Chapter Text
Just one more class. Patrick forcefully closed his blue locker door, swung his heavy backpack over his shoulder, and headed off to his last period of the day. He managed to take two steps away from his locker before he came to an abrupt stop, eyes honing in on a petite frame and shiny red hair. There she was. Rachel. The new girl. Patrick watched as Rachel reached into her locker for a textbook and brushed her long hair behind her ear before turning to smile at her friend beside her. Patrick shook his head in an attempt to bring himself out of his trance. Why am I still standing here? I need to get to class. When his feet finally caught up to his brain, Patrick found that he was walking at a faster pace than normal down the checkered blue and white tiled hallway. Why is my heart racing?
Patrick slumped into his desk in his physics classroom with two whole minutes to spare. As he pulled out his notes, pencil case, and planner to try to focus on the class ahead, he found that his thoughts still lingered on Rachel. She was very pretty in a wholesome sort of way. Over the past few weeks, he had noticed Rachel often. His eyes seemed to find her in the hallway, in the cafeteria, and even on his bus home in the afternoons. Patrick was pulled from his daydream by someone clearing his throat next to him.
“Umm, Patrick? Man, where are you right now?”
“What? Oh. Hi, Zach. What’s up?” Patrick sighed, much less interested in whatever Zach was doing than his own current thoughts.
“You thinking about a girl?” A knowing grin was plastered across Zach’s face when Patrick glanced up at him.
Patrick’s cheeks flushed. He couldn’t help the small curl of his lips. “Maybe...what’s it to yuh, Zach?”
“Oh. Nothing. I just couldn’t help but notice your little deer-in-headlights moment in the hallway back there. She’s cute. You should talk to her. You know...ask her out.” Zach made this sound like a simple feat.
“Yeah. Um. Maybe.” Patrick’s gaze returned to his desk. He had never really taken the time to talk to girls much less ask them on a date. He was just so busy with everything else. I have school work, my job at Rose Video, hockey in the winter, baseball in the spring... The list of excuses forming in his mind was cut off by a loud thud, as Zach slammed his palm down on Patrick’s desk. Patrick looked up in surprise at the sudden noise.
“This is her AIM screen name. Use it well, my friend.”
Zach removed his hand to reveal a torn piece of lined paper with a screen name scrawled across it in red ink. Patrick stared at the name.
_Rosegold_
He liked it. He might just have to message Rachel when he got home.
Two hours later, Patrick found himself staring at his computer screen, taking long breaths in through his nose and out through his mouth to slow his racing heartbeat. His fingers moved swiftly over the keyboard as he logged into his AIM account. I’m going to do this! I’m going to talk to Rachel.
Dragging his mouse, Patrick selected “New IM” and typed in Rachel’s screen name. Here goes nothing.
baseballBrewster29 : hey! this is Patrick Brewer