The faintest melody played repeatedly inside my head as I slipped in and out of conscious. Pride and Prejudice 2005's soundtrack…. Peter's theme music to me. He was currently racing inside the beach house with me lifeless in his arms. Though I could see, I could hear people's audible gasps and surprised exclaims. "Out of the way!" Peter ordered as we crossed the living room to the main staircase. "What's going on?"
I knew that voice… I knew but I didn't want to look; my thoughts were too permeated with subconscious peaceful music. It felt like Peter's essence was swimming all around inside me, keeping me sound during all of this. Peter's arms tensed, which I guess was a result of finding Gen approaching us. His aura immediately darkened; I could sense that. "Whoa! What happened to her? Try to drown herself all over a little soap?" "Where did you get that robe?" Uh oh; I guess she was stupid enough to not only take the robe from me but actually wear it around the house. Bad move, Gen. I could practically feel the cocky smirk vanish from her smug face. "Uh, well, um….. it was in the bathroom and uh…" "You cornered Aerity in the bathroom upstairs, didn't you? That's so like you," Peter hissed threateningly. I would wager that Gen realized her mistake by the tone of his voice; she certainly didn't try to deny it, which was wise on her part. Peter's grip on me stiffened- he was MAD! "You and I are gonna talk later." That wasn't a friendly invitation to discuss things out; that was a serious demand.
Before Gen could say anything, to which I question if she even would, Peter proceeded to carry me up the stairs and kick the female designated bathroom door in with his foot. Someone- a guy I might add- was currently puking in the toilet. " ," Peter didn't give him an option, and by the tone he used again, Mr. Hungover wasn't going to try his luck. I heard him scramble out and Peter flush the toilet. Then, still holding me in one arm, he pulled up the bathtub and started the hot water. I didn't say anything while the tub filled up, not doing anything physically until he turned off the water. My eyes shot open and my back bucked at the sudden and extreme painful hot water touching my skin. Now the water wasn't boiling; it wasn't that hot in reality. But anyone who's ever put their freezing hand in lukewarm water knows what that feels like. I gave a little shriek, clinging onto Peter's shirt, so not ready for this yet.
"I know it hurts, Covey, but you need to get warmed up; you're already freezing and have a major fever." Huh, would you look at that? I suppose I did have a fever after all. More submersion. "P-Peter!" My throat cracked. "It's just for a little while. Come on, Covey; please," he begged, his voice much softer and sensitive now. Now, I knew that he was only looking out for my best interest, so I very reluctantly let him set me down in the tub. I winced the whole time, my whole body experiencing that stabbing pain for a second time that morning. It was not fun; not at all.
Once I was fully in, Peter pulled his arms out of the water and started searching for a clean towel. While scouting, he came across my empty Lush Rose Jam bottle poorly concealed in the trash; real smart there, Gen. I knew he saw it but decided not to address it- not right then anyway. When he finally found one white clean towel- somehow left untouched- he snatched it and came back over where I was wading in the tub. My full body was on display with my soaked nightgown acting as a useless cover, but I didn't care at the moment. It was just Peter here with me and after all…. He didn't get to assault me, Steven. He didn't….. I saved myself from that horrific ordeal, a small inward smile began to bloom as my body relaxed for the first time on this trip. I saved me…..
"Covey?" My eyes reopened to see Peter sitting beside the tub, watching me with severe anxiety. Ah, Peter….. He's here; he's here with me. "How do you feel? Do you feel sick? Thirsty? Did you drink any sea water?" No; no, I didn't want to talk about that. Despite everything, I actually was feeling pretty great, at least emotionally. Sure, that was horrible to go through and I wish it never happened, but….. the worst didn't happen. That knowledge alone made me so happy. That and the fact that Peter was right here with me. It ironically felt like this would be the perfect scene if this was a movie or book. I felt like I could protect myself for the first time in a long time, and Peter would handle things if I needed him to. I saw now that I had best of both worlds, or at least that's how it felt at the moment. And I felt so incredibly lucky all of a sudden…. lucky and thankful. I think happy tears would have come to my eyes if I wasn't so dehydrated at the moment.
I looked at Peter and smiled…. I smiled. This obviously surprised him judging by the expression on his face. And just like that, there was Pride and Prejudice playing inside my mind again; all I needed to do was look at him and…. "Peter?" It was much easier for me to speak now. "Huh?" "I'm sorry." "What did I tell you about apolo-…" "I'm sorry I ran away from you that day in the subway station," his eyes grew as I cut him off. "Huh?" "I'm sorry I didn't try and contact you for six years. I'm sorry I told my family not to give you my contact information….. I'm sorry I didn't hear your side of the story. I'm sorry I assumed that you automatically took Gen's side….." "W-what are you talking about? Where's all this coming from?" Man, did he ever sound confused. My smile simply widened however, my eyes lowering onto his.
"You are a good person, Peter; a good man. You didn't deserve to be treated like that. I thought before that I was right in how I acted because you took Gen's side. But now I see that maybe I didn't know you as well as I thought I did." Peter looked…. stunned. He blinked at me a couple of times before replying. "What makes you say that, Covey?" "Because I never thought that any man would actually come out into the ocean to get me…. for the right reasons. Even you," my eyes scrolled back up to the ceiling. "Well, that's nothing special I did, Covey." "Yes; yes, it is." "I was just acting on impulse is all. I saw you out there and knew I had to go; my body moved before I could even think to…."
What's important to know here is the way Peter said this; it's not what he said that startled and amazed me so- it was how he said it. He wasn't even looking at me while he spoke, just staring off into nowhere while he answered me honestly. And that's the thing- he was being wholly and sincerely honest. His tone wasn't bragging or trying to convince me; he said it in a matter-o-factly fashion like this wasn't a big deal. Oh, but it was a big deal; a very, very big deal. In Peter's eyes, he didn't do anything terrific out there. In my eyes, he was something wonderful; just wonderful.
My eyes rolled over to him once more as my soft, affectionate smile returned. "Do you remember the first day we met?" I asked him in a gentle tone. "You mean the day in Computer Studies? When I gave you my ID card?" "You put your number on a sticky note on the back of your card. You've always been there for me, Peter. I guess, somewhere along the way…. I forgot that," I admitted. He didn't respond for a minute, watching me and considering to himself. Eventually his head gave a tiny, surrendering nod.
"Apology accepted, Covey. And…. thanks." "You're welcome, Peter." He let out a sigh and leaned up against the side of the tub. "Warming up?" "Yeah, it doesn't hurt anymore." "Good. I'll wait a little longer before going to gather up our stuff." A pause slipped between us. Then, like clockwork, we gazed at each other simultaneously. He smiled, and I mirrored his lovely expression. "Can I tell you a secret, Covey?" "Of course you can," my hand reached out of the tub for his. Not wanting any part of me- minus my head- to be out of the warm water, Peter took it and instantly put both our hands under the surface. This made my smile grow as I patiently waited for him to speak.
"Back on that day in Computer Studies, when I first looked up at you….." He paused for a moment, his lower lip quivering ever so slightly. His eyes stared off into nowhere before a rapturous smile bloomed across his beautiful pale lips. It was as if he was recalling something pleasant. "I don't know why but when I first saw you, something weird happened. Two thoughts came right out of nowhere….. that'd never happened to me before." Another break- just a quick one. "My first thought was that you smelled distinctly like flowers." I laughed a little at this, and he grinned at me as he continued. "And the second thought… well, I don't know why, but a little voice at the back of my mind said "this girl will be very, very important to you someday"."
My eyes grew in utter astonishment while Peter's grin merely widened, pleased with the memory in subject. "Heh, you know, it's so strange. I've never believed in "love at first sight" or any of that fairy tale nonsense. But…. I don't know; I just don't know. You were the first and last person I'd ever had that happen to. To this day, I can't explain it; I've never told anybody about it before either- you're the first." "P-Peter!" The sweetest chuckle erupted from his lips and I felt like I was going to die. "So weird….. Well, I don't know, but if any of that romance, fate stuff is true…. then I guess I've loved you from the first moment I saw you."