Author's Note: I saw this movie a few weeks ago, and I loved it. Normally, I detest tween rom-coms, but this one struck a chord with me. it also reminded me how much I hated high school and how much it sucked lol. Thank God I'm a PhD student now and don't have to deal with any of that high school drama anymore. Ugh.

Note: I have never read the books, and I do not intend to. While I liked the plot of the movie enough, I'm basically done with high school drama novels. Not to mention that my research and classes have destroyed any and all free time I used to have for reading...

And of course, my hatred for high school drama led to my complete and utter exasperation at Peter's stupidity during the bleachers scene, so I decided to write my own version of it and the ensuing aftermath.

I had originally set out to write an entertaining parody, but it ended up being something way more serious and fluffy. I'm not really a good romance writer, and this is really only my second romance piece (after Her Happy Ending), but I gave it my best shot. So enjoy some Covinsky fluff that was originally meant to be funny! :D

This picks up from the beginning of the bleachers scene and has a slight change in it, which is Peter actually having a brain and using it instead of letting his mouth say random shit. What follows afterwards is the aftermath of that and how it all plays out.

Please leave a review after reading! Much appreciated!

Disclaimer: To All The Boys I've Loved Before and all things related are property of Jenny Han, Simon & Schuster, and Netflix. I am not making any profit off of this work in any way, shape, or form.


Sunset on the Emerald


"I don't know Peter. It's like you don't have time for me anymore. Literally all you do is hang out with her."

Lara Jean glanced up before turning back to Chris. "We should get out of here," she whispered. "This sounds private."

Chris shook her head violently. "Are you kidding me?" She muttered. "Dude, that's your boyfriend and his ex! And they're talking about you!"

Lara Jean looked uncomfortable about violating their privacy but said nothing else.

"Well, yes, Gen," Peter said. "That's what happens when a guy gets a girlfriend. He spends a lot of time with her because he likes to hang out with her. That's usually why they got together in the first place. You should know that yourself, right?"

Chris covered her mouth to prevent her laughter at this, and Lara Jean couldn't help the small smile that graced her features at Peter's obvious disdain for this conversation. It was rare that her fake boyfriend ever got frustrated or angry, but it was always a sight when he did. She could just imagine the adorably irritated look on his face right now.

Gen seemed taken aback: "I thought that what we had was special, Peter! I still can't believe you left me for Lara Jean. What could she possibly have that I don't?"

"Don't you fucking dare start that shit, Gen!" Peter shot back. "You are the one that broke up with me to be with this college kid, and you know it! Your temerity of expecting me to just wait around while you're off with him and stop feeling anything for anyone else – are you kidding me?"

"Seriously, he's not a good listener," Gen complained. "I can never get him to pay attention."

Lara Jean and Chris exchanged looks of shock. It did not seem to make much sense that Gen would not have a boy wrapped around her finger; that was the one constant throughout high school: Peter's groveling for her.

"Yeah, you're only saying that because he isn't at your beck and call like I used to be." Peter dismissed her. "Gen, seriously, you can't keep doing this to me. I'm sick and tired of your games. I'm done playing. I'm not interested in getting back with you or listening to you complain or even talking to you anymore. Leave me alone. I'm with Lara Jean, and if you have any integrity left, you will respect that and leave us alone."

Lara Jean could feel her heart beat faster. What was he saying? This was all supposed to be fake. She couldn't comprehend what Peter meant. Wasn't this whole ploy to get him and Gen back together? Was that not why they kept this up all this time?

"But she's not going on the ski trip, is she?" Gen asked desperately. "That's our thing."

"Are you fucking serious right now?" Peter asked in dismay. "What the hell does it matter? And what's it to you if I go to the ski trip with my girlfriend or not? That is absolutely none of your business, and you've got a boyfriend anyway!"

"Well, by then," Gen started nervously. "Maybe I won't. And we can enjoy ourselves together."

Lara Jean's eyes widened at this, and she looked upwards just in time to see Gen move to touch Peter's shoulder before he pushed her back angrily and jumped to his feet.

"Are you fucking kidding me, Gen? After two and a half years of pretending that we had sex everywhere and every time we're together and destroying my reputation by letting the whole school think I'm a fucking man-whore just to keep up pretenses, now you say that you want to sleep with me?! And that you're going to leave your boyfriend to put out for me to snag me back and wrap me around your finger? You're insane, Gen. I let the school think I was a slut for so long even though I've never even seen you naked. And you know what? I'm done. Leave me the fuck alone. Don't touch me. And if I do end up going on the ski trip, stay the fuck away from me, or I'm going to get a restraining order."

Lara Jean met Chris' eyes in shock. This was all news to everyone. Not that either particularly cared for gossip or the details of others' personal lives, but Gen's and Peter's supposed escapades had been school legend for years now.

"And for your information, Gen, yes, I am going to the ski trip with Lara Jean. You know why? Because she's my girlfriend, and I like her."

"But–"

"But nothing. I'll even let you in on a secret that no one knows."

Lara Jean's jaw dropped open and she frantically tried to motion Chris to get out of there, but Chris just gave her a puzzled look, not understanding what was going on.

"Up until now, Lara Jean and I had been fake dating."

Now it was Chris' turn to drop her jaw, and she gave Lara Jean a piercing look as the latter just covered her face in her hands and tried to hide away from the world.

"It's true; we did start fake dating to get you mad. But you know what? I've been hanging out with her all the time for the last three months. Know what I've realized? I'm in love with her Gen. I don't know when it started, but I knew that I wanted to actually be with her since like the third week."

Lara Jean's face shot up again to meet Chris' still astonished face, her own plunging a deep shade of scarlet.

"How could you possible like her?" Gen asked in shock.

"Because she gets me, Gen. She doesn't force me to pretend to be something I'm not. I don't have to walk on shards of glass when I spend time with her or talk to her. We bond over our familial difficulties. She gives me all the affection that you never did. She never interrupts me when I need to say something. She doesn't put herself in the middle of my troubles. When I'm upset or about to cry, she doesn't judge me or tell me to 'get over it'; she just hugs me and offers me a shoulder to cry on. She invited me into her family with open arms even though we weren't actually together. She showed me what a true relationship should be: One of mutual respect, understanding, and communication. We never had any of that, Gen, and to be honest, I don't think we ever will. You're still stuck in this mentality that unless your relationships are made for Instagram, it isn't real. But you know what? That's not true at all, and I'm tired of being your trophy. So as I said before, leave me the fuck alone, and leave Lara Jean alone, too. And if you don't, I'm going to Court to get a restraining order."

Lara Jean's mouth seemed to be perpetually open at this point, and tears were starting to well in her eyes. But she couldn't help the small upturn of her mouth at hearing all this. She couldn't believe that Peter actually returned her feelings. She had been worried about how she would have to call it off between them when it was all over, but now, she didn't have to. And he just told Gen to leave them alone for all time.

Chris was still shocked, but she reached out to Lara Jean and gave her shoulder a squeeze with a big smile on her face. "Go get your man, LJ," she muttered.

Lara Jean could only nod as the tears started to slowly drip down her face.

"You would never do that," Gen said smugly.

"Oh yeah?" Peter shot back. "Well you better lawyer up right now, then. Maybe in the future we can be friends, but right now, I can't stand to even look at you. You have a lot of maturing to do, and I'm not going to be your crutch to help you do that anymore. In fact, you know what? I'm going to tell Lara Jean how I feel, how much I love her, and how much I want to be with her. I don't know if she feels the same way, but I don't care. She's the best thing that has happened to me since middle school. Goodbye Gen."

And Peter stormed off the bleachers. Lunch was ending, and she glanced at her watch. It was almost time for History, a class in which she sat right next to him. A grin seemed to be plastered onto her face, and Chris was giving her the widest and most encouraging of smiles. "Go get your man, LJ," she whispered again. "I've never seen you so happy."

Giving another teary smile, Lara Jean nodded and cleaned up her trash to get to class on time.


Lara Jean waited next to her locker as she always did before History. Peter came down the hall, and she caught his eye with a smile. He seemed a little lighter with his grin a little more secure. Lara Jean wondered if she should tell him that she had overheard his conversation with Gen. Eventually, she had decided against it. She wanted Peter to take the initiative and act on his own. She wanted to feel like the princess being swept off her feet in one of her fantasies for once.

Peter came up to her and gave her a quick hug. "Ready to go?"

Lara Jean nodded with another smile in his direction.

His eyebrows scrunched a little in concern. "Is everything okay? You seem a little off."

Lara Jean just shook her head. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Peter looked unconvinced but dutifully slid his hand into her back pocket and they walked on to class together.


She was leaning against Peter's car after school, waiting for him to come and take her home. She thought back to what she had inadvertently learned today and grinned to herself again. She had fought the urge to bring it up with him all day, and she was looking forward to seeing when he would finally tell her.

"Hey!" He called. "Ready to go?"

Lara Jean nodded and got into the car.

The drive was peaceful. For the first time since they had begun this, Lara Jean took his hand that he always left palm up on the console. She shyly put her smaller hand in his, and he gave her a small smile before intertwining their fingers and giving a slight squeeze.


Three weeks had gone by, and Peter still had not said anything. Lara Jean was becoming concerned and wondered if she should have confronted him about it. Eventually, she had still decided against it. There was no need to do something when she fully expected Peter to do as he had said. When he had asked her to go on the ski trip with him, she had managed to wrap Chris into that endeavor, and they entered the bus together.

Immediately, Lara Jean found Peter as he threw up a peace salute.

"Kavinsky heart eyes," Chris whispered into her hair from behind. Feeling her cheeks start to slightly color, Lara Jean shouldered back to which Chris merely laughed.

She dropped into the seat next to Peter as Chris took the one across the aisle.

"Hey," she smiled at him.

He grinned back, "Ready for the most epic bus ride of your life?"

Lara Jean raised her eyebrow. "And what could possibly make a bus ride of all things actually exciting?"

Peter winked at her. "You've never taken one with me, Covey. Just you wait."

Lara Jean merely rolled her eyes before pulling out a book. "Whatever you say, PK."

"Come on, Covey," Peter complained, "Are you seriously going to read the entire time? You do that at home anyway!"

"What exactly do you expect me to do for the five-hour bus ride in a cramped seat next to you, then?"

Peter shouldered her. "Well, I might have accidentally downloaded John Hughes' entire filmography onto my phone and brought two backup battery packs along with plenty of Yakult and M&Ms and other goodies…"

He smirked at her as she turned to look at him in shock.

"You did all that? Why?"

He just shrugged in response. "I wanted to make this trip enjoyable for you. And the bus ride is one of the few times I will actually have you to myself instead of competing for your attention with Kitty or someone else."

Lara Jean felt herself flush again before shoving Peter again, causing him to just laugh.

"Peter Kavinsky, what am I going to do with you?"

He just gave her another cheeky grin. "Whatever you want, Covey! I'm just your plaything."

Lara Jean punched his arm as her face flushed even more.

"Ow!" He complained pathetically while his face fell into his familiar pout that he knew she couldn't resist.

"Oh, shut up, that didn't even hurt."

"You don't know how much you hurt me just by tapping me, Covey," Peter sighed dramatically.

Lara Jean just gave him a small glare. "Just shut up and give me your headphones. And pull up The Breakfast Club."

Peter grinned. "Yes, ma'am! Want any yogurt?"

Lara Jean nodded. "Don't mind if I do!"

They spent the five hours marathoning 80s rom-coms and engorging themselves with all the sugar and carbs that Peter had brought with him. Throughout it, Lara Jean noted that Peter had a very comfy shoulder to take a nap on. And if she had accidentally fallen asleep an hour into Ferris Bueller's Day Off with her head on his shoulder and his arm around her shoulders, well, at least no one was taking pictures. She missed the many smiles that Peter gave her as she slept, and she missed that Peter's head had also somehow found itself onto hers as he, too, dozed off.


It was the last full day of the ski trip. Lara Jean was curled up with Persuasion by Jane Austen in front of the fireplace.

"Boo!"

She jumped and snapped around to see Peter grinning at her just a foot away from her face.

"Peter don't do that! You scared me!"

"That was the point, Covey. Your face was amazing. Damn I wish I had taken a picture."

Lara Jean just smacked him with the book. "Aren't you supposed to be on the slopes? It's the last evening on the trip, and the sun's going down right now. Thought you wanted another shot down the Black Diamond?"

Peter just shook his head before taking a seat next to her. "Nah, I'm pooped out. Kind of just wanted to hang out with you for a bit. Thanks for coming on the slopes with me yesterday, though. I had a lot of fun."

"Well you're a pretty good teacher!" She replied. "I felt kind of bad that you were stuck on the greens with me instead of actually going out there and enjoying yourself like you had planned."

Peter shook his head. "Nah, it's fine. I liked spending time with you. Perhaps at next year's trip, you can take the next course up!"

Lara Jean laughed. "I think you're getting a little too ambitious there, Peter. Let me learn how to put on the boots correctly without you doing it for me first."

Peter laughed along with her at the memory of her failing repeatedly to get into her ski boots.

They fell into a comfortable silence for a bit, Peter just humming a song as Lara Jean leaned back into his side and just closed her eyes for a bit.

"Hey, I want to show you something," Peter whispered into her ear.

Lara Jean looked up at him in surprise. "What is it?"

"It's a surprise," he said with a small smile. "Up for it?"

Lara Jean slowly nodded. "Do we have to go far?"

"Nope, it's just a little walk outside the cabin. You good like this, or do you want to go change?"

Lara Jean shook her head. "Nah, I'm good. Let's go."

Lara Jean put her book down on the coffee table and took the hand Peter had proffered her. Once she took it, he intertwined their fingers and gave it a little squeeze before gently pulling her towards the door.

Outside, Lara Jean felt her face flush from the cold air. Peter pulled her into his side and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Don't worry," he told her, "it's a quick walk."

The walked a little farther down the path before coming to a small trail that was almost hidden by the thicket.

Peter led her through it and into the forest. Lara Jean shivered slightly at the colder environment under the canopy. After a little bit of walking, they came into a clearing on the top of the hill.

There was a small pond, completely frozen over, and the clearing was surrounded by lampposts that cast a soft glow over the area as the sun set. In in the middle, there was a large oak tree with a treehouse on top of it.

"Come on," Peter whispered.

He gave her a boost to get to the treehouse before climbing up himself. Once up, he grabbed the blanket that she had missed on entering. He lay it near the edge and sat down, inviting her to join him. Wordlessly, she sat beside him, and looked outside the treehouse just as he was.

They had come just at the perfect time to see the sun begin its descent underneath the snowcapped mountains. Lara Jean gasped as she took in the sight in front of her. The receding rays perfectly illuminated the remaining clouds in the sky and accentuated their shapes. The light fell over the pine trees in front of her in such a way that she could almost see the shadow of every snow-covered needle. The paths winding their ways through the forest seemed to light up under the orange hues. The snowcapped mountains reflected the soft orange and light red rays back at her so that the ground almost looked like frosting on a freshly made cake. She could feel the rays hit her face and warm her just slightly such that she felt refreshed and awake, bright as possible. She felt the last energy of the day as the sun continued its journey towards the horizon.

"I love this place," Peter said next to her quietly.

She turned to him in awe. "It's so beautiful, Peter! This is amazing!"

He gave her a tender smile. "Yeah, I found this nook when I came for the first time in freshman year. Whenever I was feeling tired or irritated or exhausted on the trip, I would come up here and just relax for a bit. It was usually my favorite part of the trip. The sunset just looks so beautiful from up here."

"It really is. Thank you so much for showing me this."

He gave her another fond smile. "I've never brought anyone else up here," he said softly while staring into her eyes.

"Really?" She asked in shock.

He shook his head. "This was one of the last places where I could come in solitude and just relax. But I wanted to bring you here and show you. And I wanted to show you just how beautiful this place can be."

"Thank you," she whispered back.

He gently took her hand in both of his and looked deep into her eyes again. "Lara Jean, I have to tell you something."

Lara Jean could feel her heartbeat quicken at this pronouncement. Slowly she nodded, not trusting her voice and praying that he couldn't feel her sweaty palms through their gloves.

From his pocket, he pulled out a small rectangular box made of green velvet and put it into her hands gently. She grasped it tightly in awe as she felt her heartbeat race even faster.

He smiled at her. "Go ahead and open it."

Gently, she did. Once she saw what was inside, she was at a complete loss for words and felt tears start to well in her eyes. It was a silver necklace with a heart-shaped emerald locket on it. Surrounded by a small mesh of gold, the stone seemed to glow in the sun's setting rays. She could feel her eyes get mistier and looked up at Peter with a huge smile.

"Peter, I – I don't know what to say. What?"

He smiled at her before taking her hand again. Gently, he reached up with his other hand and wiped the tears away from her eyes. "Do you like it?" He whispered.

She nodded, still in awe and unable to respond.

"I knew your birthday was in May, so I wanted to get you something with your birthstone in it. I'm glad you like it."

"I love it, Peter, thank you so much! But what is this for – what?"

He let his hands fall into hers again and cleared his throat nervously. "Lara Jean, I don't want to be your fake boyfriend anymore."

Her jaw dropped in shock and terror.

"Don't get me wrong, I love hanging out with you and spending time with you. These past few months have been so amazing. I know that we've only been faking it, but I need you to know that at least for me, this hasn't been fake since like week three. I've been wanting this – us – to be real since then. And as we spent more time together and got to know each other more, I just wanted you to be mine even more. And I don't know when it happened, maybe it was that night you had dinner at my place, but I realized that I'm in love with you Lara Jean. I – I know you probably don't feel the same way, but I just needed you to know that."

He finished and dropped his eyes towards his lap with hands falling to his side.

"Peter," she whispered, "look at me. Please."

He hesitated but obliged. "Do you – uh – do you think you could ever feel the same way about me?"

She grinned merrily before laughing. "Peter, you have no idea how long I've been wanting you to say this. I like you, Peter Kavinsky. I like you a lot. And I'm tired of being your fake girlfriend, too."

Peter's face broke out into a huge smile. "Lara Jean, I love you so much. You're the only one I want to be with, and if you would do me the honor, I would love for you to be my girlfriend."

Lara Jean laughed before throwing her arms around his neck and burying her face in his chest. He wrapped his arms around her before lightly kissing her forehead. "I would love to, Peter."

She looked up at him and saw him smiling contently while staring deep into her soul. His eyes darted down to her lips a couple of times, and she internally laughed.

"You know the contract is no longer applicable, right?" She said playfully.

He looked at her cautiously. "And what exactly do you mean by that?"

She just laughed more before putting her hands on his cheeks and pulling his face down to hers and letting her lips melt into his. She could feel his shock against hers before he started kissing her back hungrily. She let herself fall into his halo and embrace and just enjoy herself, her brain feeling like it was melting. This was the first kiss that wasn't staged for a greater purpose. This was just for the two of them, and she couldn't help but think how much better this was than their previous kisses.

She pulled back to see him staring at her with all the love in the world, just for her. He gave her a grin.

She chuckled. "That's what it means," she whispered. "You don't need to worry about kissing me anymore."

Peter's grin widened. "You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that for."

Lara Jean smiled, "Actually I think I do."

Peter gave her an incredulous look, and it was now her turn to be nervous and avoid his gaze.

"Uh, I kind of overheard your conversation with Gen on the bleachers a few weeks ago."

She couldn't look at him, so she missed the look of shock that crossed him briefly. But his facial features immediately softened, and he reached under her chin to gently pull her up to meet his gaze.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I kind of wanted to see how you would tell me," she muttered.

Peter gave a hearty laugh at that. "Ah, my little romantic! Always wanting to be swept off your feet, I see."

She smiled back at him. "In my defense, I –"

"Don't worry, Lara Jean," he smirked. "Did I rom-com your pants off or what?"

Lara Jean laughed even harder. "This was way better than any John Hughes film, Kavinsky. I think I've taught you well!"

Peter grinned. "I can't tell you how happy I am. I didn't think there was any universe in which you would feel the same way about me."

Lara Jean smiled and shook her head. "Well you're dead wrong because whichever universe where I don't like you is the one where I'm most miserable."

She pulled him down for another kiss, and this time, he responded enthusiastically and with no abandon. She couldn't help but wonder why she had denied herself this pleasure and enjoyment from him for so long.

He pulled back and gave her lips another quick peck before looking into her eyes again.

The sun had almost fallen over the horizon, and just the last hues of red coated the mountainside.

"Do you like the necklace?"

She nodded enthusiastically. "I love it, Peter! Where did you get it?"

He laughed and ran his hand through his hair. "I might have asked Kitty what your favorite jewelry store is and had her come with me to pick one out for you."

"I swear, introducing you two to each other was the greatest mistake of my life," she mocked.

Peter laughed. "You know you love us."

She gave him an affectionate smile. "Yes – yes I do. I love you guys dearly. And Peter?"

He looked at her again.

"I love you, too," she whispered.

And her heart swelled at the sheer joy and utter love she could now see splaying out on his visage. She could get used to this.

He pulled her in for another kiss, this one even more intense than before, creating an inexplicable hunger and need in her that caused her to pull him even closer in desperation.

"Lara Jean Song-Covey, will you be my girlfriend?" He whispered against her lips.

She pulled back and gave him a grin. "Yes, I will, Peter Kavinsky."

She picked up the necklace box again that had been thrown aside in their passion. "Want to help me put it on?"

Wordlessly, he took the necklace and reached around her neck. She steadied the locket with one of her hands as he reached around and fastened the clasp.

"How do I look?"

"Beautiful," he whispered, "Just as always."

She could feel her face heat up, and she knew that her cheeks were deep red by now, from both the coldness and the passion.

They turned back towards to watch as the sun finally dipped under the horizon and the last rays of light started fading. She put her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes, just relaxing and enjoying the moment. He slid his arm around her waist and puller her tighter into his side.

Eventually, they would have to go back to the cabin, but at least for now, that could wait.


She woke up to an unfamiliar feeling of a weight next to her on the bed. Panicked, she threw off the covers and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that she was fully clothed. She turned around and saw Peter's sleeping face. There was something so beautiful about the peace on his face right now, and she wanted to preserve it forever. Gently, she reached over to her phone and snapped a picture of his sleeping form.

Unfortunately, she had forgotten to turn the flash off, and he woke up from the bright light.

"Sorry," she said frantically, "I didn't mean to wake you up!"

Peter looked at her groggily for a minute before rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

He gave her a smile. "Good morning, Lara Jean."

She smiled back at him. "Good morning, Peter."

"Sleep well?"

"I did. Turns out that having someone to keep me warm all night feels pretty nice. What about you?"

Peter laughed. "I slept really well, too. Haven't had a good night's rest in a while. I feel so much better and more awake today though."

She grinned. "Ready for the five-hour journey back?"

He groaned.


They walked onto the bus holding hands with smiles of loving happiness on their faces. Predictably, the bus full of hormonal teenagers began whooping and cheering at their entrance. Lara Jean paid no heed to them, and Peter just rolled his eyes. They took their seats across from the row where Chris sat.

Chris stared at them in awe before grinning at Lara Jean. "Congrats, LJ," she said not-so-quietly. "I expect the full story from you ASAP!"

Lara Jean just laughed and put up the arm rest between her seat and Peter's. Ignoring the world around them, she leaned into him and rested her head on his shoulder. Peter gently ran his hands through her hair before resting it on her waist and pressing a kiss to her forehead.

"Want to watch a movie?" He asked.

She smiled at him. "Yeah."

"Any preference?"

"I think I've bored you enough with the teen rom-coms," she smirked. "Why don't you pick one this time."

He laughed. "Understood, Covey. How do you feel about binging Parks and Rec?"

"Yes," she immediately responded.

"That is the correct answer!"


The following day, she woke up to see a notification on her phone from Instagram. Puzzled, she opened it.

She saw that Chris had tagged her in something and opened it to find a picture of Peter and herself snuggled up together on the bus and sleeping peacefully.

Don't settle for anything less than the truest of loves. I promise you, it will be worth the wait. #RelationshipGoals #Adorable #TrueLove #Covinsky #PeterAndLaraJeanAreTooCute

There were over a thousand likes and hundreds of comments already from schoolmates swooning over their cuteness and open love.

She grinned before shooting a text to Chris. Can you send me that pic?

She had no idea what the future held, but somehow, for once, she wasn't afraid. She was ready for it now.


Author's Note: I had a great time writing this. I'm not a good romance writer, and I'm sure it shows; but I gave it my best shot! I hope it came out decently well!

Please leave a review with your thoughts! Much appreciated! :)

Thanks again for reading!