"'ey, Pete, where's your sister?"
Pete jumped up, her book tumbling to the ground. "John! 'ow'd you get in here?"
"Same way I did the other day, luv. Sorry I scared you."
Pete pushed her hair out of her eyes. "S'all right. An' Romany isn't here. She went with some of her creepy friends to dance naked or some shite like that." She blushed a little when she remembered John was into the occult, too. "No offense."
"None taken. I tend to at least dance around in me pants."
Pete got a mental image of that and blushed even more. "I can tell 'er you were 'ere if you want."
"Nah, that's all right. I was jus' bored an' wanted to see if maybe she'd go to the movies with me."
"Oh."
"I'll be going, I guess." John started to walk out of the flat, but then stopped, turning around to look at Pete again. "You wouldn't want to go with me, would you?"
Pete looked down at her school book, still on the ground. She knew that she should say no. Not only did she have homework, but this was Romany's boyfriend. As much as she and her sister didn't get along, she knew it was a betrayal to be alone with John like this. But then again, what had Romany done for her lately? "I'd love to. Jus' let me change out of me school togs, all right?"
"Sure, luv. I'll wait here," John said, sitting on the couch.
Pete hurried into her room, sudden panic hitting her. What the hell was she going to wear? She tore open her closet, trying to find something that would show John that she wasn't a little girl. She chose a short, red plaid skirt, a Clash t-shirt, and fishnet tights. She wore her biggest boots, hoping to give herself a little more height. John towered over here. She put on her favorite necklaces and spiked bracelets, then topped it all off with a bit of make up. She smiled. This look was much better.
"All right, I'm ready."
John looked up, sputtering when he saw Pete. His gaze traveled up her legs, and he had all sorts of thoughts he shouldn't be having about his girlfriend's little sister. "Right, well, let's go then," John said, standing up.
Pete gave him a coy smile and walked out of the flat in front of him.
Pete sat next to John in the darkened movie theater, concentrating more on the man beside her than the screen. John was stiff beside her, but she'd caught him glancing at her from time to time.
It was a film involving the undead, and although Pete found it anything but actually frightening, she debated whether or not she should pretend to be scared in order to have an excuse to be closer to John. Then again, he might think she was a baby if she was afraid. She weighed out the two choices, and decided that it was a worthwhile risk if it let her touch John.
A zombie began chasing someone around—a very loud, very irritating girl. In all honestly, Pete wanted her to get her brains eaten. But she fell over on John, burying her head against his chest as the camera zoomed in on the creature's rotting flesh.
John smirked, wrapping his arm around Pete. He could tell the movie hadn't been scaring her one bit, but he was perfectly happy to play along with her little game. He sort of liked the feel of her next to him. He stroked her hair. He leaned down, whispering against the top of her head, "Don't worry, luv. I won't let any of the things that go bump in the night get you."
Pete looked up. "Ta muchly," she whispered, giving him a wink.
John swallowed, his eyes locking with hers. She licked her lips, and John felt drawn to her, all thoughts of Romany leaving him. He moved closer, his mouth almost touching hers.
"AHHHHHHHHHH!"
Pete and John jumped back as someone in the audience screamed. John shook his head, realizing what he'd almost done. Not only was she too bloody young, but she was his girlfriend's sister. That was all kinds of wrong. He slid a bit, deciding he shouldn't be so close to Pete.
Pete slumped in her seat, cursing her ill luck. She could still feel his breath against her lips. She wasn't sure if she was relieved or disappointed. She wanted to kiss John, but she'd never kissed a man before, and she was sure John would be able to tell. At least if he didn't kiss her, she wouldn't have to be embarrassed by her innocence.
Pete frowned, slumping further. But she still really, really wanted to kiss him…
Pete looked over at John as they walked out of the movie theater. She could see the couples all around them, and she wished John was her boyfriend. She frowned. It wasn't fair. Romany always got cute boyfriends, and Pete was always alone.
"I'm gonna stop by the loo before we go 'ome. Wait for me here."
Pete nodded. "All right." She leaned against the wall, hoping John wouldn't take too long.
"'ello, poppet."
Pete turned around to see a small, dirty man missing several teeth smiling at her. "Um…hello…" she said, stepping back a little.
"Wot's a pretty lil' bird like you doin' out 'ere all alone?"
"I'm waitin' for me friend. Please, go away."
The man stroked her arm, and Pete tightened her fist. She could feel her fingers burning, the desire to cut this man's arm off with her hot knives almost outweighing her fear of letting anyone know she was a mutant. "Is yer friend as pretty as you, luv?"
"No, actually I'm not much to look at at all."
The man jumped, looking up at John. John put his arm possessively on Pete's shoulder. "She's with me, so bugger off." He pulled Pete closer to him.
"I'm…I'm sorry, sir. I didn't realize she was yer girl."
"Well she is. Leave."
The man took off, leaving Pete and John alone again. Pete looked up at John. "Are you all right?" John asked.
"Yeah." Suddenly, Pete felt brave. She reached up, kissing John gently on the cheek. "Thank you."
John froze at the warm feeling of her lips against his skin. "You're…you're welcome."
"So…wot do you want to do now?"
John gave her a mischievous look. "Want to go down to the pub for a pint?"
"John, I'm not old enough to buy a pint." Pete said with a bit of embarrassment.
"I'll buy it for you. C'mon."
Pete reached out, slipping her hand in his. "All right, let's go."
John grinned and they walked off together.
Pete sat across from John at a small table, perched on a high bar stool, her legs kicking. She looked up at John and giggled.
"You 'aven't ever drunk much before, 'ave you?"
"Sure I 'ave," Pete said, giggling again. "Wot makes you think I 'aven't?"
"Pete, you're tipsy after barely more than a pint."
"I am not. I'm fine." More giggling.
"Maybe I should take you 'ome."
"I don't want to." She smiled at him. "Let's play arrows," she said, pointing at a dart board across the pub.
"Oh no. I'm not letting you throw little pointy things around when you're pissed."
"I ain't pissed, Constantine. I'm perfectly fine." She stood up, grabbing his arm. "Come on…"
"All right, but if I end up with an arrow in me bum, I'm not gonna be 'appy."
Pete took John's hand and drug him across the pub. He sighed and went with her.
John decided that drunk or sober, Pete would be bloody awful at arrows. "Never played this before, 'ave you?" he asked, hitting the bullseye again.
"No. But I've always wanted to." She stepped up to the line and threw again, the dart lodging itself in the cork beside the actual board.
John sighed, coming up behind her and taking hold of her wrist, stretching her arm out. "It's all in the wrist, luv," he said softly.
Pete shivered. His body was pressed up against his and his breath was warm against her ear. "All in the wrist," she repeated.
He helped her aim, then let her wrist go, his hand running down her arm. Pete threw the dart, still missing the target, but at least hitting the board this time. "Gettin' better, luv," John said.
Pete turned her head around a bit so she could look at him. John swallowed hard, fully aware that he was flush against her. "Get a grip, Constantine," he mentally berated himself. "You know better than to fall arse over tit for some sixteen year old girl. And Romany's sister no less…"
"John…" Pete said softly.
John felt his last bit of resolve slipping. He leaned in, kissing her softly.
Pete felt the whole room spin, the taste of John mixed with cigarettes and lager enough to make her feel lightheaded. She leaned into the kiss, making up for her inexperience with enthusiasm. She wrapped her arms around him as he pulled her closer.
Suddenly John pulled back. "Ow!" he exclaimed. "Bloody 'ell."
Pete looked at him, confused. "Wot?"
"Ya stabbed me, Wisdom."
Pete remembered then that she still had a dart in her hand. She blushed. "Oh. Sorry."
John reached out and brushed her dark hair away from her face. "S'all right." He looked way, the reality of the situation coming back to him. "Pete, I…" He sighed. "I need to get you home. Your da will worry."
Pete sighed. "Okay."
They walked back to the Wisdom's flat in silence. Pete shivered a little, wrapping her arms around her in an attempt to shield herself from the cool evening air. She wished she'd worn a jacket, but it had been warm enough earlier. "'ere," John said, taking off his leather jacket and giving it to her.
"Thank you," Pete said, wrapping herself in it. It was warm and smelled like him.
John tried his best to sort through the mix of emotions he was feeling. He liked Pete, and he was pretty sure she liked him, too. Hell, the first time she'd met him, she'd compared him to Billy Idol, and it was pretty clear that she thought Billy was just about the most perfect man who ever lived. However, John wasn't sure what he could do about it. Her age and her sister were two very big, very complicated factors. And the fact her copper father would have him locked up for sure, even if she was of the age of consent.
Still, John had to admit that he'd felt something when he'd kissed her—something he didn't feel from kissing Romany. He'd had to push back the thoughts of taking her back to his flat and inducting her into the world of womanhood. Despite the fact that most of the world saw him as a complete bastard, John wasn't that bad. He wasn't about to take advantage of a slightly drunk sixteen year old—especially one he liked this much.
That was the part that really got him. He genuinely liked Pete. He felt a connection with her that he hadn't felt with anyone before. It was like she actually understood him. He'd thought he'd had a good bit in common with Romany, but he was starting to realize they couldn't possibly be more different.
He stopped as they reached Pete's door. Pete looked down at her feet, unsure of what to say. She was pretty sure John regretted kissing her back at the pub, and she hated to think she may have killed the friendship that had been growing between them. She took off his jacket and handed it back to him. He took it, slinging it over his shoulder. "I…I 'ad a good time tonight," Pete said in a rush.
John nodded. "Me, too."
She forced herself to look up and meet her gaze. "Look, I'm sorry if wot 'appened in the pub made you uncomfortable around me. I didn't mean for that to 'appen, it's just that, well, I know you're Romany's boyfriend, and…"
John leaned in suddenly, silencing her with a kiss. When he pulled away, Pete's face was red, her breathing shaky. "I want you to come out to the club tomorrow," John said, deciding to hell with the "right" thing. "Just you, luv."
"John…"
"We'll talk tomorrow. It's late now. Just come, all right? I want to see you again."
"I'll be there."
"Promise?"
"Yeah."
John smiled at her. "G'night, Pete."
"G'night."
Pete walked into the house, feeling like nothing could kill the wonderful mood she was in. She was wrong.
"And jus' where the blood 'ell 'ave you been?"
Pete jumped. "Da! What are you doing still awake?"
"Waitin' for you," Harold said, narrowing his eyes at his younger daughter. "This sort of behavior I expect from Romany, but you…" He moved closer, sniffing the air. "You've been drinking."
"No, I 'aven't."
"Don't lie to me, child. I'm not daft, you know. You are grounded."
"Wot! No!" Pete exclaimed. If she was grounded, she couldn't see John.
"Yes. An' I don't want you 'angin' out with that Constantine boy anymore either. You're neglectin' your studies an' stayin' out until all 'ours of the night in God knows what sort of place. 'e's a bad influence, 'e is."
"But…but I wasn't with John tonight," Pete lied.
"Again, I'm not daft. Now go to bed, Pete. We'll discuss this more in the morning."
"We won't discuss anything!" Pete yelled. "I 'ate you! I can see why Mum left!" She stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
Harold Wisdom sunk into his chair and sighed.
Pete didn't care what her father said. She was going to see John. He wasn't a bad influence at all. He made her feel more alive than she ever had in her life. She was falling in love with him, and she wasn't about to let anyone stand in the way of that—especially not her father.
She finished smearing on her eyeliner, then took a second to look at herself in the mirror. She looked good, and she was sure John would agree. She smiled as she thought of what it would be like to have him kiss her again.
She grabbed a jacket from her closet and opened her window, climbing down the fire escape and to the street below.
"Are you positive, Angie?"
"Yeah. It was them, Romany. They were snoggin' like mad right there in the middle of the pub an' then they jus' walked out. 'eaven only knows where they went from there…"
"That bleedin' tramp!" Romany exclaimed. "I'll soddin' kill 'er!" She hung up the phone, not carrying what else Angie had to say. She stormed across the hall to her sister's room, banging on the door. "Pete Wisdom, get her arse out here right now!" When Pete didn't respond, she banged harder. "Pete! Open the bloody door so I can kill you!" She sighed, turning the knob and going in for herself.
Romany looked around, spotting no Pete and the window leading to the fire escape still open. It didn't take much to figure out where the younger woman had gone. "That bleedin' tramp!" Romany yelled again. She started to go after Pete and her errant boyfriend herself, but then stopped, deciding she had a better idea. She went to their father's room, kneeling beside his bed and shaking him lightly. "Da. Da, wake up."
Harold Wisdom mumbled in his sleep, but didn't wake. Romany sighed, shaking him a bit harder. "Da!"
Harold snapped awake, sitting up straight. "Romany? Wot you go an' wake me for?"
"Pete's gone again, Da. She snuck out the fire escape."
"Bloody 'ell." Harold wiped at his eyes, getting out of the bed. "Do you know where she's gone?"
"I think so. John's usually playing with 'is band on Friday nights. She probably went there."
"Right. I'm going after 'er, and God 'elp that child when I find her. And 'im, too…"
Romany smiled to herself. That would show Pete and John both…
Some feedback would be nice…