Senior Slump Or Comeback Of The Year

Thin Ice

"Where the fuck were you?" Mikey was the first to approach Pete Monday morning.

He should have seen this coming. He couldn't disappear for an entire weekend and it have zero consequences. Especially after standing all his friends up at the dance.

"Oh, I was in the bathroom." He pretended to be as oblivious as he wished he was." His entire book bag was placed in the locker before it was slammed shut.

"Dude, you fucking bailed on us. You don't bail on your friends."

"I know. But some family issues came up."

Which wasn't technically a lie. Patrick came up. And Patrick was carrying his future child. And since it was inside of Patrick, they were kind of like one person. And his future child is a part of his family. So there.

He wished Patrick himself would be a part of his family too. Patrick and the kid could be his only family since his mother and father were barely there.

"What family issues?"

"Personal shit, Mikey."

God! It was just a stupid dance. He'd understand the anger if it was prom or something. But it wasn't. It was just one of the many dances they'd have throughout the school year.

"Don't get snappy with me." He shot back. "I'm not the one who ditched my friends at the last minute. What the hell is with that? You just text everyone 'never-mind' and think we're supposed to just be chill about it?"

"If you were actually my friend, you'd be chill. I'm sorry I couldn't make it to the dance you seem to care about so much. Don't cut my fucking head off for it, king Mikey."

"Fuck you, dude." He mushed his shoulder.

"I'm sorry." He sighed. He needed to chill.

Despite him being a complete douche, Mikey was kind of his best friend. Pete was just being defensive because he was afraid someone would find out about Patrick. He wasn't just afraid for himself and his popularity either. They would make Patrick's life even worse if they found out he was somehow having a baby. Being different got you bullied, and that was on a whole other level.

His anxiety about the situation skyrocketed when he found out Meagan knew he slept with Patrick. She could ruin his life with the snap of her finger. Why hadn't she? Didn't she hate him? What was she waiting for? What if she talked to Sarah about it? What if Sarah talked to her about finding those pills in his car? Everything would be ruined.

No.

No one would put those two things together. Pete could barely put them together himself and he knew it was true. He just needed to relax. Sarah might not be the girl next door. But she definitely wasn't a Meagan. It'd all be okay.

"I was just trying to be a concerned friend." He shook his head. "If you think I'm blowing it out of proportion just wait until you see Sarah." With those warning words, he was gone.

On cue, the head cheerleading gang walked through the front doors of the school. It'd been a while since Pete saw them hanging out together. Meagan, Sarah, Elisa and Helena. All wearing similarly dark colors. Dressed for his funeral.

Pete squared his shoulders as they approached. Pressing his back against the hard door of his locker. He tried to smile and look relaxed. Feign happiness at seeing his girlfriend. But he was sure he looked exactly how he felt. Like a deer in the headlights.