"What?!" you shrieked, practically falling out of your seat on the bar stool as you scrambled to your feet, taking a stand directly in front of (Y/B/F).

She shrugged and downed a shot of tequila.

"You're kidding, right?" you nervously chuckled and when she only gave a bored arch of her brows in response, you groaned loudly. "Oh, please tell me you're kidding."

"No, (Y/N)," she sighed, rolling her eyes as she slammed the shot glass down and ordered another. She turned to you with a half apologetic smile. "As much as I'm sure it pains you, I am not kidding."

You threw your hands up, spluttering in disbelief as you tried to full grasp the situation. "B-but... No!" you argued, "You can't have broken up! You two were perfect together!"

"Maybe in your world," she scoffed amusedly. Two tequila. She scrunched her face as she felt the harsh liquid burn her throat. "In reality, our relationship was going to shit. It's a good thing we broke things off now, before it turned ugly."

"This is ugly," you countered, slumping back into your seat and dropping your head into your hands, "I can't believe this is happening."

"Oh, don't be so melodramatic," (Y/B/F) shoved your shoulder lightly and rolled her eyes, "It happened. We broke up. Get over it. I am," she held up another shot as proof and smiled crookedly before downing it. Three tequila.

"I can't just 'get over it'," you insisted, "I got you guys together; you were my masterpiece. And now, what? You're telling me I went through all of that for nothing? No way. I refuse." You shook your head and held your hands out defiantly before turning to drain the remaining liquid in your cocktail glass.

"It's not your place to refuse!" (Y/B/F) argued, "I know that we were your OTP or whatever, but this is between Frank and I, alright? Now please just be a good best friend, drop the subject and help me get him out of my system!" She went for her fourth shot, but you reached out to block her hand.

You used the length of your arm to swipe the shots away from her and towards you. "If you continue with these, the only thing I'll be helping you get out of your system is alcohol poisoning."

~

"Look, I'm not saying you have to go on a date with him. Just dinner," you explained as you followed (Y/B/F) into Patrick's house. She was shaking her head and rolling her eyes, becoming annoyed at the fact that two full weeks had passed since she told you about the break-up, yet you still wouldn't drop the subject.

"Going out for dinner together is a date!" she yelled at you in frustration before stomping off in the direction of the kitchen.

You scoffed before hurriedly following her. "Not if you don't want it to be!"

From the opposite side of the room, Joe and Patrick had been watching the entire exchange between you and (Y/B/F) with bemused smirks. When the two of you had moved into the kitchen, Patrick returned his focus to his guitar, although the same couldn't be said for Joe. He continued staring, a dreamy expression on his face as he gazed after you.

"So do you think you'll ever tell her how you feel or are you perfectly fine with constantly staring at her like some stalker freak?" Patrick questioned while fiddling with some chords. When his bandmate didn't reply, he looked up, chuckling when he noticed that Joe was still staring. "Dude!" he laughed.

"Hm? What?" Joe finally took notice of Patrick, who was still laughing his ass off. "What? What's so funny?"

The singer waved a dismissive hand. "Nothing, nothing. It's just..." he reached out to pinch Joe's cheek, "you're adorable, man."

Joe cast an offended look at the shorter man. "Uh, no. You're the adorable one; I'm the sexy one. Everyone knows that."

"Everyone except (Y/N)," Patrick muttered under his breath.

Joe's face fell. "Now why would you say that?"

Patrick laughed again as the guitarist struck him in the chest just as you and (Y/B/F) re-entered, drinks in hand. You handed a beer to Patrick and (Y/B/F) handed one to Joe.

"But if you two just-"

"(Y/N), no!" (Y/B/F) moaned, pulling at her hair as she collapsed onto the couch next to Joe.

You opened your mouth to argue, but she shot you a death glare so intense it made you shy away instantaneously.

"Alright, fine," you relented with a huff, folding your arms. "But I'm not giving up so easily."

~

"Okay, dude, today's the day," Joe announced, arms open wide as he walked through the door. Patrick looked up to acknowledge him and made an impressed face when he noticed the bouquet of red roses in his friend's hand. "I'm gonna do it."

"Do what?" Patrick feigned ignorance, cocking his head to the side.

Joe complained under his breath and clicked his tongue. "C'mon, man. Don't play dumb. I need you to work with me on this."

Patrick chuckled as he stood up and made his way over to his friend, gesturing to the roses. "What do you need me for? Looks like you got everything under control."

Joe whined like a baby while he stomped over to the nearby dining table and sunk down dejectedly. "Ya know... for like, words and shit?"

"Words?" Patrick raised one brow and tried to hide his amusement, "You want me to tell you what to say to her?"

Joe perked up. "Yes!" he beamed, pointing a finger at Patrick. "Exactly! I've got the roses, now how do I go about giving it to her?"

Patrick exhaled heavily and ran a hand through his thick hair. "Uh... alright. Maybe you should start like- Oh, hey, (Y/N)."

"Oh, hey, (Y/N)," Joe repeated.

"Hi, guys," you greeted. Joe jumped slightly, unaware of your presence. Patrick bit his lip to contain his laughter. "How goes it?"

"Eh. Same old, same old," Patrick smiled before gesturing at you. "What about you? Still trying to get (Y/B/F) and Frank back together?"

Your shoulders slumped as your eyes went wide and you shook your head. "Yes," you breathed, placing one hand on your hip, "but she won't budge." You threw your hands up and sighed before moving to get yourself a soda from the fridge.

Patrick took your absence as an opportunity to motion with his eyes that now was Joe's chance. When you returned, Joe stood up and cleared his throat, turning to you. You tossed him a slightly confused smile, and when he held out the roses, you gasped.

"I, uh, I got you something to-"

"Oh, Joe!" you cut him off as you grabbed the roses and gushed over them. Patrick tossed his friend an impressed look and thumbs up from over your shoulder. "These are perfect!"

"Really?" Joe smiled, a sliver of pride coursing through him.

"Yes!" you exclaimed, "(Y/B/F) loves roses! I can't wait to see her face when she gets home and sees that Frank sent them for her!"

Both Patrick and Joe's faces fell but you were too lost in thought to notice.

"Thank you for the help!" you prattled, reaching up to hug Joe before blowing Patrick a kiss and rushing off to (Y/B/F)'s place, leaving two dazed band members in your wake.

~

"This better work," Joe mumbled as he and Patrick approached you, anxiously fiddling with the collar of his shirt.

"It'll work, dude. For sure. She loves Italian food," Patrick encouraged, patting the taller guy on the back.

"I fucking hope so. Hey, (Y/N)," he smiled as they finally reached you; you pulled him in for a hug before doing the same to Patrick.

"I'm glad you guys are here, I need the back-up," you smiled before surveying the area; your smile faltered quickly once you spotted (Y/B/F). Pete was having a get-together, and (Y/B/F) was currently engaged in very flirtatious conversation with a very attractive dark-haired guy. And he wasn't Frank.

"Still no luck with the rekindling, huh?" Joe gave a sad smile before reaching into his pocket and retrieving a dinner reservation ticket.

"Nope."

"Maybe you should just give it up," Patrick shrugged, "I mean, (Y/B/F) seems like she's moving on already."

You laughed. "Ha! Never. I will never give it up." Joe's ticket caught your eye, and your face lit up. "See?" you cocked your head at the piece of paper in Joe's hand. "Joe gets it. Is that a dinner reservation ticket?"

"Yeah. I was thinking that-"

"Oh, I know exactly what you were thinking."

"You do?"

"Of course," you sighed happily as you took the ticket from his hands. A huge smile spread over your face when you read the name of the restaurant. "This is perfect! The place is Italian, just like Frank!"

"Oh, come on," both guys groaned, but you had already rushed off to find your friend.

~

"I'm all outta options, 'Trick," Joe complained to his friend, who was making them both a cup of coffee. "Everything I've tried has backfired on me."

"More like backfired on (Y/B/F), if we're being technical," Patrick mused as he set the cups down. He went to take a sip of his coffee but halted his movements when a realisation struck him, making him frown a little. "But mostly on Frank, though. Shit. Poor guy was so confused..."

All of Joe's attempts to win you over had turned out to be futile.

The lovely bouquet of roses he got you? You used it to try and convince (Y/B/F) that it was Frank, trying to win her back.

The dinner reservation? You used it to try and convince (Y/B/F) that it was Frank, trying to win her back.

The horse-drawn carriage ride through the park? You used it to try and convince (Y/B/F) that it was Frank, trying to win her back.

The Panic! At The Disco concert tickets? You used it to try and convince (Y/B/F) that it was Frank, trying to win her back.

Literally every gift Joe presented to you, you mistook as his way of helping you get (Y/B/F) and Frank back together. Unfortunately for everyone involved, none of it was any use. Your friend and her ex were still broken up, and Joe was still not your boyfriend.

"I honestly don't know what to do anymore," the guitarist sighed hopelessly, messing with his hair to try and distract himself.

"Well, I mean, you could always-"

"(Y/N), I'm getting real sick of this bullshit!"

Both guys' attention was ripped away from the other and was instead focused on the two females who had entered Patrick's house.

"(Y/B/F) all you need to do is-"

"Oh my fuck, (Y/N)!" (Y/B/F) snarled, angrily tossing her purse onto the kitchen table. "Frank and I are over, okay? Over! I get that you were invested in our relationship but my god, this has gone too far. So how about instead of trying to meddle in my love life, you focus on your own?!"

"I don't have a-"

"Are you kidding?" your friend's mouth fell open, a slight chuckle escaping her throat as she looked at you and extended an arm out in Joe's direction. "Joe has been trying to get with you for the past month! Are you seriously gonna tell me that you haven't noticed?"

"Wait, what?" You took a step back in shock. (Y/B/F) nodded insistently to show that she was serious. If she was, and Joe really had been trying to win you over, then you had been totally oblivious the entire time. "Joe?" you turned to him. "Is this true?"

Joe fumbled over his words; his first impulse was to deny everything, but after taking a nudge to the ribs from Patrick, he found his confidence.

"Okay, yes, it's true. All those gifts and things... they were meant for you. For you and me. I wasn't trying to help you get (Y/B/F) and Frank back together. Lord knows there's no hope left for that."

"Thank you!" (Y/B/F) chimed in relief.

"Joe, I," you started, stepping closer to him and shaking your head at yourself and your stupidity, "I'm so sorry I didn't... Are you still... I mean, would you still want to go out with me?"

"Is that a trick question?" Joe laughed as he stood too, taking your hands in his. "Panic! is playing a show downtown tomorrow night. You feel up to it? I can call ahead and see if Brendon can change the setlist to include more of your favourite songs."

Your smile stretched so wide it seemed to reach the corners of your eyes. "I would love that."

"A true OTP," (Y/B/F) whispered to Patrick as she sipped Joe's coffee.

The singer tilted his cup towards hers and they clinked the sides together. "I'll drink to that."

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Thank you for reading x