"Don't look now, but Mikey likes the new guy," Joe whispers to Patrick. Of course, Patrick turns around to look at the guy leaning against the wall, Mikey talking to him. "What part of don't fucking look do you not understand?" Joe groans.

"Sorry, sorry," Patrick apologises. "I think Mikey's gone crazy. He's going to give up a boy as cute and sweet as Pete for one he barely knows?" Patrick asks.

Joe's eyebrows raise at his 'straight' best friend. Patrick turns bright red and stammers out, "I-I mean, in a straight guy's opinion,"

"Sure.." Joe trails off. They both turn their attention back to Mikey, who's now smiling fondly at the new boy with all the hair.

Patrick gasps and nudges Joe with his elbow when Pete approaches them, back to his boyfriend and the new boy. Patrick's eyes widen.

"Patrick?" Pete asks. "You look like you've just seen a ghost," He snaps his fingers in front of Patrick's face, knocking the boy out of his thoughts.

"Sorry, sorry! Hey, Pete," Patrick says enthusiastically. Pete's eyebrows furrow at the use of his first name coming from Patrick, who's never called him that in the two months they've been friends.

He leans over to Joe. "Is he okay?" Pete whispers, eyes flickering from Joe to Patrick and then back to Joe. Patrick's eyes are focused behind Pete the whole time.

"He's, uh, he's fine!" Joe says in the same tone as Patrick. Pete takes a step back quickly.

Now this, this isn't like Joe at all. Joe's the mellow one. The calm, cool, and collected one. The one that smokes a joint every time he gets even the slightest bit stressed.

What's gotten into the two of them?

"I think I'm going-" Pete says, pointing over his shoulder, "to head to my dorm. I'm not feeling well,"

Before he can turn around, Patrick grabs his shoulders and hauls him in for a hug. "Have I told you how much I appreciate your kindness towards me?" Patrick asks.

Pete's eyes widen as he semi-hugs Patrick back, patting his shoulder. He pulls away from Patrick. "I, uh, no?" Pete says, but it comes out as a question. "Seriously, man, are you alright?" He asks.

"I'm peachy. You should come with me," Patrick says, dragging Pete off away from Mikey and the new boy.

Joe rushes over to Mikey and grabs his arm, telling the guy that he swears he'll bring the blonde right back. He takes Mikey in the other direction.

"What the fuck, Joe?" Mikey asks, hands on his hips. "Why'd you do that?"

"Oh, I don't know!" Joe says, sounding exasperated. "Maybe because your boyfriend almost saw you practically fucking that guy against the wall!" Joe exclaims.

Mikey's eyes widen. "You've got to be kidding me! We're friends, Joe! I love Pete!"

"Excuse me, but the last time I checked, guys that have boyfriends don't hold hands with any guy other than their boyfriend!" Joe yells. The boy Mikey was talking to approaches them.

"Hey, uh, sorry to interrupt you two, but, Mikes, if you want me to walk you to class, we should probably go now," The guy says, scratching the back of his neck. Mikey smiles at him.

"Sure thing, Ray," Mikey says. He glares at Joe one last time before picking his backpack up and walking away with Ray.

Joe slams himself against the wall and sinks down it, head in his hands. Pete's gonna be fucking pissed if he finds out about this.

Meanwhile, Pete's still trying to figure what's up with Patrick.

"Nothing's wrong with me, Pete!" Patrick assures him, a huge smile on his face. Pete nods slowly, a creeped out expression playing on his features.

"Okay.." He trails off. "Maybe we should go to class. Would you be okay with that?" He asks cautiously.

Patrick nods, the grin still on his face. "Of course I would! Why wouldn't I?"

"I'm just making sure, buddy," Pete says, patting Patrick's back. "Come on,"

Pete grabs his wrist and pulls him along to their last class of the day, history.

--

"Fuck, man, what are we going to do?" Patrick asks as soon as he opens Joe's door. Pete's sitting on the bed, while Joe's on the floor. "Shit.." He curses.

"What are you going to do about what?" Pete asks, eyebrows raised in confusion. Patrick's eyes widen.

"Uh, umm, Joe, why don't you tell Pete?" Patrick asks, shutting the door. He takes a seat beside the boy glaring at him.

"Why don't I do that? Uh, he was talking about.. about your birthday, Pete! It was supposed to be a surprise," Joe says. Pete's eyes widen before he smiles.

"Oh, I'm sorry, you guys. I can act surprised!" Pete suggests. His phone goes off seconds later. "Oh, that's Mikey. He wants to talk to me!" Pete exclaims.

"See you, man," Patrick says weakly as Pete shuts the door. He turns to Joe. "You don't think.."

"No! Mikey wouldn't do that," Joe says. After a moment, he adds, "Would he?"

"I really fucking hope not," Patrick says. He and Joe lock eyes.

"What if he does?" Joe asks. Patrick runs a hand through his hair.

"We can set him up with someone else?" Patrick says, but it comes out as more of a question. Joe gets a wicked grin on his face. "Hey, I don't like that look,"

"I know just the person," Joe says, ignoring Patrick.

"Who'd that be?" Patrick asks. After a few seconds of Joe looking at him the same exact way, he shakes his head, finally catching on. "Oh no. Oh hell no,"

"Patrick, please," Joe says. "The way you were talking about him earlier should set something off in your head. You like him,"

"I'm not gay!" Patrick shouts. "I have a girlfriend, I'm not a faggot!"

He gets up and rushes out of the door. Joe sighs, not taking the rude word to heart since he knows Patrick is extremely upset.

okay so patrick only used that word because that's what his father always called gay people and he was raised in a homophobic household and he refuses to except that he's half gay

okay and go me for the double update I love the next chapter to death

also I better start writing on this more cause I only have like four more chapters pre-written

okay, have a beautiful day/night