23. Pete obtains the Coca-Cola recipe.

The next morning, I worked at Fall Out Bros. in the morning, dropping off my letter to Mikey at the post office on the way there. One of the other employees took over for me around noon so that I could get a lunch break, leaving me free to do whatever I wished for the next hour. I took a slice of pizza and headed into the parking lot, but before I drove home in the DeLorean, I decided to stop by Tea Monkey.

When I entered the tea shop, I saw that Elisa was behind the counter, but Patrick wasn't. She immediately noticed me and said, "Hi Pete. I presume that you're looking for Patrick. He's in the back right now - he'll be out here in a few minutes."

I nodded, but I wasn't really listening to Elisa. I was focused on the name tag that Patrick had left on the counter. While Elisa was helping a customer, I grabbed a Sharpie, crossed out "Patrick," and wrote "Lunchbox." I then placed the name tag back on the counter and waited in the back of the shop.

A few minutes later, Patrick showed up and saw what I had done. "Holy smokes!" he shouted.

"What's going on?" Elisa asked.

"I think Pete must have messed with my name tag," Patrick said, but he clipped it on anyways after he put a Tea Monkey hat on top of his fedora.

"Lunchbox," Elisa read. "Why would Pete put that on your name tag?"

Patrick blushed and said, "It's one of his nicknames for me."

Elisa rolled her eyes. "Of course you two have adorable nicknames for each other," she said.

"Where is Pete anyways?" Patrick asked as he looked around the shop. "He has to be around here somewhere if he wrote on my name tag." He then spotted me and waved awkwardly.

"Hi Patrick," I said as I walked up to the counter. "How are you doing today?"

Patrick smiled and then said, "I'm doing very well, thanks to you. I just have one question for you, Pete."

"What's your question?" I said, although I suspected that I knew what he was about to ask.

"Why did you write Lunchbox on my name tag?" Patrick asked.

"Because you're my Lunchbox," I said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Patrick wasn't nearly amused by the whole thing as I was. "All of our customers are going to think that my name is Lunchbox now," he said. "Who names their kid that anyways?"

"I would totally name my kid Lunchbox," I said. "He'd be named after you, of course."

"Pete, you're a great guy, but you'd be a terrible father," Patrick said.

"Are you kidding?" I said. "I'd be a wonderful dad. I'd tell my kids that you gotta show the world the thunder, and I'd name them cute things like Bronx, Saint, Marvel..."

Patrick still looked skeptical, but he didn't bother to argue with me. "I still don't get why you wrote Lunchbox on my name tag, but I guess it is sort of a sweet gesture," he said. "I should get back to work though. Can I call you this evening?"

"Of course," I said. "I'm not doing anything after I finish my shift. By the way, could I get a cup of the America's Suitehearts blend?" That tea had started to grow on me, but it was mostly just an excuse to stay and talk to Patrick a little bit longer.

Patrick gave me a wide smile and then asked, "For here or to go?"

"To go," I answered.

Patrick started to make me a cup of tea, but he continued to chat with me as he did so. "I heard a rumor about you beating up Neo-Nazis at Fall Out Bros.," he said. "Is that true?"

I laughed and said, "Not quite. Gabe and Joe beat them up."

"That's still awesome," Patrick said.

I shrugged and said, "Gabe saw it coming."

Patrick paused for a moment and considered that. "Are you telling me that psychics are real?" he said.

"Yes!" I exclaimed. "That's what I've been trying to tell you all along!"

"I'm still not sure if I believe this, but maybe you were right after all," Patrick said. "I still don't really want to be involved in all of this psychic business."

"That's okay," I said. "Just don't give me the cold shoulder every time I mention Gabe."

"I think I can do that for you," Patrick said. He finished steeping the tea and then handed the cup to me. "Your tea's ready, Pete."

"Thank you, Trick," I said. "I'll talk to you again soon." I took the cup of tea and headed back to Fall Out Bros. - I could spend the remainder of my lunch break chatting with Joe, Billie, and the other employees before I had to go back to work.

When my shift was finally over, I drove home, and when I got there, the phone was ringing. I picked it up, expecting it to be Patrick, but it wasn't. Brendon had called me. "Hey Pete!" he exclaimed.

"Hi Brendon," I said. "What's up?"

"Not much," Brendon said. "Ryan fell asleep next to me while we were cuddling on the couch, and he's just so pretty..."

"Did you just call me to gush about your boyfriend?" I asked.

Brendon paused and then said, "No. My neighbors are having a garage sale, and I wanted to know if you wanted to check it out with Ryan and I."

"Why not?" I said. I didn't have anything better to do that evening, other than waiting for Patrick to call me.

"Great," Brendon said. "See you soon."

I hung up and drove to Brendon's house. I passed the garage sale on the way to the Uries' - it didn't look too exciting, but I was excited to spend some time with my friends, even if I would probably just end up as the awkward third wheel friend to Brendon and Ryan. As I parked in the driveway, I was glad to see that Gabe's car was there too. Although I loved Ryan and Brendon, and I definitely thought that they were perfect for each other, I was glad to have someone else with me.

I climbed out of the car and knocked on the door, and Brendon opened it for me. "Hey Pete!" he exclaimed. "Let's go to the garage sale."

Gabe, Ryan, Brendon, and I walked to the garage sale, with Ryan and Brendon holding hands the whole time. "How am I the only one out of all of us who's still single?" Gabe complained.

"I thought that you and Erin were together," I said.

"It didn't work out," Gabe said.

We arrived at Brendon's neighbor's house, and I looked around to see what was for sale. At first, I didn't see anything interesting, but I needed something to do while Brendon was holding up glittery suits and Ryan was telling him that he would look incredible in every single one of them. After some searching, I found a black jacket that I thought would look great if only I had a studded leather belt to go with it. It was only five dollars, so I bought the jacket anyways and immediately threw it on.

Just as Brendon and Ryan finished looking around, Gabe got distracted looking through Brendon's neighbor's collection of classic novels. "Gabe!" Brendon exclaimed. "I'm ready to go! What you even doing?"

Gabe sighed and put down the copy of The Metamorphosis that he was reading. "What can I say?" Gabe said. "I'm a bit of nerd."

The four of us headed back to Brendon's house, and Brendon and Ryan chatted as we walked. "Ryan, I've been wondering about something," Brendon said.

"What is it?" Ryan asked.

"Why did you rescue us back in Chicago?" Brendon asked.

Ryan blushed and said, "Because I thought you were cute."

"Really?" Brendon said. Ryan nodded, and Brendon leaned in and kissed him. Before long, the two of them were somehow making out while walking.

"How long are we going to have to put up with this?" Gabe asked.

"I don't know," I answered as I shoved my hand into my pocket. I felt a piece of paper in there, so I pulled it out and saw that it was a recipe.

Specifically, it was the recipe for Coca-Cola.

When he saw the shocked expression on my face, Gabe looked over at the recipe. He cursed loudly and then shouted, "How is this still happening to me?!"

"It's not my fault!" I exclaimed. "I didn't know that the recipe was in there when I bought the jacket."

"I never said that it was your fault," Gabe said. "The world just hates me."

"I don't hate you," I said.

"You did go to that vegan restaurant though," Gabe said. "Why would you do that if you didn't secretly hate me and want me to die?"

"That was a mistake," I said. "Let's forget about the past for a moment - burn our biographies, if you will. What am I supposed to do with this thing?"

"Make disgustingly sugary soft drinks?" Gabe suggested.

"What am I supposed to do then?" I asked.

"Sell them, make a profit, pay for your college education..." Gabe said.

"I don't need the money," I insisted. "I'm no good at math, and besides, the dollar is down."

"I keep forgetting that you're rich," Gabe said. He paused and considered what else we could do with the recipe. "I guess you can figure it out what to do with the recipe," he finally said, just as we approached Brendon's house. "I just can't believe that these visions keep coming true."

"We couldn't have done anything to stop that one from happening," I said.

"You're right, but I'm still scared that they're all going to come true," Gabe said. "I'm far too young to die."

"We'll find a way to stop them," I said. "Don't worry about it, Gabe."

"I hope you're right, Pete," Gabe said as Brendon and Ryan went into the house, still making out while walking, and he got into the driver seat of his parents' car. "I'll see you soon."

"Bye Gabe," I said as I got into the DeLorean. I listened to Bauhaus on the way home, trying to forget about the jacket and the recipe sitting on the passenger seat. As I drove, I figured out something that I could do with it, a way that I could get everything off of my chest and forget about it all for a little while. I just had to check the mailbox when I got home.

I reached my hand into the mailbox, and in between the letters addressed to my parents and the college mail, there was one letter from Mikey. He had replied quickly. I tore the envelope open and read his reply to my last letter.

Dear Pete,

I'm sorry to hear that the visions are coming true again. I was hoping that you would have figured out a solution by now. There's still time though. Maybe you'll still be able to prevent the apocalypse from happening.

Brendon and Ryan do seem like they'd make a cute couple. Tell them that I'm really happy for them. Wait, that's kind of creepy. They don't even know me. I'll tell Brendon when he comes to New Jersey.

Pete, I've told you many times that kids movies don't end like that. You guessed the exact same thing when you saw E.T., The Goonies, and The Fox and the Hound. I'm sorry Pete, but I have to take Patrick's side on this one.

Please do bring your cassette collection! Also, why don't you like The Smiths? They seem like the sort of band that you'd enjoy.

Nothing interesting has happened in New Jersey. Frank got another dog, even though he already has too many. I went to the library and researched unicorns in an attempt to prove to you that they are real, but my research hasn't gotten me too far. I know that they're real though!

I'm so excited to see you, Pete. It's been far too long since I last saw you. Also, I attached a picture of me with a toy unicorn that Gerard took for some reason, because unicorns are totally real.

Missing you more than I did yesterday,

Mikey Way

After taking a look at the picture of Mikey and his unicorn, I took a pen and paper and scrawled out a reply.

Dear Mikey,

Gabe foresaw that I would somehow obtain the Coca-Cola recipe, and it came true. I bought a jacket at a garage sale, and it was in the pocket. I really hope that we'll be able to stop the apocalypse, but every day, I worry that it might be impossible. Maybe you just can't fight fate.

This Charming Man was playing when Gabe kissed me, which led to me getting beat up by the Neo-Nazis. That's the real reason why I hate the Smiths, although I didn't like them all that much to begin with.

Maybe your research hasn't gotten you very far because unicorns aren't real. Have you considered that?

Your best kept secret and your biggest mistake,

Pete Wentz

P.S. I don't know what the hell I'm supposed to do with a recipe for Coke, so I'm attaching it to this letter. Do with it as you wish.

I put the letter and the recipe in an envelope, knowing that I had made the right decision. I trusted Mikey more than anyone else, and I knew that I could trust him with this too.

Just as I placed the envelope on my desk, the phone rang. I picked it up, and my heart melted as I heard Patrick's voice on the other end of the line. "Pete?" he said. "It's Patrick."

"Hi Patrick," I said. "Have I ever told you that you have the most beautiful voice?"

"I don't know," Patrick said. "Maybe."

"It's like a soul voice," I said. "I could listen to you all day."

"Thanks Pete," Patrick said.

"You should sing to me, Trick," I said.

"I'm your boyfriend, not your Walkman," Patrick said.

"Why can't you be both?" I said.

I laughed, and Patrick finally gave in. "What do you want me to sing?" he asked.

"Anything," I answered, and he sang me a slow, gentle song that just made me wish that I was there with him, wherever he was.

"We should go on another date sometime," Patrick said after he finished singing.

"I'd love to," I said. "You can decide what we do."

"I kind of want to go to Chicago with you," Patrick said.

"That would be amazing," I said. "Then again, I would go anywhere with you, Patrick."

"That's so sweet of you to say," Patrick said. "Are you free next Friday?"

"Yes," I said. "I can't wait to see you then."

"I'm sure we'll see each other before then," Patrick said. "I can't wait for our date though."

"Me neither," I said.

I heard someone shout, and Patrick said, "That's my sister. She wants me to get off the phone. I'll talk to you later, Pete."

Patrick hung up, and I just sat in silence. I missed the sound of his voice, but I could at least comfort myself by thinking of our upcoming date. The visions were unfortunately still coming true, but it seemed impossible that the world could end when there was someone as perfect as Patrick in it.