Patton adjusted the strap of his bag on his shoulder as he walked through the school parking lot. He casually looked at the people around and smiled.

"Logan!" he called spotting him by his car not far away. He jogged over to him. "Good morning."

"Good morning Patton," he greeted back. He then sounded a bit more serious. "How are you doing?"

"Fine," Patton replied contently.

"Last night wasn't too horrible for you was it?" he frowned.

"No... well I mean yes it sucked, but I made it through," Patton replied. "I was just excited that I got to see you again today." He tilted his head his cheek's dunking pink and he smiled at the taller male.

Logan felt a small blush himself and looked away. "I see..." he trailed off and then began to walk towards the school building, Patton following. "I suppose if that made you feel better then I am elated to have helped."

Patton smiled. "Yes, and Ashton stopped by for a few minutes before my mom almost caught us and he had to run away, but he cheered me up a bit."

"Ashton?" Logan asked his expression remaining casual but his mood changing greatly. "He was at your house?"

"Yes... well technically just the back yard, we couldn't go in," Patton replied simply.

"I thought you said your parents wouldn't allow anyone to come. Did he know you were upset antecedently?" Logan asked receiving a blank stare. "Beforehand," he made more clear.

"Oh. No, he just kinda showed up. He said he came to see me and noticed the party when he got there," Patton replied.

"Hm..." Logan trailed off not seeming at all joyed.

"Is something wrong?" Patton asked feeling a ping of nerves.

"No Patton, everything's fine..." Logan replied trying to keep control of that infuriating obnoxiousness that would always sneak it's way into his soul.

"Okay," Patton replied only slightly skeptical.

Logan looked to a poster that was hanging on a wall in the main hallway as they walked by. "Oh right, it almost slipped my mind that the winter dance is coming up next weekend. I suppose you have to go again since you helped with the event?"

"Yep!" Patton chirped contently looking ahead of him to where he was walking. "I mean I'd most likely go either way, but it's considered only right to attend if you help bring it all together. Also, volunteers don't have to pay for a ticket so bonus!"

"Maybe I'll invest in going this year," Logan stated.

"Really??" Patton asked looking to him in surprise. "That doesn't really seem like your scene."

"Well I have never been opposed to attempting new experiences." Logan pushed his glasses up on his nose. "Besides, you will most certainly be there so we could always meet in the middle as they say."

Patton felt his cheeks warm and looked to the floor feeling a smile form. "Alright, sure." He then suddenly remembered something. "Actually..."

"What is it?" Logan asked.

"I um... don't actually have a ride... to the dance." The shorter laughed nervously rubbing the back of his neck.

Logan actually gave a small chuckle at that. "I will pick you up at 6:30." He smiled stopping as they reached the library. "See you later Patton." He then slipped into the entrance.

Patton was still blushing and stood there a little dazed. What just happened..? Patton wondered. Did... he just ask me to go to the dance with him in some crazy roundabout way? He stood there and blinked a few times before the first bell rang snapping him from his thoughts. He panicked slightly and started at a fast pace toward his locker. When he got there Roman was still waiting.

"Geez, are you still asleep or something?" Roman asked. "Cutting it close don't you think?"

"Sorry, I got distracted," Patton replied apologetically. "You didn't have to wait."

"Well it's not like I'm in a rush Monday mornings either." Roman smiled at him. "Besides I don't get much time to see you with my busy schedule as it is, so why not wait?"

Patton smiled. "True." He then closed his locker. "Alright lets go before the late bell rings."

-&-

The next day Patton was walking to his study hall when, due to his lack of paying attention, he almost ran into someone.

"Oh. Sorry Alexandria," he apologized catching her small frame before it could completely fall back.

Once back on her feet she smiled. "It's fine Patton. Hey, you're friends with the new kid right?"

"Ashton?" Patton tilted his head in confusion.

"Yeah that's the one." She snapped her fingers. "Do you have any idea what's up? Why isn't he in school?"

"He's absent again?" Patton asked feeling a bit of worry form in the pit of his stomach.

"Yeah, I work in the attendance office and he's been gone for two days with no call from him or a parent to excuse him." She frowned. "I was kind of hoping you knew why."

"I don't have a clue..." Patton trailed off. He was really starting to worry now. "He hasn't answered any of my texts since Sunday."

"Hm... weird," she stated pondering slightly. Her eyes then met the clock. "Anyway I better go. I hope he okay." She started to walk away before adding. "Let me know if you hear anything!"

"Okay!" he called before walking into his study hall with a troubled mind.

-&-

"Patton..." Logan trailed off watching him at lunch on Wednesday. "Is something wrong?"

Patton was snapped from his thoughts before he sighed. "Yeah it's Ashton..."

Logan couldn't help but feel a slight spark of annoyance, but remained cool. "What is wrong with Ashton? Did you get into a disagreement?"

"No, I mean I know he isn't fond of it here, but he's been absent for three days now, and has made no effort to contact the school... or me. I've texted him like twenty times." He was anxiously rambling now.

"Patton take a deep breath," Logan constructed.

He did.

"You said yourself Ashton isn't the type of person who finds enjoyment in coming to school. Perhaps he simply is avoiding responsibility and skipping," The taller suggested trying to stay collected. "Or perhaps he is ill."

"I guess maybe..." Patton trailed off chewing his bottom lip lightly.

"Jumping to conclusions will only bring you turmoil..." Logan stated. "Keeping a calm head until you know the actual situation would be the most plausible solution."

"You're probably right." Patton then sighed folding his arms across the table in front of him and resting his chin between them. "But That doesn't just stop this horrible feeling I have."

Logan exhaled as well. "Will a distraction work as a way of assistance?"

"I mean it couldn't hurt..." Patton admitted the question sparking his interest. "Why? What do you have in mind?"

"Would you be inclined to have dinner with me tonight?" Logan asked.

Patton felt his heart speed up, and his cheeks warm slightly. He knew it wasn't a date but it sounded like one, and I mean what was wrong with a bit of innocent fantasizing? "Yes!" he replied not meaning to sound so thrilled. He cleared his throat and calmed. "I mean... that would help a bit thanks..."

-&-

Patton smiled happily as Logan walked him to his door after their early dinner. He couldn't help but feel like he was walking on air, like every nerve in his body was sent into overdrive, all just from spending so much time with Logan. He still couldn't quite understand why such simple things could cause so much in him. Truthfully he never had a real crush before, but he wasn't even sure that's all his feelings amounted to, or if it was something more.

"I should take my leave before my mother wonders what took me so long." Logan replied stopping on Patton's doorstep.

"Okay," Patton replied simply. "Thanks again... for... trying to cheer me up."

"My pleasure," Logan replied with a small smile of his own. "My sentiments till tomorrow."

"Bye." Patton gave a little wave before watching him go back to his car and drive off. He felt another wave of happiness before turning around and going inside. He took off his shoes and hung his bag and jacket before stopping in the middle of the living room to pull out his phone, wondering if maybe Ashton had texted back. Instead he noticed he had a missed call, but not from his friend, from his older brother. He smiled a little and went into his contacts to call back. That is before he got distracted.

"Patton." A voice sounded.

He nearly jumped out of his skin at the sound of it. "Dad? What are you doing back here so early?"

"The client I was supposed to meet up with for the remainder of the afternoon had her baby early so I had nothing scheduled." He explained before folding his arms and looking at him intensely. "Where have you been."

"Um... I went out to dinner." Patton replied avoiding his gaze.

"With who?" His dad asked a bit more curious, but with the same serious manner.

"The pep club!" He quickly made an excuse. "We were... discussing last minute preparations for the dance..."

His father seemed satisfied with the answer and nodded. "Very well, make sure to study, we don't want you getting distracted too much and having your grades drop." He then walked off into his office.

Patton sighed in relief before going upstairs to his room, completely forgetting to call his brother back.

-&-

It was Friday. FRIDAY! And Ashton still hadn't come to school all week, or answered his phone. Patton was really worried now. He was standing by his locker waiting for Roman when two words he never knew he'd be so relieved to hear reached his ears.

"Hey Peppy." It was Ashton, actually him, in the flesh, walking up to him.

Patton blinked to make sure he wasn't dreaming. "Hey Peppy? Hey Peppy? You've been gone for four days with no explanation and all I get is hey Peppy??" It didn't sound angry necessarily, more like a worried rant.

"Woah." Ashton chuckled. "Calm down there, I'm fine."

"Where were you?" Patton asked louder than he meant.

"Puking my guts out." Ashton replied with a shrug still finding Patton's worried parent mode fairly amusing.

"Why didn't your dad call you off?" Patton calmed slightly furrowing his eyebrows.

"He got busy, he called the school this morning," he replied.

"What about my texts? You didn't respond to a single one?" Patton frowned.

"Really?" Ashton pulled his phone from his pocket. Before turning it on completely. "Sorry guess my phone was off."

"Dear lord..." he sighed.

"Were you really that worried?" Ashton asked with an amused grin.

"Yes!" Patton exclaimed. "Of course I was worried, you're my friend, and I couldn't help it. I had a really bad feeling about the whole thing..."

Ashton's smile dropped for a moment and he watched Patton curiously. "Well I'm fine..." He then cleared his throat. "Anyway, what's your opinion on parties that don't suck and aren't for your father's company?"

"I couldn't say... I haven't really been to one." Patton shrugged. "Why?"

"Because there just so happens to be a party that I was invited to tomorrow, a lot of people from this school with be there, and I was wondering, if you don't have any plans, if you'd go with me? Or even... just stop by," Ashton explained.

"I don't know... it's not really my scene, but if you'll be there I wouldn't mind checking it out." Patton answered.

"Sweet!" Ashton actually seemed excited about something for once. "I'll text you the details."

Patton felt accomplished in making him happy again so in turn he smiled himself. "Sounds good."

"See you later Peppy." Ashton waved before putting his hands in his pockets and walking down the hall just as Roman arrived.

"That was Ashton right?" Roman asked spinning the code into his locker.

"Yeah." Patton replied.

"What was wrong?" he asked curiously as he exchanged his books.

"He said he was sick," Patton answered.

"See?" Roman closed his locker. "I told you there was nothing to worry about."

"You were right!" Patton chirped.

"Well..." Roman laughed a little they started walking to class together. "You seem more chipper than usual."

He was. He was going to the dance with Logan, and spending more time with Ashton. He had new friends. Real friends. "Life is good Roman." He walked with a kick in his step. "Life is good..."

Hey guys, could that be foreshadowing?? *gasp* XD. The real question is is it good or bad? Anyway, Ashton has returned! Some of you are probably relieved, others not so much. There's a very 50/50 opinion on him right now lol. I guess that's understandable because people think he's "messing with the ship," but idk... Anyway, tell me what you thought. Got any predictions, or concerns? Also do you believe Ashton's story or no? Vote and comment, bye!