Ch. 13

*Patrick POV*

"Thanks," I nodded towards the cab driver and he sped away. It was after the reception and I was standing in front of our apartment complex with Courtney hanging off my shoulders. "Gosh, you never drink this much," I said to her, of course she was half asleep.

I dragged her into the elevator and set her down up against the wall. I pressed the button and watched the doors close. What a crazy night. Elisa called. I can't believe she called back! The thought brought a smile to my face. Then I looked down at Courtney and chuckled. She was out cold she couldn't handle her liquor very well. Her mascara was smeared and the straps of her dress were hanging off her shoulders. She looked like a train wreck. The doors opened back up and I grabbed Courtney by the waist and put an arm over my shoulder. I walked her over to our apartment and let us in.

It was empty. The guys took a different cab, they must be running late. I lead Courtney towards her room and laid her down on the bed. I took off her heels and threw them on the floor, they hit the wall and I glanced back. Huh? Why does she have a packed bag? That's weird. I ignored it, she probably found a suitcase she didn't unpack. I reached into my jacket pocket and wiped the mascara off her face. She started mumbling something about how Iron Man stole her Italian sub and flew away. I laughed and just played along with it.

"Hey! There he is!" I whispered.

"You... give me back.. my sandwich... Tony!"

I laughed, "What? Is, is, that Captain America?!"

"Hey! Steve... come.. come over here..." she said turning in bed.

"Hello there young lady, what can I do for you?" I said in my manliest voice.

"Bring.. me some.. pancakes... Shh Joe!"

"What?" She must be seeing Joe now.

"Shh! Don't tell anyone Joe. Especially... especially not... Pat.."

Did she just say not to tell me something? Was she just dreaming something or was she serious. My mind wandered trying to figure out what se could be talking about. Then my eyes drifted over the half packed suitcase. I moved back to her side. "What? Don't tell Patrick what?" I whispered desperately.

"Shhh... Nobody can know..." Then she started to snore, great, she was gone.

I sighed and kicked a pile of clothes on the floor. What was she talking about and what did Joe have to do with it? Did her and Joe kill someone? No, what the hell, why did I even think that? They could have... planned to throw me surprise party for getting back in the dating game? That's dumb. What if... they had sex? I hit myself on the head, no! God, why does my mind always drift there. But then again, they were dancing and laughing a lot together at the party... No! Stop it.

Then I heard a car door slam and looked out the window and down on the street. The guys were home. I sat down on the couch and turned the TV on. Should I ask Joe? Would he even tell me? Or even remember, he drank a lot tonight. The door flung open and Pete, Andy, and Joe stumbled in.

"Hey guys, what took you so long?" I asked, keeping my eye on Joe.

"We needed to stop at McDonalds, it was an emergency," Pete slurred.

"Yeah, it was a nugget emergency," Joe said.

"Joe, you look a well. You drank a lot tonight didn't you? You can even walk," I said getting up.

"Yeah well he puked in the cab and since then he's been fine," Andy said annoyed, propping Pete up on his shoulder.

"Yeah, I'm like... som-something that... isn't very drunk."

We all kinda just stared at Joe until Andy broke the silence, "Yeah... I'm gonna put this princess to bed, night." He disappeared into him and Pete's room.

I faked a yawn and stretched my arms, "Yeah, we should hit the hay too."

He pushed past me and dropped onto the couch, "Nahh, I'm not even tired," he propped his head up with his hand behind his head, with the remote in his other hand.

"No!" I exclaimed a little too excitedly. He looked at me like I was insane, "Uhh, I mean. There's isn't anything on, let's just go in our room were we can talk. In private."

Joe raised a brow, "What's wrong with you? Why are you acting so freaky, you didn't drink too much."

I sighed, "Well, when I was putting Courtney to bed, she was talking - in her sleep. And she thought I was you, and she told me not to tell me something..."

"Wait, I'm confused. She told you not to tell me something?"

"No you idiot! She told you something and told you not to tell me!"

"Woah I wasn't even there! Why are you so pissy?!"

I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose, "No- gah, sorry. I'm not even sure if she did tell you something, she could have just been dreaming," I sat down hopeless on the couch next to him, "Are you sure you don't remember her telling you to keep something a secret?"

When I looked back at him, I could tell he just realized something. They did have a secret they were keeping from me! "What! What s it?! I know you are keeping something from me, I can see it in your eyes!" I said desperately grabbing at his collar.

"Woah! Patrick get off, why the hell do you care so much anyways? Plus she told me not to tell anyone. I'm sorry."

"Oh so now you decide to be a decent human being! Great timing Trohman," I said crossing my arms, I was beginning to heat up.

"Hey. Watch it, at least I don't look like all cherub lookin'!"

"Shut the fuck up Joe! Just tell me what she said?!" I had his collar in my hands.

He put his hands up in surrender "Woah Patrick, look at yourself! You're going insane over such a- little thing."

I slowly retracted from Joe and sat back down, "I'm sorry, it's just- I thought we were best friends. Why wouldn't he tell me?" I said looking down at the carpet.

"Maybe she didn't want to hurt you," Joe said looking at me, his eyes were a mixture of sadness and sympathy.

"Wha-"

"Sorry man," he got up from the couch and went into our bedroom.

I was let there alone, feeling defeated and a little disappointed. I was feeling so many different things: anger, confusion, loneliness, and sadness. Why did I care so much? She didn't even cross my mind tonight until that little secret caused me to go insane. Wait, when Joe was talking about it, he stuttered when he said "little secret". What the hell was going on? But then he said she kept it from me to save me from being hurt. My stomach was swirling and I don't think it was the alcohol.

I got up and slowly opened the door to my room. Joe had passed out, or at least was pretending to be passed out. I kicked off my shoes and fell onto my bed. Curling up under my covers I fell asleep with Courtney's secret on my mind.

Sunlight leaked through the blinds and fell upon the wall. I opened my eyes and wiped the drool from my chin. I squinted my eyes as I looked across the room at Joe's bed, he was gone. I fumbled for my glasses on my nightstand an placed them on my face. Swinging my feet over the side of my bed I was ready to continue my morning routine when I heard the front door slam and Andy yelling. What is going on now?

I walked out rubbing my eyes and found Andy standing in the doorway of the apartment with his arms crossed, he did not look happy. From the hall I could see Joe staring down at a piece of paper.

"Pete! You won't get to her in time! Come back! Let her go!" Andy called from the doorway.

My eyes went wide and a gasp escaped my lips. Andy noticed I was there and he reached out for me, "Patrick, Court-"

Then I remembered the suitcase lying on her floor and bolted down the hall and into her room. I burst through the door and was met with empty walls. What was once covered with posters of David Bowie, Blink, and Tommy Boy was barren. I ran over to the dresser and yanked open the top drawer, empty. I slammed it shut and kicked the bottom of the dresser. I let my head hang down and leaned against the dresser. The secret. She was leaving. How could she leave? We've been together for so long. My eyes began to sting as tears began to fall. I stumbled back and sat on her bed, it still smelled like the citrusy perfume she would wear. I glanced down at the bed and next to me was the picture of Courtney and I in kindergarten. I wiped the tears off my face and picked it up. Gosh what happened? I turned it over and found writing:

Maybe sometime in the future, we can try this again.

I sniffled, she really is gone. I tucked the picture into my pocket and stared down at the carpet until I heard a knock. I looked over and Joe was standing in the doorway.

"Hey buddy, so Andy had to go chase down Pete and he asked me to check on how you're holding up. So... how you holding up?" he asked hesitantly taking a seat next to me.

I shook my head, "N-not too well Joe. You knew, huh? This was the little secret you couldn't tell me. Well guess what Joe? THIS ISN'T A VERY LITTLE SECRET!" I yelled.

Joe flinched at my voice, "I-I'm sorry man, I know how close you two are. But she made me promise not to tell anyone."

"I know. I get it. So, why'd she do it?"

He just sighed and handed me a folded piece of paper. He patted me on the back and left me alone. I stared down at the paper, a part of me didn't think I was ready to hear what she had to say. Slowly, I unfolded the paper and the first words that caught my eyes were "I'm sorry":

Dear guys,

I'm sorry. I know I should have told you guys earlier but I couldn't bring myself to do it face to face. You guys are like brothers to me and I really do love you and nothing has changed. I applied to an art college in Los Angeles California and I got accepted. I've decided to pursue my own life, instead of leech off yours. I felt like I was just getting in everyone's way and interfering with your life. We have been together for so long, I think we need to learn how to live without relying on each other constantly. Just remember I will always love you and I will be rooting for you guys until the end. Promise me you will never give up on this band, because I know you guys will go far. I've written down my new address only so you guys can send me letters. Please don't try to come look for me, because nothing you can do will change my mind.

Always yours,

Courtney

Hey guys! So big dramatic chapter huh? I think this sequel is getting better and better as I go on. Was a little scared it was sucking. So I hoped you liked the chapter! Anywhore... Thnks Fr Rdng!