Pete liked to be ready, he always put together a schedule and tried his best to stick by it. Today, he would wake up to get himself and his garden ready for the party, officially become fifteen, then stay up late watching old animated children movies and playing video games like he usually did. However, he did not prepare himself for the mentally grueling task of making awkward conversation with his new neighbors and their son. He also didn't prepare himself from being woken up at 9 AM on a summer day, when he should have been sleeping in till noon, by his mother.
Marie Kowalski shook her son. Pete slowly opened his eyes to see his mother standing over him, and she looked like she could go for five or six cups of coffee.
"Pete, wake up the neighbors are here. They want you to meet their grandson. They came over about thirty minutes ago, why would they show up so early?" She had bags under her eyes. She hadn't gone to bed until three or four.
'Probably been working on a painting,' Pete thought, taking note that her hands were covered in yellow paint.
"Grandson? I thought you said he was their son." Pete sat up and wiped the crust from his eyes. Groggily he trudged over to his closet pulling out the new outfit his mother had grabbed him. It was a simple pink button up shirt, even though he begged her not to get that color, but not like the ones he wore to school. This shirt was softer, better than his scratchy school shirt, and Pete could even roll the sleeves up. With the shirt his mother also bought a pair of jeans, with a
"I guess I heard wrong. They say he doesn't have any, friends. I guess their grandson came to live with them only a few days ago, and he hasn't gotten the chance to go around and say hi." She gossiped halfheartedly. suppressing a yawn. Turning away from her son so he could change with some privacy. She busied herself by making his bed. Her frail looking hands patted the comforter, rolling up the sleeves to her gray sweater every once in a while.
"Okay, we could hang out in the garden." He said, more directed towards himself than his mother. He tied the laces to his black converses, still damp and covered in mud from yesterday's accident with the hose. He reminded himself to get better shoes, these were getting to small, and there were to many holes in the bottom.
He rolled up the sleeves of the shirt and tugged at the hem , not bothering to button it up since he was wearing a black t-shirt under it.
When he turned to his mother she was smiling, wiping at her eyes. Pete laughed at her.
"I can't believe you're fifteen. You're practically grown." She laughed e her way over to her son. She grabbed him by his elbows and held him at arm's length.
Marie was happy to see her son was growing up. Most of all, she was happy to see him smiling and laughing again. She couldn't remember the last time she had seen her son smile, and laugh as much as he did now. He always seemed sad, and distant, but this summer he was cheerful. It was a welcomed change in the house.
"Oh god, mom! You still have three more years with me, and I plan on staying here while I go to college." He informed her. It was always difficult when parents started acting like this. When they acted like this, they usually brought out photo albums with embarrassing pictures so they could reminisce on old times. Pete was having none of that today.
His mother just let out a sigh and let go of his arms. Pete gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, and turned to the mirror that hung on to his closet door. He patted down his hair. It had gotten longer, and more scruffy. Once he was certain he was presentable he and his mother made their way to the living room where the guest sat.
Pete's heart skipped a beat when he entered the small, cozy room. The neighbors stood up, and looked Pete over. They were an elderly couple, in there early sixties, clearly wealthy. The older woman had her hair pulled back into a tight bun, her lips pursed, and reminded Pete of Cruella Deville. The older male was smiling, seeming much friendlier, and wore a simple collared shirt, and tan pants. He had his arm slung over a teenage boy.
The teenager had on a green t-shirt with black sleeves under despite the heat, he wore a watch on his left wrist and a familiar brown leather bracelet on the other. His hair cut in a low fade style, with a notable scar on his right eye. His hands stuck into his pockets, and he looked, what Pete could only describe as, numb.
"Hello there!" The older man said waving at Pete. "I'm Richard, this is Linda, and our grandson Gary." Richard gestured to his wife, and brought Gary slightly closer. Gary's grandfather definitely wasn't from around here. His accent deemed him from farther south, definitely not from their small town. Gary's Grandmother looked like she was born and raised in Bullworth.
Pete couldn't believe it. Gary was sent to an asylum after the riot only months ago. How had he gotten out? Wait, Pete lived next door to him?! Was he expected to be friends with this sociopath!?
These questions swam around in his head making him feel sick to his stomach. His mother glanced at him worriedly, wondering why he was suddenly so quiet.
No. He was not doing this again. He was not worrying over bullies anymore. Not after everything he worked for, not after he had just spent weeks of actually feeling happy. Pete refused to let these things get to him. He didn't plan on letting Gary win again.
Gary stopped staring off into space for only a moment. His gaze traveled over to Pete, for a moment his cold stare flickered into what seemed like shock, but Pete couldn't tell because he returned to staring blankly at the floor.
"Oh, hi! I'm Pete, but I'm sure my mother has already told you every embarrassing thing about me." Pete waved with a forced smile.
Gary's Grandfather chuckled.
"Yep she sure did. So you're fifteen now? Congratulations. Our Gary here is turning 17 in a couple of weeks. Hey speaking of Gary, how about you two go spend some time together? Show him that garden your mother's been bragging about."
Pete was shocked at how eager they were to get rid of Gary. He stared blankly at Pete, waiting for him to do something.
"Yeah, okay. Uh, come on Gary, I'll show you the garden." Pete walked out of the living, into the kitchen, and out of the sliding door that led to the massive garden. and Gary followed wordlessly.
Hey! Sorry, this took a little longer than expected. So, wow! Why is Gary acting like this? Is it his medication or has it been the three months of Happy Volts Asylum? So, I hope you enjoyed and thank you for giving me the supporting reviews. I really appreciate guys! You people are just lovely! Hey also, how would you guys feel if I tried a Bully: SE Zombie AU. Of course the main stars of the fic would be Petey and Gary!