrick, but...” he searched to find the exact words, “He said he wants a do-over, too. I dunno what happened... never ending board game or whatever... but that’s it.” He shrugged, raking his fingers through his mop of a head of hair and said, “Uh, I’ll leave now.”
Travis nodded. “Thanks, Joe.”
“Anytime.” And just like that, Joe was gone.
“What was that about?” Disashi asked.
“I’ll let you know if anything happens,” Travis mumbled.
***
After the show, Travis met up with Patrick in the dressing room. “I got your message from Joe.”
Patrick nodded. “That’s good. Uh.” Patrick faced him and reached his hand toward him. “Hey, I’m Patrick Stump.”
“I didn’t mean a do-over like entirely start from scratch,” Travis whispered.
“I know, but these are my rules for the do-over.”
“Okay. Well, hi, I’m Travis McCoy.”
Patrick kissed him on the lips.
Travis smirked. “You know, it’s a pretty bad idea to kiss strangers.”
“You don’t know me or anything, but I have done quite a few things that were pretty bad ideas.”
end