"How many today?" The lady asked in an annoyed voice, not even looking up from the register screen in front of her.

"Two," Joe answered. The lady nodded and grabbed two menus. She finally looked up and smiled over Pete who was looking down at his shoes.

"This way," she said in a now sweetie voice. Joe noticed the way she swayed her hips dramatically as she passed countless empty tables to reach the booth in the back of the restaurant. It was clear she only wanted to show off the ass she thought she had. She set the menus down.

"Someone should be with you shortly."

"Thanks," Joe responded as him and Pete sat across from each other. The lady still stood there, waiting to see if they, mainly Pete, needed anything.

"My name's Megan. If you need anything, just yell and I'll come over." She directed her attention to Pete, occasionally give Joe a glance. Joe nodded in thanks and watched her walk off.

"I hate you," Joe said with no venom in his voice. Pete looked up confused, peeking at Joe through his emo fringe.

"What did I do now?" He asked amused.

"That hot ass waitress was eye fucking you and you weren't even paying attention." Pete looked back at Megan who was watching them from her spot at the register. She gave Pete a flirty wave before he turned back to Joe.

"She's not my type."

"Right. Right. I forgot. She doesn't have a dick." Pete shook his head and laughed along with Joe. "It's not fair though. You have all these girls practically throwing themselves at you and you're gay." Pete let out another laugh.

"Sorry, but it's not like you mind when you get the rebounds." Joe smiled at the memories of the girls he 'consoled' after being rejected by Pete.

"I love you man." Joe sent a grateful smile at Pete. 

"Love you too." Just then, a man came to the end of their table.

"Good afternoon. I'm Patrick and I'll be your waiter today. What can I get you to drink?" Joe watched Pete's body stiffen as he looked at the boy. Patrick wasn't very thin, but he wasn't fat either. His light brown hair stuck out from underneath the fedora he was surprised he was able to wear at work. The boy's blue eyes were looking down at Pete.

Joe observed Pete's sudden mood change curiously. Pete liked men who were more fit. He didn't like colored eyes and definitely hated hats. Patrick was not Pete's ideal man, not even close. So why couldn't he take his eyes off the man? Patrick turned to Joe when Pete didn't answer. Joe flashed him a smile.

"I'll have a coke." He nodded and they both turned back to Pete who was still zoned out. "Pete," Joe said in a low voice. When he didn't respond, Joe nudged him under the table and again got nothing. "Pete!"

Pete blinked a few times and turned to Joe. His face looked surprised. Joe assumed he wasn't sure why he was entranced by Patrick either.

"What do you wanna drink?"

"Oh, um... I don't know... Um, water." Pete shuttered out. Joe rose an eyebrow at Pete. He never ordered water. Patrick nodded and smiled.

"I'll be right back with your drinks." Pete watched Patrick as he walked off. The boy was attractive in an adorable way, Joe would give him that. Pete had never acted this way this with guy, so it was confusing to witness.

"Him? Really?" Pete turned back to Joe who had a smirk on his face. "Not really your type. I'm surprised." Joe laughed.

"Fuck off."

"Alright, so what's the plan emo man?" Joe asked amused.

"Plan?" Joe rolled his eyes.

"Yes plan. You know, to get waiter boy in your bed. So what will it be this time? Girlfriend dumped you and have a broken heart? Dog died? What's it gonna be?" Pete's face cringed at Joe's words.

"I... I don't wanna do that." Joe's mouth opened slightly in shock.

"No?" Pete nodded subtly, avoiding eye contact. Joe looked over at Patrick who was now coming back with their drinks.

"A coke for you," Patrick said as he set the glass in front of Joe. "And a water for you. Are you guys ready to order or would you like some more time?" Joe looked up at Pete with a smirk.

"I'm ready. I'm not sure if emo boy is though." Patrick turned to Pete as the man sunk himself lower into the seat. Patrick giggled when Pete hid his face behind the menu.

"I'll have the..." Pete spoke softly into the menu. Joe watched in amusement as the boy struggled with his words.

"I'll go first," Joe finally said after a minute of Pete trying to get his words out. It was a quick simple order before him and Patrick turned back to Pete.

"Do you have any recommendations?" Pete asked. Really? He always got the same thing when they went to this place.

"Oh," Patrick ducked his head a bit in embarrassment. "I haven't lived here long enough to really have the diner food. I just moved here last week."

"Really? Where are you from?"

"Chicago."

"Really?" Pete sat up more. "I'm from Chicago too. Why did you move too LA?"

"I wanted to be a musician." Joe watched the conversation between the two in silence.

"How's that working out for you?"

"I'm a waiter in a small restaurant," Patrick stated with an easy smile.

"Right," Pete chuckled nervously. Joe eyed Pete as he took a small drink from his glass. "What instruments do you play?"

"Mainly piano and guitar. I sing a little too."

"That's pretty cool. I like to play bass."

"Maybe we should jam out some time?"

"Yeah. That sounds like fun." Joe sighed, bored with the transaction. Neither even looked his way once.

"I'm starving," He said out loud, grabbing the pair's attention.

"Right. Sorry," Patrick said with a blush. "Have you decided what'd you like?"

"Could I have just a burger with fries."

"Everything on it?"

"Yeah, thanks." Patrick nodded.

"I'll get this in for you two." With that, Patrick walked off.

"Seems like you're having fun." Pete shrugged and dropped his gaze to the table. "Aren't you glad I dragged you out of the house? Look at you know, all smiley and blushing. Who knew a waiter boy could get you this way?" Joe's voice was laced with humor.

"Shut up," Pete murmured.

"Oh, would you looked at that. Your boy's coming back." Pete sat up straighter and looked up at the boy smiling down at him.

"I forgot to ask what kind of fries you'd like, so I just said regular. Is that alright?" Pete nodded quickly.

"Yeah. That's fine."

"Aright." Patrick let out a sigh. "Is there anything else I can do for you?" Pete shook his head. Joe looked between the two for a moment.

"I have a question you could answer for me." Patrick jumped slightly at Joe's voice. He chewed his lip nervously as he turned to Joe completely. "Are you single?" Patrick's face immediately turned red at the question. Pete's mouth fell open before he sent Joe a glare. Joe was proudly smiling at the two.

"Y-yeah. I a-am... single," Patrick stuttered.

"Okay, one more question."

"Joe," Pete said with a warning tone that Joe ignored.

"Okay," Patrick replied hesitantly.

"Are you gay?"

"Joe! I am so sorry. You don't need to answer that." Joe frowned at Pete, not caring about the daggers he was getting in return.

"It's alright. I, um, I am." Patrick started fiddling with his apron. Joe smiled up at Patrick and turned back to Pete with a smug look. "I'm gonna go check on your food." Patrick ran off.

"I can't believe you asked him that," Pete hissed.

"Why? Now you know he's an option. Get some of that ass, boy." Pete grunted in frustration.

Joe sipped at his drink, pleased with himself. When Patrick came back with their food, he didn't stay to talk out of fear that Joe would ask more personal questions. As the two ate, Pete watched Patrick help other customers. He didn't come back to the table until they finished up their food.

"Is this on one check or two?"

"One," Joe spoke up. He told Pete he'd pay to convince him to go out. Patrick nodded and went to get the check. When he came back and placed the paper on the table, Pete immediately reach for it. He handed the paper and his card to Patrick. Joe rolled his eyes when the two blushed because their hands brushed against each other.

"Grazie," Patrick said sweetly.

"You speak Italian?" Patrick shook his head, giving his full attention to Pete again.

"I wish. I'm trying to learn some languages, but I'm still working at it."

"What languages do you know?"

"Let's see..." Patrick bit his lip in thought. "Spanish, Japanese, French, German, Mandarin and tiny tiny bits of Irish, Korean and Indonesian." Joe nodded impressed, more to himself because the two weren't paying him any attention.

"That's quite a mouthful." Pete said with a small chuckle. Patrick shrugged and played with the paper in his hand.

"I've been around some people who speak those languages and I felt bad that I couldn't talk to each other that well."

"That's sweet of you to be learning their languages to talk to them." Patrick blushed and smiled.

"I guess. I'll go ring this up for you." Pete watched him walk away for the fourth time.

"Isn't this just one of the best meals I've ever had," Joe said in a sarcastic tone. Pete nodded, but kept his eye away from the table. "Hello?" Pete finally turned to Joe. "Stop staring."

"I'm not," Pete said defensively.

"Mmhm. Look, I'm happy for you. Found yourself a cute, multilingual waiter, but I need attention. I've been neglected this whole meal."

"Sorry, Joe. I..." Patrick's return caused Joe to lose Pete's attention again.

"Here's your card and I just need your signature right here." Pete smiled up at Patrick and grabbed the pen from the waiter's extended hand, purposely brushing their hands together. After signing the check, Patrick handed Pete the receipt. "Have a nice day. Hope to see you around." Pete nodded and Patrick walked back toward the kitchen.

When he was out of sight, Pete looked at his receipt and bit his lip to contain his smile. Joe was finishing up his drink and a few stray fries from his plate when Pete stood up and hurried out of the restaurant. He huffed in annoyance and went after his friend.

He went to the car and tried to open the passenger side. To his annoyance, it was still locked. He peered inside and saw Pete doing a little happy dance. Joe knocked on the window and scared Pete in the process. Pete's face went red as he unlocked the door.

"Forget something like, I don't know, your best friend." Pete bit his lip nervously.

"Sorry Joe. I didn't mean to leave you." Joe rolled his eyes and snatched the receipt out of Pete's hand. He noticed the seven digit number at the bottom with a heart beside it.

"Well at least something good came out of my existence being ignored." Pete smiled and started the car. "The nerve of you two." They drove out of the parking lot as Joe continued his dramatic rant. He looked over at Pete who was ignoring Joe again, lost in thought. "The audacity! You're ignoring me right now, aren't you?" Pete blinked and gave Joe a sideways glance before looking back at the road. He mouthed a short 'sorry' as Joe continued ranting the rest of the ride home.

---

A/N:

Based very loosely on true events! One of my friends took me out to eat and the waiter kept flirting with her (funny enough his name was also Patrick) and being the person she is unconsciously flirted back. I was barely acknowledged every time he came to the table (which was a lot) and really only talked to him when he would ask me stuff about her in Spanish so she wouldn't understand. I had to explain to my friend that he was interested in her and she thought it was funny because she couldn't tell and has a boyfriend. We later pretended to be a couple and his mood toward us completely changed.