John Hughes Movie

Chapter 21

Peter

Music blasted over the speakers in our house. The team was over to watch a football game.. Trevor announced at practice that we all needed a boy's night and our place was volunteered. The casual boys night had turned into a full on kegger. Typical of the guys on the team.

I grabbed another cold beer from our fridge and plopped down on a barstool to listen to Johnny tell the newbies about how he almost got trampled by an elephant on a family trip to Kenya. I had heard it a million times before. "I was 5. It must have weighed 10,000 pounds. It was a big fucker. Way bigger than the Asian elephant that everyone thinks about." To be fair, it was a great story but I knew the whole thing front to back.

I settled into my seat and zoned out. I didn't really want to have everyone over tonight. I pushed myself extra hard in practice today and was feeling it. My whole body ached. Any sudden movement of my muscles would create a twinge through my whole body. All I wanted to do was put heating pads all over my body and fall asleep to an episode of The Office in Lara Jean's arms. But that was not in the cards. I couldn't be the one guy on the team to not hang. I called Covey on the drive back to tell her what was up. She said she was so tired that she was about to pass out anyway.

The thought of not having her in bed tonight hit me harder than I thought it would. I had gotten so used to her being there. She was like my favorite body pillow. Wrapping myself around her made me calm enough to fall asleep. What was I supposed to do without her? Only time will tell.

I grabbed my phone to text her one last goodnight text.

Sweet dreams angel. Love you.

I liked getting to be gushy with someone again and Lara Jean loved it. My constant thoughts were about how wonderful I think she is. How kind, and smart, and perfect she was. She had a magical quality about her. A shiny quality that was indescribably Covey.

"Haven't you already texted her like 20 times tonight?" Alex, a senior rolled his eyes at me. I looked up and gave him a finger.

"I think it's the first night they've been apart in weeks. He's having separation anxiety." John smiled at me. If anyone else was saying that, it might have been a jab. But I knew it was just John's way of showing he paid attention.

"You're not wrong." I shrugged and smiled at him. The awkwardness between us kept washing away as time went on. Trev told me he hooked up with a Gamma sorority girl last week and talked about her ever since. They say the best way to get over something...

"I like your lover Lara Jean." Trevor joined the conversation by sitting down next to me. "She makes you way happier and I cannot fucking stand sad boy PK."

I felt my shoulders drop in laughter. Trevor coming to my rescue again. "One, never say lover again."

"I certain will. Aren't you the one who said you loved her after one day of officially dating?" He ribbed me.

"I mean, semantics. And who told you that?"

"Chris. LJ told her the moment after it happened. I guess your girl can't keep a secret."

"Eh, I don't mind." I loved that she wanted to tell everyone. I wanted the world to know about us. She was my favorite person and I wanted to world to know that I got to be a small part of her world. With her, I sometimes felt like I won the most special prize.

Trevor turned to our friends. "And he's meeting her parents this weekend. Well, her dad."

"Really dude?" John leaned over the counter. "Isn't that like...soon?"