"And he was just staring at the pieces of the action figure said 'he just got so emo he fell apart' with the most serious face," Frank said through his laugh. 

Pete looked over at Gerard and teasingly asked, "that sad?" Patrick laughed beside him as Gerard nodded.

Pete laughed along with the three men at a table in the arcade. He had his arm comfortably around Patrick as the boy leaned against him. Frank had came in when Pete and Patrick were catching up with Gerard. He was one of Gerard's friends who owned the arcade with him. They'd been sharing old stories for the past half hour. 

"Remember when we were in that boat and something happened, so it started filling with water," Frank nudged Gerard's arm. The man was already laughing at the memory. Frank turned to Pete with a smile on his lips. "Gerard's brother was terrified, but in the calmest way. This boy was just like 'well this is the end, I've had a good life' with a stone face as the water came up to his neck." 

"How is he? I haven't seen him in a while," Patrick said when his laughed died down. Gerard wiped some tears from his eyes before he spoke. 

"He's alright. Why don't I call him and ask him to come?" When Patrick nodded Gerard pulled out his phone and called his brother. "Hey Mikes... Come to the arcade. Patrick wants to see you... You can meet his boyfriend... Alright." Gerard put his phone away. "He'll be here in a little bit."

They continued telling more stories as they waited. Not long later, Pete heard a voice from behind him. 

"Hey guys." Patrick got up and went to the man. When Pete turned around, his body froze. He saw his ex-boyfriend hugging his current boyfriend. 

"Mikey, this is my boyfriend, Pete. Pete, this is Mikey." The rare smile that Mikey had on vanished when his eyes locked with Pete's. 

"You've got to be kidding me," Mikey huffed. 

"What?" Pete stayed silent as Mikey turned to Patrick. 

"So this is the boy you were telling me about a while ago?" Patrick nodded. "And I'm assuming you didn't telling him?" Mikey directed the second question to Pete who continued to stay silent. "Didn't think so." 

"Mikey, what are you talking about?" 

"Remember that asshole I told you about? The one that lied about cheating on me until I caught him with someone else." Patrick nodded hesitantly. Mikey motioned to Pete without saying another word. 

"Pete?" Patrick turned to Pete who was now looking down at the ground. "Is he telling the truth?"

"Of course I'm telling the truth," Mikey spat in anger. "And don't be surprised if he's cheated on you too." Pete's head shot up and was met with Patrick's tortured expression. "You didn't need to catch him to know. For starters, he's not the type to commit. Has he ever left without saying a word, had conversations with someone and avoided your questions when you caught him? Have you ever caught him staring somewhere else. Pete's known to have a wondering eye." 

"Pete..," Patrick's voice was laced with pain as a thin line of tears formed in his eyes. Pete got up and stood in front of Patrick. 

"Patrick, you know that's not true. Yes, I cheated on Mikey, but it's different with you. I actually.."

"Care about him?" Patrick turned to Mikey who finished Pete's sentence. "What you guys share is something that makes you want to be in a real relationship. Is that what you're trying to say? That you hope that you'll wake up next to him every morning and you'll fall asleep every night with him in your arms?" Pete just stared at Patrick with pleading eyes. 

"Please, Pete. If you're trying to trick another man into falling for your lie, at least come up with some new material," Mikey scoffed. Pete's heart was thumping as Patrick took a step away from him. 

"Patty, please. You are different. I promise I've changed."

"Sure you did," Mikey laughed. "Pete, you are and always will be a lying, cheating asshole and Patrick deserves so much more than you." Pete took another step forward, but Patrick continued moving back. 

"Patrick..."

"I don't want to hear it," Patrick spoke in a small voice. 

"I didn't cheat on you. You have to believe me." Patrick wrapped his arms around himself as tears slowly slid down his cheeks. 

"I don't know if I can." Pete's heart clenched when he heard Patrick's voice crack. "I think... I think you should go..." Patrick dropped his head to avoid looking at Pete. 

"Patrick, please..." Mikey pulled Patrick into his arms as the boy began to cry more freely into his chest. His head turned when he felt a hand on his shoulder belonging to Gerard. His face didn't show any emotion on how he felt toward the situation or Pete. 

"You should go." Pete let out a ragged breath. He looked over at Patrick as Mikey tried soothing him. His body shook in time with his sobs. Pete knew how red the boy's eyes were now and he didn't like being the cause of it. 

Pete nodded to Gerard and began walking toward the front when Gerard took his hand away. The sound of Patrick's cries followed him out to the street. His mind was racing, trying to process everything that happened. Pete's chest ached, his head was pounding, and his cheeks were wet from tears he didn't realize were falling. 

"Pete?" From the corner of his eye, Pete saw Ryan walking beside him. He could see the concern written all over Ryan's face and something flipped in Pete. He felt an overwhelming amount of anger crashing through him. His fists clenched, his blood boiled and his mind focused on one thing. 

This was Ryan's fault. 

Pete wouldn't be feeling this way if it weren't for Ryan. He wouldn't be hurting if he'd listened too Brendon. He could've been having meaningless sex with a stranger. He would not have started letting someone in. There would be no feelings, no commitment, no reason to get heartbroken. He now felt hatred for Ryan for making him feeling this vulnerable.