Chapter 10- Heal
Peter and Lara Jean had kept the jig up for a month already.
Peter was shocked.
Though he still spoke to Gen, he preferred Lara Jean's company over anyone else's- especially Gen.
However it did make Gen more hateful towards Lara Jean and more difficult towards Chris. But worse than ever, more overbearing than usual on Peter.
One day, Lara Jean was giving Peter extra notes for his spanish test that was coming up the next day. Peter had found that his spanish was improving even Mrs Rodrigo had noticed and had always complimented him. In fact she had gone as far as noting that it must be Lara Jean's effect. Teacher's at Adler high sometimes did engage the school "news".
That particular day had really proved how resentful Gen was towards Lara Jean and Chris and how much she still wanted to prove she had influence over Peter.
Chris was standing with them on this particular day and had actually found that she was actually not that unbearable. In fact she could be really funny.
"LJ you're basically giving my education away to your boyfriend." She rolled her eyes.
"What do you mean." Lara Jean sighed looking through her locker for a book, she had way too many books in her locker.
"I mean Idioma español notes a mi corazón y vender." Chris said.
Both Lara Jean and Peter started laughing.
"What did I say LJ?"
"Spanish language notes to my heart and sell," Lara Jean laughed, "As in sell, like you sell goods and services."
"Oh my god I got the words mixed up." Chris sighs but then looks at Peter, "You're not any better PK, I've literally heard you say that women give birth to watermelons in spanish."
"You told her." Peter looks at Lara Jean like she has broken a sacred vow.
"I had to," Lara Jean giggles, "It was too funny." Lara Jean looked at both Peter and Chris, "You both should just stick to english, you just butchering other people's languages."
"Look who is speaking," Chris laughs, "I've literally heard your grandmother tell you that she's disappointed in you because you don't have speak korean."
"You can speak korean." Everyday Peter felt like he learnt something new about his fake girlfriend. And everyday that made him see her in a different light.
"Well yes," Lara Jean said, "I am korean after all. But I do admit, I am rusty when it comes to the language. Margot is better than all of us."
"Yet spanish and french you're amazing at." Chris said.
"Merci ma belle amie." Lara Jean giggled. This made Peter smile.
"Shut up you know off." Chris said and they all laughed.
"What are we laughing at?" Gen said walking up to them with Emily and some cheerleader named Briea.
Peter and Lara Jean stopped laughing while Chris just frowned at her cousin.
"Ever heard of minding your business, cousin?" Chris said.
"Ever heard of I don't give a crap Christine." Gen snapped back, "I'm not here for your and your little friend, I need to speak to Peter."
"Wow, jealous much?" Chris said smirking at Gen.
"Of what?" Gen said in a very sweet voice, "I have a boyfriend. Peter knows I spoke about Brad last night to him."
"Yeah where?" Chris asked looking around, "Oh you spoke about that pathetic thing who dropped you off on Sunday at Grandmas for lunch."
Peter sniggered slightly at this and Lara Jean nudged him as she was holding in her laugh.
Gen looked like she was ready to explode. She looked straight at Peter, "Can I talk to you?"
"Um," Peter looked at Lara Jean, "I can't right now, we are meeting the guys for lunch. You coming Chris?"
"Oh no," Chris shudders and looks at Emily, "I can't handle Greg the same way some people can."
Emily looked sour as Greg had actually ghosted and avoided Emily after the party. Even though at the party Greg was all over Emily in front of everyone. The next Monday,when people made fun of how he was all over her, he made his choice. Peter had felt bad for Emily but since Greg had never involved himself in his love life he would not involve himself in Greg's.
Chris smirked and said "Bye" dragging her bye the same way Gen does as she walked away from them.
"Uh we should go." Peter said to Lara Jean. Lara Jean nodded and closed her locker. Peter did not by any means want to to talk to Gen when she was this angry. Lara Jean, our of habit, takes Peter's hands and they walk towards the cafeteria.
Peter heard Breia say, "What the hell just happened?"
"What do you think dumb ass." He hears Gen say.
The walk hand in hand to the cafeteria smiling a little, "Chris was a little harsh."
Peter had told Lara Jean what had happened between Emily and Greg. This was also another first for Peter. Never had Peter spoken out of his friendship group, especially not to Gen. But with Lara Jean, he couldn't help talking about anything with her
"Well to be be fair Gen represented that group so," Peter said and then started sniggering, "Chris is hardcore though."
"When I grow up I wanna be exactly like her." Lara Jean giggles.
"That makes two of us," Peter laughs, "Hey did you bring some of those cookies you made?"
Lara Jean smiles and shifts her bag to her side and taps it with a large grin.
Peter had learnt in the last month that Lara Jean was excellent at baking. Sometimes in the morning when he'd pick up Kitty and Lara Jean, Kitty would be eating cookies.
The first time he tasted them he was in heaven.
"Wow where did you get these?" He asked Kitty.
"Lara Jean made them." Kitty said, "Lara Jean always bakes. Her shortbread cookies are also amazing."
Peter looked at Lara Jean who just blushed.
From that day on, Lara Jean brings him all sorts of things when she bakes things.
"You're the best fake girlfriend a man could ever ask for." Peter smiles at her. Lara Jean giggles and they make there way to the table where Trevor was already sitting with Pammy.
Pammy and Trevor had also been chilling for a while but both Pammy and Trevor had claimed they are nothing but friends.
Pammy smiled at both Lara Jean and Peter as they sat down.
Lara Jean always ate lunch with Peter and his friends. In fact, Peter's friends (even those on the lacrosse team loved Lara Jean).
"Hey guys," Pammy smiled at them.
"Hey Covey." Trevor smiled at Lara Jean, "You have any of those fantastic cookies?"
Before Lara Jean could answer, Peter said, "Yeah but none for you."
"Come on Kavinsky," Trevor said, "Be fair and share."
Ohers from the team, Jason and Mike sit behind Peter and Lara Jean but still greet them. Lara Jean smiles at them.
Peter, however, continues to chastise Trevor, "No I'm tired you clowns eating my girlfriend stuff that she intended for me." He unconsciously puts his hand on her leg and Lara Jean places her hand over his. Peter got a bit of a fright because he had not realised her dress had a slit that opens like that when she sat down. Lara Jean also visibly blushed but just squeezed his hand assuring him that she was fine.
It was sort of their thing, just squeezing hands.
"Whatever," Trevor rolls his eyes, "Pammy can you bake."
"Yeah," Pammy said, "But two things. Not as well as Lara Jean."
"I am sure that's not true Pammy." Lara Jean smiles.
"What's two?" Peter asks.
"I am not your girlfriend," She says to Trevor and then looks above his head, "Oh there's Lucas. Lara Jean, I'll see you this afternoon at extra chem." Then she runs to Lucas. Peter looks at Trevor who looks visibly uncomfortable statement that Pammy made.
Before Peter can same something Greg walks up to them with a tray of fries.
He high fives and fist pumps Peter and tries to do them same with Lara Jean making weird sounds with his mouth but struggles a little which makes her look at him awkwardly. Peter can't help but laugh at her expression.
Greg puts his tray down in front of Trevor and says, "Don't touch my fries." But Trevor is so lost in Pammy's comment that he doesn't even respond or listen.
"Listen, Lara Jean," Greg said enthusiastically, "I was thinking about your name; Lara. Jean. Put them together, you get Largie! Largie." He says largie in a high pitch voice that causes Peter to laugh even while he is trying to sip on his water.
"Are you on something?" Lara Jean frowns at Greg.
"UH I'm on to a new nickname for you." Greg stands up and picks her up as he says, "Largie, it's funny because she's so small!" He spins around on her shoulders.
"Nooo." Lara Jean squeals but giggle too. Peter can't help but laugh even more. It was nice to see Greg like his girlfriend, even if she was fake. Greg set Lara Jean down next to Peter again. Lara Jean looked flushed but was giggling.
"Greg," Lara Jean said, "You are special."
"That is what my mom says," Greg grins and takes his fries and then frowns at Trevor who is still lost in thought, "Do I even want to know."
Peter shakes his head and steals a fry from Greg.
"You really don't" Trevor says and stands up grabbing his bag, "I'll see you guys around."
"That guy just needs to ask Pammy out already." Peter says to Greg.
"We still on about Pammy," Greg shakes his head, "I thought we all agreed that they just friends."
"Come on," Greg looks at his friend, "You and I both know that was bullshit."
"Fair enough," Greg says eating his fries, "But what happens now if he's out here acting like a lost puppy."
Peter sniggers, "I think the kid didn't expect to catch feelings."
"You would know all about that." Greg says smirking his friend and then taking another bite of his fries, "Isn't that right Largie?"
Peter looks at Lara Jean who seems to be staring at something but thinking even harder about something. Peter frowns and nudges her slightly, "Hey you ok?"
Lara Jean blinks a few times before smiling at them, "Sorry I was lost in my own world."
"I get like that when I get high with my sister," Greg says, "Hey you need to meet Audrey."
Peter was still looking at lara Jean wondering what she was thinking so hard about. Lara Jean catches him staring. She take his hand and squeezes it again.
"Hellooo love birds." Greg snaps at them.
"Audrey is your sister right?" Lara Jean says smiling, "I would love to meet her."
"Yeah," Greg smiles, "She would dig you...She should be home after the ski trip, so you can meet her then."
"My sister will be back then too." Lara Jean says excitedly.
Just then Gen and Emily walk into the cafeteria. Emily glares at Greg as Gen just looks at Peter who pointedly does not look in their direction.
"Wow the ice princesses are super unhappy today." Greg says eating his fries.
"Tell me about it." Peter and Lara Jean say together which causes them to laugh.
"Urgh dumb love birds." Greg rolls his eyes and turns to Jason and mike to speak to them.
"Hey can I come over tonight to revise one last time before tomorrow?" Peter asked.
"Sure," Lara Jean says, "My dad is working late though so Kitty might be distracting."
"It's ok," Peter smiles, He loved hanging with Kitty and he loved hanging out with the Coveys.
That night Peter and Lara Jean are sitting at the table going through tenses when Kitty comes down stairs.
"Lara Jean I'm bored!" She declares, "Can't we watch a movie with Peter."
"Yeah!" Peter says excitedly looking at Lara Jean hopeful. She seemed a little out of it but was trying to remain focused.
"No," Lara Jean frowns, "We need to finish your vowels and learning sentence structure."
"We did this yesterday," Peter says, "Come on, we can finally watch Sixteen Candles."
Lara Jean knew that Peter hated studying but she did her best to keep him focused. But Peter knew that Sixteen Candles was something that Lara Jean could not say no to.
"Fine." Lara Jean conceded.
They make popcorn and set up the laptop and start watching the movie. Peter frowns at so many parts as they seem a little...extra.
"I'm sorry, isn't this character," Peter says while eating popcorn, "Long Dong Duck...like, kinda racist?"
"Not "kind of." Extremely racist." Lara Jean assures him.
"So why do you like this movie?" Peter frowned. It seemed weird for her to like it because she was generally a very socially conscious and aware person.
"Why are even asking that question?" Kitty answered for Lara Jean, "Hello, Jake Ryan!"
"Pfft," Peter huffs, "I am way better looking than that guy."
"You wish!" Kitty sniggers.
"Oh, yeah?" Peter teased and they began having an impromptu pillow fight, "Incoming!"
While Lara Jean remained distracted.
"Kitty, Petter," Lara Jean said at the end of the movie, "You knocked popcorn on the floor you clean it. Peter I am just going to get you some good night notes."
Peter learnt that good night notes were notes that Lara Jean had made for him so that he could revise before he went to bed.
"Thanks Covey." Peter said as she walked up stairs. Peter looks at Kitty who has already started picking up popcorn off the floor. Peter gets on his knees to help her, "Hey is your sister ok?"
"She's your girlfriend." Kitty shrugs.
"Yeah but you're her sister." Peter asked, "Come on Kitty."
Peter felt uneasy because he had never seen Lara Jean like this.
"I don't know," Kitty shrugged, "I mean she was sort of acting weird before you came. Well after she was done talking to Josh now that I think about it."
"Josh," Peter stopped what he was doing, "Sanderson was here?"
"Yeah." Kitty eyed Peter, "They didn't speak long."
"But they spoke." Peter sighs having no idea why he felt like there was a fire inside of him that was burning.
Was Peter jealous?
Lara Jean walks Peter to the door when its time for him to leave.
"So Sanderson was here?" Peter feels like it's important for them to be honest. Peter sometimes told Lara Jean when Gen called and texted stuff. In the end Gen was meant to be endgame and Josh was meant to believe that Lara Jean was not into him.
"Whoa. Okay, that's the last time I leave you alone with Kitty." Lara Jean says as they walk outside. Lara Jean closes the door behind her.
"Covey come on," Peter says sitting down on the bench on the porch, "What happened?"
Lara Jean goes to sit next him, "When he got the letter my life sort of took a turn."
Peter nods as he listens.
"And all this time I've been trying to make him believe that I don't like him," Lara Jean sighs, "but I just feel like I've given every person who got a letter an explanation on the letter except the guy from model UN."
"So then tell him the truth?"
Lara Jean looks at Peter and sighs, "That's the thing, how do I tell him the truth without hurting Margot in the process."
Lara Jean would do anything for sisters, this was a golden fact and the fact that she felt like she implicated Margot made Lara Jean feel uncomfortable, this Peter knew for a fact.
"Well," Peter says, "I am horrible at giving people advice." Lara Jean smiles slightly at this, "You can't blame yourself for something you wrote a long time ago and secondly...unless you know how you really feel. Then you can't pin point your guilt just yet."
Lara Jean then says, "I wish I was you sometimes."
"Why?" Peter frowns.
"Atleast at the end of this," Lara Jean says looking down, "you know what you getting. Yeah I convince Josh but our relationship will still be…"
"Weird." Peter finishes her sentence. However he wasn't commenting on her end, he was commenting on his.
It was weird what started all of this.
It's weird because he doesn't know if Gen is what he wanted.
Peter decides that maybe changing the subject would be best.
"Hey can you help me with chem tomorrow?" Peter asks. He knew how much tutoring made Lara Jean happy especially since Peter's grades were gradually starting to improve.
"My dad and Kitty will be here tomorrow," Lara Jean frowns, "Too many distractions."
"We could do it at my house," Peter thought, "Tomorrow's Friday, my mom always hangs out with my aunt on Friday's and my little brother will be at a sleepover."
"That would be great," Lara Jean smiled, "I've never been to your house before."
"Your house is way more interesting." Peter laughs.
Lara Jean just smiles and looks at Josh's house. This somehow leaves Peter's throat dry and tight.
"Don't think about him." Peter said suddenly.
He had no idea where that came from and why he was saying that.
"What?" Lara Jean frowns.
"I mean," Peter tries again, "Don't think too hard about him. He's probably just going through the motions of figuring things out."
"You think?" Lara Jean asks.
"Yeah I mean guys are not like girls," Peter says, "Unless something is made 1000 percent obvious to us, we don't think too hard about it. He lost Margot. And that wasn't obvious that he would loose her right?"
Lara Jean nods.
"Then you wrote him a letter," he said further, "And then he was confused because your feelings weren't obvious. Then out of the blue you dating the king of the cafeteria." This makes Lara Jean giggle slightly, "Too many things are happening. He's probably overwhelmed."
"Really?" Lara Jean asks seeking reassurance.
"Really." Peter smiles and then takes her hand, "If anything you want him to be confused because then eventually the confusion will get too much he will have no choice not to entertain it any longer."
"Thank you." Lara smiles.
"A-duh," Peter says and smiles at her, "James Dean remember." Lara Jean giggles as they stand up.
"Rather than long dong duck right." Lara Jean laughs.
Peter laughs out loud, "100 percent." They then walk towards his Jeep, "So I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Yeah." Lara Jean smiles as he gets in the car.
"Good night Lara Jean." Peter smiles.
"Good night."
The next day when Peter comes down stairs and Owen is already eating breakfast. His mom walks down stairs ready for work. Peter opens the fridge to take the milk out for his cereal.
"What do you two want for dinner tonight." He mom says as she pours herself coffee.
Peter stops in his tracks and looks at his mom, "Wait you're staying here tonight? What about Aunt Deniese?"
"She has a date." His mom smiles.
Peter's aunt, Deniese was a doctor who had dedicated her life to public health. She was younger than his mom by seven years and since she had studied for most of her life, she did not do the whole dating thing. His mom spent a lot of time with her so she wouldn't be lonely. But Peter suspects that his mom needed her more than visa versa, especially after the divorce.
"What about Owen's sleepover?"
"Richard is going camping with his dad." Owen explained.
"So it all works out well," Peter's mom said, "Family Friday."
"One problem."
"What?" His mom frowned.
"I'm studying here tonight."
"With who."
"Oooooh," Owen teased, "With Kitty Song Covey's sister." Peter glared at his brother.
"Covey?" Peter's mom smiles slightly, "why does that name sound so familiar."
"You know Dr Covey Mom," Owen said, "The women doctor with the three daughters."
"Oh yes," Peter's mom smiles, "I have always wondered how his wife has not been weirded out by that."
"Weirded out by what?" Owen asks.
"Nothing," His mom says quickly and says, "Is this the girl that you have been 'studying' with almost every night." She makes bunny ears with her fingers at studying.
"Mom," Peter rolls his eyes, "It's not like that."
"Kitty told Bella who told Brandon who told Richard who told me that you two are so in love." Owen laughs.
"In love?" His mom raises an eyebrow at her son, "Then you must bring here tonight."
"Wait what?"
"You have met her family I assume. What's her mom do?" Peters mom asks.
"She died when she was little mom." Peter says, "But-"
"Oh what a shame,"Peter's mom says sympathtically and then adds, "Either way, have you met her family."
"Yes But-"
"Then she must meet yours." Peters mom shrugs.
"Mom-" Peter begins.
"This Kitty person sounds like a reliable person Owen," His Mom looks at Owen, "Love she said."
"I'm not even paraphrasing." Owen smiles and Peter glares at him once again.
"Then that settles it then," Peter's mom smiles, "I'll make Spaghetti Bolognese. Grandma's recipe." Peter's mom takes her keys and handbag, "Six thirty Peter, then the two of you can study after."
"Mom wait-" Peter is trying to argue but Peter's mom is at the door and says, "Have a lovely day my beautiful Children. Peter take your brother to school."
Peter's phone buzzes then and he sees its a text from Lara Jean:
Hey don't worry about picking us up. My dad is taking Kitty to school for some meeting. He said he would take me.
When Peter gets to school he looks for Lara Jean but is stopped by a crying Gen.
"What the-" Peter starts as she says, "Can I talk to you for a moment."
The thing about Gen's tears is that because they hardly showed up, they were manipulative when they did. He could never say no to a crying Gen, ever. That is why their break up was smooth because the tears were there.
"Um ok." Peter says and they walk into an empty classroom. Peter puts his hand on her shoulders, "What's wrong."
"It's Brad."
Peter sighs. This was normal when she did phone him at night sometimes and he did answer, she just spoke about Brad.
"What happened?"
"Last night he went to some party and he told me that he would call me at midnight," Gen sighs, "And then he didn't...then this morning he was flipping out on me when I called and now we're fighting and…"She just sobs.
Peter sighs and gives her a hug.
He guessed he would tell Lara Jean later.
At lunch Peter came out of class and went straight to Lara Jean's locker where he knew she would be getting her books.
And bingo he is right.
"Hey." Lara Jean smiles.
"So…" Peter sighs, "Um about tonight-"
"Are you cancelling on me?" Lara Jean looks genuinely worried which delights Peter and he has no idea why too.
"No, no, no," Peter says, "But um my mom wants to have dinner with you."
"Oh," Lara Jean says and then blushes, "Well you met my dad."
"Yeah." Peter says, "But you don't have to to if you don't want to."
"Peter," Lara Jean smiles, "It would be rude to decline dinner." She closes her locker, "I have study hall until six today. Can you pick me up from here and we can go have dinner with your mom."
"Sure." Peter says relieved that she wasn't freaking out.
"Awesome." She says turning away.
On their way to Peters house, Peter is feeling a little nervous and he had no idea why and he had a feeling that Lara Jean could sense that.
"Peter," Lara Jean said softly, "You know it's just dinner. We don't have to do this. We can make up some excuse to your mom and go the the diner." Lara Jean looks out the window, "This wasn't part of the contract, so I understand."
Lara Jean hardly ever brought up the contract unless it was for a joke.
"It's not you," Peter sighed, "My mom wasn't really fan of Gen."
"What?" Lara Jean sounded really shocked.
"My mom is sort of what you call a mix between a realist and...sometimes pessimism and optimism and-"
"Peter," Lara Jean stops her, "How about you breathe"
Peter looks at her and takes a deep breath.
"Ok, what happened with Gen?"
Peter sighs and says, "Gen has a strong personality and she sort of made jabs at my mom a lot. And it's a lot to explain."
"Ok," Lara Jean said, "I can hear you don't want to talk about it...but I'll say this, you don't have to worry about me taking jabs at your mom about anything."
Lara Jean looked sincere as they stopped in front of Peter's house. He looked at her and smiles slightly.
"I know." He said softly, "You look great by the way."
He looked at her with her hair down and her blouse and skirt. Lara Jean blushes slightly.
"So we are gonna do this?" Lara Jean asks.
He knew that Lara Jean was nothing like Gen.
"Let's do this." He smiles.
They get out the car and walk into the house where Peter can smell that his mom has been cooking. Owen is busying himself by setting the table.
"Oh wonderful," Peter's mom exclaims and smiles, "You must be Lara Jean."
"Hi Ms Kavinsky," Lara Jean smiles shaking her hand.
"Dana please." Ms Kavinsky smiles.
"You know Owen right?" Peter asks pointing at his little brother.
"Yes," Lara Jean says with a smile, "You know my sister right?"
"Kitty Covey," Owen says with a smile, "Yeah we take Art and Maths together. She's really popular."
"That sounds like Kitty." Peter smiles.
"Peter please offer our guest something to drink." Ms Kavinsky says.
Peter asks Lara Jean what she wants to drink and her reply is just water. Ms Kavinsky then announces that everyone should make their way to the table.
"It's not a very creative meal Lara Jean," Peter's mom says apologetic.
"It looks amazing," Lara Jean smiles as she is offered the bowl to dish up, "I love pasta."
Ms Kavinsky smiles sweetly as everyone begins to dish up. Peter looks at Lara Jean who smiles at him, he smiles back.
"We're so happy to finally meet you." She says enthusiastically, "Peter tells me that you have two sisters."
"Yes," Lara Jean smiles, "I have an older sister who just left for college, and I have a younger sister, who's Owen's age."
"Aw." Ms Kavinsky smiles, "Well, your mom must love having girls." Peter drops is fork as his mother continues to joke, "And me? I'm stuck with these two heathens."
"Mom, I told you." Peter says a little frustrated, "Lara Jean's mother passed away when she was little."
Peter's mom looks at Lara Jean in a distressed way. Peter also looks at Lara Jean apologetically while Owen just looks at his bowl.
"I am so sorry, Lara Jean, I…" Ms Kavinsky says quickly.
"Actually, she…" Lara Jean comes to her rescue quickly, "She did love having girls. Although, Kitty is definitely still a heathen."
Ms Kavinsky smiles at Lara Jean gratefully as does Peter.
"Where does your sister go to college?"
"Oh um University of Glasgow in Scotland." Lara Jean smiles.
"Oh Scotland how wonderful." Ms Kavinsky says excitedly.
The rest of the night goes off without a hitch. Ms Kavinsky is happy to engage with Lara Jean the whole night. She asks questions about Lara Jeans heritage and tells her a little about Peter and Owens heritage. Lara Jean is shocked to find out that Peter and Owen are part Italian and part German.
"You're Italian?" Lara Jean looks at Peter.
"Peter's father is fluent in Italian." Ms Kavinsky says simply, "In face most of their relatives live there."
"I did not know that." Lara Jean smiles at Peter who just continues to eat his pasta.
Ms Kavinsky laughs, "Not many people do honey," she sips her water, "Grant tried to teach them so that he could take them to visit family but then…"
She then trails off and realizes that she was about to say 'before the divorce'.
"Peter is getting so much better at Spanish." Lara Jean says quickly.
This is when Ms Kavinsky thanks Lara Jean for getting Peter's grades up.
"I must say Lara Jean," Ms Kavinsky says, "coach called and asked me if I had hired a tutor because some teachers had come up to him and told him that he's been doing great."
"Wait you didn't tell me that." Peter frowns at his mom.
"Yes well," Peters mom says, "You didn't tell me about Lara Jean was such a wonderful tutor."
Lara Jean blushes slightly.
Since Owen set the table and Ms Kavinsky made dinner, Peter volunteers to clean up and Lara Jean offers to help. Ms Kavinsky excuses herself to phone her sister and Owen goes to the den to go pay fortnite.
Peter makes Lara Jean year before they get to cleaning. Lara Jean laughs as she watches Peter clean the pots in the kitchen because she has never seen him so domesticated.
Lara Jean brings the dishes to the kitchen as Peter starts packing the dishwasher. He's grateful that his mom has taken in Lara Jean kindly. His brother, has just been chilled about the evening.
She goes back to her mug and to finish her tea so that he could take the mug.
"So, Owen's a pretty shy kid, huh?" She says to him.
"Yeah." Peter shrugs as he packs the dishwasher.
"You know," Lara Jean says causally, "I think Kitty could help with that."
"Yeah?" Peter frowned But was intrigued by the idea. He did want his brother to get out of his shell more. He did want his brother to feel like he could talk in groups or crowds.
"Mm-hmm." Lara Jean nods.
"Okay."
"I think they would be good friends." Lara Jean hops off the stool at the breakfast bar to take her mug to him.
"Probably. Yeah." Peter chuckles slightly at the idea of Kitty forcing him out of his shell.
Lara Jean picks up a bowl on the counter to hand to Peter.
"Hey," Peter begins feeling like he owes Lara Jean an extended an apology. He never wanted her to feel hurt or sad or that him and his family were insensitive, "'m really sorry about what my mom said to you."
"No, it's okay." Peter could hear that she genuinely meant it, "Honestly, you know, it's nice talking about her like it's normal." She hands him cup,"Like it's not some tragedy." She hands him the bowl and smiles at him reassuringly. Peter felt better about it.
Lara Jean goes to the counter and slips on top.
"Is it weird not having your dad around?"
Peter knee where this question was coming from. The Italian thing. But Peter also knew that there was no one on this planet that he would rather share this information with than Lara Jean.
"It's not as weird as it used to be." He says honestly, "Sometimes I walk around the house," he looks around the kitchen, "and see he's not in any photos anymore,
and I really miss him." He began noticing that his mom was meticulous about doing it gradually. She first started in her bedroom and made her way down. Eventually it felt like there was never a Grant Kavinksy that ever lived in here. But unfortunately, his mom could never- would never- get rid of the product of him; Owen Abraham Kavinsky and Peter Grant Kavinsky. For Peter it was worse because he had his namesake which sometimes made him mad. Especially since his fathers name is Grant Peter Kavinksy. So then Peter says in a pit of anger and perhaps arrogance, "But then I think about everything he's doing with his new family that he used to do with us, and I get so mad I'm glad he's gone."
Lara Jean immediately says with a soft yet sad undertone, "You don't mean that." She nods slightly as if she knows exactly what was going on in his mind, which she probably did, "You can be mad at someone and still miss them."
Her mom. Peter thought.
Here's the thing, instead of entertaining his rage and doing what lost people have done and hyped his anger and saying stuff like "yeah fuck him", Lara Jean soothes it. Made him understand it. Made him know that he is allowed to feel more than one feeling at the same time.
All because she herself understood.
"I bet you really miss your mom, huh?"
"Yeah. Every day." Lara Jean sighs, "But you know, it's…" Peter could see she was struggling to find the words but allowed her this moment because in this very moment she was letting him in, "It's been so long now that, like...Okay, it's like this, I'll be doing my homework, or I will be washing dishes or something, and I'm thinking about my family, and I forget there was a time where it wasn't just my dad and my sisters. And it only happens for like a quarter of a second, but…" Her voice seemed off but her face resembled someone who I would not cry about it, "I feel really, really guilty about it." She then looks at him, "I've never told anyone that before."
Peter feels warm and comfortable and vulnerable. But also he feels grateful because he also has never been able to understand his feelings.
"I mean, I get it." He says to her, "It makes sense to me." He then leans in and whispers to her, "I don't actually hate my dad," Lara Jean looks at him in full understanding and seems to be pleased with herself, "I didn't mean it like that. At least he's not, you know…"
Peter feels like he wants to shoot himself for even blurting it out like that until she makes a funny face and says, "Dead."
"Sorry." Peter sighs.
"It's okay." Lara Jeans smiles and looks at him, "It's actually really nice having someone to talk to about this stuff." Was it possible to look at someone deeper and see something else because that what it felt like was happening, "You're a good listener."
"Yeah?" Peter says smiling and then say it in a mocking way, "Why, thank you." Lara Jean chuckles slightly. Peter then becomes serious and says, "You are, too."
"Thanks." She smiled and gazed at Peter .
"You're welcome" Peter gazed back before she decided to look away. Peter also found that he had to look away.
"So um you still up for studying?" Lara Jean asked.
Peter groaned and then smiled, "Ever played Fortnite?"
Instead of studying both Owen and Peter showed Lara Jean how to navigate the game which turned out she was pretty good at. Of course she was. Her father had come to pick her up because he was actually on his was to the super market to get something about flowers for a patient.
When Peter said goodnight to her, it felt different. Everyday was awesome with her that sometimes he didn't want it to end. But this felt like the teather that had been hiding itself became more visible.
He wondered if she felt it too.
What was it to begin with.
That night Peter lay in bed looking at the ceiling finding it difficult to to fall asleep. He took his phone out to look through his Instagram. In the last month He had already posted three pictures with Lara Jean. Well technically two with Lara Jean and one with her alone.
The one was taken by Pammy in the cafeteria where Peter his arm around her and she was smiling looking at him like he was the best thing that had ever happened. He did not even know what they were talking about but he looked pretty engaged herself. Her hair was down and she was wearing the red skirt that she wore that day at the cafeteria when he try to tell her off again. The caption was even funny:
Find someone who looks at you like this. *heart face*.
The second was taken in the library and he thinks this was taken by Trevor because Greg didn't even know where the library was and Trevor always went there with Pammy (these days). Once again the picture was candid. Lara Jean was explaining something to him and he was trying to take notes. Peter had captioned it:
Bae is always out here helping me be the smart guy too.
As arrogant as it was, Lara Jean had actually come up with the caption. He remembered that that was the day that Gen had also posted something about her and Brad about thirty minutes after he had posted her.
The third of her alone was when she presented him with a fresh batch of cookies. Her hair was down here too. In fact Peter has noticed that since the party she had been wearing her hair down a lot and Peter loved it. Peter had even noticed that he could not go the whole day without smelling her strawberry scented hair. It sound weird but he loved the smell of her hair. He had not even tried hard with the caption that day:
She baked me cookies.
That particular photo got the most likes and comments. That particular picture made Peter more aware of the fact that, this fake relationship would be awesome if it were real.
Peter went to her feed…
Nothing.
That made Peter uneasy and he had no idea why. Just as he was about to put his phone down He gets a text from Gen:
Hey can I call?
Peter sighs in frustration but knows that this is a clear reminder as to why he was doing all of this.
He is about to respond until Lara Jean texts him:
Tonight was so much fun. I'm YouTubing Fortnite hacks and tips right now. *laughing face*
And just like that without even knowing it Lara Jean, blocked him from responding or even calling Gen.
But this confused Peter.
Gen was his first everything. That could never change. But Lara Jean had come in without warning and now Peter wondered how important a first is when you are not sure if you are in love with them anymore.
Peter snapped his head up.
He could not believe he had just said that.
"Of course you still love Gen." Peter hissed to himself.
But his braid then said, then what do you feel for Lara Jean?
Peter looked at the messages and then went to Lara Jean and replied:
That's cheating. When you are here next bring Kitty. Wait does she like Fortnite?
Peter spend the rest of evening texting Lara Jean and forgetting that Gen had requested to call.