Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize in this one-shot. All song titles, plot points, and characters belong to their respective creators and owners, I am merely borrowing them. Note: in this one-shot, there is the cameo of an OC I made for another fic that never got written. I thought her antagonistic ways would suit the scene, so, no stealing of Sherry, the Mary-Sue step-sister of Gary. Just be glad you probably won't be seeing her again.
Author's Notes: I'm really unsure about this one. They seem so out of character to me… at least the song's pretty. Sorry about the wait.
The next one up: I actually have it written, so now you can expect some Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. I'll probably post it directly after posting this one.
Chapter Summary: GaryXPetey if you squint and turn your head; You can't fix what' been broken, not completely, but Gary at least seems willing to try.
Bulletproof Weeks – Matt Nathanson
Somewhere in between the beginning and the end, September took the tourists and settled in for good…
~June 2005~
"C'mon Petey!" Gary was a ball of energy, probably the result of about eight Sprites and outrunning the cops again for causing his usual trouble, and was running up the stairs to Pete's room. He was grinning ear to ear, dressed in well worn jeans, sneakers and the usual t-shirt, and there was no scar across his eye. The fight with his dad hadn't happened yet, the broken beer bottle scar still a week away.
The streetlights were starting to cut on, and the summer tourists were settling into their hotel rooms. There was the faint sound of trains in the distance, and when Petey reached his room Gary had thrown open the window to let in all the hot evening air and was leaning on his elbows to look out the window. A weak breeze mussed his hair, and he hadn't taken his sneakers off before flopping on Petey's bed.
"Gary, c'mon take your shoes off!"
Gary grinned mischievously "We're only going back outside later tonight, what's the point?"
"Why later?"
Gary rolled his eyes like it was the most obvious thing in the world "Cuz we're playing Left 4 Dead now dummy. Geez…"
They didn't end up leaving later. They spent the rest of the night playing Left 4 Dead, Gary forcing Petey to play as Zoey and then taking Francis. Of course, Gary spent more time 'accidentally' hitting him with Molotovs, and 'unintentionally' shooting him. It struck Petey as odd though, that every time he got downed by a Hunter, Gary/Francis was the one who saved him, or every time he heard a Tank (Gary had this freakish talent of hearing them before the attack) Zoey would end up tucked behind Francis.
He didn't have time to consider it though, given the Witch trailing after his fleeing character and Francis close on her heels, firing rapidly at the screeching zombie.
~September 2006~
The window to their dorm room was open, warm air blowing throw and airing out the musty room. Suitcases were laid open on Pete's bed, clothes spilling out, forgotten. The clouds were dark, heavy with rain starting to sprinkle down on the students. Petey cold see couples scattering as the rain started, sharing umbrellas or being covered with boyfriend's jackets. Gary was glowering out the window as the lights started to turn on, solar powered now in favor of going green and saving money. The scar over his eye was white and shiny, healed over.
"God I hate this place, and Mom almost caved this year when I begged for the transfer…"
Petey was suddenly struck with panic; his best friend was threatening to leave, to go away and not come back, forget everything they'd had over the past summers and school years. Sure Gary could be an ass, but… he was all Petey had. "…"
Gary continued, feeling unusually talkative "But, lucky me, David" the scar wasn't old enough that Gary would forget, and he probably would never forgive "said it would cost less… yippee…" He sank down deeper into his bed, still glowering out the window. "I'm telling you little Petey, this place should be burned to the ground. I might even dance in the ashes."
Petey shorted at the mental image of Gary doing the Macarena in a large pile of ashes, and tried to cover it as a sneeze, but Gary caught it anyways "What's so funny?" he demanded.
"Nothing," Petey smirked, and then changed the subject quickly "My Aunt sent me a new radio for my birthday."
Gary perked up a little. Loud enough music could piss off a few people, and misery does love company "Yeah?"
"Yeah, here," Petey reached into the bag hooked on the edge of his bedpost and pulled out a small new radio, battery powered and waiting for use. Gary immediately snatched it and turned it on, twisting the knob until he found a station he liked. Petey had lost any right to his radio, but that didn't bother him. They, generally, liked the same sort of music.
An overly familiar song came on, Viva La Vida or something like that. It had been played so much it was getting cheap, like a prostitute. Gary groaned "I am so tired of this song… it doesn't even mean anything…"
Petey shook his head "You're smarter than that."
Gary pursed his lips in annoyance at the insinuation he wasn't a complete genius. "Well then tell me little Petey," he said snidely "what's it mean?"
"French Revolution."
Gary furrowed his brow "World War II, see? I can do it too. American Revolution."
Petey rolled his eyes "Ha ha, the song's about the French Revolution."
"Oh really?" Gary sounded amused, and Petey almost looked around to see if a small child was in pain.
"Really." And, even though he wasn't prompted, he explained. They both knew that Gary knew the meaning of the song, that saying he didn't was just another way of saying that it was unimportant to him, but he let Petey talk. He went over every detail, and didn't stop to think about the almost minuscule smile Gary was shooting, just kept talking more and more excitedly, even delving into the 'let them eat cake' issue. Gary was convinced Maries Antoinette had said something like that, and Petey was convinced no one could be that cruel… Gary grinned when he won the debate that people were generally more bad than good, even if he conceded that she hadn't said it.
It was one of the last truly happy smiles Petey would ever see from him.
~March 2007~
Gary's house was in Old Bullworth Vale, nestled a few houses over from the truly, ridiculously wealthy-looking houses, but it was clear his family had money. Petey had managed to get past the gate and around the side, hoping Gary's window would be open. Gary was like a cat like that, if the window was open he'd be fixed next it, looking out and watching the world, licking his lips when an opportunity flew by…even if he was too comfortable to go chase it down.
Petey had been wrong though. The window was shut tight, and the blinds drawn. No sign of his best friend. Petey hadn't wanted to face the non-English speaking maid, or Gary's parents and step-sister, but if he was so determined to see Gary he'd have to. Hopefully Sherry (Petey found it pretty damn ironic that the step-siblings named rhymed, Jimmy just found it hilarious) and the others wouldn't be home, but there was no such luck.
"He's locked the door," Petey glanced down to find Sherry squinting at him from an open living room window. She was a pretty girl, with dark red hair and full lips, but calculating eyes. If Gary was a cat, she was a snake, all cool scales and unflappable grace.
"I'll come back later."
"You leave and he'll never open it." She moved to sit on the window sill and examined a burgundy colored nail. "He's back on his meds, but he's…broken. Shattered into a million pieces." Petey was disgusted to note she sounded somewhat please. She and her mother, Gary's step-mom, fit all too well into the Smith clan.
"Try not to sound too broken up about it."
She continued her voice low and sultry. Must have been the same voice that conned Eve into chomping on that apple "What's wrong, little Petey? Your boyfr-"
"You don't call him that." Petey and Sherry turned to find Gary outside, coming around the back of the house, looking almost as feral as the day of the riot. "Ever."
She gave a light chuckle and winked subtly at Petey "Whatever you say, bro." then pulled back and shut the window, sliding out of view.
"She's… charming."
Gary moved past him, and Petey caught side of a few new scars along Gary's jaw. Gary moved stiffly, head bowed as though a heavy wind were trying to knock him over. He looked damn tired.
"Let's go to your place." He threw a glance back at Petey, "Yeah?"
A few years ago he never would have asked, just taken off running, dragging Petey behind him. It was his way of apologizing, his way of trying to fix everything he broke, at least between them. The fact that Petey had come at all just showed how much faith he had in Gary's ability to heal and move past everything, of course, whatever it was Gary had broken between them, it wouldn't be the same. It was like breaking a statue, or a mug. Sure, you can glue it back together, but there's still a crack, the chip of a missing piece. It's never completely the same, never really fixed.
Petey nodded "Sure Gary. We can play left for dead two if you want?"
Gary smiled, and Petey felt that same flail of panic he'd felt not long ago when Gary had threatened to transfer schools. It was the smile of a broken man trying to glue things back together, and he was missing a few pieces.
"Alright, but only if you're Rochelle, and I can be Nick…"
What happened to thinking the world was flat? Yeah, what happened…what happened to that?
