The Basics || p.w

Chapter Twenty-Three // Pete's Memory and Flowers

Life carried on.

A month after the entire incident I was completely oblivious. I had a few interviews where I explained my side of the story. I took care of my daughter, and spent time working on music for the guys. I talked to Patrick and Andy mostly, and we met up a few times.

I walked into work and saw Patrick talking to Lincoln. They both carried wide grins, and turned to me. Patrick rushed over, speaking rapidly.

"I was working on 'Fourth Of July' and I think I've got it finished, also I was thinking about a new song! Pete wanted to help out with it but I didn't know if I could bring him here? I don't know if you guys are okay?" Patrick tilted his head to the side.

"Yeah, we're okay. I'm not mad or anything, I don't know about him," I explained as we walked towards the elevator. Patrick nodded and sent a text to Pete.

Once we reached my office I saw a large bouquet of flowers on my desk. Patrick and I both were confused. I bit my lip walking over to the pastel pink roses. I grabbed the card attached and read the small note written in messy handwriting.

i bit off more than i can chew
-pw

"They're from Pete," I breathed. Patrick turned to me with a surprised expression. "He wrote lyrics to the song I wrote for him..."

"You have to sing that for me," Patrick responded. "Pete is coming. You can sing it with or without him. I know you still have a voice in you, Chris."

I looked up from the small card and nodded. I grabbed my guitar and grabbed my journal from my desk drawer.

I thumbed through all of the songs, eventually finding the song. The title stuck out to me the most. The familiar handwriting I still possess, and the hearts around Pete's name.

The Kids Aren't Alright (for Pete)

I bit my tongue. I tuned my guitar while staring at the familiar words. Words that I wrote before we split. Words that described our relationship perfectly. Lyrics that bring me back to sneaking out of his room, to our midnight conversations.

I took a deep breath before I began.

Stuck in the jet wash
Bad trip I couldn't get off
And maybe I bit off more than I could chew
And overheard of the aqua blue

Fall to your knees, bring on the rapture
Blessed be the boys time can't capture
On film of between the sheets
I always fall from your window to the pitch-black streets

And with the black banners raised
As the crooked smiles fade
Former heroes who quit too late
Who just wanna fill up the trophy case again

I paused at the next words. Patrick stood, his eyes locked on me. I felt my head spinning as I remembered being on my roof. I remembered looking at the stars and thinking of Pete.

And in the end

I heard Pete's voice join in. My heart raced as he walked into the room.

I'll do it all again
I think you're my best friend
Don't you know that the kids aren't al- kids aren't alright?
I'll be yours
When it rains it pours
Stay thirsty like before
Don't you know that the kids aren't al- kids aren't alright?

I stopped singing and so did Pete. I squinted my eyes at Pete, who kept his hands in his pockets. He avoided eye contact as he coughed awkwardly.

"You remember all of the lyrics?" I muttered. Pete nodded, biting his lip.

"How could I forget them? Those words haunted me years after you left," Pete shook his head. "I used my other relationships to take my mind off of you. You never left me though. I thought about you every day since you left... I remember seeing you on your university's website. It said you were graduating with honors, and it said everything you did."

"You're lying to me," I denied. "You're only saying that to make me feel worse. Pete, you're the one who wanted me to leave. I turned into a mess because of my dad and you didn't like that side of me. You wanted me gone."

"I never wanted you to leave," Pete stated. "Christine, I haven't stopped loving you since. I was young and reckless. I needed something to happen to excite my life. But when you left I realized that you were the excitement I craved. You, have been the person on my mind for more than a decade."

I covered my face with my hands. I thought of all of the good times with Pete. I remembered the way he made me smile. How his jokes would always make me laugh. I remembered helping him with all of his studies when he struggled with them. I remembered climbing into his room late at night. I remembered falling asleep in his arms. The feeling when his hand was in mine, how my stomach twisted when he said my name. It was all still there.

I felt Pete's arms wrap around me, and I heard as Patrick left the room. Pete still smelled the same. His shirt still felt the same. His arms still held me the same. He didn't change at all. He waited for me, just like he promised he would.

I tugged onto Pete's shirt. I hid my face in his chest for the first time in years. My stomach fluttered like it did many years ago. Pete rubbed circles on my lower back with his thumb.

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

"No, stop. You have nothing to be sorry about. We've apologized to each other too many times. Christine, don't ever apologize to me. You have nothing to be sorry for," Pete whispered. "You did so much to me, now I have to do the same for you."

I smiled, nodding. The feeling of his arms around me again was like nothing else. The sensation was familiar, and I was able to identify it immediately.

Him. Like no other, Pete has always had an effect on me. He has made me blush, cry, and remember everything. Good and bad, I want all of my emotions to come back. I want to be with Pete again.

A/N: i am currently redoing the beginning of this lovely book. i love this storyline, but my writing techniques in the beginning are not as great. once i finish this book it'll be exactly like how i want it to be, and it'll be everything i've wanted in this little story.

secondly, i saw panic! at the disco again! they were incredible! when brendon was running to the piano for this is gospel he got like twenty feet away from me. i am still in shock. i recommend their concerts, they do not disappoint:)) xx