Cemetery Drive (FOB Imagine Story)

Part 6

"So you're leaving with them, huh?" Mark asks Pete as he packs his bags with his belongings. The two of them are in his bedroom, having returned to the house the day after his father's funeral to do just this, and you and Patrick are outside waiting for them to be done. Mark tagged along because he didn't want to be left alone at his house.

"Yeah," Pete murmurs, dropping his clothes in the bag he has by his feet.

"But you just met the guy, Pete," The taller of the two replies in a way that gives the shorter the notion he doesn't approve of his decision, "And besides...there's something about him and his sister that seems a little...off, don't you think?"

"Look, I know you're trying to be a good friend and protect me, Mark, but I just can't stay here any longer," The deceased lawyer's son justifies his actions with the shrug of his shoulders, "Everything reminds me of them and...and it's hard." Them being his parents.

"Yeah, but moving all the way to England? That seems a little dramatic, Pete, even for you."

He chuckles. "What's the supposed to mean?"

"I wonder what's taking him so long," You comment to Patrick outside, your arms folded over your chest as you lean back against the rental vehicle waiting to take the three of you to the airport. Yours and Patrick's bags are already packed and in the trunk of the car, ready to be taken out and transferred onto the plane you'll be on in the next couple of hours.

"He and Mark are probably just saying their goodbyes or something," Your brother suggests, heaving a sigh and glancing down at the watch wrapped around his wrist.

You turn your head and look over at him, saying, "You know, with his dad's inheritance - since he was a lawyer and all - we should be set for at least a year or two. We won't have to do this again for a long time."

"Can we please not talk about that?" He inquires, a mix of anger and desperation in his voice as he meets your gaze, "You're always thinking about that and it's starting to really bother me."

"Well what else am I supposed to think about?" You retort defensively, "We don't do what we do for any other reason, Patrick. And it's like you're forgetting that." He rolls his eyes and spins away from you, slipping into the car and slamming the car door behind him, escaping to hide the red creeping up in his cheeks. You shake your head and look back up at the window belonging to - what you know to be - Pete's room.

Inside, Mark continues to try to convince Pete to stay. "Dude, I'm serious. I don't think this is a good idea."

"Well I already made the decision, Mark, so - quite frankly - your opinion doesn't matter to me," He tells him, zipping his bag up and slinging it over his shoulder. He meets the older man's distressed gaze and sighs. "Mark, I'll be fine, okay? I'll call you when I get there and I'll be sure to stay in touch with you."

Mark shakes his head in annoyance and leaves the room, Pete following shortly after him. The two of them step outside and you throw your hands in the air. "About time!" You exclaim, peeling yourself away from the car, "We've been waiting forever."

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Mark whispers into Pete's ear, "This is your last chance."

"Yes, Mark," Pete asserts in the same hushed voice, shooting him a narrowed-eye look before turning his attention to you and smiling, "Sorry I took so long. I wasn't sure what to pack."

"It's okay," You tell him, opening the car door and motioning for him to get in, "It's not like we have a plane to catch or anything."

He breaks out into a weary grin and slides into the vehicle, joining your brother in the backseat. You flash Mark a grin and a wink before getting into the vehicle yourself, taking the front passenger's seat. The engine revs once or twice before the cab speeds forward and out of the roundabout driveway, leaving Mark in the dust.

*****

"So this is where you live?" Pete mutters as you, he, and Patrick drive down the long and winding road that cuts through a seemingly abandoned cemetery - giving the road its name - and leads to your house. His hands are pressed up against the window, his eyes trying to focus on the scenery that's speeding by, unable to read any of the names on the graves.

"Yeah," Patrick answers him, "It's not in the nicest of places, nor is it the nicest of houses, but it's where we grew up. We can't let it go. Right, (Y/N)?" He tilts his head to the side, trying to catch your gaze.

"Right," You agree, keeping your eyes locked forward and a frown on your face.

The cemetery stops at one point and a large, lavish-from-a-distance house comes into view. However, as the vehicle approaches the house, Pete starts to notice the dilapidated state it's in - broken windows, peeling pain, rotting wood, fallen gutters. The house is an absolute wreck, almost uninhabitable.

The car comes to a stop in front of the entrance and shuts off, you and the English driver getting out to retrieve the bags from the back. Patrick follows your lead shortly after, but instead of assisting you and the driver, walks around and opens the car door for Pete. He helps him out of the car and closes the door behind him, ushering him inside.

"Wow," Pete comments in awe, taking in the - what used to be and still barely is - extravagance that you and Patrick call home. It wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the hole in the ceiling, bringing in the leaves from outside, and the dust that covered everything.

"You see why I wanted you to come with us now, huh?" Patrick replies, joining his side and slipping his hands into his pockets.

"What? So you can get a free contractor and maid?" He jokes, looking over at Patrick to see the smirk crawling onto his face. He glances back over his shoulder and sees you walk in, loudly dropping the bags you had in your arms to the floor and heaving an exasperated sigh.

"Thanks for the help, guys," You grumble sarcastically, pushing your way through the space in between the two of them and retreating upstairs.

"What's her problem?" Pete mumbles under his breath.

"Who knows," Patrick retorts dully, picking up a couple of the bags you brought in and asking Pete to help him with the rest.