A little too late (A Pete angst Story)

Chapter 2

Pete POV 

So I am finishing breakfast when I hear the doorbell, that must be Wynter. I open the door to look down at her smiling as always. She calls me sunshine which is dorky but kind of cool when she explained it to me. I started to mess up her hair but decided not to just for today. We get in the car and get dropped off at school. She and I don't have the same classes so we part ways and then I go to meet up with my friends. I finish my work pretty early so I help my friends with theirs and then before I know it is lunchtime. I normally sit with her for lunch but I wanted to sit with the guys today so I go to her quickly to let her know.

"Hey, I'm going to eat with my other friends today but here"

I handed her an apple juice and she handed me a rice crispy treat.

"That's okay, I need to finish up something anyway. Have fun though!"

She smiles and waves bye as I head back to the table where my friend Danny is, normally Brandon is good at getting out of class to come to our lunch period but they have a new teacher for the day so he couldn't join us. We start eating and then we came to the topic of Valentine's Day tomorrow (humor me that they are all within 1-2 years of each other in age)

"Anyone special you giving a gift to?"

"Not really, you will probably get a lot of gifts though. You are pretty popular with the ladies Danny"

"You will too, especially from Wynter. She always gets you nice gifts"

"Yeah, she's really nice"

"Why do you reject her each time? She's pretty cute"

"Oh she's just joking, she doesn't like me"

"She definitely does, since school started us getting these cards and things for people on the 14th she always does way more for you. She pulls you to the side to do it so it is more so private but we all secretly watch from around the corner"

"I think she is just happy I defended her that one time against that bully"

"That may have started it but she definitely likes you, everyone knows it"

"I'll ask her tomorrow then"

"And what happens when you find out that I am right?"

"I am flattered but I don't see her like that"

"That's tough but it is better to be honest with her I guess"

We finish our lunch and go back to our respective classes. The last few classes go by in a breeze and normally I would go home but I have volleyball practice today. I put my stuff in my little locker and get dressed for practice. As I head to practice I notice Wynter sitting in the bleachers as always. I wave and get to stretching with everyone else.

Wynter POV

I am sitting in the bleachers waiting for volleyball practice to start and I decided to make paper flowers that I will later add to the mini cupid's day basket I am making for him. My mom helped me make brownies so I can put a couple in the basket, along with a mini squirtle I saved up for him to have and a pokemon Valentine's day card. It is not much but I hope he likes it. I'll give it to him at lunch but I'll bring him to my locker to get it. That way there isn't a big crowd but also I don't get rejected in front of a bunch of people. I have always liked Pete more than he likes me but that doesn't stop me from trying every year. Call me stupid but I can't change how I feel so I don't. So I make these paper roses out of construction paper of different kinds of yellows and gold that I took from art class. I look up every once in a while to see him playing and admire how happy he is. I hope he becomes a professional volleyball player one day, I know it would make him happy. I like seeing him happy.

~Next Day~ Pete POV

So it's lunchtime and Wynter says she has something for me at her locker. I look at Danny before following her to her locker where she brings out a really nice basket with a few of my favorite things in it. Wow, this must have taken time, and these flowers? This must be what I caught her working on yesterday during my volleyball break. She always is so thoughtful and kind, maybe she does like me.

"Thanks Wynter, I love everything in this"

"No problem, so...is there any way that you will be my Valentine this year?"

I look up from the basket to see her beaming face and I have a horrible feeling in my stomach.

"Wynter...do you like me? Like really like me?"

"Of course I do, I thought that was obvious sunshine"

"You are an amazing girl...but I don't see you in that way. I'm sorry"

"It's okay, I'm just glad I have you at least as a friend. Still keep all the stuff, you don't have to tell anyone who it came from. Just say your mom dropped it off for you"

Her smile never leaves her face as she heads back to the lunchroom, so why do I feel terrible? I put the stuff in my locker and take one of the brownies with me to go eat with Danny.

"Soooo"

"You were right, she does like me. I rejected her again though"

"Maybe she will grow out of this, she didn't look sad when she came back so no hard feelings right?"

"I guess but I still feel a bit bad. I don't know how I never knew she seriously liked me"

"It happens, don't think of it too much"

For the rest of the day, everyone was passing out cards with candy and having a mini party in the gymnasium where we get to be with some of the other kids. Danny got a lot of gifts as expected and I got a few as well which was cool. I couldn't find Wynter so I don't know if she got anything but I hope she did.