So, life gets in the way a lot for me, when it comes to writing. It did this year. BUT, hopefully, better late than never. This was due waay back on March 14th. Happiest of happy birthdays, Gracie! God bless you, thanks for some amazing years, and here's to many more! Love you forever and always! I own the plot and that alone. I only named Peter's mother.
Nayeli Kavinsky walked into that lamaze class with mixed feelings, and not just because of pregnancy hormones. This was her first child. She was going to be a mother in a matter of months. She was nervous, yet excited. A few of her nerves faded away once her nervous face was met with a soothing, smiling, warm and inviting one. She went over to the friendly woman, who introduced herself as Evie.
"This is my second child, but I had some issues with my eldest, so I thought, as did my doctor and husband, that this would be good for me. What about you?"
All nerves now gone, having found a supportive face, perhaps even a friend, Nayeli replied
"I'm Nayeli. This is my first baby, but hard pregnancies and deliveries run in the family. Better safe than sorry. I am going to want to know all I can and then some."
Both women shared a laugh at that and soon the class began, as did their friendship. Their due dates were close enough, and Nay could not wait to tell Evie her first child was a boy, and that they picked out the name Peter Grant for him. In turn, Evie delightedly told her about being pregnant with her second daughter, who would carry her mother's maiden name as well as her father's surname. "Lara Jean Song Covey." she revealed, beaming.
"It's beautiful." marveled Nayeli.
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A few years later, when both children were toddlers, the mothers set up a playdate, hoping their kids would get along just as well as they did. And the kids did not disappoint, soon building various structures with blocks and letting out delighted giggles when the towers would inevitably topple over. It was during one of those playdates that the kids spoke in unison
"Let's be fwiends fo' eveh."
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Over the next couple of years, their friendship remained strong, but they started forming a group of friends consisting of them, Christine, Genevieve, Trevor Pike and Johnny McClaren. The entire group was as thick as thieves. And that whole strong formation, and inclusion of newcomers had only happened because middle school had brought the two kids into each other's lives again, when they ended up in the same middle school after the Kavinsky's had to move due to Peter's father being stationed overseas.
Peter walked into the auditorium of the middle school and sat down. The principal was giving prizes for some reason he did not quite catch. He was more interested in the beautiful, sleek, jet-black cascading hair right in front of him. He caught a glimpse of the backpack the mystery girl was wearing, and saw the glittery letters spelling out an all too familiar name. It was Lara Jean. In that moment, Peter saw her differently, but quickly shook it off. At least he had her back. But at the age he was, all his guy friends thought girls had cooties. When the principal called Lara Jean up to the stage to get a prize, Peter wanted to help her, for her hair had gotten stuck to the chair. He wanted to help so badly, but he gave in to peer pressure and ended up not helping her.
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In seventh grade, the whole gang was in their special treehouse, playing a game of spin the bottle. LJ and Gen were best friends, along with Chris; and everyone knew Gen and Peter only wanted to kiss each other. So when the bottle selected Peter and LJ, Gen was NOT a happy camper. Noticing that, Lara Jean was quick to offer
"I can spin again."
Peter smiled at her, stating
"Well, you can't cheat the bottle."
And , despite Gen's protests, they both leaned forward and shared their first kiss. Literally. They were each other's first kisses. From that day forward, Gen and Lara Jean's relationship was never the same.
Over the next few years, the group dispelled, which the Sundance Kid moving away, Trevor and Peter getting involved in lacrosse, and Gen becoming Peter's girlfriend. Gen was even meaner to Lara Jean now, who only had Chris, Gen's own cousin, by her side. And Peter? He was quickly finding out Gen was not who she appeared to be at first glance.
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It was in junior year of high school that things shifted yet again. Lara Jean's letter to all the boys she had loved before got out. All five of them. At once. Lucas from freshman homecoming was not a problem. In fact, they talked it out and he became a new close friend and confidant to Lara Jean. Kenny from camp never even got his letter. Peter, Johnny and Josh Sanderson, neighbor to Lara Jean and her older sister's ex were the real problem. Thankfully, Johnny's letter would only wreak havoc the following year. The first problem Lara Jean encountered was to keep Josh and her sister aware that she was not making moves on Josh currently, the letter was written long ago.
When she first saw Josh had his letter, she had been talking to Peter. He was appreciative, but revealed he and Gen had just broken up. The truth that would come out later was that she had dumped him for a college guy. Upon realizing Josh had his letter, Lara Jean quickly jumped Peter on Adler High's track field and kissed him, bringing back memories of seventh grade. This kiss though, it was somehow even better than the one back then.
A while after Lara Jean "jumped" Peter, as he would often claim, he tried to reject her at the Corner Cafe diner; which, in a matter of mere days, turned into a huge scam to make people think they were together. That way Gen would be jealous and want Peter back, and Josh would be convinced Lara Jean had no romantic feelings for him. Lara Jean did not want Peter to kiss her, but allowed him to put his hand in her back pocket, as an ode to 16 Candles. She went to parties with him and lacrosse games, and he wrote her notes everyday, but she never read them. They became reacquainted with each others' families, as sadly, Evie had passed years ago. After dinner at his house, Peter realized he was not faking being in love with Lara Jean anymore.
Then came the ski trip, a couples thing and another contingency on the list. Winter break was coming soon. Peter had gotten LJ her favorite snack for the bus ride, and wanted to sit next to her, who thought he'd want to sit with Gen, unaware he had changed his mind. Until the hot tub night they shared, and how protective he became after that. Due to the hot tub night, they had a few snags, and Josh and Margot, the oldest Covey, getting thrown in the mix had not helped the budding romance. That is, until Josh and Kitty, the youngest Covey who had sent all the letters to begin with, made LJ read the notes she thought were fake, only to find real messages. She then confessed her feelings for him on the lacrosse field, where they shared their first kiss as a couple.
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The following school year they were a full-blown couple. Lara Jean's no-kissing policy had long gone out the window, and they were not shy with PDA. Peter and Lara Jean were in paradise, with him bringing flowers for his girlfriend's little sister as well as his girlfriend, respecting her father's curfew, and even making her feel less nervous by clowning around with a fork at a fancy Italian restaurant.
Everything was fine. Until Johnny came back. And, seeing as Peter still was communicating with Gen and being comfy and cozy with her, so did Lara Jean's insecurities. And Peter's, though they were more shown as angry outbursts. Lara Jean had community service with Johnny, and they were getting close. Too close. It also did not help their relationship or Lara Jean's confidence that he was seen hugging Gen tightly and would not disclose what led to going back to her like a tightly-leashed puppy. That was one of the factors of their breakup, even after promising not to break each others' hearts. Peter could not get over the loss, crying every day. It was evident to those around both of them that they belonged together, and that needed to be restored. As quickly as possible.
While hosting the Star Ball for the elderly, Johnny and Lara Jean were pushed to dance together, which, in the spur of the moment, culminated into a kiss. Thankfully, that made LJ realize she had wanted it to be someone else- Peter, to be exact. She ran out of the retirement villa to go to him, only to find him waiting for her. It had been snowing outside, and Peter remembered that, while Lara Jean was a good driver now, she only feared driving in the snow. So, even though they were no longer together, he had come to pick her up. They immediately made up, sharing a magical kiss of their own, finally understanding nothing is perfect, they could not go through life together without hurting each other. But they wanted to go through life together, that was certain.
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When college acceptance letters started to come in, the couple faced one enemy yet again. Distance. They had wanted to be at UVA together, and Lara Jean had practically grown up among their grassy fields. She did not get in. She got into William and Mary, and the plan was to go a year there, both commuting to see the other; until she could transfer to UVA. That is, until she got accepted into UNC Chapel Hill, and was really compelled to go. This would mean more distance, around two to three hours per drive. And some colleges did not even allow freshmen cars on campus. On top of that, Peter's lacrosse schedule was strict. Not to mention, their summertime together was cut even shorter when the Covey sisters were gifted a month-long trip. But somehow they made it work. They always have.
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A few years down the road, both college graduates, (Peter with a lacrosse coaching degree and LJ with a double major in business and literature, so that she could own and manage a bakery while also being an author) were still happily together. One day, out of the blue, Peter suggested they take a walk down memory lane, visiting their high school's track field. Nothing really seemed off for LJ, after all, their younger siblings were now in high school, and both on the track team. It would be cool to see them practice. So she accepted.
They walked up to the track, which was oddly empty. Nevertheless, they began to walk, hand in hand, until they got to an all-too familiar spot. The very same spot where she had "jumped" him all those years ago. As she tried to suppress happy tears by looking around, no doubt hit by a powerful wave of nostalgia, he gently cleared his throat, and she fixed her gaze on him, followed by immediate tears trickling down her face as he spoke
"Lara Jean Song Covey. I love you with all my heart, and was meant to be with you. You are my everything. You give me strength, you give me calm. You're the first thought when I wake up and the last when I lie down. Would you do me the honor of being my wife?"
She nodded happily, then proceeded to jump him again, kissing him like all those years ago.
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Peter was brought out of his reverie and flashbacks, which were induced by looking into his soon-to-be wife's eyes. He answered the officiator
"Do I take her to be my wife? I do." he cast a wink at his blushing bride "Forever and always." At last they were allowed to kiss, and it was the classic Peter kiss. Romantic enough to weaken your knees, but careful and caring enough to make you feel safe and secure, like nothing could ever harm you now.