I slammed down my phone and looked over at the beach. Pete was smiling and he was shirtless.

"Patrick!" I looked over to my pa standing over me. "Patrick Stump, if you are going to stare at shirtless boys I want you out of this. And god this is the second time this is happened. Get back to work you worthless queer." I bowed my head and began to wash one of my ice cream scoopers.

"Can I get two chocolates?"

"Yes, that'll be- PETE?" I dropped the scooper and Pete smiled. He had on sunglasses and his nose had sunscreen on it.

"Hi." Pete smiled and waved shyly.

"You-um you can uh. Here." I handed him a plain cone.

"This isn't what I ordered." Pete smiled and I felt heat rush to my cheeks. "Your blushing." I felt more heat go to my cheeks.

"Patrick?-why is the queer over here now?" My pa came up behind Pete.

"He was ordering ice cream sir." I said bowing my head.

"Ok, charge him extra." My pa whispered in my ear and I cringed. He walked away and grabbed some ladies butt as he walked. I sighed and hung my head.

"You ok Panda?" I looked up at Pete. He was leaning over the counter and his face was quite close to mine. I sighed and backed up.

"Here's your ice cream." I handed Pete two chocolate ice cream cone.

"I um-"

"That'll be 10 dollars please."

"Patrick, are you ok?" Pete held out a $10 bill and I took it out of his hand.

"Have a good day sir." I said putting the money in the cash register.

"Patrick I-"

"Sir you're holding up the line." I pointed to the two people behind him.

"Patrick!"

"What's going on here?" My pa placed his hand on my shoulder.

"Nothing sir." I looked up from the ground to look at Pete over my glasses. "He just had a question, right sir?"

"Yes. I was just leaving." Pete walked off and I saw him throw both ice cream cones in the trash. I felt tears build up behind my eyes burning me.

Tears only show the weak side of someone, the side that should never be shown.

I blinked my eyes a few times before shrugging my pa's hand off my shoulder.

"How may I help you miss?"