School over the next few days wasn't so bad, things were just like they were before spring break. The classes were still boring and seemed to drag on forever, Joe and Patrick still passed notes in Mr. Way's class, Brendon and Ryan still skipped classes every now and then to go make out in the bathroom, Tyler and Josh both had art class with Pete and the only thing they did in there was sketch and talk during free time, and Andy just kept up with his work like the A+ student that he is.

But something had been knocking Pete off of his clean streak and he's just been feeling a bit strained lately. The urge to have a cigarette was eating away at him and he could hardly concentrate on his sketchbook. In fact, he found it difficult to concentrate on anything during class without his mind wandering to a cigarette or Patrick's lips.

This has been going on ever since they returned to their regularly scheduled schoolhouse boredom and every chance Pete had he'd pull Patrick into a skin tingling kiss that usually left him breathless afterwards. It didn't matter where or when as long as Pete was able to get his hands on him at some point throughout the day. In the hallway near either one of their lockers, in the cafeteria before and after they've gotten their trays, before school, after school, he was pretty much getting his daily dose of Patrick during every hour of the day.

It's not like Patrick minded or anything since he was the one who told Pete to kiss him if he ever craved a cigarette in the first place. But he felt like Pete was only using him as another bad habit, his replacement cigarettes, only this time they're free. And while Patrick thought Pete was simply stressing over schoolwork and the like, he was actually stressed over something entirely different. School was a breeze, especially when he had a friend to cheat off of during some of his classes if necessary. He was stressing over the fact that he's seen Gabriel earlier that day and he was worried he might do something to Patrick while his back was turned.

He heard before that Gabe was supposed to be transferring schools or something like that, but he shouldn't have relied on a rumor to make him feel better. Most of the time, rumors turn out to be lies anyway. After he'd been hospitalized was when the rumors started spreading around, but there was no actual proof that they had seen the last of Gabriel Saporta. And so the entire situation put Pete on edge. He couldn't be around Patrick every second of the day, but he'd check up on him through text as much as he could without getting caught. He'd get a positive response every time and he'd feel at ease for a moment before he'd spot Gabriel somewhere soon after, then he'd end up back where he started.

He didn't bother telling Patrick about Gabe being back at school, hoping Patrick hasn't seen him. It'd just put him on edge too and the last thing Pete wants is for his boyfriend to be fearing for his life again. So kissing him in replacement for a smoke and smiling sweetly at him is what he sticks with until further notice.

After coming up with nothing but jagged scribbles to put in his sketchbook he raises his hand and asks Ms. Williams if he can go to the bathroom. She agrees to let him go and makes him take one of her specially made bathroom passes, which was shaped like a crayon with her name written where the logo would be. He takes quick steps through the hall and heads straight for the bathroom, nearly running into Patrick as he was about to leave.

"Shit, Pete-" Is all he can say before Pete's pulling him in for the fifth nicotine deprived kiss that day, and Patrick has melted into every single one of them without hesitation or complaints.

"Sorry," He says once they break apart, letting out a silent sigh of content and feeling a little lighter. "Stress and all that."

"I get it." Patrick mumbles, glancing down at the floor then readjusting his trucker. "Is that all you needed? Because I need to get back to class."

Pete furrows his brow at him, wondering why Patrick's normally pleasant vibe was off. "What's wrong?"

Patrick sighs heavily. "Are you kissing me because you want to or because you've got the urge to smoke?"

"Um..." Pete gives it a thought, scratching at the back of his head. Patrick doesn't seem too thrilled about it. "Pass?"

"I'm serious!" Patrick slaps Pete's shoulder and it honestly stung quite a bit.

"Ow, jeez!" He hisses and rubs at his pained shoulder. "I don't know, both?"

Patrick crosses his arms.

"Okay, I don't want you to feel like I'm just using you for a quick fix. There's just... a lot on my mind."

"Like what?" Patrick asks. "If something's on your mind then you can tell me about it. You can tell me anything."

Pete looks away in thought, worrying his bottom lip between his teeth. Guess he's going to have to tell him what's going on, he just hopes Patrick won't get too worked up about it.

"Alright." Pete sighs. "I, uh... I saw Gabe this morning."

Patrick's face turns about as white as the bathroom's tile floors, expression turning fearful. This is what Pete wanted to avoid, he knew Patrick would just end up living in fear just like he did before he met Pete, wondering when the next punch would be, the next nosebleed, the next bruise. He's spiraling back into a pit that he thought he wouldn't fall back into and Pete could see it.

"Shit." Patrick whispers, burying his face in his hands and repeating the word in to his palms. "He's gonna kill me."

Pete gently pulls Patrick's hands away from his face and tilts his face up to look at him. "Gabe's not gonna lay a hand on you." Pete promises. "And if he does, I will wring his fucking neck. You hear me? I'm not gonna let him touch you."

"He has friends, Pete. You can't fight off that many people by yourself and you better not try."

"Then I'll just pick them off one by one. And don't you worry your pretty little head." Pete tips the bill of Patrick's hat back so he could press a kiss to his forehead. "We'll take care of it." Then he kisses Patrick's lips another time before stepping back and out of the bathroom, jogging down the hall towards the art room.

"Wait," Patrick steps out into the hall and calls out to Pete's retreating back. "Who is 'we'?!"

"You'll see!" Pete calls back to him without stopping, then rounds a corner and disappears from Patrick's view.