All the Lovers With No Time For Me (February Challenge)
All the Lovers With No Time For Me
bestthingaround
PG- 13; 2169 words
“It’s Valentine’s Day, Pete, and we both ended up alone.”
A/N: Let's pretend that the boys had the night off last night. And also that anyone would ever stand up Patrick Stump. For the February Challenge.
Usually, Patrick didn’t mind Valentine’s Day. He really didn’t. In high school he’d never had a date but that didn’t bother him; hanging out with friends or working on songs beat awkward dates anyway. And then for the past few years he’d had a girlfriend so the day became appreciated, filled with chocolates and teddy bears and candy hearts.
But this year, Patrick found himself dreading the day. And well, he just couldn’t just sit at home and wallow in self-pity. So big deal he picked up some chick at the supermarket. Big deal he couldn’t remember her name (something about a Katy spelled with a y?). She was female and also single and also interested in accompanying him on an awkward first date.
Okay, so he might have just been in it for the sex. It had been way too long. And sure, it sounded like a good enough way to cope with loneliness on Valentine’s Day. It might not have been the smartest decision Patrick had ever made, but he decided to take a lesson from Pete and let himself indulge in a stupid mistake every once in awhile.
+
Pete Wentz was lonely. Which was no surprise; any teenage girl with an internet connection could tell you that. But no one knew the details. No one knew the lonely nights, the heartache, the counting tiles on the bathroom floor. So Pete calling up an ex-girlfriend so he wouldn’t be alone on the most romantic day of the year made sense in his brain. Sure, why not? Someone that he knew would get him. Take his mind off the spinning world around him to relive one more night of the good old days.
Okay, so he might have just been in it for the sex. But then again when was Pete not?
+
Patrick trimmed his sideburns in the mirror. It had been weeks since he had done this. But when making a first impression, Patrick wanted to look his best. He even put on some good cologne, the one he bought months ago that cost him a pretty penny and only used on special occasions. He did a check in the mirror. Not a movie star, but the best he felt he’d looked in months.
“Hey Stump I’m gonna go pick up something real quick—whoa, check you out.” Pete grinned and leaned in the doorway to the bathroom. “Lookin sharp. Where you going?”
“Out.” He did a final check to his trademark facial hair and looked at Pete through the mirror.
Pete was grinning giddily; he seemed more excited than Patrick. “Hot date tonight? Ooooooh, you didn’t tell me about this.” He spoke in a teasing tone.
“Yea well. Beats staying home.” He turned to Pete. His stupid smile was annoying him. “Stop it,” he said, walking past him into the bedroom.
“I can’t help it, I’m excited for you.”
“Heh. Probably not nearly as excited as I am.”
“Oh, that’s right. It’s been since…since Anna, right?” Patrick’s silence answered his question. “Shit Trick. If you don’t want me to be here tonight I’ll understand. I mean, you need this. Like dude, that was months ago. Wow.”
“Change of subject please?” Patrick asked, looking for his shoes.
“Sorry. I’m going out tonight too. I caved and called her. So, we can get a hotel or something. Give you your privacy.” Again Pete had that stupid high-school grin. “So is she hot?”
“God Pete, she’s—just stop, alright? Yes. She’s hot.” He sat on the edge of the bed and slipped on his shoes.
Pete jumped on the bed and crawled over to him. “So you got anything planned for the night? Are you just gonna tackle her as soon as you two come home? Or does Patrick Stump have moves?”
“I’m just gonna see how it goes.”
“Dude, when it’s been this long though, you need to do a little prep work, or you’re gonna lose it fast. Like have you—”
“Yes. Numerous times today. Now will you please shut up and get out of my love life?” Patrick stood up off the bed. He slipped his wallet and keys into his pocket—was he missing anything? The flowers. He reminded himself to get them on the way. “Do I look nervous?”
“Yes. Very much so. But don’t worry, she’ll think its cute.”
“Well hopefully ‘cute’ is enough to get me laid.”
Pete chuckled. “For your sake I hope so too.”
+
Pete checked his watch again. 9:50. Well fuck. He threw down the remote and rubbed his face. No call from her yet. She was supposed to be in by 8:30, and from there he had made reservations at a restaurant. He’d already called the restaurant twice to see if they’d keep the table for him. He even had to play the Pete Wentz card, which he hated to do. They told him by 10 they’d have to give the table up. It was Valentine’s Day, after all.
A million scenarios ran through his head. He didn’t like thinking of anything happening to her. There had to be a logical explanation to her not calling yet. Airports were chaotic and she could easily be held up, he understood. But his heartbeat wouldn’t slow down until he knew for sure she was safe.
It was two minutes to ten when his phone finally rang. He jumped up, his spirits lifting when he saw her number. “Hey,” he answered, a little too anxious.
“Hey.” She sounded annoyed. “I’m still in Chicago.”
“What?”
She sighed. “Yea. It’s snowing bad, and the flight was delayed. Now they’re saying till morning.”
Pete muttered curses and shut his eyes. “Really?” he whispered.
“Really,” she whispered back, the same aching pain in her voice. “I’m sorry I couldn’t call earlier, but service has been knocked out. I’ve been staring at my phone all night waiting for it to work again. I’m so sorry.”
“No, it’s not your fault.” There were not tears at the corners of his eyes. He squeezed them away. “Well can you talk for a bit?”
“Maybe. The signal is back but it’s unreliable. If I cut out then that’s probably it.”
“Okay. Then I’ll have to savor the bit of time we have.” Pete shed his jacket and curled up on the couch with the phone to his ear, having to settle with a long-distance Valentine’s Day.
+
“Would you like a refill sir?”
“No thanks.” Patrick refused the waiter. He checked his watch. 10:10. He shouldn’t have waited this long. He should have just left after thirty minutes. But there was that small glimmer of hope in him (or was it his libido?) that kept him there at the table.
Patrick sighed at his dismal state. This is why you pick up the date, Stump. He had wanted to, but she said she’d meet him here. And well, he wasn’t going to force it on her. Whatever she wanted. And from what Patrick could tell, she seemed just as excited for the date as him. Or, apparently not, or Patrick would be in between sheets right now, not sitting alone at a table on Valentine’s Day waiting for a girl that wasn’t going to show.
Alright. He was going home. Three glasses of water and a basket of rolls was enough. All he wanted now was some greasy fast food, some comfy clothes, and maybe some sleazy Cinemax movie. He got up from the table, trying to imagine that no one really noticed he had been alone all night. All the other couples were too consumed in themselves, anyways. He had watched them all night. Their sickening lovely-doveyness. Patrick walked out into the cool LA night, hands jammed in pockets and head low. He didn’t want to sit and analyze the millions of reasons why she probably didn’t show up. He just settled for I’m a pathetic loser and trudged home.
+
Pete lifted his head and blearily looked towards the door as he heard the key turn in the lock. Patrick walked in. Alone. Pete didn’t even have the energy to ask him what happened. He just laid back down on the couch, staring at the TV screen.
Patrick stopped in front of the TV and stared at Pete. “What are you doing here?”
He took a deep breath and stared at Patrick’s thighs that were blocking the screen. “Flight delayed.”
“Shit.”
Pete grimaced and nodded. “And you?” he asked.
“Date never showed.”
“Fuck.”
“Yep.”
They stood there silent for a few moments, before Patrick finally moved to sit on the couch next to Pete. Pete tucked his feet in for him to sit and stayed propped up on his elbow. “What are you watching?”
“Porn.”
Shit. It was. Patrick looked at the screen. It had been some dialogue scene but now the two office employees were stripping and starting to go at it on the desk. “I figured if I wasn’t going to screw on Valentine’s Day, I might as well watch someone else do it.”
Patrick sat there for an uneasy moment. When the screen showed glimpses of skin he looked away. “Dammit. I can’t watch this with you, Pete.”
“Why not?” His voice was soft and sensual. When Patrick looked over at him, he saw Pete’s shirt had hiked up a few inches and Pete was idly smoothing his fingers over his bartskull tattoo. Patrick’s mouth grew dry.
“I…I can’t.” Patrick stood up. Shit, thirty seconds of a porno and he was hard.
“Come on Patrick, don’t leave. I don’t want to spend Valentine’s Day alone. Do you?”
“No. But I can’t stay here if you watch this.” Patrick still refused to look at the screen.
“Fine.” Pete grabbed the remote and shut it off. Then he laid back on the couch, hands behind his head, t-shirt riding up past his belly button. That was almost as worse as the porn. “Well this is a shitty day, isn’t it?”
“You’re telling me.” Patrick had his hands in his pockets to try and mask the bulging pants.
A few silent moments, then, “sit back down.” Patrick agreed. Pete lifted his knees and tucked them in close to his butt to let him sit. “So she didn’t call or anything?”
“No. And I didn’t want to call her. She obviously had a reason for not showing.”
“Maybe not. Things happen.”
That reminded Patrick of Pete’s situation and he looked at Pete over the top of his knees. “Is she delayed all night?”
“And then some. Her phone died twenty minutes ago. I think she just went home.”
“Sorry.”
“You too.”
Pete shifted to the outer edge of the couch and leaned on his side, leaving an open spot as a silent invitation. Patrick scooted up and laid in the newly formed spot. He leaned against the back of the couch and faced Pete.
“You know, at least its both of us,” Pete said. “I don’t know what I would have done if you walked through that front door with her.”
“Well I know what I was planning to do if I had been here alone.” Even then Patrick had started shifting on the couch, trying to find the most comfortable position.
Pete chuckled. “Oh right. Yea, sorry about that, Patrick. Sorry you’re not gonna get some.”
It was just the way Pete was looking right now, hair tousled and eyes glossy and all that damn smooth skin in front of him. “Mmm, I’m not?” Patrick really wasn’t sure what he was saying. All he knew was Pete’s warmth next to him was making his head spin. He leaned into Pete, and he was sure he was pressing something against his thigh. “Who says that?”
Pete’s eyes grew and he stared at Patrick. His lips parted and he breathed heavily.
“It’s Valentine’s Day, Pete, and we both ended up alone.” As he said it he let his lips graze the corner of Pete’s mouth. “It’s just not fair to us to not get some action, you know? And…you’re here right now, and I want it, and I’m pretty sure you want it. So, what are two horny boys to do?”
Patrick didn’t even have to wait for a reply. Pete grabbed the back of Patrick’s head and fused their lips together. Patrick let out a moan of surprise and gripped Pete. Teeth and tongues bumped, knees tangled. Then Pete broke the kiss, breathing out the word “bedroom,” and stumbling off the couch.
Patrick nodded and followed him up. As he stood the phone in his pocket vibrated. Instinct made him check it; he saw ‘Katy’ on the screen.
Pete was halfway to the door when he realized Patrick was following him anymore. “Are you coming?” He turned back around, watching Patrick mess with his phone.
Patrick hit ‘ignore’ and threw the phone on the couch. “Yea.” Pete grinned at him and Patrick’s insides did funny little things. This is exactly where he wanted to be on Valentine’s Day.
bestthingaroundPG- 13; 2169 words
“It’s Valentine’s Day, Pete, and we both ended up alone.”
A/N: Let's pretend that the boys had the night off last night. And also that anyone would ever stand up Patrick Stump. For the February Challenge.
Usually, Patrick didn’t mind Valentine’s Day. He really didn’t. In high school he’d never had a date but that didn’t bother him; hanging out with friends or working on songs beat awkward dates anyway. And then for the past few years he’d had a girlfriend so the day became appreciated, filled with chocolates and teddy bears and candy hearts.
But this year, Patrick found himself dreading the day. And well, he just couldn’t just sit at home and wallow in self-pity. So big deal he picked up some chick at the supermarket. Big deal he couldn’t remember her name (something about a Katy spelled with a y?). She was female and also single and also interested in accompanying him on an awkward first date.
Okay, so he might have just been in it for the sex. It had been way too long. And sure, it sounded like a good enough way to cope with loneliness on Valentine’s Day. It might not have been the smartest decision Patrick had ever made, but he decided to take a lesson from Pete and let himself indulge in a stupid mistake every once in awhile.
+
Pete Wentz was lonely. Which was no surprise; any teenage girl with an internet connection could tell you that. But no one knew the details. No one knew the lonely nights, the heartache, the counting tiles on the bathroom floor. So Pete calling up an ex-girlfriend so he wouldn’t be alone on the most romantic day of the year made sense in his brain. Sure, why not? Someone that he knew would get him. Take his mind off the spinning world around him to relive one more night of the good old days.
Okay, so he might have just been in it for the sex. But then again when was Pete not?
+
Patrick trimmed his sideburns in the mirror. It had been weeks since he had done this. But when making a first impression, Patrick wanted to look his best. He even put on some good cologne, the one he bought months ago that cost him a pretty penny and only used on special occasions. He did a check in the mirror. Not a movie star, but the best he felt he’d looked in months.
“Hey Stump I’m gonna go pick up something real quick—whoa, check you out.” Pete grinned and leaned in the doorway to the bathroom. “Lookin sharp. Where you going?”
“Out.” He did a final check to his trademark facial hair and looked at Pete through the mirror.
Pete was grinning giddily; he seemed more excited than Patrick. “Hot date tonight? Ooooooh, you didn’t tell me about this.” He spoke in a teasing tone.
“Yea well. Beats staying home.” He turned to Pete. His stupid smile was annoying him. “Stop it,” he said, walking past him into the bedroom.
“I can’t help it, I’m excited for you.”
“Heh. Probably not nearly as excited as I am.”
“Oh, that’s right. It’s been since…since Anna, right?” Patrick’s silence answered his question. “Shit Trick. If you don’t want me to be here tonight I’ll understand. I mean, you need this. Like dude, that was months ago. Wow.”
“Change of subject please?” Patrick asked, looking for his shoes.
“Sorry. I’m going out tonight too. I caved and called her. So, we can get a hotel or something. Give you your privacy.” Again Pete had that stupid high-school grin. “So is she hot?”
“God Pete, she’s—just stop, alright? Yes. She’s hot.” He sat on the edge of the bed and slipped on his shoes.
Pete jumped on the bed and crawled over to him. “So you got anything planned for the night? Are you just gonna tackle her as soon as you two come home? Or does Patrick Stump have moves?”
“I’m just gonna see how it goes.”
“Dude, when it’s been this long though, you need to do a little prep work, or you’re gonna lose it fast. Like have you—”
“Yes. Numerous times today. Now will you please shut up and get out of my love life?” Patrick stood up off the bed. He slipped his wallet and keys into his pocket—was he missing anything? The flowers. He reminded himself to get them on the way. “Do I look nervous?”
“Yes. Very much so. But don’t worry, she’ll think its cute.”
“Well hopefully ‘cute’ is enough to get me laid.”
Pete chuckled. “For your sake I hope so too.”
+
Pete checked his watch again. 9:50. Well fuck. He threw down the remote and rubbed his face. No call from her yet. She was supposed to be in by 8:30, and from there he had made reservations at a restaurant. He’d already called the restaurant twice to see if they’d keep the table for him. He even had to play the Pete Wentz card, which he hated to do. They told him by 10 they’d have to give the table up. It was Valentine’s Day, after all.
A million scenarios ran through his head. He didn’t like thinking of anything happening to her. There had to be a logical explanation to her not calling yet. Airports were chaotic and she could easily be held up, he understood. But his heartbeat wouldn’t slow down until he knew for sure she was safe.
It was two minutes to ten when his phone finally rang. He jumped up, his spirits lifting when he saw her number. “Hey,” he answered, a little too anxious.
“Hey.” She sounded annoyed. “I’m still in Chicago.”
“What?”
She sighed. “Yea. It’s snowing bad, and the flight was delayed. Now they’re saying till morning.”
Pete muttered curses and shut his eyes. “Really?” he whispered.
“Really,” she whispered back, the same aching pain in her voice. “I’m sorry I couldn’t call earlier, but service has been knocked out. I’ve been staring at my phone all night waiting for it to work again. I’m so sorry.”
“No, it’s not your fault.” There were not tears at the corners of his eyes. He squeezed them away. “Well can you talk for a bit?”
“Maybe. The signal is back but it’s unreliable. If I cut out then that’s probably it.”
“Okay. Then I’ll have to savor the bit of time we have.” Pete shed his jacket and curled up on the couch with the phone to his ear, having to settle with a long-distance Valentine’s Day.
+
“Would you like a refill sir?”
“No thanks.” Patrick refused the waiter. He checked his watch. 10:10. He shouldn’t have waited this long. He should have just left after thirty minutes. But there was that small glimmer of hope in him (or was it his libido?) that kept him there at the table.
Patrick sighed at his dismal state. This is why you pick up the date, Stump. He had wanted to, but she said she’d meet him here. And well, he wasn’t going to force it on her. Whatever she wanted. And from what Patrick could tell, she seemed just as excited for the date as him. Or, apparently not, or Patrick would be in between sheets right now, not sitting alone at a table on Valentine’s Day waiting for a girl that wasn’t going to show.
Alright. He was going home. Three glasses of water and a basket of rolls was enough. All he wanted now was some greasy fast food, some comfy clothes, and maybe some sleazy Cinemax movie. He got up from the table, trying to imagine that no one really noticed he had been alone all night. All the other couples were too consumed in themselves, anyways. He had watched them all night. Their sickening lovely-doveyness. Patrick walked out into the cool LA night, hands jammed in pockets and head low. He didn’t want to sit and analyze the millions of reasons why she probably didn’t show up. He just settled for I’m a pathetic loser and trudged home.
+
Pete lifted his head and blearily looked towards the door as he heard the key turn in the lock. Patrick walked in. Alone. Pete didn’t even have the energy to ask him what happened. He just laid back down on the couch, staring at the TV screen.
Patrick stopped in front of the TV and stared at Pete. “What are you doing here?”
He took a deep breath and stared at Patrick’s thighs that were blocking the screen. “Flight delayed.”
“Shit.”
Pete grimaced and nodded. “And you?” he asked.
“Date never showed.”
“Fuck.”
“Yep.”
They stood there silent for a few moments, before Patrick finally moved to sit on the couch next to Pete. Pete tucked his feet in for him to sit and stayed propped up on his elbow. “What are you watching?”
“Porn.”
Shit. It was. Patrick looked at the screen. It had been some dialogue scene but now the two office employees were stripping and starting to go at it on the desk. “I figured if I wasn’t going to screw on Valentine’s Day, I might as well watch someone else do it.”
Patrick sat there for an uneasy moment. When the screen showed glimpses of skin he looked away. “Dammit. I can’t watch this with you, Pete.”
“Why not?” His voice was soft and sensual. When Patrick looked over at him, he saw Pete’s shirt had hiked up a few inches and Pete was idly smoothing his fingers over his bartskull tattoo. Patrick’s mouth grew dry.
“I…I can’t.” Patrick stood up. Shit, thirty seconds of a porno and he was hard.
“Come on Patrick, don’t leave. I don’t want to spend Valentine’s Day alone. Do you?”
“No. But I can’t stay here if you watch this.” Patrick still refused to look at the screen.
“Fine.” Pete grabbed the remote and shut it off. Then he laid back on the couch, hands behind his head, t-shirt riding up past his belly button. That was almost as worse as the porn. “Well this is a shitty day, isn’t it?”
“You’re telling me.” Patrick had his hands in his pockets to try and mask the bulging pants.
A few silent moments, then, “sit back down.” Patrick agreed. Pete lifted his knees and tucked them in close to his butt to let him sit. “So she didn’t call or anything?”
“No. And I didn’t want to call her. She obviously had a reason for not showing.”
“Maybe not. Things happen.”
That reminded Patrick of Pete’s situation and he looked at Pete over the top of his knees. “Is she delayed all night?”
“And then some. Her phone died twenty minutes ago. I think she just went home.”
“Sorry.”
“You too.”
Pete shifted to the outer edge of the couch and leaned on his side, leaving an open spot as a silent invitation. Patrick scooted up and laid in the newly formed spot. He leaned against the back of the couch and faced Pete.
“You know, at least its both of us,” Pete said. “I don’t know what I would have done if you walked through that front door with her.”
“Well I know what I was planning to do if I had been here alone.” Even then Patrick had started shifting on the couch, trying to find the most comfortable position.
Pete chuckled. “Oh right. Yea, sorry about that, Patrick. Sorry you’re not gonna get some.”
It was just the way Pete was looking right now, hair tousled and eyes glossy and all that damn smooth skin in front of him. “Mmm, I’m not?” Patrick really wasn’t sure what he was saying. All he knew was Pete’s warmth next to him was making his head spin. He leaned into Pete, and he was sure he was pressing something against his thigh. “Who says that?”
Pete’s eyes grew and he stared at Patrick. His lips parted and he breathed heavily.
“It’s Valentine’s Day, Pete, and we both ended up alone.” As he said it he let his lips graze the corner of Pete’s mouth. “It’s just not fair to us to not get some action, you know? And…you’re here right now, and I want it, and I’m pretty sure you want it. So, what are two horny boys to do?”
Patrick didn’t even have to wait for a reply. Pete grabbed the back of Patrick’s head and fused their lips together. Patrick let out a moan of surprise and gripped Pete. Teeth and tongues bumped, knees tangled. Then Pete broke the kiss, breathing out the word “bedroom,” and stumbling off the couch.
Patrick nodded and followed him up. As he stood the phone in his pocket vibrated. Instinct made him check it; he saw ‘Katy’ on the screen.
Pete was halfway to the door when he realized Patrick was following him anymore. “Are you coming?” He turned back around, watching Patrick mess with his phone.
Patrick hit ‘ignore’ and threw the phone on the couch. “Yea.” Pete grinned at him and Patrick’s insides did funny little things. This is exactly where he wanted to be on Valentine’s Day.