Mutiny Below

Three

[yooooooooooooo im all excited for this book cause I got some plans]

I didn't sleep that night. I stayed up until four reading. I ended up finishing my book so then I had to restart it. The bedroom door slowly opened. I sat up quickly.

"You're awake" Pete said.

"I couldn't sleep" I mumbled. He nodded and let himself in shutting the door.

"I think I should tell you something" He mumbled. He sat down next to me on the bed. I put the book down next to me. "I see you"

"What?" I whispered.

"I see you everyday. I watch over you"

"What're you talking about?" I asked. Now I was creeped out.

"I'll show you" he mumbled. He pulled out a dusty old mirror. "Mirror, Mirror, show me Patrick" It swirled in vibrant blue colors until we both appeared on the mirror. "Mirror, Mirror, show me the town" It swirled again until my town appeared "Patricks father" he said gently. My dad appeared on the mirror. On a date with some girl as always. Yes, at four in the morning. Sometimes he just never came home.

"I don't wanna see that" I mumbled.

"Thank you mirror" He said. It closed off turning into a regular mirror. "I saw you, one day two years ago. I couldn't stop seeing you"

"I have one year left of college" I mumbled "So two years ago I was starting college"

"Yes" he said gently.

"Why me?" I mumbled.

"I was drawn to you. A misunderstood, book worm, whos father ignores him every chance he gets. You don't fit in. You're just like me" I placed my hand over his. He flinched away from me.

"Sorry" I whispered.

"I'm not used to it" He said. I nodded. "I-I need to go now, just come down for breakfast in the morning if you're hungry" He stood up. I grabbed his hand to stop him. "What is it?" he asked.

"You're not so bad if you let your guard down Pete" I mumbled. I leaned up and kissed his cheek. He stared ahead at the wall. "Thank you for telling me"

"You're welcome Patrick" He said gently. He squeezed my hand. "I need to go"

"Alright" I said. He left without another word.
-----
I stalked downstairs when I finally got a decent amount of sleep.

"Patrick!" Joe yelled.

"Hey" I said smiling. He handed me a mug filled with tea "Where's Pete?" I asked.

"In his chair. Wouldn't bother him though" He said.

"Thats okay. Thanks Joe" I mumbled. I walked over to the armchair in front of the fireplace. I sat down on the arm.

"Did you sleep?" he asked.

"Eventually" I mumbled "Why am I being told not to bother you when you're in this chair?" He smiled a little bit.

"Because I yell at everyone who bothers me when I'm in this chair" He said.

"Am I special?" I asked.

"Yes you are" he said. I blushed a little.

"What counts as bothering?" I asked.

"Talking" He said.

"Ah" I said "What about touching?"

"Hm?" I grabbed his hand and laced our fingers together. He smiled at our hands. "That doesn't bother me much"

"Well are you ticklish?" I asked.

"Somewhat-" I started tickling his stomach. "No!" He yelled. He pulled me onto his lap and tickled me.

"This isn't fair you're stronger!" I laughed. He smiled at me continuing his torture. "Pete!" I laughed.

"Say sorry" He said.

"I'm s-s-sorry!" I laughed. He stopped. I giggled some more. He smiled down at me. I pressed my hand against his cheek and ran my thumb over his lips. "You're not so scary" I whispered.

"I'm a monster" he mumbled.

"Not to me" I sat up. He bit his lip gently. I cuddled my head into his neck.

"You're gonna get me in trouble one day" He mumbled.

"Hm" I said sleepily.
-----
I woke up alone on his chair covered in a blanket. There was a stack of books next to me and another mug of tea. I picked up the little note on the books.

Stop rereading that old book
~Pete

I smiled a little. Okay, Pete. I picked up the first one on the pile.