The Academy

Twenty Four

Tink:

      I hear the door shut across the hall and almost care that I didn't tell Rose where I would be. "I could hear you Peter! If you plan on treating these kids different because you might be the father of one of them, don't plan on coming home!" I shout, deep into an argument with him. "One of them is bound to be Jace's! Tinkerbell, how do I just move past that?!" He yells back. "You just do, I will love them no matter what. You're going to be a father and fathers love their children unconditionally. If you're not interested in being a father, I'd like to know now so I can call the wedding off!" I yell back, not trying to hold back the tears any longer. I'm going to need some water later, I've cried say too much today. "Of course I want to be a father Tink," he says, his face twisted with pain, "Why would you think any differently?" He asks, sitting down. "That's what this whole argument was about!" I exclaim.

      "I'm sorry. I won't treat either one of them differently because of any circumstance. I love you and I love them," he says, wiping tears away from his face. "Then how about you start acting like it?" I ask quietly and leave the room. I sink to the ground behind the door and put my face in my hands. "Come on," Rose says, taking my hand and pulling me into our room. "I can't believe I said that to him," I say, hiccuping a sob. "We all heard it hun, I know. That was tense, but it needed to be said," she says, squeezing my hand reassuringly.

        "Goodnight Tink," she says with a hug. "Goodnight Rose," I say, turning the lights out and sleeping in my jeans and t-shirt, not having the energy to change. I wake up to birds chirping and bright sunlight. "Morning Princess," Rose says, picking up around the room. "Do you wanna have a lock in?" I ask. "We don't usually leave this place anyway, how is it any different?" She asks. "Well, we stay in here all day. We only allow ourselves ten minutes to run down stairs and get what we need from the kitchen," I explain, smiling as I make my bed.

        "So you can hide from Peter? I don't think so Tink. He actually has plans for the both of you today," she says, handing me a red dress and my black strappy heels. "He does?" I ask, changing into them. "It's around here stuff but it sounds like he really took the angry words you threw at him last night to heart," Rose comments. "It's all in the wrist," I say with a laugh. We go downstairs and into the kitchen, where Rose's coffee is already brewed. "How long have you been up?" I ask, noting the half full pot. "Let's just say, I am liking Peter a little more now," she says, smiling. I put my hand on her forehead, checking for fever. "What are you doing?" Jace asks, wrapping his arms around her from behind and kissing the side of her neck before grabbing a cup of coffee and proceeding with his morning routine of feasting on sugary cereals. When his back is turned, I wiggle my eyebrows at her and she closes her eyes and blushes.

       "Hey baby," Peter says, grinning at me. "Hi," I say, surprised at how happy he is. "Why are you so happy?" I giggle as he kisses me. "Well, I realized what's the point of being upset? Three weeks left with you until I am going to be gone for three years at the earliest. No point in wasting our time," he says, tucking my hair behind my ear. "Amen," I mutter, going to the other room and see Fall Out Boy in the living room, setting up with All Time Low. I scream and drop my glass. I go back into the other room. "So I guess you met your wedding present," Peter says, sharply exhaling. "Wedding Present?" I ask, struggling to keep my pitch at a reasonable note.

       "Yeah. I asked them to come when Jace said the wedding was on Friday but then he moved it further away because I had time and I guess I forgot to cancel," he shrugs. "I forgot to apologize this morning. I had planned to stay in my room all day because I was embarrassed of what I said last night. I'm sorry," I say sincerely. Now it sounds like I'm only saying it because my favorite bands are in the living room. "You guys can go home, we meant to cancel. I think I'm just gonna spend the day with him. It was sweet to come out, but go home," I say nonchalantly, leaning against the door. They leave with out saying a word and I turn back around.

      "How could you just? I just tried to be the awesomest guy ever and you sent them home?" Peter asks looking flabbergasted. "You don't have to try Peter," I say putting my arms around him. "Is that right?" He asks Sith a tiny smile. "Well the video is done if you want to show her," Jace suggests. In all the years I have known him, I never noticed the slightest bit of British in his voice. "Thanks. To the couch," he says, taking my hand and letting go when I sit down. He lets down the projector screen and Rose sits beside me, laying her head on Jace's shoulder after setting up the projector for him.

     When he sits down beside me the video starts up. "Hello, my name is Tinkerbell Howell and I will be performing Miss Missing You by Fall Out Boy," a familiar voice says. Me, when I was eleven. From behind the camera you can hear loud woo noise and then Peter yelling, "Tinkerbell I love you!" Then it fades to my fourteenth birthday (that I share with Grandma) and I am running around the house, getting things ready. Once again, Peter is behind the camera recording. Then it fades to four months ago, talking about life and random things while Peter looks at me and listens. "How did you get these clips?" I ask with tears in my voice as I watch our story unfold on a screen. "Heavy duty magic sugar," Peter says, laying his arm on my shoulders. So not a camera, but his mind. Actually his mind. Many clips follow, dancing in the street with Rose, accidentally flirting with Jace, seeing Logan when he comes home. The last thing it shows is Peter and I slow dancing in the kitchen to I'll Be by Edwin McCain.

    "How did I get so lucky to have you guys?" I ask, looking around. "The real question is, how did I get to be so lucky that I now have some one that makes it hard to say goodbye?" Peter asks, leaning his forehead against mine. "What are you talking about? You have three weeks, don't talk about it now," I say, panicking a little bit. He shakes his head. "Tink, they moved it up again. They said last time they are moving it. I have two weeks. The wedding is Friday again and I leave next Friday," he says, holding my hands and crying. "Peter, that's not even two weeks! It's Wednesday

Already!" I say, diving into his chest and crying. "I know. It's not fair. I'm sorry," he says. "Sorry doesn't cut it buster," Rose says.

      I slip my heels off and I climb into his lap, crying harder and just wanting to be held. "Peter don't go," I sob. "Too late Tink. I can't back out now," he says. "I can't do this with out you," I say. "You won't even notice I'm gone," he says, trying to reassure me. "It's 1095 days. That's a long time. You won't be there for their first Christmas, their birthdays, anything," I say, trying to guilt him into staying. "Tink, I know. I won't ever forgive myself for that," Peter says.