it had been weeks since pete saw the little blonde man. he spent everyday of those weeks watching the door, listening for the bell, hoping for patrick's return. he simply could not get him out of his head. there was something about him- something that pete could not quite put his finger on. the man simply was intriguing. not to mention adorable with his stuttering and the way seemed to be so nervous just being there. the way-

ring ring~

pete looked up, plastering on that huge, fake smile all the other workers forced. ~oh...~
it was him. patrick. he had finally come back! suddenly pete's smile did not feel so forced. "hello," he said, approaching the young man. "it's nice to see you again, patrick. uhm... is there anything I can help you with?"

patrick stared up at the blonde man silently. ~he remembered me? with the way I acted, who could forget...?~ "u-umm... no, thank you." he said quietly, starting off towards the back where there were some chairs.

the book store was nice and cozy and had some chairs in the back for people to sit and read. something patrick always loved about going in there.

"oh," pete mumbled, going back behind the counter. he did not know what he had expected. what, patrick would just start talking to him? hell no! pete sighed, leaning on the counter in wait for anyone who needed help.

patrick glanced up, looking at pete quietly. ~does he work here?~

a little time passed before patrick stood, approaching the counter pete had been leaning on.

"e-excuse me,"

pete smiled, looking up at patrick, an eyebrow raised. "yes?"

"do you work here?"

"I do," pete nods. "do you need something?"

patrick shakes his head quickly, offering a small smile. "you look bored." he observed.

"kind of am," pete nods. "care to talk with me? sure could use some company." he laughed softly.

"s-sure," patrick took a seat on the floor in front of pete. he seemed comfortable- just sitting in the floor, so pete joined him.

the two talked for a while, an hour or so before patrick checked the time; a small frown formed on his pale face. "i-i've gotta go." he stood, dusting off his rather clean jeans. "it was n-nice talking to you though." he offered a smile, starting off to the door.

"w-wait!" pete scrambled to his feet. "patrick," he said, taking a moment to compose himself. "could I see you again?"

"we'll see," patrick said, leaving the small store.

"oh," pete mumbled. he was rather certain he had run patrick away. he was certain the small man would not be returning.
~~~

sure enough, pete was wrong, though he was wrong rather often; nothing new to him.

patrick had returned- like he planned- and like yesterday, the two spent an hour talking.

for the next three weeks, that was how everyday went.
~~~

"you don't stutter so much anymore." pete observed with a little smile. his same, stupid smile that he has shown patrick every moment they had spent together.

patrick shrugged, picking at the pizza on his plate. "just comfortable, I guess." he mumbled, pushing his plate away.

pete nods, smiling still at patrick.

pete had finally succeeded in getting patrick out of the bookstore, and was happy to be with him somewhere that he was not surrounded by dusty, old books. patrick, however, did not seem to be enjoying himself.

"everything alright?"

"th-there's just a lot of p-people." patrick mumbled. "it's okay though, promise."

pete shakes his head. "I want you to be comfortable. if there's too many people for you to enjoy yourself, we can go." he smiled, standing from his seat.

"no, no, really! i-it's okay." patrick insisted, but was pulled from his seat anyway.
~~~

"s-sorry we had to go..." patrick said quietly, watching his feet as pete walked with him down the sidewalk.

patrick hated to inconvenience anyone. he hated making pete leave early.

patrick loathed himself in that moment.

"don't worry about it! it's okay, I didn't mind leaving. as long as you're comfortable,"

"you're a r-really good friend, y-y'know? everyone else just g-gets mad..."

pete frowned. "because you get anxious easily?"

patrick nods, still staring at the ground. "yeah," he mumbled.

"well, I'm never going to get mad because you're anxious. c'mon," pete smiled, gently tugging patrick to the park that was not far from the pizza place. "look, park's empty. we can walk around or sit on the bench- whatever you want."

patrick nods, stopping when he reached a certain tree, taking a seat with a small smile up at pete.
~~~

pete sighed softly, stopping in front of the tall building. "why don't you ever invite me up?" he frowned.

"this is the first time you've brought me home." patrick chuckled.

"right." pete nodded. "you always leave the store before I get a chance to offer."

patrick shrugged. "m-maybe some other time? it's a bit of a m-mess..."

"at least let me walk you up?"

patrick shook his head. "th-that's alright. I got it."

patrick was clearly becoming uncomfortable with the idea of pete even entering the building. pete picked up on that, the stutter coming back and more clear in patrick's speech.

"alright," pete nods, offering a small smile. "next time then, hm?"

"s-sure," patrick nods, rushing to the apartment buildings door. "I'll s-see you tomorrow, pete." he waved, leaving pete on the sidewalk- alone in the darkening street.