So for the next week or so, we just hang out together. I've discovered that, actually, Pete is a good guy. I mean, at first, I didn't really like him. I didn't trust him, either. But now... Well, now, I've realised how much he cares about Patrick. He doesn't really show it that often, but I know he does.

It's almost as though I'm inhabiting separate worlds. One, with work and friends and going out. And then the other, which is newer, with the band and Patrick. This is the world I like more, because now I'm part of the secret. Before, it was just the guys, and their girlfriends, none of whom I've actually met. But that's about to change.

"Guess what!" yells Joe bouncing into the recording studio one evening. It's me, Pete and Patrick, clearing away after band practice. Andy's in the kitchen, making some weird vegan food, and Joe appears to be bounding about, being... Well, being Joe, I guess.

"What?" asks Pete, straightening up.

"Oh, don't tell them!" shouts Andy from the next room.

"Andy's got a girlfriend," he says, like it's the most exciting piece of news ever.

"Thanks a lot, Joe."

"Who is she?" asks Patrick. Joe shrugs.

"What makes you think I know?"

"Dude, you're the one who's leaping around like a kangaroo on cocaine, so we kinda expected you to know something."

"How about you just ask me instead of talking about it behind my back?" Patrick and I look at each other for a minute, and then go into the kitchen and lean against the counter.

"So," says Patrick. "Spill."

Andy sighs. "Her name's Sandra, she's our age, she works in a bookshop downtown. What more do you want to know?"

"How did you meet her?" asks Pete, walking into the room. Andy's face lights up with a cute little smile.

"I went into the shop one day, and I bought a book. We got talking, and I really liked her, so I went into the bookshop every day after work to talk to her. She's lovely."

"I bet," says Patrick. "So, when're we going to meet her?"

Andy blushes. "Well, you know how Miya and Ellie are coming over later?"

"Yes..." says Patrick slowly.

"I... I, uh, invited her over. I hope you don't mind."

Patrick shakes his head. "Not at all. She sounds lovely. Although, not as lovely as you," he adds, putting his hands on my waist. I blush.

"Oh, guys, not in here," moans Pete.

"Yeah, I'm trying to cook here," says Andy.

I roll my eyes. "Shut up"

"Yes, if I remember correctly, this is my apartment," Patrick adds.

"Still, I rest my case. By the way, when are Miya and Ellie going to be here?" asks Andy, frowning slightly.

Joe checks his phone for the time. "Should be here any minute now." Just then, the doorbell rings. "Yay! They're here!"

"You know it might not be them, so don't go bouncing up to the door all excited, ok?" Pete says.

"Who the hell else comes here?" Ok, Joe's got a good point there. He goes up to the door and opens it. "Miya!" he yells, and hugs someone at the door who I can't quite see.

"Get a grip, Joe," mutters someone. Joe steps back a little and two women who look about my age or a little older come in and shut the door. One is a pretty Asian girl with shiny, elbow length black hair. She's wearing black skinny jeans, a dark grey vest top and a lot of heavy eye makeup. The other is a tall black girl with her hair braided into a load of tiny little braids, but in each one, a little piece of coloured thread is woven in. She's wearing black leggings, a black lacy top and thick eyeliner.

"Hey, babe," says the black girl, going over to Pete and kissing him. She looks over at me. "Who's this?"

"Oh, um, this is Lydia, my girlfriend," says Patrick. "Lydia, this is Ellie."  Ellie smiles and shakes my hand.

"Hi," she's says. "Nice to meet you."

I nod. "You, too."

"And this is Miya, Joe's girlfriend," he says, gesturing to the Asian girl, who grins and waves at me.

"Wait, is she British?" she asks.

"Um, yeah," I say.

"Wow. That's cool. So, you managed to get Mr Fedorable out of his shell, then?" Miya asks. I blush and so does Patrick.

"I guess," I say. Miya laughs,

"Well done!" Nobody really knows what to say to that, so we go quiet for a minute.

"This is nearly ready, by the way," says Andy, talking about whatever weird vegan food he's cooked up in that pot.

Pete pulls a face. "I don't see why we couldn't just have pizza."

"Because, Mr Pizza Addict, this is supposed to be special," Andy retorts.

"He's got a point," says Joe. Everyone glares at him like: but we didn't ask you. He holds up his hands. "Just saying!"

"When's Sandra going to get here, anyway?" asks Patrick.

"Who's Sandra?" says Miya, frowning.

"Andy's girlfriend," says Joe.

"Aww, cute!"

"She should be here any minute. That said, she's nearly always late, so it might be a while." Just then, the doorbell rings. Joe laughs.

"I think we need to stop making predictions about when people are coming, because they're nearly always wrong." Andy rolls his eyes and answers the door. In the doorway stands a girl who looks a similar age to Andy, with blonde hair in bunches and glasses. She's quite pretty, actually, and she's wearing jeans and an Avengers T-shirt with red Vans. Really, she doesn't look like Andy's type at all, although judging from the T-shirt, she may be a total nerd like him, so they probably connect over that.

Andy is beaming as he lets her in. She looks around and smiles at everyone. Patrick is sort of hiding behind me, so I sidestep slightly so it doesn't look completely weird and take his hand. He squeezes gratefully.

"This is Sandra, everyone," Andy proclaims, his arm around the girl's waist. She smiles at everyone.

"Hi!" she says, giving us all a mini wave. Then the introductions of who is who begin, and Patrick and I find ourselves in the kitchen together.

"You ok, babe?" I ask him. He nods.

"Yeah. She seems pretty nice," he says.

"That's good. So you think you'll be ok?"

"Don't worry about me, princess. I'm fine."

I smile at him. "Patrick, I'm always worried, you know that."

"Um... Hi?" We both look around and see Sandra in the doorway to the kitchen.

"Hi," I say, smiling at her. "I'm Lydia, and this is my boyfriend, Patrick." He nods shyly at her.

"You're the lead singer, right?" she asks, addressing Patrick.

"Um... Yeah, I guess I am." He gives her a weak smile. Sandra looks kind of confused.

"Are you.... Oh! You're the guy who had anxiety, right?"

He nods. "Yeah, that's, um, me."

She nods and goes red. "Sorry if I offended..."

"No, it's ok! You didn't know. It's fine, seriously."

She nods. "Ok." And then she leaves the room.

Patrick looks at me. "You know what?"

"What?"

"I really do love you."