From previous chapter...

That was how long Peter stayed parked in his car staring back at the front door as if he was debating about coming back or not. Regardless, after those two hours of just sitting there, he drove off.

As the days turned into weeks, I realized that my heartache only got worst. I had eaten all the ice cream that Peter brought and when I went to the store to buy more, I couldn't even do that. The second I turned down the ice cream aisle I heard Peter's voice telling me that I would always be his favorite.

By now all my bed sheets had been washed. Peter's scent was all but destroyed by those Downy Unstoppables scent boosters. No matter how many times I twisted around in the sheets I couldn't smell him. It was like every trace of Peter was gone. That only brought on more tears which could not be soothed by pigging out on ice cream.

I had even spent an hour staring at the PlayStation games before the worker had asked if I was okay.

"Yes, I didn't need any help," I waved him off for the fifth time.

"No ma'am I wasn't asking about the game. I was asking about you." I turned to him to see concern etched on his face. "You've been standing here crying."

"Oh," I touched my face that was damp with tears. "I'm sorry," I mumbled before hurrying out of the store.

Sundays were the hardest for me because those days were truly fun with Peter. As the day started, I would end up vegging out on the couch without brushing my teeth, combing my hair or even putting on a change of clothes.

My mother had been insisting on getting us all together again for dinner but every time I'd cancel and say I couldn't make it. The nights I did agree to go, Peter would call his Dad and say that he couldn't make it either.

"How is he," mother asked.

Clark gave her a small smile. "He's getting better I suppose," he kissed my mother's cheek and then turned back to the menu. "He really thought she was the one."

"How long has it been since she called things off?"

"One month, one week and four days," I answered causing both Clark and my mother to look at me. I didn't want to tell them how I knew so I just turned back to the menu also. Hearing that Peter was sad about it as well would make things extremely depressing for me.

"Oh Lauren," my mother took my arm after dinner was over and Clark was paying. "This situation with Peter," she shook her head, "perhaps you can go over and cheer him up?"

"I don't think he'd want to see me right now, mom."

"You should still try," she insisted. "Oh and don't forget 6 o'clock on the 27th."

"What's going on during the 27th?"

"Do you not check your voicemail," she questioned. "We're having Clark's birthday party that day."

I tried to get out of it knowing that Peter was definitely going to be there. He could skip dinners here and there but I knew that he wasn't going to miss his father's birthday. As the day drew closer my mother continued to call and make sure that I was coming.

"I can't," I told her.

"Honey your stepfather will be so disappointed. This is our first family event together since the wedding and we want both our children there. Even Peter asked if you were coming," mother replied.

I let out a deep sigh. It wasn't like I couldn't avoid Peter for the rest of my life. Reluctantly I agreed.

The day of the birthday party I was tempted to dress up. Minutes before leaving, I shook my head and hurried back into my bedroom to slip on a sundress. I did my hair in wavy curls and even sported a pair of cute wedges. It had been two months and something told me that Peter definitely met someone new and that was probably why he was asking about me. I wanted to show up his new girlfriend. I had no idea why but I guess to prove a point. Oh God, I was way into him than I let on.

Susan accompanied me to the party. The second we arrived in the house my eyes found Peter's. He was talking to a group of guys, which I noticed consisted of his cousin that tried to flirt with me. We stared for what seemed like hours until Peter gave me a soft smile. Whoever else was in that group that he was talking to turned around to see what had Peter's attention and I quickly pulled Susan towards the kitchen.

"Mom," I shouted happily finding her in there.

"Lauren," she hugged me in response. "I'm so glad you could make it. Where's Bruce?"

"He couldn't come," I answered.

"That's a shame."

I quickly turned around to see Peter standing closely behind me. I took a step back and tried to get Susan to help me but she made a move towards my mother instead.

"Katherine is there anything you need help with," Susan asked.

"Yes, thank you," she smiled and motioned to a couple trays. "Lauren, Peter is on his own tonight too. Be a good sister and cheer him up why don't you," she nudged me before leaving the room.

Silence fell in the kitchen as we just stood there until Peter closed the distance between us. Our bodies were so close that mine started to shake a little.

"How have you been?"

"Not so great," I whispered back.

"Me neither," he added reaching for my hand. I tore myself away feeling the tears coming on. I didn't want to cry in front of him so I turned around to face the other way. "I missed you," Peter said his breath falling down onto my neck. "Lauren, I..."

Someone was coming back and quickly Peter pulled away from me.

"Lauren honey," my mother reappeared, "Show Peter around the place. He's never been here before."

I let out a shaky breath once she was gone again and quickly walked out of the kitchen.

"Well that was our kitchen," I began as Peter followed me. "You saw the living room," I pointed where I saw him. "This is the den," I continued. I had shown him almost every single place downstairs, even the garage. When we had begun heading upstairs was when my hands started to shake. "This is the guest bedroom," I opened the door after my mother and Clark's room.

"Which is probably where I'll be staying during holidays," Peter added as I turned to him. "It's a tradition with me and my dad that we do something for the holidays," he explained. "Depending on the mood, we usually try our hand at fishing, hiking or something like that," he shrugged.

"We used to do that when my Dad was alive," I answered with a small smile. "Go camping," I let out a nervous laugh wondering what prompted me to talk about him to Peter. "We never went again after he passed."

Peter wrapped an arm around my shoulder. I leaned my head against him as he kissed my forehead.

"My mother would always bake around the holidays," he chuckled. "Cookies, cake, pie," he nuzzled into my hair. "You name it, she made it. We haven't had homemade cookies since she passed."

"I'll make you a batch next time," I smiled up at him.

"And I'll take you with me camping next time," he smiled before we kissed softly.

We talked more about my Dad and his Mom and things that we both used to do as children. I had no idea how much time had passed but the both of us stayed there in the guest bedroom going on and on about things from our childhood. I remembered why it was so easy to talk to Peter.

"Wait, your mother kept all your homework from high school?"

"Not all my homework," I shook my head with a smile. "It is just the ones that I got excellent grades on, which just happened to be almost every assignment."

"Oh my God, you were a nerd in high school," Peter teased.

"I was not a nerd! I was just smart and followed the rules and," I pushed him as he made a face, "oh shut up!"

Both of us started laughing. Once it had died down I took his hand and decided to show him my room. The flowery bedspread was still there with all my dozens of throw pillows. The white canopy hung over the bed and throughout the room decorated with little butterflies here and there and everywhere.

"Wow I am getting some deep insight into Miss Lauren Campbell here," Peter stated as we walked in. "Backstreet boys," he questioned closing my door and looking at the poster in the back of it. "And look at that, you got them all to sign it too! I always took you for an NSYNC type of girl."

"I liked them too but they never performed a concert in Dauntless so," I motioned to my closet. "Their poster hangs up in there with no signatures on it."

"Don't worry JT," he opened the closet door, "I know how it feels to be stuffed into Lauren's closet," he smiled as did I.

We sat on my bed as I went through pictures from high school and telling him everything that I had done. Every now and then we would stop my story and he would tell his about high school. Both of us were laughing and teasing each other. It felt like we had never been apart.

"You wrote a speech about your mom," he questioned holding up some old index cards.

"That is actually my valedictorian speech. I thanked her for always being there for me. She had just gotten remarried for the first time and," I paused to look away, "he had just left her as well when she refused to move out of this house. Despite all of that, she remained brave and strong for me."

"I'm sorry Lauren. My father's last girlfriend left him not too long after she moved in with us. She," he shook his head. "She didn't like the idea that my Dad still went to my mom's grave on the day that she passed."

"Your father is loyal," I nodded. "I can see why my mom loves him."

"I can see why my dad loves your mom," he looked over at me.

"I don't want anything to split them up, Peter," I replied.

Peter turned in the bed and held out a hand for me. "Come here," he whispered pulling me into his lap. "I've been miserable without you Lauren. I know that you think our relationship might come between that of our parents but," he leaned his forehead against mine, "I have this gut feeling that this time around, it's not the case. There's something here, something strong. Our parents will survive. We'll survive. Let's just give it a shot, please?"

I pulled back as Peter lifted his hand to brush his fingertips against my cheek.

"Let's tell them then," I nodded. "Whatever happens happens," I added.

"Thank God," Peter smirked before pulling me flush against him and crashing our lips together.

My heart was beating fast as his one hand tangled in my hair and the other gripped onto my thigh just under my dress. I let out a moan when his lips moved to my neck and he started to suck and bite lightly.

"We'll tell them after the party," Peter mumbled as he started to unbutton my dress.

I grabbed the hem of his shirt and tugged it off. "Let me explain it to them," I insisted.

"Of course," he flipped us over causing me to squeal. "Whatever you say, sis," he smirked as he pushed back my dress and started kissing up my thigh

"I missed you so much Peter," I pulled him up to me as we started kissing again.

Somewhere in between kisses he continued to tell me how much he missed me. We had totally forgotten about the party but were too wrapped in the moment to realize that there was something going on downstairs. My feet were trying to push down his jeans from his hips while his mouth was attached to my chest when we heard a noise.

"Lauren, Peter," my mother's voice called out.

The only problem was that she didn't sound like she was down the hallway. Both Peter and I looked up to see my bedroom door open.

"Are you two in here? We're getting ready to cut the ca..."

It all happened so quickly and neither Peter nor I had time to react. Peter was still on top of me when my mother's jaw opened wide and the glass of wine in her hand dropped.

"Katherine, did you find them," called Clark.

That was when Peter stood up and pulled me to stand as well. I hurried to button my dress back up and Peter got his shirt on just as Clark walked in.

"Oh here you all are," he smiled then turned to my mother to see the shock on her face. "Katherine, what's wrong?"

"Our kids," she screamed and turned to him.