KENDALL + RILEY // KATIE + PATRICK

A/N: Got the idea for this one from @partiallypearl suggesting a song for Katie and Patrick; Dare by Megan and Liz. Hope y'all like this one.

Also tagging @witchofinterest

Set during 2x23 - Big Time Single

Katie sighed the most forlorn sigh she could muster.

She probably should’ve taken her face out of the couch cushions, probably should’ve left Rocque Records with everyone else to celebrate the new BTR song. She knew “If I Ruled The World” was going to be a mega hit. It was the perfect summer song.

But she couldn’t get past her heartbreak. And even in her fourteen years of age, there weren’t many things that managed to break her heart. Somewhere, deep in her subconscious she was sure the most pain she felt was when her father left…but she barely remembered him and it wasn’t much of a thing. She remembered being heartbroken over not being able to get certain gifts for Christmas…before really understanding they didn’t have the money for it.

In many ways, it was stupid. So materialistic, and she’d never been that way. But that jacket, that leather jacket was so beautiful! So amazing! Was perfect, as if it were tailor made for her. The price point didn’t mean anything.

What was a measly $400 to someone like Gustavo?

To someone like her that was money she’d probably never be able to conceivably be able to drop in one go. That was a dream. But to Gustavo, it meant nothing. She barely talked him into it. He asked what she wanted in return for her help and he’d dropped that card down on the leather jacket without even looking.

That was shocking.

Not just because it showed what true power was, not because it was the icing on the cake of the day that allowed her to slap Gustavo across the face (twice) to help him with his writer’s block and tell Kelly to shut up, because that was awesome!

But to have the kind of power where she was able to talk Gustavo into buying all of the summer clothes to get him into the headspace to write a song…and knowing it would all be written off as a business expense? It was a sign of the life that she would’ve given anything to live.

And it was yanked away.

It wasn’t the jacket, it was what the jacket represented.

It—

Whump!

--was on her head?!

“Wha?” Flailing her arms and legs, Katie grabbed the jacket off her head and sat up. She turned her glare to Patrick, who stood next to her, arms folded and an amused smile on his face. “Did you just throw a jacket at me?”

“No,” he replied simply.

“Uh,” she shook the jacket in her enclosed fist. “Then what’s this?”

“I reckon it’s a leather jacket,” he replied, raising his eyebrows. “Not just a jacket, yeah?”

Katie turned her attention back to the jacket in her hands. The leather jacket in her hands. Her leather jacket. “I can’t believe it!” She sprung to her feet, shaking it in her hands. “You got the jacket back? You actually got it from Jennifer?” She hugged it to her chest and rocked back and forth. “I love you, leather jacket!”

Patrick smiled at her funny.

All at once, Katie felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her. It was a jacket after all. And, what if he thought she was materialistic like that? But if that were the case he would’ve already known because of the amount of money plans he’d helped her with and he hadn’t said anything then.

But he might’ve been too nice to say anything. Katie thought. She pushed it and all the other thoughts that ran through her head away. The ones that cycled through, replacing them one after another after another.

“I mean, uh, it’s a cool leather jacket,” Katie said, finally working to sound cool, calm, and collected. Unbothered.

“I think it is,” Patrick replied.

 Smiling, Katie slid her arms into the jacket. It hung around her shoulders, fell over her hands. Katie’s eyebrows came together. She didn’t remember the sleeves being so long. “How’d you get it back from the Jennifers?”

“I didn’t.” Patrick gently smoothed the jacket around her shoulders. Leaned in to ensure he got it right. Was close enough that, if he wanted to, he could turn his head and kiss her…

Katie lifted her eyes to his, wondering if he could suddenly read minds. Panicked to know if he could. But also wanting to go with whatever happened all the same. Cause maybe she should kiss him?

To say "thank you" or something? She saw Kendall and Jo do that all the time, even when he just got her those girly drinks.

Then again, they DID just break up...

But a kiss on the cheek wouldn't be too weird, would it?

His blue eyes met hers then darted away.

“It’s mine.”

His words caught her attention. She sputtered out the question, “Yours?”

Once again, Katie felt a wave of heat rush over her body and settle in her cheeks. She lifted her hands, pushing the sleeves back from her hands. Played with the strip of leather that wiggled on the end of the zipper on one sleeve.

“Yeah.” He reached up, rubbing the back of his neck, looking away. “You, uh, you looked really upset over what happened with your other jacket. And, you’re not wrong, it’s good for winter back home.”

“Right,” Katie said.

“And it’s one of my old ones.” He shrugged. “I thought you’d like it.”

“I love it!” Katie blurted. Then lifted her chin when he smiled his lopsided smile. “I mean, it’s cool. If you’re into that sort of thing.” He rolled his eyes. “It’s nice. Thanks.” She reached out and awkwardly punched him on the arm.

“You’re welcome.”

The two looked at each other and looked away, shuffling. Blushing.

Katie took a deep breath. Readied herself to ask the question, worked hard to keep from hesitating.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to use it for what I wanted but I'm still proud of the shading I used.

     ❝ Yeah, yeah, don’t let it go t’your head,                             alright? An’ don’t make me REGRET it.

a/n: very slightly inspired by @raging-violets' just a boy fic + lose yourself by eminem! like honestly this is barely a fic lmao also tagging: @ceruleanmusings @myloveforhergoeson @bibaybe