When you see her start to cry...

After dating for a while, and actually learning about her more, Eddie was starting to get used to an emotionally troubled Patricia. He knew she wasn't as mean as she played to be, but he also knew that it wasn't entirely a mask. As much as he understood the fact that Patricia was trying to hide her insecurities, by using a mean girl face – she had obviously softened up once they started dating. The first time, that Eddie even allowed the idea that dump-milk-on-your-head Patricia, really did care, and had human emotions, was when she admitted to liking him, to Joy – and he coincidentally happened to be eavesdropping.

He knew she wasn't entirely stable when she lost her vision, or when Nina and Alfie went missing. And for a fact, although she rarely opened up to him about it, Patricia was scared as hell when she was kidnapped. She did a wonderful job at covering up, and maintaining her snarky attitude – heck, it was one of the main reasons she was alive. But, Eddie had to face reality, his girlfriend was proving to not be as easy to take care of as he had imagined. Sure, he knew Patricia was difficult, and he expected to get into fights, but Eddie hadn't prepared himself for supporting her, when she felt lost.

However, Eddie told himself, that he was ready, and able. If the time ever came for him to comfort her.

And he knew it was on its way.

***o***

"Hey Eddie?" Mara tapped Eddie's shoulder from behind him, interrupting his extremely important thoughts.

"Yes Mara?" As hard as he was trying to be nice, Eddie still couldn't help the fact that he had been disturbed.

"Do you know what's wrong with Patricia?" Eddie turned around to face Mara, feeling slightly amused at their height difference, and suddenly wondering to himself, how Jerome managed.

"No, not really, but you haven't seen her at school either?"

Mara shook her head in response. "I figured you'd know though…" Mara trailed off, as Jerome walked past, suddenly distracting her. "Well, bye." Mara scurried off, after her boyfriend, leaving Eddie more confused than he had been earlier.

***o***

"Eddie. Eddie. Are you there?" Amber hissed from behind him.

"What do you want Amber?" He whispered back, crossing his fingers that Miss Valentine wouldn't notice them talking.

"Where's Patricia?"

Eddie rolled his eyes, and cautiously turned to face Amber. "I don't get why you guys all expect me to know her every waking move! You've known her longer than me – why do you think I can answer your Patricia questions?" Eddie hadn't meant to yell – but he himself was worried about where his girlfriend had disappeared to, and didn't need any more constant reminders.

"Edison?" Miss Valentine looked up from the white board, which paused the squeaking of her marker which had been furiously writing away. "Everything all right?"

"Um… actually…" Eddie looked behind himself at Amber, and then over at Mara. "I – I have somewhere to be!" Abandoning his work, bag, and blazer, Eddie ran out of the classroom, before his teacher could stop him.

He understood how foolish, and cheesy it was for him to be overly worried about Patricia – but the fact that the school had a history of kidnappers, didn't reassure him that everything was alright. Besides, who would he be forced to talk to if he got in trouble? His own father. He wasn't worried about that.

Nearly out of breath, Eddie stumbled up the front stairs of Anubis House, and forced the door open. His plan to get water, and then head up to Patricia's room was contorted, when he found her on the couch, flipping through T.V. channels. "Patricia?" Eddie felt like he should be mad at her for not giving any notice that she was staying home – but he also had no right butting into her business, and running home to find her.

"Oh Eddie!" Trudy walked downstairs, a basket of clothing in her hands. As she walked past him, Trudy whispered, "Patricia just had a rough morning that's all."

Eddie nodded, and watched Trudy turn into the kitchen, and disappear into the laundry room.

"Tough day?" He sat down next to Patricia who hadn't noticed his presence until then. Her eyes were a light red, just like her cheeks, and she still remained in her PJ's, and even though it took a lot of silent encouragement, Patricia managed to nod back to Eddie.

It still didn't hide the tears though. She had felt like she was finally done crying that day, but she appeared wrong. As the tears cascaded down her florid cheeks, Patricia noticed Eddie's slight bewilderment. She wasn't sobbing, but she still felt the warm liquid of tears stroll down her face, and that was uncommon for her.

Still, this action didn't stop Eddie from his. Wrapping her in a tight hug, and placing a kiss on top of her face, Eddie kept her close, allowing her bury her face in his shirt, and cry. He wasn't really interested in the reason why she was crying, why she was acting so out of character. No, Eddie was a lot more focused on holding her tight, knowing he wouldn't let go until she wanted him too. Eddie was determined to let Patricia know she didn't have to hide from him when she didn't want to talk about something that was troubling her. He wanted Patricia to run into his arms and wail. It was clichéd, and he could imagine it happening in every corn romance movie, but Patricia made it obvious that it was a future possibility.

This was, hopefully, just practice for when something really did happen.

Because if so, Eddie knew he'd be ready.

…Just hold her and don't say a word.

***o***

A/N: Eh, not my best work… but I'm still interested in hearing what you guys have to say! I love all of your reviews! :) Also, I'm going to try to post again later today – I'm looking forward to upcoming chapters, 'cuz they involve both a happy Eddie and a happy Patricia, instead of a run-down upset one.