IMMPORTANT NOTE! I have had a bunch of comments from the various places I upload my stories saying things that sound as if some people believe this story is going to last longer. I am sorry to tell people that the NEXT CHAPTER IS THE LAST! There will be 2 EPILOGUES after that and then its over.
Peter walked into school on Monday, heart finally feeling like it could beat at a calm pace. He had spent the last couple of days feeling like he would burst every hour that passed and there was no call only to panic when Mr. Davis did contact him. He remembered standing there with shaking hands, Aunt May standing beside him like she expected him to faint and she would have to catch him. It was almost needed when Peter flopped down onto the couch in relief when he was given permission to return to school.
He was so thankful to not tarnish his school record, in turn ruining his chance at a good university that he didn't ask about Wade's fate. He would have asked the older himself if it wasn't for the fact that he was grounded. No leaving the house, no visitors, and no phone calls, with the exception of emergencies of course.
So Peter anxiously awaited Monday in hopes of seeing his friend and maybe they could talk about what was happening between them. Peter wasn't sure about that part yet. He was planing to cross that bridge when he got to it. For now he just wanted to see Wade.
Even when his mind was consumed with worry and worst case scenarios he still thought back to Wade often and how much he craved his friends company. Having the older around would have helped with Peter's panic but the weekend has gone and past. He was here and ready to take on the day.
Peters chipper demeanour however slowly faded. While he was getting things from his locker there was no Wade ready and waiting to greet him. Peter then sat alone in class, empty desk beside him sitting cold and untouched. During his second lonely trip to his locker the brunette began to suspect that Wade may have suffered a different fate.
So, once reaching lunch time, Peter took the free hour to go and investigate. He tried talking to staff but most where ether in the middle of consuming there own meals and didn't want to speak at the moment, or simply had no idea.
It wasn't until just after the final bell of school rang did Peter come up with a rather obvious idea.
"I can't believe I didn't think of this sooner." The brunette thought as he picked up the schools public phone. Scooching as close to the phone as he could get and ducking his head down, he punched in Wade's home phone number off by heart.
Peter stood stiffly as he listened to the phones rings, a twinge of excitement at each pause, hoping that it may have been picked up this time. Eventually though, after what seemed like forever, he finally got what he was waiting for.
"Yo, Wade here."
"Wade, it's Peter."
"Oh." The deadpan, almost unhappy response threw Peter off, his initial joy being sucked out instantly. "Hey Peter." Not even a baby boy?
"Hey, hi, umm?" Peter asked, stumbling over his words a bit. "I, just wanted to check in. What's going on with you and coming back to school?" He asked, deciding to get straight to the point. There was a long pause, Peter standing in front of the wall phone hoping he wouldn't get the answer he got.
"I got suspended." Wade finally emitted in a tone that sounded as if he didn't really want to give this information out.
"What, but..." Peter wanted to fight it but logically it made a bit of sense. Wade started off participated in fights, usually in an attempt to defend Peter and himself, and was very much a take-no-crap kind of guy. The brunette may admire his friend for being so brave but the school obviously didn't see it the same. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be, its not your fault. I'm the one always getting us in trouble."
"Yeah, you are a little crazy." Peter attempted to say in a humorous tone but it fell short of that goal. "I haven't seen you in a couple days, feels kind of weird."
"Yeah, but I think its good."
"You do?" Peter thought, so tempted to actually ask it. "Because I hated it."
"The schools going to be watching you real close, ready to pounce on you the moment you fuck up, so maybe its best if we keep our distance for a bit."
"No!"
"I see." Peter spoke, trying to suppress his desperate thought. Silence fell between the two boys nether sure if they should hang up or not. Eventually it was Wade who broke the silence.
"Well I should let you go."
"Right, sure." Peter muttered, feeling the most awkward with Wade that he had ever been. "I'll see you... eventually." Right?
"See you around Petey. Oh and about Friday... just try to forget about it okay?" The brunette opened his mouth with the intent to say something but nothing came out so instead the older teen hung up.
Peter stood there, continuing to hold the phone to his ear for no real purpose before replacing the receiver on it's hook in defeat.
"Hey Puny Parker." Greeted Flash as he leaned on the wall beside Peter, shocking the brunette just enough for a physical response, which Flash seemed oh so proud of.
"Hello Flash." The brunette greeted once he calmed down a tad, not feeling threatened nearly as much as he did at the beginning of the year.
Ever since the jock got expelled a second time thanks to Peter showing off his black eye to the principle, the physical bullying had subsided. Verbal was still fair game however.
"You calling your boyfriend? I haven't seen him today, where he at?"
"I don't know." Peter answers blankly as he turned and began to walk in the opposite direction in hopes of getting away. Flash may be mean, and by god he was relentless.
"You're not even going to try and deny you're dating anymore?" He asked as he followed behind the younger teen.
"Is there any point?" Peter asked, knowing from experience that no matter what he said or did Flash would always accuse him of being gay.
"Ya, your right. I mean it was pretty fucking obvious how bad the freak wanted to butt fuck you."
"You're right." Was there really any reason to deny it, Peter had seen Wade's boner on Friday. Heck the older man straight up offered to strip for him. A physical attraction was obvious.
"I am?" Flash asked, being taken off guard a bit but regained composure again. "Of course I am. Not that a pussy like you would put out. Is that why the freak isn't coming to school, because you aren't going fast enough for his liking?" Peter had intended to march forward and play ignorant but then his steps slowed as his mind sped up.
The brunette knew Flash was just throwing insults but what if... what if the bully was onto something? Considering how odd the older man acted on the phone, what if Wade was getting frustrated with the lack of progression in their... friendship? Relationship?
Peter was not actually sure what their status was and he never really cared. He never tried to push it forward, at least not consciously. He was simply comfortable with where they where at. He knew Wade liked him, he knew Wade was occupationally flirting and Peter didn't mind. But what if the brunette's 'float through and enjoy' approach on things had given Wade the imprecation that he didn't see what Wade's intentions where.
Peter stared blankly ahead in thought as he tried to think of things through Wade's point of view.
Wade had been following the signs given to him and... nothing. Not extra attention, and when Wade tried something he got... not very consistant replies. Sometimes Peter would push back like when they where on the older mans bed but usually Peter gave a blase response or none at all. Had Peter ever actually encouraged Wade to go further?
...
...
No, he hadn't.
"I don't see why you're holding back though since you obviously like having the freak rub up on you all the time." Peter heard, realizing that Flash was still attempting to mess with him, not knowing how true his words where.
Peter liked it when Wade got a little closer than just friends should. Liked when this large, scared, and tough man cuddled up to him and asked for attention like a puppy. He loved how easy it was to be with Wade. No filters or fear of hurting the others feelings, they both said what they wanted whether it was normal to talk about it or not.
God Peter felt like such a dick because he was pushing away his best friend with his casual attitude. He has had a few crushes that seemed like they're going somewhere but when he finally build up the courage to actually ask them out he's shot down with the claim that they were only trying to be nice. And that's exactly what Wade must feel like.
"Shit." Peter swore at himself, palm of his hand rising to be placed on his face..
"Aww, is Puny Parker having some regrets?"
"Yes." A boatload in fact, the biggest one being that he may have ruined what could be a wonderful relationship, friendship or otherwise. He screwed it up.
"Well then why are you here? Why don't you go and kiss your boyfriend and make it all better?" Flash joked, not realizing how detached the brunette was from the intended insults.
"You know what, that's not so bad of an idea." Peter replied with a semi confident smile, realizing that moping around was obviously not going to do anything. He made a mistake and it was his responsibility to fix it. "Thanks for the help Flash." He said as he patted the jock on the shoulder before slipping past.
"Your welcome." Flash accepted before his expression fell. "Wait, what?"
Peter... buddy... I don't think your on the right track. But hey, it it gets these two to finally hook up, then who am I to complain.