Author's Note: Thanks again for the reviews. I hope you like this chapter.

Chapter 4

Clare knew she shouldn't be bothering Peter. They hadn't talked to each other in a long time. Plus, he was busy at work. But she had no one else to turn to. Her parents were too busy handling their own problems. Her sister was too far away. Alli, her best friend, was away at a boarding school.

It would be awkward if she asked any of her other friends. They weren't as close as they use to be. She took a deep breath and slowly let it out. The two people she was closest to, Eli and Adam, wouldn't understand. Plus, they would end up giving her biased advice.

"Forgiveness," Peter repeated softly to himself. She nodded her head and hoped he would be willing to help. He looked at her questionably, "Are you sure that I'm the person you want advice from?"

She nodded her head and gave him a reassuring smile. He looked down at the counter and sighed. "Peter, I am sorry if I am bothering you. It's just that I don't have anyone else to ask," she admitted to him. He looked back up at her and gave her a small smile.

"You also experienced what I need advice on," she told him. She avoided his eyes and stared at the wall behind him. She was embarrassed to admit to him that she knew what he did in the past. Darcy didn't tell her everything, but she knew enough to know that what he did was wrong. However, it also wasn't any of her business. She started to feel a little guilty about wanting to know his opinion.

"I'm sorry Peter. It's not my place to pry into your life."

"Clare, it's okay. I would love to help you."

She looked away from the wall and made eye contact with him. "What is this really about," he asked her. She took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "It's just that I am having some thoughts that I shouldn't be," she told him. Relief quickly spread across his face. "You had me worried there for a minute, Clare," he told her. He shook his head and gave her a big smile. "You're a teenager. It is perfectly normal to have those thoughts," he told her.

Clare eyes widened and her cheeks started to turn crimson. She looked down at the counter. She was horrified at where the conversation was heading. He had no idea how embarrassing this was getting. She shook her head and sighed.

"No. I am not talking about that."

"Oh. Then what are you talking about?"

She took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "I was just wondering if it was hard for people to accept you after what you did," she asked him.

He chuckled to himself, "Which time are you referring to?"

She opened her mouth to say something, but quickly shut it. She didn't know what to say. She wasn't sure how many past indiscretions he had. "I wasn't the greatest person Clare. I made mistakes," he told her. He looked away from her and shook his head. "Peter, people make mistakes," she told him. He gave her a small smile.

"You sound like Darcy."

She returned his smile. "You know if it wasn't for her, I am not sure if people would have forgiven me. Or moved on," he told her.

"You know Peter. I think that is exactly what I needed to hear."