Chapter 15- Close

Peter has expected some story that would paint Greg as a complete ass, But was surprised that the truth was availing itself and the role that Greg played was trying to protect Emily's feelings.

"After we left you and Gen," Greg starts explaining, "We came here and she started raiding the mini fridge and I told her to stop. She started getting all weird and shit saying that I need to stop telling her what to do." Greg shakes his head as he continues, "We weren't even meant to be here together. I started talking to her again a couple of weeks ago when I told her I'm sorry."

"When you said you're sorry," Peter asked, "What was the angle?"

"That we could try and be friends again," Greg says, "She cornered one day when I was the grocery store with my mom and because my mom was so...nice to her she got weird ideas." Greg looks like he is internally regretting a lot, "That same night she snuck into my room and she caught me in a weak moment."

"Name a moment that you're not weak." Peter raised an eye brow at Greg.

"Shut up man." Greg sighed, "After that the ski trip popped up and she was acting like we were exclusive. For a moment I was ok with that because well yeah," He shrugs as an indicative that Peter understood, "But then at the party she just started being a little...extra when she kept trying to hold my hand and always around me and when I was talking to a friend...she freaked out on me."

"The Friend was a girl?" Peter asked.

"Yeah." Greg said, "I knew she liked me but I didn't think it was to that point. I asked if we could leave so I could talk to her. Then we left. She kind of started kissing me and then caught me once again at a weak moment until I saw you and Gen and thought the worse."

"What do you mean."

"I mean technically you and Lara Jean haven't broken up," Greg says eyeing Peter, "You would have told me, actually you wouldn't have because you had a whole fake relationship thing and said nothing."

Peter thinks that this would be the best time to announce to Greg that him and Lara Jean were official and nothing was going on between him and Gen.

"Greg-" Peter tries to interrupt but Greg continues, "That's besides the point. I saw you and Gen together and thought of Covey. And then I thought of Trevor and what he said and just thought...I don't want to be a dick especially to girls."

Peters eyes were wide as he looked at his best friends confession.

"So we came here and she started drinking and I told her to stop," Greg said pointing at the smashed mini alcohol bottles, "And then I told her the truth. It's not that I don't like her like that. I think Emily is amazing but I genuinely think that there's a guy that could treat her a thousand times better than me."

He isn't wrong, Peter thought, but at least he's giving her the truth straight.

"She tried to jump me and then when I stopped her she started crying and I started trying to console her and she got mad." Greg said looking at the smashed bottles once more, "Then to calm her down I told her we should talk. We talked a little and then fell asleep for a little bit, it was weird." Greh frowns, "I woke up and she was kissing me again and crying. And then when I stopped her again, she got really mad and cried and then told me she loved me." Peters eyes were wide again.

"What did you say?"

"She can't love me," Greg said, "I treat her like crap. And I told her that. She slapped me and left."

Peter couldn't help but look at his friend with nothing but sympathy. His best friend had wanted to do the right thing and it did not work to his favor.

"She's a little drunk," Peter says trying to console him, "That's why she acted crazy." He knew Emily and she would never throw things or become violent or anything. She was sad and drunk, and she was allowed to be upset.

"I guess." Greg shrugged, "Honestly...I thought I'd feel different after telling her the truth but now I just feel like asking myself if all this time maybe I did have a little bit of feelings." He looked down, "But I know me, I wouldn't have treated her right."

Peter places his hand on Greg's shoulder.

Greg looks up at Peter, "What about you?"

"What about me?" Peter asks confused.

"Are you and Gen getting back together?"

Peter then remembers his statement about Lara Jean.

"No." Peter says, "Actually I was hanging out with Lara Jean before you came into Gen and Emily's room."

"Dude-"Greh groans like he has been told the worst news ever and that is when Peter interjects and says, "It's not what you think."

Peter then explains briefly what happened between him and Lara Jean and how he officially ended it with Gen.

"So it's over then?" Greg says smiling a little, "Gen and you are through."

"We are through." Peter says and looks at Greg, "She will forgive you. And when she does, you need to make it clear to her that you just want to be friends."

Greg nods and then gets into bed, "Dude it's like four in the morning, let's get some sleep."

"Yeah," Peter chuckles then gets into his bed

Before turning the light out Greg says, "Peter?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm glad you and Lara Jean are together together." He says.

Peter smiles at Greg and says, "I'm glad that you did something good today."

Greg smiles and then turns the light out.

The next morning is rushed and a little hectic. Peter and Greh were woken up by some of the guys from the lacrosse team who Peter suspect may still be a little drunk.

All Peter wanted to do was go back to bed but he had no choice but scold them before Miss Lenon found them and told coach then they would all be screwed, even the ones that weren't not on the team.

"Hey assholes!" Peter snapped at them, "Go take cold showers quickly and go grab some coffee. Like now!"

"Dude." Jason slurred, "Can you relax," he laughs with the rest of the team, "Man this guy is tripping."

"He is acting like he didn't get none last night." Wilson rolls his eyes and starts laughing.

Peter looks confused, "What are you talking about?"

"When the rest of us were having that hotel room party," Jason explained, "You were with Lara Jean were you not?"

"Yeah but-"Peter started.

"And you missed booze to hang out with her the whole night." Wilson continued.

"Yes But we-" Peter tried again.

"And I heard you guys were in the hot tub?" Jason grinned.

"Where did you-"Peter tried But Greg stopped him by laughing, "You clowns need to get a life."

"Yeah," Jason said high fiving Wilson, "Kavinsky's awesome life."

They then walked out the room. Peter looked at Greg.

"You know how the guys are," Greg shrugs jumping out of bed, "just let it go."

Peter thinks about it for a moment and wonders if it's such a good idea.

"Trust me," Greg said, "They won't do anything or say anything in front of Largie."

And that was Peter's biggest concern, is the reception that Lara Jean would get. But Peter was going to trust Greg. So he just grinned at his best friend and said, "You better clean up that class before Miss Lenon gets here and it's a whole thing."

Peter gets into the bus and finds that Chris and Lucas are already there sitting next to each other. Chris is leaning in Lucas and looks like she was going to be sick.

Peter and Greg moves to back of the bus where some of the guys were already seated. The bus began to fill up and Lara Jean walked in. The bus, specifically the guys started clapping for her.

Peter's insides felt tight but he just smiled at her and indicated that she should come sit next to him.

Peter moved into the window seat as Lara Jean walked towards him.

"Hey." She said.

"Hey." Peter said as he adjusted his bag at his feet.

"Um…" Lara Jean said looking around before looking at Peter, "You didn't tell anyone about last night, did you?"

Peter looked at Greg for a moment who mouthed at him, "Play it cool."

"Uh,No," Peter said smiling, "that's just how people act with couples on the ski trip. It's normal." Lara Jean frowns for a moment and just looks like she accepts the information, "Hey, I'm tired. Can I use you as a pillow?"

And this is the truth, Peter felt the effects of lack of sleep really start to kick in.

She nods with a smile and Peter leans on her shoulder and takes her hand. He has to slip down a little in his seat because she is a little short but he does not mind.

Peter wastes no time closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep.

When he wakes up again, the bus is still moving and Lara Jean is watching something on her cellphone with her earphones plugged in. Greg and Lara Jean are sharing what looks like gummy bears.

"Hey." She smiles as she realises that Peter is awake. She takes her earphones out.

"Hey." Peter smiles back at her, "What were you watching?"

Greg answers for her, "Can you believe Largie has never watched a single DC movie."

Peter looks at Lara Jean and smirks, "Yes I can."

"You are failing as a boyfriend if you accept this non conforming behavior Kavinsky." Greg says looking back at his laptop screen.

Lara Jean just giggles at Greg's dramatic explanation.

"Snap failing as a boyfriend," He looks at Lara Jean, "Whatever will I do?"

Lara Jean blushes a little as she giggles.

"Uh make her watch DC movies beginning to end." Greg snaps in a playful way which makes it funnier because now Lara Jean just rolls her eyes.

"Has anyone ever told you you're a little extra Greg?" She asks.

Peter laughs at this statement as Greg responds, "Every damn day. And you know…"

Greg trails off as Emily walks past them to go the bus toilet. She doesn't even look in Greg's direction or show any for of emotion. In fact she looks like all the emotion she had-had already been sucked out of her.

Peter looks at Greg who is the one to show more emotion. He looks like he feels, bad.

Lara Jean senses that and may not know what happened but isn't stupid. She has always been good at gaging situations even if she didn't have the full context.

She takes a Tupperware out of her bag and opens it, square crunchies.

"Fudge and oatmeal crunchie?" She smiled at Greg, "I made them myself."

Greg peered at the Tupperware and smiled a little taking one.

Peter smiled at how Lara Jean did something, anything, to make his friend feel better.

Lara Jean turns and hands Peter the Tupperware, "Before you throw a fit that I didn't give you one." She rolls her eyes.

"You know me too well." Peter laughs and takes one. Greg's phone buzzes and he looks at it.

"Damn for real?" Greh says with excitement.

"What's up bro?" Peter asked as he ate his crunchie.

"Audrey lands tomorrow," Greg smiles, "She's home early."

"Lucky." Lara Jean says, "I wish Margot would come home early."

"She in Greenland right?" Greg says.

"Scotland idiot." Peter said because he know he has told him this multiple times.

"Yeah yeah yeah," Greg says then smiles at Peter, "You know Audrey would love to meet you."

Peter's grin also becomes wide, "Actually, you're right."

"You guys should come over during winter break and Largie you can meet my sister." Greg suggests and types to Audrey.

"I'll be happy to but one one condition." Lara Jea states.

Greg frowns at her as does Peter.

"Don't call me Largie in front of her." Lara Jean huff as Greg and Peter laugh.

For the remainder of the ride back to Adler, Lara Jean cuddles against Peter and they both fall asleep.

When finally they get to school, Lara Jean begins to text her dad that he can come pick her up.

Peter stops her, "I'll take you home Covey." Peter smiles taking her phone and typing to her dad that Peter would drop her off, "I want to come hang out with Kitty anyway." He hands her back the phone.

"She will love that." Lara Jean smiles and stands up to get out of the bus. When they walked out, Principle Thomas as outside ticking people off,as Miss Lenon had apparently had to rush home.

When Peter finally comes out Principle Thomas stop Peter.

"Ah Peter!" He says excitedly, "Good time I hope?"

Principle Thomas admired Peter. In fact he made it known to let people know that he favored him. Peter has brought a lot of boosters into the lacrosse team which did Segway into other sports at the school.

Peter also since playing had helped Adler High School be places back into the championship league now for the last three years. Before him, it had been a while since Adler High had seen a championship game.

Once Peter started winning games and then taking home the championship league trophy last year and also MVP of the year two years in a row, colleges started noticing and getting boosters to send money and gear and branded material to Adler. The most prominent of the colleges, UVC.

"Great time sir," Peter shook his hand, "Thanks."

"Anytime." He smiles, "Coach tells me that your grades have gone up in a lot of your subjects."

Peter smiles shyly because he knows it's all thanks to Lara Jean.

"Word on the street is you have been hanging out with Miss Song Covey." Oh another thing, Principle Thomas loves high school gossip the same way he loves money. Peter just nods. Thomas continues, "What a exemplary friendship. One of our top students you know. Only As, sometimes Bs but never seen a C…get it." Peter forces his laughter and then looks over to find Gen is talking Lara Jean.

What?

Peter's insides go hot again but this time he can feel it's nothing but fear. Peter decides to keep to Greg's advice "play it cool."

Where is Greg? Peter thinks.

"Uh Principle Thomas," Peter says looking at Lara Jean and noting that she does not look pleased, "I have to actually drop Lara Jean off at home."

"Oh of course," Principle Thomas smiles, "Responsible too. Ok well then off you go Peter."

Peter smiles at him and then walks Lara Jean as Gen walks a way with a giant grin on her face.

"Hi." Peter said to her playing it cool even though the look on Lara Jean's face says otherwise, "Ready to go?"

"Did you go to Gen's room last night?" Lara Jean asks with no indication of wasting anytime.

"Uh, yeah, but…" Peter starts trying to find the right words because now he feels his heart is pumping and his hands are sweaty.

"And you gave her my favorite scrunchie?"

Oh my god the fucken scrucnchie, Peter thought. He had forgotten about that but had also known that Gen was never random. She never did things just because, everything had a hidden agenda.

"Am I just a joke to you, Peter?"

"No, you're not." Peter says quickly trying to appeal to her understanding and sympathetic side, "You just don't understand the situation."

"No, I understand completely." Lara Jean says simply but you can hear the hint of disappointment and anger and hurt, "This is over," She points between her and Peter as she continues to say, "In every possible way."

Peter is shocked and his heart is still pumping but he won't let her just end it. Just as she is about to turn Peter stops her and says, "Hey Lara Jean, can we just talk about this? Let me drive you home, I'll explain."

"I would rather walk home." Peter thought those words hurt but the next words that came out of her mouth hurt more, "Actually, I'd rather drive myself than get into a car with you right now."

Lara Jean turns on her heel and walks away from him.

Peter turned to find that Gen was standing with a bunch of girls and she had watched the whole thing go down.

And she couldn't stop smiling...

Authors note

I think scariest part of this for me was looking at Gen and everything she did to get to a point to make Lara Jean feel like Shit. What do you think.

I also wanted to explore this idea of boys who want to be with someone but can't because they rather just be known as these players and stuff. And also looking at when guys call chicks crazy it's like do they know that they are the reason? So that's what was happening with Emily and Greg.

Let me know what you think.

I will be posting 16 soon.