The wake of Saturday rolls through Patrick's bedroom, its sunlight spilling onto the walls and gradually onto him. He realizes he is awake at an ungodly hour. With a sigh, he rolls over and flips his phone open, clearing notifications. He squints at the blurry screen, then fumbles for his glasses before applying them onto his face.

3 Messages From Witch

Patrick furrows his brow, wondering what she's doing up so early. The question applies for himself too. He heaves another sigh and opens her messages.

Hey, u up?
When u get this, let's meet @ the park!
Tom wnt b there >;-p

He disconnects his phone from the charger and replies.

If ur still up, let's go!

A minute passes and Patrick gets a response.

It's YOU who needs 2 go lol. I'll c u there

Patrick chuckles at her answer and gets out of bed. He pulls on the first set of clean clothes he sees scattered about his messy room as he makes his way to the bathroom to freshen up. He glances back at his guitar and notebook.

Patrick had written a song late at night but wasn't sure if he could show anyone. It was like a look into his buzzing mind. He certainly couldn't bear to feel that vulnerable.

This Nia we're talking about, Patrick reminds his conscience. He could trust her with anything. Patrick heaves a long sigh and gathers his music items, keys, and phone as he slips on a pair of shoes before leaving the house, venturing towards the park. He lugs his guitar case on his back, seeing Nia on the swing set at their local park past the morning fog.

Patrick claims the swing next to her and they exchange a smile.

"What's up with the guitar, 'Trick?" Nia chuckles as she nods at the guitar case Patrick sets down beside him. "You're gonna serenade me?"
"Yeah, in your dreams," Patrick laughs. "I can trust you, right?"
"Eleven years would've been a waste if you can't," she states with a smirk. "What's the Ghostbuster hiding in his suit?"
"I-I, uh... I wrote a song," Patrick stammers. "I guess I wanna hear your feedback on it?"
"Totally," Nia grins. Patrick perks up and obtains his notebook. He flips through the collection of ideas and find the one he had worked on last night before handing it over to his best friend.

"Great! Thank you!" he chirps as he takes out his guitar. "I'm going to need your honest opinion, though."
"Who's this about?" Nia asks as she scans through the lyrics. Patrick's chest slightly clenches at the question. He hides it with a smile and props his guitar comfortably.
"No one specific," he says. "Just something I kind of dabbled up last night. You ready?"
"Yeah," she smiles. Nia leans over to share the page of lyrics with Patrick so he can reference his notes. He starts strumming his guitar, gathering the courage to sing. He's done it before in front of Nia. Many times. She was there for every concert his high school band, Patterson, performed at, most of them in small parties. Only he was the drummer of the band, not the spotlight singer with the guitar.

"You need him? I could be him. I could be your accident but I'm still trying! And I'm not as good enough as him..." Patrick finishes singing the lyrics he had created in the late hours. "Uh, that's all I have so far. I think it's kinda stupid—"
"No no no!" Nia interrupts. Her smile seems to grow wider even though Patrick didn't think it to be possible. "It's great, Buster! You have a great voice, bud!"
"Thank you," Patrick smiles sheepishly. Nia claps her friend on the shoulder, this time her violet eyes staring into Patrick's blue eyes.

"You're gonna be big someday, I bet," she states.
"You think so?" Patrick asks. "Like, you legit think that?"
"Hell yeah, man!" Nia exclaims. "And I'll be able to say 'oh yeah, I'm best friends with that rockstar Patrick Stumph! We've been friends since we were kids!' And everyone in the observatory won't believe me until I show them all the pictures we have together from our crazy adventures!"

Patrick can't help but laugh at Nia's efforts to build him up on this new pedestal.
"I'll be sure to mention you at least five times in each interview I'm featured in," he jokes.
"You better!"

The two companions laugh at their banter, their chuckles also falling together. It's silent between the two young adults. But it's not an awkward silence. It's a peaceful, mutual, and likeminded silence. One that neither Patrick nor Nia could explain. Patrick puts his music items away in the guitar bag and rests the gathered items on the post of the swing set.

He looks over at Nia, watching her gaze in the distance. Even in the daytime, she was fascinated by the stars. Patrick caught himself noticing the small galaxies in her ever changing eyes. A feeling stirred in his chest, then his stomach; it scared him but he didn't know what it was. With that, he turns away and fixates his attention on his shoes, noticing the dirt marks and scuffs along his worn Chucks.

"It's strange how the Sun is also a star," Nia blurts out. Patrick simply nods, avoiding any way to look at her and perhaps be trapped in confusion. "A morning star."
"That's also a medieval weapon," Patrick states. Nia laughs at the fun fact. Patrick notices that Nia laughs with her whole body, something he also adopted from her. She leans back, her head tossed back slightly as the joyous sound erupts from her. It's enough to make her swing a little on the set they remain to sit in.

The silence returns between them. Patrick is captivated by Nia once again. He watches her study the sky the way she always does. The more he watches her, the more he notices something amiss. She slowly begins to look tired. Better yet, it looks like something is on her mind.

"What's eating you alive?" Patrick asks. His voice is gentle, but still addresses that he wants answers. Nia presses a weak smile and looks over at Patrick.
"It's nothing, Buster," she lies.
"C'mon," Patrick coaxes. "I let you listen to a shitty song with some shitty lyrics. You can trust me."

Patrick catches a figure in the horizon as Nia refuses to answer the burning question between them. He suddenly makes out that it's Tom. His lanky figure clears up along with his raven hair that is asymmetrically cut.

"Well, I—"
"Nia, baby!" Tom cheers. He hugs Nia from behind, cutting off the developing conversation that was between her and Patrick. Patrick rolls his eyes at her boyfriend.

"Uh, Tom—?"
"Hey, Buster," Tom grins at Patrick. The blonde boy cringes at a stranger calling him by a personal name.
"That's not my name, man," Patrick says politely.
"Sure it is, Buster!"
"It's Patrick," he corrects.
"Nia calls you Buster all the time, Buster."
"Yeah, I'd like to keep it that way please. Only Nia can call me that." This time, Patrick's tone shows more irritation.

"Tom, now's not a good time," Nia says as she tries to pry her boyfriend's arms from around her waist.
"Yeah, man. We're in the middle of a discussion here," Patrick elaborates.
"Oh, don't mind me," Tom smiles. "Go ahead at discuss."
"It's a personal thing. Just between us. Can you please leave us alone for a minute?" Patrick tries.
"Nia tells me everything, so I don't see the problem. Isn't that right, baby girl?" Tom plants kisses on Nia's neck. Patrick can see the discomfort in Nia's demeanor; his stomach ties itself into knots at the sight.

"Dude! Back off! She's obviously uncomfortable!" Patrick demands.
"Are you uncomfortable, baby?" Tom purrs along Nia's jaw.
"Um..."
"Tom, seriously! Just back off! It costs nothing for you to stop being an asshole, man!"

Tom looks up at Patrick, an eyebrow raised at his statement.
"Sounds like baby boy is jealous," Tom smirks cunningly as he approaches Patrick. "Does Buster have a crush on my girlfriend?"
"Tom, all we're asking is that you leave us alone for a moment," Patrick groans. "Nia and I were in the middle of a conversation that doesn't involve you!"
"Tom, please," Nia croaks out. The feuding boys look over at the girl, her head down and the fountain of brown, wavy locks covering her face.

Patrick's face of anger and irritation melts away instantly. He feels his heart dive headfirst into the pit of his stomach.

"Fine," Tom snarls. He shoves Patrick as he begins to storm away from the two. "Have it your way!"

Patrick can't seem to get angry at Tom again. He's more concerned about his friend. He rushes to Nia, kneeling before her.

"Nia, look at me," he whispers. She forces herself to do so. Patrick notices her ruby red nose, then the tears that roll down her cheeks. He heaves a sigh as he feels his heart sink lower and pulls her in an embrace. "I'm sorry, Nia."
"I just hate it when you guys fight. Or when anyone fights," she says. "It—"
"I know, I know," Patrick hushes gently, knowing exactly why she is like this.
"You two are so important to me and I just want you guys to get along," Nia confesses.
"I hate to be that person, but you gotta admit he was being a complete douche bag through all of this," Patrick states.
"Yeah," Nia sighs.
"C'mon," the boy eggs gently. He stands and pulls Nia onto her feet. "Let's go to my place. We can play Mortal Kombat! Would that make you feel better?"

Nia nods at the suggestion, a weak smile developing on her lips. Patrick drapes his arm around her shoulders, carrying his guitar in his free hand, and leads the way.

A/N:
Ok... I see a lot of people think this fic is alright.... I'm genuinely shook!! Thank you so much for your comments and votes!! If you want, leave suggestions in the comments or PM them to me :) also note: I know I have the "wrong lyrics" to Grand Theft Autumn. I wanted to change them for something later ;)

Much love and thanks!
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