Chapter 9: Yogurt Smoothies
Lara Jean had never done the walk of shame before she met Landon. As she took the steps up to her apartment, she realized that she didn't really feel that shameful and that she would gladly do this walk if it meant another night with Landon. She internally rolled her eyes at herself for her sappy thoughts, and gently pushed the key into her apartment door.
Although she wasn't ashamed in ways that she thought she would be, she wanted to avoid waking Jeanette who would give her the third degree as soon as she walked in. Lara wasn't ready for that. What she needed was a shower and to crawl into her own bed and sleep for a few more hours. As she opened the door she cringed as she heard Jeanette's voice in a whisper and shuffling, before hearing a door close.
When she entered the apartment Jeanette stood in the kitchen gripping a cup of coffee. Jeanette was slightly flustered herself but managed to raise an eyebrow at Lara Jean. "Good Morning Sunshine."
"Morning." Lara Jean meekly answered, closing the door behind her.
"Didn't think you'd be home so soon," Jeanette smirked. "Must have been a great date."
"It was." Lara Jean raised her head slightly before taking in Jeanette's disheveled appearance. "Seems like you had a night yourself. Were you talking to someone when I was coming in?"
Jeanette's eyes widened, "Ugh yeah, sorry. When you text last night and said you'd be staying at Landon's, I invited a guy over. He's in my room. He's gonna go soon though."
Lara Jean shrugged, "I'm gonna shower and go back to bed."
Jeanette snorted, "Didn't get too much sleep last night huh?"
"Goodbye Jeanette." Lara Jean said walking towards her room.
"Goodnight, LJ!"
Lara Jean woke up several hours later to a few texts from Landon confirming that she had made it home ok, and a message from Jeanette that she would be out for the day. Margo was confirming that she would be returning home a day before Thanksgiving so that she could help with prep ahead of time. Lara Jean had done the 5 hour drive, enough times before that she knew she could handle it but always hated doing it alone. She bit her lip returning back to Landon's text chain. Was it too soon to ask him to come with her? Definitely. She thought, but… it couldn't hurt to see what his plans were.
Landon: Did I already tell you how much I enjoyed last night?
Lara Jean: LOL yes.
Landon: Sorry! I just really did.
Lara Jean: Me too. *Blushing Emoji*
Lara Jean paused before typing
Lara Jean: I feel like we talked a lot last night, but I never asked about your Thanksgiving plans?
...
Landon: True! I'm actually going to my grandma's in Jersey. We always have Thanksgiving there. How about you?
Damn. She thought, realizing that she was indeed hoping he had no plans and would need company during the holiday.
Lara Jean: I'm driving down to VA, to celebrate with my sisters, my dad, and my stepmom Trina.
Landon: Sounds fun, I bet you're looking forward to that. Bring me back some pie?
Lara Jean: Of course. I'll bring you two, just cuz you're so special.
Landon: I'm blushing. Haha.
Lara Jean: I am excited to go home, but not looking forward to the drive honestly. I like to have a road trip buddy.
Landon: Aw man, I feel that. Maybe one day soon, I can take the drive with you.
Lara Jean felt her stomach flip.
Lara Jean: Maybe so.
A short time later, Lara Jean emerged from her room after putting off her stomach rumbles for way too long. She sat at the island munching on toast looking up ways to improve her pumpkin pie recipe. When her phone rang and she saw Peter's name flash across the screen she hesitated before answering.
"Hello?"
"Hey Covey, what's up?" She could hear him smiling on the other end.
"Not much…" She said sliding off the stool to add her plate to the sink. "How about you?"
Small talk seemed especially awkward with Peter, "Same. Same. Listen uh," he began, "I don't wanna hold you. I just remembered you said sometime a while back that you'd be driving back home for Thanksgiving. Were you still planning on doing that?"
She paused, "Yeah. I am actually. I'm heading down on Wednesday."
"Cool, cool. Well I was wondering if maybe I could catch a ride with you?"
"Uhh,"
"I was supposed to ride down with my roommate but he flaked last minute. Flights are crazy expensive and I-I mean I guess I could have looked into the train. Maybe I should have done that first-"
"Peter, I don't know if-"
"I just remembered that you said you were going so I thought I'd ask. If not, no big deal, I totally understand. Of course I'd go half on the gas. Hell, I'd drive the whole way there and back if you wanted."
"Wait really? You'd drive the whole way?" Lara Jean perked up.
"I mean yeah. I don't mind." He said somewhat sheepishly.
She was quiet for a moment, "I mean we are going to the same place. It does make sense." She muttered almost to herself.
"Right? It totally makes sense." He chirped.
"And I mean don't get me wrong, I can drive."
"Of course." He said smirking.
"But it's always nice to have someone else do it." She let out a small laugh hearing him chuckle into her ear.
"So.." He began, "It's a deal then?"
"Yeah, I guess it should be fine. I was planning on leaving super early Wednesday morning though. I wanna get there before noon."
"Sounds like a plan! I'll be at your place bright and early on Wednesday. Thanks Covey, I owe you one."
"Well you're the one driving so I guess maybe I own you."
They laughed and the conversation had reached a natural end point. "Well cool. I'll see you Wednesday then. Thanks again."
"Yeah...see you then."
They hung up the phone and Lara Jean sighed with relief. At least she had someone to ride with. This does not have to be awkward she thought. Friends take road trips all the time. Plus if she thought about it, this wasn't really a road trip, she was doing him a favor. She was doing a friend a favor and in return, she could sleep on the ride over. Totally not awkward.
Although she talked to Landon every day leading up to leaving the city. She never found a right moment to bring up who her driving companion would be. In Lara Jean's mind, it just never came up and it was probably for the best. She did however tell her family, and her sister's of course judged her decision making skills. In the brief moments that she saw Jeanette that week she also casually mentioned it to her, and she didn't have much of a reaction. It seemed that her roommate was always coming or going and they hadn't had a full conversation in days. Lara Jean simply chalked it up to the holiday season. It made everyone nuts.
In the early hours of Wednesday morning, Lara Jean met Peter outside who greeted her with medium sized duffle bag over his shoulder and a backpack in one hand
"Don't judge my car ok?" She said as they walked together. I meant to get it cleaned this week, I just had no time."
"Please, Covey like I'm complaining about any type of ride."
When they settled into the car, Peter adjusted the seat to account for his long legs. Putting on her seatbelt, "You know I'm surprised you don't have a car."
"Yeah, I know right. I actually got into an accident a while back and didn't feel like I needed a car in the city."
"It's honestly more trouble than it's worth."
They fell into a comfortable silence as they got on the road.
"Hey," Peter said after a short while. I brought snacks in the backpack if you want some."
"So did I." Lara Jean smiled and opened her own bag. "Guess we get to trade snacks!"
"Oh please tell me you brought the yogurt drinks?" He briefly glanced away from the road to see her wiggling a small familiar bottle. "Yesss!" he said maneuvering to grab it and keep the wheel steady.
Lara Jean laughed as she watched him basically gulp it down without stopping for air. A small trail of yogurt shined on the top of his lip. Before she could think twice she reached over and wiped his mouth, "Some things never change." She said before shyly returning her hand to her lap realizing how intimate the moment was.
Peter gripped the steering wheel tighter, but tried to keep the energy light, "Hey, those things are delicious. Do you blame me?" He smiled crookedly at her before merging into traffic.
"Guess not." She smiled back before twisting the nob on the radio so that some music floated through the car.
While she was digging through the snacks he asked, "So, how was date night?"
At the thought of Landon, Lara Jean felt her cheeks warm, "Oh it was good! We went to this really cool restaurant where you could literally see the whole city and-" She paused biting into a peanut butter cracker. "Wait, how'd you know Landon and I had date night?"
"Oh, uh Jeanette told me. We hung out the other night, remember?"
Lara Jean nodded, "Mmmhmm." then a thought ran through her mind. Jeanette didn't know about the date when she and Peter went out on Friday night after the cookie test. "Didn't you guys go out on Friday though? I didn't tell Jeanette about our date then."
She glanced at Peter who looked as though he stuck his foot in his mouth, "Well see I actually hung out with her again on Saturday." Even though he kept his eyes on the highway, he could feel Lara Jean raise and eyebrow. "Yeah don't tell her, but Jeanette is kinda fun to hang out with and her friends are pretty cool. She told me about a concert so me and Jeremy met up with her."
Lara Jean wondered why Jeanette hadn't mentioned she hung out with Peter again. "I bet it was Jeremy in her room when I came home that morning," She said almost to herself
"Huh?" Peter said snapping her back to the present.
"There was a guy in Jeanette's room when I came home. It was probably Jeremy, right?"
"Uh" Peter stammered, but before could answer, Lara Jean cut in.
"It doesn't matter, I should not be talking to you about my roommates' love life."
Peter chuckled softly, "Yeah, you probably shouldn't."
"Even though...you and Jeanette talked about my love life when I wasn't around, clearly."
"Woah, woah, I hear that suspicious tone Covey. It wasn't like that. I just asked where you were, and she mentioned you and your guy usually have "date night" on Saturday.
"Hmm. Well I had fun." Laura responded before turning to look out the window. She made a mental note to thank Jeanette for helping her maintain her fake relationship.
"Glad to hear it," He grunted and took the opportunity to turn up the radio and continue the ride in silence.
Hope you enjoyed!
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