Thanks so much for the reviews, favs, and alerts! Glad this keeps you guys giggly. I'm still deciding how this will end up, just writing each chapter and seeing what plays out. So I'm in the dark about it too.
Anyways, here you go! I owns nothing.
The Truce 4
The drive to the city was uneventful. Driving a vampire's truck wasn't as awesome as he thought it was going to be. Even poking around held nothing interesting. Even the road was clear. But then again he was glad nothing happened because that meant he wasn't going to piss Jerry off. The trip to Peter's was quicker then he thought it would take. Especially since he wanted to see how fast the truck would go, and it was fast. As the engine roared and went faster with a lurch. It was a fast and smooth ride. Slowing down as he entered the city.
He parked a block from the hotel and walked the rest of the way. Like always the street was packed. Eventually he pushed through the crowds and entered the private entrance to Peter's place. Saying a quick hello to the security guard who took over the job after Jerry ate the last one. Pressing the call button as he stood by the elevator and waited. The doors opened after a minute and he stepped inside. Watching the city as he rose above it quickly as he leaned on the rail. Absently thinking of how Jerry was going to unveil his secret of what was going to happen to him later.
That's a scary thought. It could be anything.
As the elevator doors opened up, Charley casually walked through the display room and went towards the living room as loud music played and echoed . Peter was nowhere in sight. He looked around and called out his name loudly. He waited a minute before he sat down in one of the chairs and propped his feet near the raging fire.
He watched it quietly as he thought over the situation at hand. There was a lot to think about. Mainly why Jerry would be so gracious and give away his truck. Maybe the vampire was seeking to be accepted by him, or was using it to get closer and wait for the right moment to strike. That saying 'keep your friends close but keep your enemies closer' came to mind and he frowned. He wanted to believe that Jerry had changed, but deep down he knew that wouldn't happen. But then he remembered his tone when he called him earlier. How he never heard him talk like that before.
Except when he talked about Amy on that morning. He swallowed as he realized it was the tone of hungry need.
"Charley! When did you get here?" Peter asked happily was he came into the room. Knocking Charley from his thoughts and startled him.
"Hey man. Like a minute ago. Order some food, I'm starving." Charley said with a grin, covering up his uneasiness.
"You just love me for my money. You couldn't have grabbed a happy meal?" Peter grinned back as he dialed for take out as Charley shook his head, plopping into the chair beside his younger friend.
"Yes, hello. Delivery...Peter Vincent...yes...no, just the usual...no, just the usual I said! Cash. Yea, sure." He hung up and looked at Charley.
"Oh god I hate people. There you go, you damn child. Pizza and wings. So! Did you call Fang?" Peter asked as he lit a small brown cigarillo. "Was there any bodies or blood?"
"Yeah I called him. And no, there were no bodies or anything in the truck." Charley said as he stared at the fire. It was quiet for a long time before Peter spoke.
"So what's the problem?"
"Uh, he wouldn't tell me what the catch was." He said bumping his fists together with a reluctant sigh. Peter arched a brow hearing that part.
"He only told me to keep it, don't wreck it and fill it. But said that I'll find out later. It scares me because he's being...almost normal, I guess. He's trusting me with his freaking truck man! But when I was talking to him, his voice was..I'm not sure. It was different. I'm not normally freaked out talking to him, but his tone really got to me. It seemed...almost possessive."
He looked over at Peter, who sat there staring at him with knowing eyes. Charley raised his brows slowly, feeling nervous under those brown orbs. Peter looked away for a moment before returning them to the teen's face. Hypothesizing a conclusion from all the pieces of evidence he had stored away that he had observed. He was worried for Charley, but he couldn't stop what started.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" Charley asked nervously. Peter waved it off as he stood up.
"Don't worry about it Charley. Just.. keep your guard up and be careful. I'm all for and bubbling with joy for this truce to fucking work. But that after all. It's Jerry we are talking about. You always have to be cautious with him."
"I can't drink Peter, I'm only eighteen." Charley cautioned, and the magician made a noise.
"Charley, it's just one. It will wear off long before you leave." Peter said, making him think about it. "Live a little you shit."
"You know my mom will kill you if she finds you let me drink." He said as he took the small glass of rum and coke. "Then she will kill me."
"I wouldn't doubt it. Your mum, she scares me. Plus you've never refused one either. So shut up and don't tell her. Cheers to whatever the fuck comes next and we live to see next year." Peter said as he sat down, holding up his glass.
"Cheers to that." Charley smirked and sipped the drink slowly. Groaning lightly at the mild burn as it rolled down his throat. Peter talked on about something that he didn't pay attention to. Peter saw how bothered his friend was and just studied him quietly. The teen didn't notice he stopped talking either.
"So how's your show doing?" Charley asked to breaking the silence finally. Peter snickered and looked at him.
"Like you fucking care!" Peter laughed lightly. "It's still shit. Been thinking of changing it a little bit. Fire everybody. Useless buggers all of them. But, whatever. Thinking of adding some new things." He said as he changed the song. 'Waking the Fallen' started playing.
"Might use this song as my new intro."
Charley rolled his eyes and laughed. Looking at him with a grin as Peter raised his brow.
"The last thing the world needs is you defacing a good song with what you do. Least of all over play it." The teen said lazily. Peter coughed his drink as laughed hard.
"Oh, wow. That's just... Just fucking mean! Wow! Charley your going to make me cry!" Peter moaned, then gave him the finger.
They both stared at each other seriously before they laughed suddenly.
"Sorry! Really, I am! I have no idea why I said that!" Charley said when he stopped laughing.
"Oh chill out cupcake. Your the lightweight of lightweights, its probably the sip you had. I know your joking. Who cares." Peter said picking up his phone as it started ringing. "Yeah? Well send him up! Well that was really fast."
Charley couldn't help but think of Ed at that moment as Peter got up and headed towards the elevator.
His face fell blank as he remembered how Peter said something similar and his former friend showed up as a vampire. Followed by Jerry. He closed his eyes and breathed as his horrid memory of Ed turning to ash and his last words to him.
It's ok Charley.
He rubbed his eye slowly as he sighed. Missing him terribly. A sharp stab of guilt filled his chest. It was what needed to be done. But that didn't stop the loneliness he felt. Opening his eyes and stared at the drink quietly as Peter's footsteps came closer, with a soft breath he brought it to his lips and chugged it down quickly. His eyes cringed at the taste of alcohol and gasped when he dropped the cup in his lap. He let out a small burp.
Peter came back carrying a large box of pizza and a large foam container of wings. Pausing when he saw Charley holding up the empty cup. He arched a brow at him and set the boxes on the table in between their seats.
"You drank all of that already?" Peter asked amused. Charley just shook the glass.
"Stop talking and make another." He demanded with a grin. "Please and thank you."
"Your serious?" Peter asked stunned. Charley nodded and Peter just grinned and went to make another. Walking to the counter and made another drink. Wondering what exactly would make the kid want to have another drink. He never had more than one. He returned and handed him the glass.
As the hours past, and the sky darkened more and more, Charley eventually described the dream he had of Jerry that morning. And Peter's obvious answer was that it was just Charley's subconscious telling him to remember what Jerry was. Peter would avoid answering Charley's question about why he was staring for earlier. By six in the evening, Charley and Peter ended up having one too many drinks and the two were busy in Peter's room trying to kill zombies on the game system. Yelling and arguing at each other. Charley's phone rang and they paused their fight as he answered. They both made a worried face when they saw it was his mom.
"Hello?"
"Charley where are you?" His mother sounded angry.
"I'm at Peters, juss playing..call of duty." He said, trying not to slur his words while Peter giggled.
"This late? When are you coming back?" She asked.
"Uh, soon. I shou' be back there. Home. I'll come home." He said as he drank the last of whatever Peter gave him.
"Why are you talking like that Charley?" She sounded suspicious and huffed. "What are you really up to?"
"That is a ver' good ques'ion. Can you do me a huge favor first?" Charley said and laughed as Peter stood up and stumbled, tripping over a blanket.
"Oh, fuck! Whoa! I'm alright!" Peter said loudly. "Why is that on the floor?"
"Are you drunk Charley Brewster?" She shouted in his ear. He panicked and shook his head.
"No, not at all. What gav' you that idea?" He said as calmly as he could. Which made him sound extremely drunk.
"Oh my god! You get home right this fucking minute!" She shouted.
"Ok! Geez, call Jerry an' tell him to drive me home. Cause I'm not driving. And I don't know where my phone is." Charley said and started looking for it on the bed.
"Jesus! You are so dead when you get home. And you can tell Peter that I'm going to kill him tomorrow. And call that bastard yourself." She said with untold fury and hung up.
"Oh man. Peter, we are so busted. I'm in so much trouble! We are in so much trouble! Shit!" Charley panicked. Peter waltzed over and patted his shoulder.
"Well, it was nice knowing ya Brewster. But who cares! Its your fault. You should have stopped at..I don't know. At number four, ya bloody noob."
"I have to call Jerry. He has to drive me home. Hey, he was supposed to tell me his catch!" He held up his phone and started dialing on speaker. Putting a finger to his lips when Peter started talking.
"Hello?"
"What are you doing! I need your help!" He said quickly and held his breath. Jerry sighed.
"What's wrong with your voice Charley? Did Peter drag you down to his level? " Jerry asked knowingly.
"Oi! Fuck you Dracula!" Peter growled. "My level, what the hell does that even mean?"
"Yes! I need you to come to Peter's and drive me home. Please." Charley pleaded, Peter made a mad noise. "I wouldn't ask if wasn't serious."
"Fine. I'm in the city anyways. Twenty minutes." Jerry said tiredly then hung up. Charley dropped his phone and fell back.
"Jerry the Vampire to the rescue! Joy!" Peter griped angrily. "Why did you say here? I don't want him in here after the first time. Fuck that!"
"I can't really see straight and I don't think I can walk properly. I don't..I feel so lopsided." He said sitting up and looked towards his skinny friend, then laid back down slowly.
"How do you function like this?" He mumbled.
"Years of practice." Peter groaned. "If you can't see straight, then pass out. Fang can carry you like a baby and drive you home."
He sat up as he looked at his friend and started laughing. Charley had already passed out and was snoring away, his chest rose and fell slowly with his deep breaths. He grinned as he got up and made his way to the living room. Time passed slowly as he waited for the vampire to show up. After what seemed like forever, the elevator door opened and loud, heavy footsteps filled the display room. Peter closed his eyes briefly before he stood up and met the monster near the fire pit.
"Hey." Jerry said with dilated eyes. Smirking darkly at Peter as he stared back with wide eyes.
"Uh..evening..." Peter said weakly.
TBC!