TheThreshold.05
Title: The Threshold.
Summary : The most popular boy in school walks through the door of a local shop. In the time it takes for him to walk back out, he's done something that will drastically change his entire world.
Author : burgerking. I claim nothing but the story itself!
Rating : PG-13, mostly for language.
Author's Notes : I'm in need of a beta and someone who knows lots of FOB facts to help me with the rest of the story. Any takers?
+ As usual, comment if you like it. ♥
01 | 02 | 03 | 04
It took Patrick very little time to get over Pete’s supposed crush. There were only a few nights - a few sleepless nights - before he accepted the fact that he and Pete were simply meant to be “just friends.” After all, there wasn’t much more that could develop between the two of them; They were from two totally different worlds!
Actually, Patrick didn’t believe that for a second. He knew that their worlds were very much the same, the difference being in how their peers perceived them. However Patrick, unlike Pete, found it easy to lie, even to himself. It was this deluded reality that allowed him to concede to the fact that he and Pete were friends - Ah, yes, friends! That’s what was really important, he decided.
And thus, he found himself upon Joe’s doorstep one night, ready and willing to make amends with the boys whom he’d been friends with for years. As he rang the doorbell, he wondered if it was actually his conscience that had brought him to this threshold, or if perhaps it was the drinks he’d been downing since four. He wasn’t quite sure.
Whatever the reason, he was there now and there was no turning back. The doorbell rang, and Joe answered a moment later. At first, neither boy spoke. Patrick looked miserable and Joe observed him quizzically, as if Patrick had wound up there by some mistake. And perhaps he had. But he managed to choke out “I’m sorry,” and Joe waved him inside - he had never been one to turn down a friend in need.
The two boys then retreated to his room and sat beside each other on the bed, once more falling under a mutually guilty silence. Eventually Joe cleared his throat and asked, “What happened?”
Patrick looked up at him with slightly bloodshot eyes. “I… what do you mean?”
“What happened with Pete? You wouldn’t have come here if something hadn’t happened.”
Patrick stared down at his hands. “You know me too well,” he noted. Joe gave a tiny, comforting smile, and reached over to pat his friend’s hand reassuringly.
“That’s what being friends is about, isn’t it? Understanding. And forgiveness. And honesty.”
As soon as these words were out of his mouth, their eyes met, and all three elements seemed present. The two were at an understanding, and Joe had done the forgiving… all that was left was for Patrick to be honest. Somehow, though, this was difficult, and no words came. Joe decided to help out.
“Let’s start from the beginning. You liked Pete,” he said. Patrick’s eyes immediately widened in alarm. “Oh, Patrick, come on! You’ve liked him since before you met him. But I understand that he’s the cute popular boy… So just tell me what happened.”
“Um.” Patrick gulped.
“What? He turned you down?”
“He… no, he…” A pause. “He didn’t have to. He just came out and told me that he likes Mikey.”
Joe winced. “Ouch.”
“Yeah.” Patrick’s eyes were cast downward once again, and Joe gave him some time to think. “Was I obvious?” Patrick asked after a while, sounding unusually fragile.
“No, no, don’t worry. It’s just that… things started adding up… And, y’know, I saw the way you used to look at him...”
Patrick’s stomach began to hurt, but he knew that he hadn’t had enough alcohol to make himself sick; No, this was a psychological ailment. Joe’s words had brought about a troubling epiphany.
The way you used to look at him.
Yes, Patrick had been younger then, but not by much. He had been coming to terms with his sexuality and wrestling with hormones in general; And he’d watch Pete intently every now and then, marveling over the features that seemed impossible for an awkward teen to have…
Reflexively, Patrick squeezed his eyes shut tight. He wanted darkness… oh, anything to keep him from reliving those memories. Joe sensed this, and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Hey,” he murmured. “Tell me, do you see it, yet?” There was something expectant in his voice, but Patrick only stared. Joe was noticeably disappointed by this. “Oh, Patrick…” He shook his head before resting it on Patrick’s shoulder.
And just like that, there was the understanding.
“I see what’s going on here… You don’t think I should pursue Pete.”
“Yeah, well... I think you’d make an awful couple.” A sigh. “So, do you hate me now?”
Then came the forgiveness.
“No, I don’t hate you. I can see where you’re coming from. Don’t worry about it.”
Joe smiled. “Thanks. That’s good to hear.”
And the honesty.
“But tell me something, just give me your two cents. Who do you think would I be good with?”
“Honestly?” Joe said, sounding rather amused by the question, “Me, Trick. I think you and I could be a great couple.”
Patrick leaned back and allowed some time for this to sink in. In the time that passed, he could have come up with a highly elaborate lecture, but instead opted to ask: “Really?”
“Would I say it if it wasn’t true?” Joe grinned. “God, you’re so slow. But maybe that’s your charm… like you’re a big baby or a kitten or something.”
“Thanks,” Patrick said, smirking. And as he shoved Joe away with a bit of affectionate laughter, he decided that this might be just what he needed to forget about Pete.
At school the next day, Pete was stationed at his desk in the back of the Science room, scribbling furiously on a piece of notebook paper. He’d finished his exam in a rush - he’d been rushing all day, actually - and now he had nothing to do but doodle while he waited for the clock to run out. He’d written “Pete” in bubble letters numerous times by now, even attempting “Peter Lewis Kingston Wentz” on one ambitious occasion. By this time his name seemed awfully drab, and he stole a glance at desk beside his to see what his classmate was drawing.
She’d written her own name once or twice, but the majority of her paper was covered in hearts and stars that surrounded the words “Jessica ♥ Matthew!”
Pete quickly looked back at his own paper. That didn’t seem like a bad idea, really; especially considering that he wanted to come clean with Patrick after class. He hated knowing that he’d almost lied, and he hoped to set things right once he could see his friend again. Perhaps this could be an inoffensive way of telling the truth?
And on that note, he set to work. He wrote his own name as neatly as possible, drew a perfectly symmetrical heart beneath it, then stopped. Jessica was looking at his paper now, and a terrifying thought hit him: What if someone saw his little confession? How would his classmates, or even his teacher react to that?
The proverbial light bulb lit over Pete’s head. Initials! Of course! No one else would be able to figure out such a clandestine code, but surely Patrick would.
Painstakingly, Pete wrote the initials “P. M. S.” under the heart and heard Jessica snicker beside him - she’d obviously misinterpreted it. Pete smiled; His clever plan had worked like a charm. Satisfied, he leaned back in his chair and waited patiently for the class to end.
At long last, the bell rang. Pete leapt out of his seat and began to race toward the Senior hallway, forgetting his daily routine of meeting up with Mikey at his locker. However, the brown-haired boy was not to be ignored, and caught up with his friend fairly quickly.
“Where’s the fire?” Mikey asked, flashing his usual cheesy smile.
“I’ve got something exciting to do,” Pete returned, still staring straight ahead. Once he caught sight of Patrick he yelled down the hall, “Patrick! Patrick!” and Mikey rolled his eyes - he knew that Patrick would wait for them like he always did.
Finally the two of them slowed to a stop at Patrick’s locker, and Pete noticed that Joe was there. He grinned, hoping that witnessing this would change Joe’s opinion of him.
“Patrick,” he said breathlessly, “I want you to see something.”
“Wait, hold on, me first, me first,” insisted Patrick, holding his hands out in front of him. “I’ve got big news.” He threw his arm over Joe’s shoulder and said enthusiastically, “We’re dating now!”
Pete’s jaw nearly hit the floor.
“Sorry to steal your thunder,” Patrick laughed, “I just had to get that out. Now… what was it you wanted me to see?”
“I, um…” Pete stumbled over his words a bit, attempting to recover from the bomb that’d been dropped. He hastily stuffed his makeshift confession into his pocket. “I was going to ask if, uh…” he looked over his shoulder nervously at Mikey. “Um, Mikey, will you go out with me?”
A brief silence.
“Holy shit,” Joe murmured.
Mikey stared incredulously for a moment before breaking into a huge smile. “Aw, of course I will, Pete!” He hugged the dark-haired boy cheerfully, not quite registering that both Pete and Patrick looked disappointed all of the sudden.
“Well,” said Patrick, taking a step back, “I hate to kill the moment, but the bell’s about to ring. I’ll see you guys later… congrats, and good luck!”
“Yeah, you too,” Pete said, offering a fake smile to the other couple.
Both pairs of boys then departed; and though all four of them felt madly in love, two of them felt quite sure that love was walking in the opposite direction.
Summary : The most popular boy in school walks through the door of a local shop. In the time it takes for him to walk back out, he's done something that will drastically change his entire world.
Author : burgerking. I claim nothing but the story itself!
Rating : PG-13, mostly for language.
Author's Notes : I'm in need of a beta and someone who knows lots of FOB facts to help me with the rest of the story. Any takers?
+ As usual, comment if you like it. ♥
01 | 02 | 03 | 04
It took Patrick very little time to get over Pete’s supposed crush. There were only a few nights - a few sleepless nights - before he accepted the fact that he and Pete were simply meant to be “just friends.” After all, there wasn’t much more that could develop between the two of them; They were from two totally different worlds!
Actually, Patrick didn’t believe that for a second. He knew that their worlds were very much the same, the difference being in how their peers perceived them. However Patrick, unlike Pete, found it easy to lie, even to himself. It was this deluded reality that allowed him to concede to the fact that he and Pete were friends - Ah, yes, friends! That’s what was really important, he decided.
And thus, he found himself upon Joe’s doorstep one night, ready and willing to make amends with the boys whom he’d been friends with for years. As he rang the doorbell, he wondered if it was actually his conscience that had brought him to this threshold, or if perhaps it was the drinks he’d been downing since four. He wasn’t quite sure.
Whatever the reason, he was there now and there was no turning back. The doorbell rang, and Joe answered a moment later. At first, neither boy spoke. Patrick looked miserable and Joe observed him quizzically, as if Patrick had wound up there by some mistake. And perhaps he had. But he managed to choke out “I’m sorry,” and Joe waved him inside - he had never been one to turn down a friend in need.
The two boys then retreated to his room and sat beside each other on the bed, once more falling under a mutually guilty silence. Eventually Joe cleared his throat and asked, “What happened?”
Patrick looked up at him with slightly bloodshot eyes. “I… what do you mean?”
“What happened with Pete? You wouldn’t have come here if something hadn’t happened.”
Patrick stared down at his hands. “You know me too well,” he noted. Joe gave a tiny, comforting smile, and reached over to pat his friend’s hand reassuringly.
“That’s what being friends is about, isn’t it? Understanding. And forgiveness. And honesty.”
As soon as these words were out of his mouth, their eyes met, and all three elements seemed present. The two were at an understanding, and Joe had done the forgiving… all that was left was for Patrick to be honest. Somehow, though, this was difficult, and no words came. Joe decided to help out.
“Let’s start from the beginning. You liked Pete,” he said. Patrick’s eyes immediately widened in alarm. “Oh, Patrick, come on! You’ve liked him since before you met him. But I understand that he’s the cute popular boy… So just tell me what happened.”
“Um.” Patrick gulped.
“What? He turned you down?”
“He… no, he…” A pause. “He didn’t have to. He just came out and told me that he likes Mikey.”
Joe winced. “Ouch.”
“Yeah.” Patrick’s eyes were cast downward once again, and Joe gave him some time to think. “Was I obvious?” Patrick asked after a while, sounding unusually fragile.
“No, no, don’t worry. It’s just that… things started adding up… And, y’know, I saw the way you used to look at him...”
Patrick’s stomach began to hurt, but he knew that he hadn’t had enough alcohol to make himself sick; No, this was a psychological ailment. Joe’s words had brought about a troubling epiphany.
The way you used to look at him.
Yes, Patrick had been younger then, but not by much. He had been coming to terms with his sexuality and wrestling with hormones in general; And he’d watch Pete intently every now and then, marveling over the features that seemed impossible for an awkward teen to have…
Reflexively, Patrick squeezed his eyes shut tight. He wanted darkness… oh, anything to keep him from reliving those memories. Joe sensed this, and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Hey,” he murmured. “Tell me, do you see it, yet?” There was something expectant in his voice, but Patrick only stared. Joe was noticeably disappointed by this. “Oh, Patrick…” He shook his head before resting it on Patrick’s shoulder.
And just like that, there was the understanding.
“I see what’s going on here… You don’t think I should pursue Pete.”
“Yeah, well... I think you’d make an awful couple.” A sigh. “So, do you hate me now?”
Then came the forgiveness.
“No, I don’t hate you. I can see where you’re coming from. Don’t worry about it.”
Joe smiled. “Thanks. That’s good to hear.”
And the honesty.
“But tell me something, just give me your two cents. Who do you think would I be good with?”
“Honestly?” Joe said, sounding rather amused by the question, “Me, Trick. I think you and I could be a great couple.”
Patrick leaned back and allowed some time for this to sink in. In the time that passed, he could have come up with a highly elaborate lecture, but instead opted to ask: “Really?”
“Would I say it if it wasn’t true?” Joe grinned. “God, you’re so slow. But maybe that’s your charm… like you’re a big baby or a kitten or something.”
“Thanks,” Patrick said, smirking. And as he shoved Joe away with a bit of affectionate laughter, he decided that this might be just what he needed to forget about Pete.
At school the next day, Pete was stationed at his desk in the back of the Science room, scribbling furiously on a piece of notebook paper. He’d finished his exam in a rush - he’d been rushing all day, actually - and now he had nothing to do but doodle while he waited for the clock to run out. He’d written “Pete” in bubble letters numerous times by now, even attempting “Peter Lewis Kingston Wentz” on one ambitious occasion. By this time his name seemed awfully drab, and he stole a glance at desk beside his to see what his classmate was drawing.
She’d written her own name once or twice, but the majority of her paper was covered in hearts and stars that surrounded the words “Jessica ♥ Matthew!”
Pete quickly looked back at his own paper. That didn’t seem like a bad idea, really; especially considering that he wanted to come clean with Patrick after class. He hated knowing that he’d almost lied, and he hoped to set things right once he could see his friend again. Perhaps this could be an inoffensive way of telling the truth?
And on that note, he set to work. He wrote his own name as neatly as possible, drew a perfectly symmetrical heart beneath it, then stopped. Jessica was looking at his paper now, and a terrifying thought hit him: What if someone saw his little confession? How would his classmates, or even his teacher react to that?
The proverbial light bulb lit over Pete’s head. Initials! Of course! No one else would be able to figure out such a clandestine code, but surely Patrick would.
Painstakingly, Pete wrote the initials “P. M. S.” under the heart and heard Jessica snicker beside him - she’d obviously misinterpreted it. Pete smiled; His clever plan had worked like a charm. Satisfied, he leaned back in his chair and waited patiently for the class to end.
At long last, the bell rang. Pete leapt out of his seat and began to race toward the Senior hallway, forgetting his daily routine of meeting up with Mikey at his locker. However, the brown-haired boy was not to be ignored, and caught up with his friend fairly quickly.
“Where’s the fire?” Mikey asked, flashing his usual cheesy smile.
“I’ve got something exciting to do,” Pete returned, still staring straight ahead. Once he caught sight of Patrick he yelled down the hall, “Patrick! Patrick!” and Mikey rolled his eyes - he knew that Patrick would wait for them like he always did.
Finally the two of them slowed to a stop at Patrick’s locker, and Pete noticed that Joe was there. He grinned, hoping that witnessing this would change Joe’s opinion of him.
“Patrick,” he said breathlessly, “I want you to see something.”
“Wait, hold on, me first, me first,” insisted Patrick, holding his hands out in front of him. “I’ve got big news.” He threw his arm over Joe’s shoulder and said enthusiastically, “We’re dating now!”
Pete’s jaw nearly hit the floor.
“Sorry to steal your thunder,” Patrick laughed, “I just had to get that out. Now… what was it you wanted me to see?”
“I, um…” Pete stumbled over his words a bit, attempting to recover from the bomb that’d been dropped. He hastily stuffed his makeshift confession into his pocket. “I was going to ask if, uh…” he looked over his shoulder nervously at Mikey. “Um, Mikey, will you go out with me?”
A brief silence.
“Holy shit,” Joe murmured.
Mikey stared incredulously for a moment before breaking into a huge smile. “Aw, of course I will, Pete!” He hugged the dark-haired boy cheerfully, not quite registering that both Pete and Patrick looked disappointed all of the sudden.
“Well,” said Patrick, taking a step back, “I hate to kill the moment, but the bell’s about to ring. I’ll see you guys later… congrats, and good luck!”
“Yeah, you too,” Pete said, offering a fake smile to the other couple.
Both pairs of boys then departed; and though all four of them felt madly in love, two of them felt quite sure that love was walking in the opposite direction.