The Last Five Years

Poppy

   If Peter remembered inviting Drew over last night, he didn't say anything. He woke me up at an early eight o'clock saying he was going for a jog and then we were going to breakfast. He planted a kiss to my head as I groaned, and then he left the room. That man was like a robot.

I sat up in bed, rubbing my temples. My head was killing me, and it wasn't because of the hangover. As much as I struggled, Drew kept popping up in my head. It was like these last five years never happened, and he had never left me.

I kept having to tell myself that that is what happened. He left, and while I couldn't blame him for doing it, I blamed myself for holding on. It was time I let the past, and him, go.

When Peter came back from his jog, I was dressed and ready like the good fiancé I was trying to be. Peter grinned at me before dipping in the bathroom. A few moments later, I heard the shower turn on.

"So, where do you wanna go?" Peter asked as he walked out of the bedroom, pulling a simple gray shirt over his head. It was crazy how beautiful he was, and how little he tried to be.

"Slater's Diner!"

He rolled his eyes, fighting a smile. "Again? Nothing new?"

I gasped. "I love that place, Peter!" Slater's Diner was an old fifties style diner. They served the best pancakes around. It also happened to be where Peter and I went on our first date, as well as a Raymond resident has been.

Peter didn't even try to put up a fight, and I halfway suspected he was hoping I would say it the whole time. It was a quiet drive to the diner, the only sound being Peter's humming with the radio.

We walked in, and almost everyone greeted us. We came in here so often, everyone knew our name. Although, it was hard going somewhere without at least one person recognizing Peter.

"What are you gonna get, babe?" Peter asked me, laying his menu down. I already knew what his order would be--a pile of french toast with peach topping and a side of hash browns and bacon. He didn't even like bacon, but he knew I did.

"Peter, look!" I jabbed a finger at the menu. "Cinnamon roll pancakes!" I let my mouth hang open, still pointing at the menu.

"So I take it that's what you're gonna get?" He let out a laugh, smiling that beautiful smile.

"How do they do it?" I smirked back at him. My ears perked up at the sound of the bell on the front door.

I almost managed to not completely gawk. Drew was walking to a table with his sixteen year old sister Caroline. He didn't notice me, and I was hoping Peter wouldn't notice him. But, as I had hoped, Peter was too busy coloring on the kids menu with the crayons they gave him. I stared at him, his tongue poked out as he concentrated on making it through the maze, and I couldn't help but smile.