wrttn-n-th-strs

[wrttn-n-th-strs]

A little Joetrick WIP I'm working on with a friend

(Based loosely on Endlessly by The Cab)

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

“Oh, come on.”

Joe sighs in defeat, glaring at the prize machine filled with various colored plastic rings. He’d just put in his last quarter and received another gatorade blue ring in return. He stands up from where he had been kneeling on the cold gas station floor and scoops up all the different colored rings in his hands, he debates kicking the machine, but settles for giving it his best look of disappointment instead. As soon as he turns to leave, he nearly runs into Pete, who’s holding a half red, half blue slushie.

“There you are! We were beginning to wonder if you’d been kidnapped or something.” Pete said, glancing down at the handful of little plastic bubbles in his hands, “What’re those for?”

“Me, obviously.”

Pete grins, “Seriously?”

“Yeah. Seriously.”

He bites the end of his straw, making eye contact with the taller boy, “They’re for Patrick, aren’t they?”

Joe feels his face grow warm, he sees Pete’s grin widen, and he knows he’s caught. He sighs, shoving the plastic bubbles and the rings they contain into his hoodie pocket. “Fine, yes, they’re for Patrick. Or, they were supposed to be, anyway.”

Pete raises an eyebrow, and Joe continues, “I was trying to get an orange ring, because that’s his favorite color, but the stupid machine keeps giving me everything but fucking orange, so now I’m stuck with all these.”

“Dude, that’s the sappiest shit I’ve ever heard. So, what? You’re proposing to him?”

“What? No! I’m just- It’s- He’s- Ugh,” Joe pauses and takes a breath,"You know how Patrick has those days where he questions if he's good enough for the band?"

Pete hums, nodding and taking a sip of his slushie.

“Well, he also has days where he questions if he’s good enough for me, so I thought ‘Hey, why don’t I get him something to remind him that I think he’s perfect!’ and I felt like giving him a ring to wear as a reminder would be the best option, you know?”

“Why not go to the Wal-Mart down the road and get him an actual ring, then? They’re, like, five bucks, dude.”

Joe scrunches his nose, “Yeah, but those don’t come in colors. Plus, they look too much like wedding bands, and, yeah, I think Patrick might actually be the one, but I don’t think we’re ready for all that… yet. Maybe. I dunno.” He rubs the back of his neck, face feeling like it’s on fire, “And I swear to fuck, Wentz, if you repeat any of that to anyone I will kill you.”

Pete laughs, “I’ll save this story for your wedding, don’t worry.”

The taller boy punches him in the shoulder playfully, “I hate you.”

“No, you don’t. But, hey, I’ll help you out here,” he says, digging out two quarters from the front pocket of his too-tight jeans, “There’s two more chances at getting that orange ring. Plus, I’m here and I’m the best good luck charm ever.” he hands the quarters over to Joe, smiling.

Joe slots the first quarter into the machine and turns the handle, hearing his prize hit the little metal flap. He holds his breath as he lifts the flap, and the clear bubble falls into his palm. “You have to be fucking with me,” he says as Pete starts cheering loudly.

The ring inside the bubble is orange with a tiny red heart printed on it.

“I told you! Now, you’ve got your magic orange ring, so can we go?”

Joe smiles a little as he pockets the ring, “Yeah, let’s go.”

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Hopefully we can actually finish this one bc it's really cute 🥺🥺