Summer Break

I never thought I'd feel bad for Peter Nixen, but I did.

I had a feeling I wasn't going to sleep tonight. I spent most of my drive home spaced out and confused. I was so lost in thought I'd almost missed my turn.

Something felt wrong, off, while I got ready for bed. I let myself reflect over the night, from chasing Niko to my dispute with Peter and finally to the gas station. My heart squeezes at the memory of how Peter looked. How defeated he looked.

Part of me wanted to go right back to his house and demand why I felt like this. Why I felt bad about something I couldn't even remember what it was caused by. I didn't even know if he was like that because of me.

So why did I feel like this?

I just shook it off for the night and laid in my bed and tried to sleep. Except I couldn't. It was hours after hanging out but I just couldn't let it go. I'd tossed and turned and considered taking melatonin.

Nothing helped and it dawned on me that I had to go back. I had to know why I felt like this and why he looked at me like that.

My body groans as I get up and hurriedly get up and ready. Before I head out I check the clock. The green, digital, writing reads two thirty-two. It was late and prayed that he was awake when I started my car.

It doesn't take long to get to his house. My heart drops when I pull into his driveway to see all the lights out. It made my hopes diminish ever so slightly, but I wasn't going to give up.

When I get out of my car and smooth my hands on my shorts, I feel my heart plummet. Not because of my shorts, but because I spot the front porch light turn on. It illuminated the yard, the grass, and my stupid self standing frozen in the front yard.

Could you believe it? My plans going wrong.

I was about to get caught and I here I was frozen to the spot. I felt my heart beating a million miles a second, but I felt my feet still rooted to the spot.

I heard their whispers and instantly knew I was going to get caught. The door had creaked open slowly and my eyes adjusted to the view of Peter standing on the porch with a short blonde girl. Immediately my heart sinks.

Why is my heart sinking?

They were going to see me any second here and I looked absolutely ridiculous. I almost couldn't believe it myself.

My eyes stay trained on him, I don't even look at her. They were so focused on their conversation they don't notice me standing there not even ten feet away. His hand is on the glass for next to her waist and her shoulders hunch forward as she laughs quietly. His eyes crinkle in amusement and I felt my stomach knot up.

It takes all but two seconds for him to notice me. I watch his hand go up and over his eyes to see me better and I see his eyes furrow in confusion. He calls out to me but I honestly can't hear him through the blood rushing in my ears.

Why the hell did I come? Why did I come?

I feel my hand come up to pinch the bridge of my nose in frustration and that was it. I could move my body again. Instead of leaving like I should've I stand and watch them both turn to me and look at me in confusion.

She's pretty, I'll give her that. She didn't look like most girls here, she looked like what they based Barbie off of. Her nose was tiny, her hair blonde, and I'm assuming her eyes were a rich blue.

"Charlie..?" Peter calls out. I watch him take a step forward and get a really good look at me. In my state, I would look as concerned for myself as well.