Chapter Eight
Parents Evening
Peter was slouched against a wall next to Mrs Fields who was happily chatting away to some kids parents. The boy was stood next his parents but Peter had no recollection of him even being in his class. It slowly dawned on him that after twenty eight years of seeing the same people over and over again Peter's memory still sucked. If they weren't important or at least mildly entertaining Peter ignored their existence. They were in the school hall surrounded by parents, teachers and children. Mrs Fields had explained that it was an informal evening, one designed for the parents to get to know the teachers and discuss their child in general, they wouldn't be discussing the child's progress in detail until the next parents evening later in the year. The whole thing was boring. The hall had plenty of seating, there were tables with refreshments, people mingling happily squashed together in a room that was slightly too small for so many people.
Peter undid the top button of his green shirt. He didn't do well in crowds and the whole experience was nauseating.
As Major, Regina was there for any questions parents might have about the education system at the school. She was also there because she was determined to make Peter's life as uncomfortable as possible.
'Mr Young.' He groaned inwardly as Regina stood in front of him smiling. 'I'd like to introduce you to Sally Sparrow's parents.' He shot her a quick glare before greeting the two adults behind her. Sally's parents were not what he had expected. The woman was ugly in Peter's opinion. She was caked in makeup, her eyelids a bright purple and her eyelashes were so heavily applied with mascara that they clumped together. Her nose was thin and pointy and her lips were a deep red that only made her horrific yellow teeth more noticeable. Her ginger hair was cut in a short bob. She was dressed in a red dress that clung to every part of her and not in a flattering way. Peter smiled politely and offered his hand which she took enthusiastically. Her eyes trailed over him making his skin crawl.
'Mr Young it so lovely to meet you.' She batted her eyelashes in an attempt to be seductive.
'Like wise.' Peter turned to Mr Sparrow. He was no better looking. A scrawny miserable older man put out his hand for Peter to shake. He was dressed in a black suit making his skin look unnaturally pale. His grey hair was beginning to recede. They were an odd pair and Peter didn't like them, something felt off.
'We've been discussing Sally's musical skills.' Regina said. 'And I was telling them how talented you are on the piano.'
'Yes, we were rather hoping you'd be willing to tutor our dear Sally.' Mrs Sparrow put her hand on his arm and slowly rubbed her thumb against the fabric of his shirt.
'Tutor her?' Peter asked confused. This was Regina's game? To get him alone with Sally? It didn't make any sense.
'Yes. We'd be willing to pay you of course.' Peter had to fight the urge to rip Mrs Sparrow's arm off for touching him.
'Mrs Sparrow.' He began.
'Call me Martha.' She smiled and batted her eyelashes again.
'Mrs Sparrow, I'm afraid I haven't time to spare to teach your daughter.' Peter refused to have any kind of familiarity with this woman. They would stay on a last name basis. Moving slightly he managed to shrug her hand from his arm unable to stand the physical contact for any longer.
'Come now Peter I promised them you would be able to help.' Regina's smile only widened at his discomfort. 'Sally will be tutored by you every day after school before your shift at the Rabbit Hole.'
He could tell there was no getting out of it. Regina had made the decision for him.
'If you wish it.' Pan said through gritted teeth staring at Regina.
'I do.' She looked genuinely pleased. 'Now if you'll excuse me I have to go mingle.' The Sparrows said their goodbyes and Regina left to seek out some other poor soul she could manipulate.
'So where is your daughter?' Peter asked gazing around the room for her.
'Oh she's always disappearing that girl. She can never sit still.' Mrs Sparrow laughed. Her husband did not look amused.
'Ok well it was nice meeting you.' Peter tried to look like the whole exchange hadn't be awkward but his face was strained. Without waiting for a goodbye he disappeared quickly into the crowd.
'Regina is up to something.' Pan growled. Jefferson sighed wishing he'd never bothered to open the door. Opening it further he allowed Peter to storm into his house.
'Hello to you too.' He mumbled. Peter went straight to the kitchen and opening the fridge helped himself to a beer, casually throwing one at Jefferson who caught it with ease.
'So, what has the magnificent queen done now?' Jefferson asked with mild interest.
'She set me up! I am to teach Sally Sparrow piano every day after school. I don't understand what she's trying to do. What could she possibly achieve by making me spend more time with that girl.' He paced the room angrily. 'Or maybe she's not trying to do anything. Maybe she knows that I'll read into this and assume she's plotting something when really she's not, making me paranoid and I'll be focused on the wrong thing and then she'll strike and I won't even see it coming.'
Peter stormed out of the kitchen and into the living room collapsing onto the sofa. Jefferson followed.
'Wait so who is Sally?' He asked. Peter flung an arm over his eyes.
'Wendy, she's Wendy.' He sighed. 'Regina has some twisted idea that by making me interact with my friends as an adult I'll be withering in self-pity like a fool.'
'Are you sure that's all it is?' Jefferson took a seat on the sofa opposite Peter. He studied the young man carefully.
'What do you mean?' Pan peeked under his arm.
'Well you do seem rather attached to the girl, anyone can see that. Wendy has been part of your life for much longer than she was ever supposed to.' Jefferson said carefully. 'After all you were supposed to take her home.'
Peter sat up and took a swig of his beer.
'I did. Twice.' He glared at the Hatter. 'It's not my fault she kept finding a way back. She didn't belong that world Hatter. We changed her too much, she could never be happy in her world after what she went through.'
Jefferson sank deeper in the cushions thinking of the little girl that had reminded him so much of his Grace.
'I think you love her.' Jefferson whispered. Peter coughed as the liquid he'd been drinking went down the wrong way. He sputtered and thumped his chest as he coughed.
'What? I don't love her.' He spat. 'You're crazier than I thought Hatter.'
Jefferson sighed. 'I think that's why you kept her.'
'You don't know what you're talking about.' Peter shook his head angrily.
'She's trying to find your weakness.' Jefferson sang tauntingly. 'She wants to use her against you.'
'Well then she's going to fail.' Peter hissed. He stood up and drained the bottle before throwing it across the room into the bin.
'So what do you plan to do?' Jefferson asked.
'I'm going to teach the little bird piano. I'll play her little game.' Peter said with wide smile showing off all his white teeth. 'I'll see myself out.'
Jefferson closed his eyes in despair, maybe Peter had gone crazy too.
Author's Notes
Ok thoughts? I really hope you like this chapter. I'm trying to keep to the whole characters can be other characters within the OUATverse, hoping this works quite well but we shall see how it develops. Also keeping and adding to the multiple family ties that OUAT like to have (but Peter is definitely not going to turn out to be Malcolm) Also hoping to develop a darker side of Peter soon, he's been quite tame while he's been powerless and stuck in Storybrooke.
Thank you for everyone who has reviewed so far J please keep them coming I love hearing what you guys think (and any help on how I can improve my writing skills is much appreciated)
I'll update soon xxx
