Title: Let's Get Away From it All
Genre(s): humor, romance, friendship
Rating: K+
Pairing: Peddie
A/N: Hi everyone! I know that I need to do a lot of updating with some of my stories *cough* Young but Never Beautiful *cough* Behind Closed Doors *cough* However I couldn't wait to upload this one! I've been working on this for a long time - it was originally indented to be a oneshot (like most everything else I write lololol). As I continued to develop this, I hit a wall: either I had an idea that I really liked that somehow didn't seem to really fit with the original plot or I hated where it was ultimately going.
SO I came up with the idea of making the general idea/plot into a series of oneshots! :) This first chapter is the introduction: how Eddie and Patricia came to end up together after finishing school. Every chapter after this will revolve around that central idea, however it will be able to stand alone as a separate oneshot (unless otherwise stated). I will let everyone know the chapter name, genre, rating and whether or not it stands independently or follows a previous chapter at the beginning of every new chapter (just like how it is portrayed above). The future oneshots will be either rated K, K+, or T. I will not go any higher than T.
I am super excited to see where this goes! I've wanted to create a oneshot series for a long time now, especially for my OTP :)
Feel free to send in prompts as well! I'm open to new ideas. I'll try to respond to as many as I can as quickly as I can. Please do not be offended if I choose not to write a suggested prompt - it will most likely be due to if I find it inappropriate or if I'm just not feeling it :)
Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own House of Anubis or the second quote by Amy Teegarden. The first quote underneath the title is mine. The quotes are just food for thought :) The title is a song by Frank Sinatra and the mentions of Harry Potter belong to J.K. Rowling.
Let's Get Away From it All
Just because growing up is inevitable doesn't mean they can't find loopholes.
"No matter where you are or where you grow up, you always go through the same awkward moments of being a teenager and growing up and trying to figure out who you are."
-Amy Teegarden
Cabs littered the front lawn of Anubis House. Victor would have a fit once he saw just how badly they ruined the grass and petunia plants. He may even have a stroke from all the commotion occurring before it.
(Oh, wait a minute: Victor Rodenmaar no longer looks after this century old home…)
Friends who've known each other since the wee age of eleven grip far too tightly on to one another. They reminisce on the past, tears stinging the corner of their eyes while simultaneously smiling about what lies ahead. Graduation day came and passed much too rapidly—this was the first time the residents of Anubis would say good-bye and not see each other again come this Autumn…
Fabian sat with Mara on the front stoop, waiting for her parents to come before they officially parted ways. His father was already here, but Fabian had managed to convince him to take a walk around campus until Mara was safely with her mother and father. Willow clung to Alfie's arm. Their eyes gleamed with joy since they were the only two who would see each other in three months from now, only they'd be college freshmen once again, not seniors. As they looked at the solemn faces of the friends, they couldn't avoid the pang of melancholy that resided in their hearts. Jerome lifted Joy's suitcase into her father's car for her. Joy wiped a tear away from her cheek, trying to be strong; Jerome caught one she had missed, wiping away the glistening streaks already staining her pretty face. KT hugged Trudy goodbye, whispering thank you, thank you, thank you for all she had done over and over and over. No matter how many times she would utter the phrase, it would never be enough.
'College would be fun' was what the teens kept reminding themselves. They were off to new places to experience new ways of life and to discover who they truly were. It would be the time of their lives, but right now, it wasn't where any of them wanted to be. They wanted one more night in Anubis (minus the mysteries) to simply sit in the living room and talk, watch old Disney movies, and laugh about things they promised themselves they'd never ever forget. To just be with company, to be with friends, to be with the people who knew all the deepest secrets, all the inside jokes and whom they all shared their best moments together with. That's all they wanted.
By three o'clock that afternoon, they had all left with their respective families and others to somehow enjoy their holiday before they were expected to attend universities and learn how to become adults.
Trudy waved them all goodbye.
Now that was simply not Eddie Miller and Patricia Williamson's style.
Whilst everyone had said their adieus and cried their eyes dry, they had roamed around campus together. They had said goodbyes to their friends yesterday night; neither were big fans of public display of emotions, whether it be from themselves or from others.
(That's what they told themselves. If they had gone today, they'd have turned to mush along with everyone else).
So here they were, sitting on the front steps of the Nefertiti Gardens: a place of retired beauty and of living mystique. Eddie held Patricia's hand against her will. She was never fond of hand-holding. Even as a little girl, she couldn't stand it when another person's skin turned sweaty and clammy against hers and hated the awful feeling of being held back by someone. Unless it was totally, completely, one hundred percent necessary and the reason was thoroughly explained, she wouldn't do it.
However Eddie loved the way her chipped nail polish looked against his sharp knuckles. Patricia rolled her eyes at the sappy way he was staring at their entwined fingers. It was comforting to him, having her hand locked with his.
They sat in comfortable silence, although their futures dangled over their heads, annoyingly tick, tick, ticking away a precious thing called time. They knew they'd have to go back to Anubis eventually. Patricia's parents promised to pick her up by four o'clock (well, they originally said two, but they were late with picking up Piper) and Eddie's father would come for him once everyone else had been safely placed with their guardians and parents (whenever that may be). Right now, they felt it was appropriate for them to not be anywhere near Anubis, the school or any faculty members. They weren't headed in the same direction their fellow peers were.
(They were the troublemakers of their class, after all).
After everything he had gone through during senior year of high school, dying and coming back to life at the top of the list, Mr. Sweet had agreed to Eddie taking a gap year before enrolling into a four-year university.
"I'm tired of wasting more of my life sitting behind a desk and listening to lectures I'll never use in the real world," he told his girlfriend, his free hand underneath his chin, deep in thought. He knew this was what he needed—what he wanted. He just hoped he wasn't disappointing his dad too much.
She gave their hands a squeeze.
(There were some circumstances where she didn't mind holding hands).
Patricia simply informed her parents that that was what she intended to do much to their furious objections. She needed a break from getting an education, she told them, but in all honesty, she just needed some down time from saving the world.
Three times.
"Just another reason for them to like Piper better than me." She commented, looking at the ground. It rolled off her tongue too easily that it hurt both her and Eddie's hearts.
He gave their hands a squeeze.
"Just another reason for me to like you better."
She peered at him through the corner of her blue eyes. Eddie had gone back to gazing at their hands, his free hand now tracing the spaces between their fingers.
Good thing her face was already red from the heat or Patricia would have run the risk of Eddie catching her blush.
Two weeks crept by and Mr. Sweet had just gotten done with telling his only son that if he wasn't going to attend some sort of school, then he needed to start looking for his own place if he was going to stay in Liverpool. Eddie hadn't wanted to go back to California for the summer. He was quite happy here with his dad; his mom understood that. Now though, it seemed like things were taking a new turn.
Eddie was lucky that his dad hadn't brought this topic up sooner. "Subtle" hints had been dropped ("the time is right for buying a house now that the economy is looking up, huh Edison?") but today was the first day they had openly discussed it. Honestly, Eddie hadn't thought too far ahead of what he was going to do with his year off. He currently had a job waiting tables at his and Patricia's favorite Chinese restaurant, so it wasn't like he was going to sit around all day long, playing video games and overeating until his stomach gave out. He had somewhat of a plan: to earn some cash and save up for his own car. His old one still resided in the states and he hated always having to bum a ride off of someone. From there on out, he didn't know what to aim for next.
Mr. Sweet was proud of his son for being employed, really he was, but earning money and spending it on whatever he wanted whenever he wanted? Mr. Sweet didn't think that was too responsible.
That was certainly not how it worked in the real world.
After that conversation came to a close, Eddie had gone to his bedroom. He flopped onto his bed and sighed. He didn't like lying there with his brain on overdrive, thinking about responsibilities and life. He had been texting his girlfriend for the past twenty minutes to help get his mind off things.
He said if I got an apartment, I'd learn how to balance a checkbook better, learn how to juggle expenses and truly appreciate the things that I buy for myself.
Who uses a checkbook anymore?
Eddie's lips curled upwards. He had been doing that a lot more since they had rekindled their relationship after Ammut was defeated.
That's what I said! :) :) :)
Too many smiley faces, Miller. What are you, seven?
What are you Yacker, fifty-nine?
Fifty-nine? You went with the first number that popped into your head, didn't you?
…Maybe.
Dork. Now, back to the conversation at bay. At least your dad is trying to help you, sort of. My parents are hardly speaking to me.
Still?
Yep. Ugh, I hate being in this house. It's just one big pot of awkward all the time. Every night at dinner, one of them will find a way to bring up how Piper's in New York, attending Julliard, and how I'm lying here on their couch, eating all my dad's favorite snacks and disappointing them.
But you're not doing that at all. You're always out looking for a job whenever I call or text you. I'm surprised you're even texting me back. Are you home now?
Yeah. A girl can only take so much rejection.
…sorry.
It's all right, I guess.
YACKER! COME LIVE WITH ME!
Patricia didn't respond. Eddie was now sitting straight up in bed, his phone almost touching the tip of his nose. He was so excited, so pumped about his idea that he desperately wanted Patricia to agree.
Yacker? Are you there?
No response.
Okay, if you're really not there then you can read this later. If you are there and are just being a jerk and/or are too flabbergasted about my earlier message, read my plan anyways: Eddie Miller's dad wants him out of the house. Patricia Williamson wants to get out of her parent's house. The amazing Eddie Miller and the excellent boyfriend that he is, suggests he and his girlfriend rent an apartment together, their own place. That way Miller's father is happy, Miss Williamson is happy, and Eddie Miller himself is happy that he gets to live with and see his lovely girlfriend every day. It's a happily ever after in the making if you think about it, Yacker.
Eddie's smile shot through the roof five minutes later.
…You had me at "own place."
:) :) :) :) :)
Eddie signed a one year lease on an apartment the following Wednesday. Mr. Sweet had found the apartment for Eddie. A one bedroom, one full bath, gently used apartment with a living room and combination kitchen and dining room. It was small, but reasonably sized for a teenager straight out of high school, he had thought.
However, Mr. Sweet wasn't informed that Patricia Williamson would be living there with his son. Eddie knew that his dad wouldn't be cool with that at all (especially with the one bedroom aspect) and he was pretty sure Patricia left out that vital piece of information when she told her parents she was moving out too (certainly because of the one bedroom aspect).
Whoops.
"What's done is done," Patricia grunted, dropping a large and very heavy box onto the living room floor. A gust of dust flew into the air as the box collided with the hardwood floor, sending her into a fit of coughing. "This is 'gently used?'" She uttered in between coughs. "It looks like civilization hasn't stepped foot in here for years."
She turned towards their new couch (a housewarming gift from Sweetie) that sat underneath the living room window. Eddie was sitting there, excitedly digging into a few boxes and organizing which utensils and pieces of furniture would go where. He looked up at her, a crooked smile growing on his face as she continued to cough.
"It just needs a little love," he shrugged happily and a tad defensively. He was happy to be here in his own apartment with his girlfriend. Sure it was dusty and in need of a good maid service, but nothing could bring him down whatsoever. "Plus, it was the cheapest in the area. Please put aside your love for complaining and be happy."
"I am," she told him honestly, dusting her hands off on her jeans. She surveyed the space. "This feels odd, though: moving out of the house I've grown up in for eighteen years and coming to live here. It's like I'm starting all over."
"Or we're starting for the first time," Eddie stated wisely. Patricia crossed her arms playfully and raised an eyebrow.
"Nicely put, Shakespeare. Now come help me lift the dining table through the door."
;;
They finished the majority of unpacking the few belongings they owned around seven o'clock that evening. Unopened boxes still littered the floor and some pieces of furniture weren't completely assembled. However, Eddie and Patricia were content with how far they'd come. They decided not to push it.
It was officially the first night in their new place.
To celebrate, they ordered three pizzas and had a Harry Potter movie marathon.
"You can be the Hermione Granger to my Ron Weasley," Eddie muffled through a mouth full of pepperoni and cheese. His attention was glued to the screen, so he didn't hear or see his girlfriend's light scoff and eye roll.
"Is this your way of telling me my hair is outrageously huge and I'm nothing but a know-it-all?" Patricia eyed him warily, but there was a glimmer of humor dancing in her eyes as she spoke. Eddie turned away from the TV to face her, a smug but nevertheless giddy smile resting on his face.
"Nope. It's my way of saying you're my best friend and I love how you never shut up."
Contrary to that very true statement, Patricia didn't speak.
Her lips were a little too busy to do so.
(Eddie didn't mind one bit).
A/N: After that long author's note in the beginning, you're all probably like "jeez, another one!?" lol :)
I do hope you all liked the beginning! :) This will focus on Patricia and Eddie's (mis)adventures together since the world is forcing them to grow up, even though they're not too sure just how to do that. Keep an eye out for more!
