♥ 𝓓𝓮𝓶𝓸𝓵𝓲𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓼 ♥ ~ A Your Boyfriend Game Fanfic/AU

Chapter 1: Part III - The Stranger

Soundtrack:

Obsessed With You by The Orion Experience (Peter)

i think i wanna be alone by mazie (Lily)

Further down the path, I see the city lights shine through the park's trees. We're almost at the edge of the park.

When we leave the park, I glance at him from the corner of my eye, getting a better view of him under the city lights. His height is overwhelming compared to me, and the way he hunches while he walks makes him look like he's preparing to lurch toward me.

Still, he's pretty thin. His vest adds a lot of substance to his figure, but he looks like he hasn't had a good meal since 2010.

Peter's blue eyes meet mine for a moment. The city lights catch his eyes, and they glow like a feline's for a moment. I'm again taken aback by his striking eyes. I look away.

A slight breeze carries his scent to me. He smells of cigarettes and soap, mixed with a slight scent of pine.

We walk a few more blocks in a half awkward, half companionable silence. Peter seems at a loss for words and I have nothing to say. I can tell the looming quiet bothers him more than it bothers me. He wants so badly to fill the silence with our words.

When we reach the convenience store, he holds the door open for me. He looks at me like I'm the most precious little stray kitten he's ever seen. It makes me want to gag. If only he knew how wrong he was about me.

Okay, I need to get something I can eat at home and some coffee.

"What do you need? I can pay," Peter says, following me through the store.

I give him a bewildered expression. "You'd pay for my things? No, I can't allow that." Would he really let me use his money to buy a week's worth of groceries? Christ.

Peter's features melt into an affectionate smile. "I want to." His posture becomes straighter, like he's some knight in shining armor.

"No. I can pay for my own things." Technically, my rent is late because my bum of a roommate doesn't pay her share. But that doesn't mean I want to be indebted to this stranger.

I stride down the packaged snacks aisle, looking for protein bars or anything that looks like it could cheaply get me through my week.

Peter seems undeterred. "It's really no problem--"

"It is. Really." I frown at him.

He averts his gaze and nods. "Sorry, I'm being weird again, aren't I?"

"Very."

"Sorry." Peter's shoulders slouch once more.

Peter trails behind me while I pick up some snacks. I stop at an aisle that has small candles. I really shouldn't spend the money, but I can't help it. Impulsively buying pleasant scents for my room relieves stress.

"What about this one?" Peter picks up a candle that smells like 'strawberry fields.'

I shake my head. "That smells too artificial. I prefer natural scents."

Peter smiles. "Of course, of course," he says, as if this makes perfect sense. He keeps the candle in his grasp. I assume he's gonna buy it for himself.

I pick out a candle that's titled 'tobacco and leather.' The scent is relaxing. Another candle smells of the ocean and campfire.

I look between the two candles for a moment, unsure of which to buy.

I hand one to Peter. "Which should I buy? I should only get one."

Our fingers brush as Peter takes the candles from my hands. His hands are large and delicate. I'd expect him to be more clumsy with how lanky his body is.

He sniffs both twice, then looks between the two. He hands me the tobacco and leather candle.

"This one fits you better, I think." He looks back at the ocean candle. "But I know you like this one... I do too."

I put the tobacco candle in my basket. "I do. But I can only afford one."

I turn and walk to the cashier. Peter follows, the small ocean candle still cupped in his hand. I don't see the strawberry candle in his hands anymore.

The cashier looks at me and then at Peter. "Is your boyfriend on the same bill?"

Peter's face flushes a deep crimson color, and then a strange smile slides across his lips.

"We're not together," I correct the cashier quickly. "And he'll be on a different bill." I sure as shit won't buy his things. I'm not as generous as he is.

The cashier shrugs, scans my items, and then turns to Peter to scan his item.