Disclaimer: I don't own 10TIHAY or any of the characters, etc.
A/N: The title of this chapter is a song by Oasis, and that's the song that inspired the whole thing. This is the one I'm most worried about being OOC but I kind of like the idea of...well, this. You'll see. :)
Patrick was sitting on the steps of the back porch, talking in hushed tones to someone on his cell phone. Kat was in the kitchen, trying her best not to be nosy and listen from through the open window. Patrick knew what she was doing, and so stepped down from the porch and made his way to sit under one of the few trees in the backyard that provided any kind of shade.
"I'm fine, mom," he said, once he was away from prying ears. "I swear, I'm keeping out of trouble."
"I hope so, sweetie," came the voice from the other end. "I'm so sorry for the way Brad reacted. But really, you can't be surprised that we're upset at the thought of you out doing...god knows what with some girl!"
"She's not some girl, mom." Patrick's voice was strained. His relationship with his mom had been deteriorating ever since she started dating (and then married) Brad. Brad was a jerk who treated his mom badly and Patrick even worse. Patrick hadn't talked to her about Kat at all; he figured she didn't really have the best judgment when it came to relationships. But he couldn't let her think that Kat was some slut he just hooked up with. "Mom...I..." he stopped. He didn't really know what to say.
She was his mother, though, and she knew from the tone of his voice that something was up. She wasn't going to let him off the hook that easily. "Tell me about her," she said sweetly, though he knew it was more of a command than a question.
"Her name's Kat. Her family moved here from Ohio last summer." Suddenly, Patrick found himself pouring out all he knew about Kat. He couldn't stop talking about her if he tried. He told his mom about Kat's crazy dad and shallow sister and dead mother. He told her about Kat's activism and feminism and vegan-ism. He told her about Meatless Mondays and Kat's date with Blank and how she once made him sneak into school so she could take a test. When he was done, he let out a huge sigh.
There was silence on the other end, and Patrick even checked his phone to make sure he hadn't been talking to dead air for the last fifteen minutes. Finally his mother said, "Patrick, why haven't you mentioned her before?" She sounded hurt.
"Mom, you know I'm not exactly the sort to talk about stuff like this with anyone, it's not just you."
She let out a small laugh, "I know sweetheart. I guess I just miss when you were young and you told me everything." She sighed, "But I guess when you're in love, you don't want to share it with your old mom."
Patrick, who was sitting in the grass, leaning against the tree trunk, bolted upright. "Woah, mom. I never used...that word."
She laughed again, "Oh honey, I know we've grown apart a little the last couple years, but I'm still your mother. You don't need to say it, I can just tell about these things."
Patrick was speechless. He was trying to come up with words of protest, to tell her that's crazy. That he's Patrick Verona and he doesn't fall in love. But his mouth just refused to work. She continued, "Patrick, honey. Please come home. Brad's gone out of town on a business trip, so it'll be just us."
Patrick frowned. This was a topic he could discuss. This was familiar, if unpleasant. "And when he comes home? He'll just freak and throw me out again."
"No, Patrick. I'll talk to him on the phone tonight. I'll sort it all out. I promise."
Patrick was considering it, when he noticed Kat step through the sliding glass doors and sit on the steps of the porch. She was smiled and waved at him. As she stretched her legs to soak up the sun, she started reading some kind of magazine or book, he couldn't tell which. His mom continued, saying how Brad was working on controlling his temper better and blah, blah, blah. But Patrick found he had lost interest in the conversation. He was wondering what Kat was reading. He was noticing how she was so intensely into it that she wasn't even trying to eavesdrop anymore. He was thinking how he liked how when she loved something, threw her whole self into it. How could he go back home when he could be here, with her?
"Mom-" he cut his mom off. "Thanks for the offer, but I think I'm going to stay here for a little longer. I...need more time."
