A little too late (A Pete angst Story)

Chapter 3

Wynter POV

Welp, another year of being rejected. You would think I would be used to it by now but it still kind of hurts you know? When he asked if I liked him I didn't see any reason to lie so I was honest. In return, he was honest as well. He probably sees me as a little sister and I can't hate him for that. He is not required to return my feelings and that is why once I get rejected I accept it and head back to lunch. There is no need for me to look sad and make him feel bad so I leave before I can process it. What Pete doesn't know is my mom normally picks me up early because she knows it is hard for me to continue the rest of the day. She makes me chicken tenders & mac and cheese and we watch tv together. If I want to talk about it then she lets me but she never forces me. She just makes sure to be there for me and I am forever appreciative of that. By the time Pete comes home and has his mom call mine to see if I can come over to play I have cried and everything else I needed to do so I don't make things awkward. There will be many more days like this I'm sure but hopefully it gets easier as the years go on.

~10 years ago~ Wynter POV

So Pete and I are finished with our work so we are given free time to talk and he decides to ask me about girls.

"Hey, can I ask you for advice?"

"Sure, what's up?"

"There's this girl that I like but I don't know if she likes me back or how to even tell her"

Ouch, that kind of hurts but he is my friend so I must help him.

"Who is it?"

"I don't want you to judge me"

"What do you like about her?"

"She's smart and funny. She's caring, always looking out for people and helping. She's one of the popular kids but the sweet one. Everyone loves her and she's just amazing as a person"

"Well then, I think you should ask her for her mom's number if she knows it so her mom and your mom can meet and plan for you two to hang out"

"Isn't that a bit forward? Besides, what if she doesn't like me?"

"Girls like the attention and to feel wanted. A lot of girls here like you and she would be crazy not to say yes. Your soul and energy are beautiful and draw people to you. You'll get her"

"Well then I'll do it, should I give her something?"

"You could, give her a sweet or make something"

"Can you make me a flower for her? Like one of those you made for me a while back"

Double ouch, how about you yank the knife out already since you've twisted it.

"Sure, do you know her favorite color?"

"She likes red but I want her flower to be shiny"

I nod and I tell him to bring me the gold glitter paper. He does as told and I quickly but carefully make the flower and hand it to him. He smiles and hugs me before leaving to give the rose to Autumn. She is the redhead that everyone loves and adores, she truly is nice and is on the cheerleading team. She smiles and hugs Pete so I'm guessing she said yes. They both walk off towards the teacher and she picks up the phone to call I guess their parents to see if they can hang out. I guess I was staring or something because a voice brought me out of my thoughts.

"So he finally asked her huh?"

I turn to see who it is and then go to get my sketchbook to distract myself.

"Hello Danny, yeah he did. I am so happy for him, he deserves to be happy"

"And you helped him?"

"I made him a stupid flower but the rest was him"

I start drawing thinking that he will leave since we aren't that close but he sits across from me. I quietly take a deep breath and close my notebook as I look up at him smiling best as I can.

"Is there something you need? I don't mind you over here but we don't normally talk to each other so I am just curious what brought you over"

"I don't like seeing girls sad"

"I'm not sad, I'm okay"

"Can I do something?"

"Umm sure"

So he comes around and puts his seat right next to me before having me stand up and hugging me. I didn't react at first and I guess he could tell I was conflicted.

"It's okay to be sad, rejection is hard. You don't always have to be strong for everyone else, it's okay to be vulnerable for a moment"

His words hit me and I wrapped my arms around him tight quietly crying. I hide in his chest as he rubs my back and rests his head on top of mine. I never stood out and we were in the back of the classroom so no one was really paying attention to us and for that I was grateful. I don't know why he decided to check on me but I am glad he did. I thanked him and he let me rest on his shoulder for the rest of class because the next thing I knew I was gently being shaken up to head home. I open my eyes to see it is Danny waking me up.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep on you or really anything that has happened in this last hour or so"

"It's okay, Pete is going home with Autumn and her mom"

"Of course...would you like to come home with me? The least I can do for your kindness is make you brownies"

"Are you sure?"

"I insist, unless you have other plans, then I understand"

"Well...who would I be to deny brownies. Let's go"

We go to the front so Danny can ask for permission to go home with me and then head to my mom's truck where I introduce him and ask if he can come with me to make brownies. She looked at me sadly but quickly changed to a smile and agreed.