I'd really appreciate it if you read the AN. <3
I spend the rest of my Sunday keeping to myself. Echo has to go to some family picnic with his mom that lasts all afternoon so we text on and off. I spend a majority of my time at my desk sketching. I felt like I had been neglecting my art recently, I just had been lacking the motivation and inspiration. I start with a couple of scribbles and make them into characters. Making myself giggle in the process.
It's nearly eight as I'm sitting on my bed, trying to finish the last of my math homework before school tomorrow, though I have my door open and can hear Patrick singing rather loudly in the kitchen as he mixes up whatever concoction of ingredients he plans to shove in the oven next. I don't hate it though, he serves as good background noise. I only have a problem left, maybe when I'm done I could go join him, see what all the fuss is about.
I scribble the last of my answer down as I look up to see Pete leaning in the doorway, smiling just faintly. "Hey, Lucy."
"What's up?" I put my papers away in my binder and close my math book before pushing it aside and looking back up at the man who has nudged my door closed slightly and shuffled a few steps further into my room.
"Uh, well I wanted to ask you about something," he rubs the back of his neck and looks down before putting his intimidating stance back in place.
"What is it?" I ask, I could only imagine what he could want to ask me about. Whatever it was, it was probably bad. My thoughts went back to the conversation I overhead between Pete and Patrick this morning. At the time I was a bit too groggy to really piece the words together, but now my heart rate picks up a bit as I think about Echo being in this very room last night. I suddenly become very concerned about Pete being in here. I scan the place looking for something to give me away but only land on Echo's backpack which he let me use last week. There's nothing wrong with that I suppose, but my overactive brain still won't let it be.
"Lucy, when did this get here?" Pete asks, nudging Echo's tattered backpack with the tip of his boot.
"He let me use it last Thursday when I forgot mine at home," I quickly try to explain myself, but the words come out in a rush. I have a feeling that he doesn't believe me.
He sighs and looks at me. "Do you remember Patrick putting you to bed last night?" I nod, my heart pounding and stomach churning. "Well, he came down because he heard a big crash and wanted to make sure you were ok. When he was coming down the stairs, he heard a voice, and it wasn't yours." I hold my breath, knowing where this conversation was going. "Lucy, was someone here last night?"
"No, I swear."
Lucy...?" He asks in a patronizing tone. Tears burn my eyes though I blink furiously to be rid of them.
"I swear! No one was here!" I'm yelling now, as if it will get my point across better. I feel a tear leak down my cheek, adding to the whole stupid thing I have going on.
"Lucy Ann! You will not lie to me in my own home!" Pete raises his voice making me shrink back, images of the belts and sticks they used in the home flash before me, only this time it'll be a full grown man who's using all his strength. The thought makes a sob come out of my throat. "Did you, or did you not have boy in the house last night?" He isn't particularly yelling anymore. Just talking with so much authority he might as well be.
I shake my head quickly, not trusting my voice.
"Answer me."
"I did," I whisper. "Please don't hit-" my sentence is cut short by a sob that is purely from the fear of Pete. I squeeze my eyes shut and shrink back against the headboard. The sound of Patrick softly singing in the kitchen had since been cut off, making for a dead silence that dragged on for What seemed like hours. I finally open my eyes just barely to see Pete still standing at the foot of the bed.
"What did you say?" He asks in a much more gentle tone. I suck in a breath and bite back another sob. "Did you ask me not to hit you?" He runs a hand through his hair.
Patrick peeks into the room at that point, touching Pete's shoulder and directing him towards the exit before looking back at me. "I'll talk to him," he says softly. I nod and watch them leave and quietly click my door closed. I reach over to my nightstand and desperately plug in my earphones. I sigh as the cool tones of a Frank Sinatra song begins. I think of Echo as the words melt through my head.
I breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth until my heart rate returns to normal and await the doomed conversation to come.
===
Nearly half an hour later, Pete and Patrick come back into my room. They lecture me about letting Echo come over and how I should be careful boys, especially at my age, a conversation that makes me roll my eyes and Pete laugh. They still punish me, grounded for a week, but they're much nicer, probably because of what I said. I guess it really got to Pete because as Patrick talks he inches closer to me until he has an arm around me and my head is on his shoulder. We talk for a while longer then Pete says he has to make a couple calls before it's too late at night and Patrick takes his place beside me.
"You know, Pete really cares about you." Patrick begins what I can only assume to be another cheesy lecture, I don't mind too much, having Patrick act like a dad is half the fun of living with them anyway. "He's very passionate about those that he loves." I nod and hum to show him I'm listening as I close my eyes and lean against him, the last few hours having taken a lot out of me. "He just doesn't want you to end up like him." I open my eyes and look up at Patrick who is staring straight ahead.
"What does that mean?"
Patrick chuckles a little. "Don't ask me, I hope you become like him. The world needs more Petes if you ask me." We both laugh lightly.
"I think the world needs more of both of you." Patrick smiles.
"Guess we'll have to work on that."
"Guess so. Love you Patrick." He grins.
"I love you too, Lucy." I kiss his cheek and he leaves, both of of with small smiles. Not a bad way to end the day compared to how it started.
Holy guacamole guys! Thank you so so so much for 1k reads. This probably isn't that big a deal, but it made my day.
Also I was wondering if any of you would possibly be interested in a character submission type thing. I want some new personalities at the school Lucy is going to move to soon. If you are, leave a comment on this paragraph or vote or something. I'd like to know soon.
Another thing, (I know this is long) but I'm going to start writing the prequel to this story so if you are interested I will tell you when the first part is out.
K bye now.
YOU ARE READING
I Promise || Adopted by Peterick
Fanfiction*Completed Lucy Ann Crowley was left on the highway at age seven. Her mother said she'd be right back. She said she promises. After daddy left mama promised she'd never leave. But one day she did. Eight years later she's fifteen and still without pa...
