Chapter 18- broken strings

Peter spent the rest of his break only going onto his laptop to report the post. Which was taken down a little after it was posted.

Other than that, his mom still had his phone so we was grateful that he didn't have to deal with thousands of text messages pertaining the video. Especially from Gen.

However he would have loved to try and contact Lara Jean but couldn't because deep down he knew she wouldn't answer.

Peter spent most of his time with his mom, his aunt and his brother. One day during the break they went up Maryland for a couple of days to visit his uncle Danny's tombstone as Maryland was where Peter's mom, Deniese and Danny was born.

It was amazing because Peter and Owen had not been to Maryland in a while and he was glad to get out of town for a little bit. His mom and him also worked on ensuring that any damage that had been made in their relationship was mended.

They spent Christmas in Maryland too which was fitting because of the friends that his mom and aunt had made growing up had invited them to Christmas dinner. They were happy because Dana hated cooking and Deniese could not cook.

The day before school was meant to start again, Peter and his family drove home and his aunt got straight into a cab and went home as she had work the next morning.

When Peter unlocked the door there were Christmas presents sitting on the counter in the kitchen. This confuses both Peter and Owen as they received all their gifts in Maryland.

Dana took her coat off as she said, "Ah Mrs Steel from next door did say there was a delivery for you boys."

Owens grin widened as he walked to the gifts but Peter frowned at his mom who just shrugged and went to go and boil the kettle.

Owen looked at the tag on the one present and frowned, "They are from Dad."

Peter went up to his brother and looked at the tiny tag which held a picture of his father, Gayle and their two small sons on the card. On the other side it read "hey little PK. Hope your Christmas was amazing. I miss you. Love Dad, Gayle, Everett and Clayton."

Peter's blood began to boil as much as the water in the kettle and his mom could see that. She went up her son and took the tag from him to read it. Her eyes filled with what seemed like tears for two seconds and then she shook her head.

"Owen do you want to open yours?" She asked Owen who just shook his head.

"Ok then," Dana said turning into her proactive self, "It's late now. But I'll just put these out and make sure that the mail man comes to get them tomorrow."

Peter looks at his mom and smiles a little. Dana places her hand on her sons cheek and then says, "Why don't you invite Lara Jean for some hot chocolate. Im sure she'd love a cup."

"Then she can bring those amazing cookies of her." Owen says now forgetting about the presents as does Peter because now hearing Lara Jeans name made his heart drop.

"Even if I could," Peter sighs, "I don't even think she'd answer."

"Well why can't you?" Dana frowns and then opens the drawer in the kitchen to hand her son his phone back, "You have a phone again?"

Peter smiles a little as he takes the phone but then sits down, "She is so mad at me mom. And I think she likes someone else."

Dana could see how much her son was hurt and how much he actually cared about Lara Jean. Peter knew that his mom did sometimes fear his loyalty and how things could shift so easily that he would be left in the dark.

"Then it's her loss." Dana said playing with Peter's hair, "You are one of the most amazing people I know."

"You have to say that you are my mom." Peter rolls his eyes.

"True," Dana said, "But if we are being honest, if we had to go ask other people what they think of you they'd probably say the same thing."

Dana then walks out the room leaving Peter alone with Owen.

"You good little bro?" Peter asks Owen.

"I'm good," Owen smiles, "You?"

"I'll be ok."

Owen is about to turn to leave but he turns back his brother and says, "I like Lara Jean Peter. I hear what mom is saying. But she's great. And she makes you happy." Peter is a little taken aback by this confession that he doesn't know what more to say.

Owen starts chuckling, "Can you believe we have brothers named Everett and Clayton."

Peter can't help but laugh and say, "We're definitely the cool brothers."

Owen goes up to his brother and high fives him before walking towards the den probably to play with his new video game.

Peter switches on his phone and immediately thinks about what his brother said based on his wallpaper of Lara Jean. The moment is ruined by text messages being flood in, notifications popping up as well as missed calls from multiple people

Most of the texts and missed calls are from Gen.

Peter I saw the video. Oh my god. Are you ok?

I definitely think Chris did something like this. She's always had a vendetta against you.

The cheerleaders said they would look into who did it.

I miss you why aren't you texting me back.

My dad has been acting really weird lately. Remember when I told you that I think he's doing something he shouldn't last year. The same right now.

Hey Merry Christmas. Want me to come over later for desert?

And they go on and on and never stop. She was making assumptions on the video based on how she felt but he did think back to that night at the ski trip and if anyone saw her at the party or where she had been that night. Peter knew that Gen had her vices but would she stoop this low?

He did however feel bad for her when it came to her parents. Gens father had always been a person who went to the country club, had one too many and did some crazy shit that wasn't handled very well.

One time, Greg invited Peter to come with him to the country club with his parents. They were trying to find a way to get some drinks to their hotel room without being asked their age or for their IDs. Peter walked into the bar and found Gens dad sitting with another woman full on making out with her. The woman was not Gens mom. Obviously.

He has never told Gen because well Gens mom found out. That almost led to a divorce but Peter is unsure what happened because well Gens mom stayed and they seemed fine right before Gen and Peter broke up.

There were other messages from Greg and Audrey and other people he knew. One from Trevor saying merry Christmas. But none from Lara Jean.

That made Peter a little more miserable.

The next day Peter drives to school because he knows Lara Jean will not want a ride from him. In the car this makes him more than a little anxious to see her. When Peter drops Owen off at school, he sees Kitty standing with a bunch of girls and decides that he could still talk to her right.

Kitty sees him and runs up to him.

"Hey Owen." Kitty says as she runs past him to Peter. She looks angry, "Why haven't you called yet?"

Peter is taken back because he didn't think that Lara Jean would want to be called and also the advice that Audrey gave seemed solid until he had his phone confiscated.

"It's little complicated." Peter says struggling to find the words.

"No it's not." Kitty frowns, "It's as easy as picking up your phone and calling Lara Jean and saying hey I miss you let's go for machine cherry cola."

"Kitty you don't get it-"

"No you don't get it," Kitty interrupted, "Lara Jean has been the most annoying person this entire Christmas break. All sad and depressed and stuff. It's draining."

"She was sad and depressed?" Peter frowns, "What about Sanderson?"

"What about him," Kitty rolls his eyes, "Lara Jean is a lot of things but she isn't in the business of taking the one boy that has always and probably will always love Margot. In fact when I sent the letters out and I sent his as a joke."

"Wait!" Peters eyes widen, "You sent the letters? All five letters?"

"Ugh," Kitty rolls her eyes, "Yes I sent the letters. Yes Lara Jean almost killed me during break when she found out. That's old news."

"Kitty why would send them?"

"Fine," Kitty sighs, "I messed up. But I was tired of Lara Jean hanging out with like one person everyday if it wasn't me. And I wanted to hang out with my other friends. Then I could see in the parking lot that you liked her and that she liked you."

"I was still with my ex then Kitty." Peter explains.

"So," Kitty shrugs, "and Yet you responded to the letter without thinking about it. And now you both love each other."

"What?" Peter whispers.

"Peter at the end of the day," Kitty sighs, "You can be up and arms that Josh was at our house the night you and Lea Jean had that dumb fight about who likes who but from where I stand she was mad because she thinks you like Gen and you were mad because you think she likes Josh. If you are both feeling insecure about how the other feels, then well it's clear that the getting mad is because you like each other." Kitty opens her side pocket and hands him his smoothie.

"But I didn't drive you today?" Peter states.

"Consider it payment for tomorrow's drive." Kitty smiles and begins to walks away but stops to looks at Peter, "I don't regret sending those letters. And I think Lara Jean doesn't regret you reading it either." She then walks away.

Peter then stood there knowing exactly what he was going to do.

Today, you get the girl who wrote you a love letter back.

Peter drove into his school parking lot and avoiding anyone and everyone. Greg was standing at his car talking to a bunch of girls. He walked past Trevor who was talking to Pammy. Trevor tried to greet Peter but Peter was in a rush.

He past a bunch of cheerleaders who were giggling and looking at him but he paid them no mind. He just needed to get to Lara Jean and speak to her and stop all of the tip toeing.

I want her and I want her to tell me that she wants me.

As I walk in the passage way where her locker is situated, Lara Jean is storming in my direction trying to get past me with tears in her eyes.

"Hey. Whoa, whoa. Hey, hey, hey." He held her shoulders but she pushed back, "What's going on?"

"You didn't even say it wasn't true?" She shouted moving away from him. Peter had never seen her this mad before, "You just let everyone think we had sex? I bet you're happy the video leaked." She began walking away as Chris came up to him holding a piece of paper.

Peter unfolded it and saw what he was dreading. It was a screen grab of the hot tub video.

"You gonna do something about this?"

And without thinking Peter said out loud, "Hey, everyone, listen up." People who were gathered around Lara Jeans locker now looked at Peter. Some even took their phones out to record him and Peter didn't care, "Not that it's anyone's business, but nothing happened in the hot tub. If I hear anybody talking about Lara Jean or that video, I'm gonna kick your asses. You understand?" Some people stepped back from Peter knowing full well that his control especially with the Lacrosse team. And even though Trevor and Greg were not on terms they wouldn't mind being dick heads at his command.

Peter walked past Chris who clapped at him and said sarcastically, "Nice job, Kavinsky!"

Peter waved her off desperately wanting to go and speak to Lara Jean who watched the whole engagement. She blinks before turning around.

Peter stops her and says, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa." He bent down slightly to look at her, "Look, I am really sorry about everything. If I knew who did this…"

"I know who did it." She snaps at him still angry, "So should you."

Peter sighs. He didn't want to suspect Gen. in fact he had tried not to think about this video still being a source of conversation.

"Yeah, okay. Let me talk to her, okay?" He asked.

"No." She snaps once more, "This is a fight I have to handle myself."

Peter just stood there shell shocked as Lara Jean stormed away. The one thing that Peter has avoided for the last couple of months was any confrontation between Gen and Lara Jean that he couldn't control. And now he would not be able to control this because Lara Jean had now put her foot down…

And there was nothing Peter could do.

Honestly I didn't think I would get this out today but here we are. Lol.

Thank you for all the lovely messages of condolences. I really appreciate the love guys.

And I think just for the love I'll have Chapter 19 very very soon.