Out of Your League

Chapter 8

🎶And at last I see the light
And it's like the fog has lifted🎶

Petra's POV

          I pulled away from Carlos to see the source of the voice. However, I was surprised to see not one but 3 people coming our way. Chad Charming, Foxglove, and Cubby.
          I stepped away from Carlos grip and crossed my arms. "Now there's a group I never expected to see together." I said, looking them up and down. The three stopped about 6 feet in front of us, none of them looked very happy. Dude barked and growled at their feet. "You make friends in the most unusual of circumstances." Foxglove said, her voice laced with poison. I had never seen her like this, usually Foxy was preppy and happy. What had happened? "You like stories, right Petra? I think you're going to love this one."
          I took a step between Carlos and the group, still extremely confused by what was going on. "You're mad at me? Fine. But don't take it out on Carlos by calling him names and making fun of him. This is between me and you three."  "Mm, not quite." Cubby piped up. "I think Carlos is going to want to hear this too."
          I glanced back at Carlos who held an extremely fearful face. I gave him a reassuring smile before looking back to the group. "Well go on then." I said. "What's the point of this little intervention?" Foxglove was the one that started.  "Well, it's a bit funny actually." She said. "It all started when I stopped by the lost boys' room earlier to talk to the twins. But the only one there was Cubby, and he told me the strangest thing. He said that you and Carlos DeVil had snuck back into the dorms after a night out." I shot a quick glare at Cubby. "Ever heard of 'snitches get stitches', Cubby?" I hissed, then turned back to Foxglove before I could see his reaction. She took a step closer to me, a slight sneer forming on her face. "But I told him that was impossible, that you were with Mal last night. However, he had a pretty convincing argument. For example, the trail of pixie dust that got stuck in the carpet."
          I silently cursed to myself. Pixie dust always leaves traces behind, and leave it to a brainiac like Cubby to find every last piece of it. "You lied to me, Petra. You and Tay. My life long friends, because why? You thought I was too childish. It's ironic isn't it? The daughter of Peter Pan thought I was childish." She let out a laugh that could be classified as maniacal. "I decided I was done giving you excuses. 'Oh, it's just the way she was raised' I would tell myself. But not anymore. You crossed a line, Petra. So, I went to someone to help me."
          Next, Chad stepped up and began to speak. "You and I, Petra? We could've been the power couple of this place. I took you out, gave you flowers, and how did you repay me? You flew away mid-kiss to go off and see DeVil of all people!" I decided enough was enough. "Why do you keep calling Carlos 'DeVil'?" I asked, taking a step forward again. Foxglove and Chad looked at me as if I had grown a second head. For a moment, we were all silent. Finally, Foxglove went into a laughing fit. "He never told you?" She said, trying to catch her breath. "Oh that's rich. I can see why you two got along so well. Did you both bond over how many lies you've told?"
          At this point I was so confused I had to look over at Carlos. He looked as pale as a sheet. "Carlos, what are they talking about?" I asked. Carlos took a big gulp and began blinking profusely. I furrowed my eyebrows together and stepped away from my three former friends. "Carlos? Talk to me." I said calmly. Finally, Carlos began to talk. "Petra, they're right. I've been lying to you." He said, looking at the ground. "But mostly about my parents. My mom isn't Alice. It's Cruella DeVil."
I didn't know what to say, I felt so many things at once. Shock. Sadness. Betrayal. "Ooh, I was just going to give her a little guilt trip, but this is so much better." I heard Foxglove say behind me. I turned on my heel and walked back to Foxglove. "I didn't mean to hurt you, Foxy." I said. "I just-" "You just didn't want to hear me babbling on about it, did you?" She cut me off. "I know how your brain works, Petra. And deep down, you're just a selfish, spoiled little brat like your dad."
I pursed my lips and clenched my fists. The entire world had turned against me in a matter of seconds. "So what now, then?" I said. "You've exposed me, so now what?" Foxglove laughed and turned to Cubby. "Care to tell her, Cubby?" She said, stepping aside so Cubby could have my full attention. Although, I didn't expect much from a dweeb like him. "Well, as someone who worked along side Pan for years I know one thing for certain." He said. "I don't think he'd be too happy that his only daughter was growing up, do you?"
I felt my breath hitch in my throat, unsure what to say. They were going to go tell dad everything? Everything? I looked between the three of them, their smug faces reminding me of someone I once knew. And that someone was me. Someone I put in the past for good. "Fine, do it." I said. I could already see the confusion start to form in their eyes. "Go tattle on me. In fact, why don't you tell him that I not only found a boyfriend. But a villain kid boyfriend. Because you know what? I don't care how much my dad wants me to be like him, because I'll never be him. I don't want to be him. And you can tell him that too! I'm done letting my life be controlled like this. I'm not Peter Pan. I'm Petra Pan, and I don't care who knows it!"
At this point, the smugness on all three of their faces had crumbled. Cubby and Chad looked at Foxglove, as if trying to figure out what to do next. Finally, Foxglove spoke again, but her voice was much quieter then before. "This isn't over." She said. "I'll get you back, Petra. You think you're so high and mighty? Think again." Then, all three of them walked away, leaving Carlos, Dude, and I alone once again.
I turned back to Carlos, his fear now turned into shock. "Petra-" "You lied to me." I said. Carlos nodded and ran a hand through his hair. "I know, but just let me explain-" "One of the first times I met you Carlos I specifically said that I hated being left in the dark, and that's exactly what you did-" "And you did the same exact thing to your friend!" He fired back, louder then I've ever heard him speak. I was rendered speechless at this. He was right, I had no right to be interrogating him now that he knew what I had done. "Petra, just let me explain." Carlos begged, much calmer now. "I know this looks bad, but you have to hear my side of the story."
I looked at the sky and shut my eyes. It was right about now that I realized how sheltered I've been my entire life. I had never endured more stress. Not only had I just lost three friends, but the first boy I ever loved had lied to me. Not only that, I was turning hypocritical against him as if I had done nothing wrong. I opened my eyes and looked back at Carlos. "Don't." I said. "I don't need to know." Carlos furrowed his eyebrows together in confusion. "Y-you're not mad?" He asked. I crossed my arms and stepped closer to him. "Well of course I'm mad." I said. "But not for lying to me. If I was I would be just as bad as the Three Stooges over there." I poked a thumb in the direction the Chad, Cubby, and Foxglove walked off. "I'm mad that you didn't trust me about who you were. Because I trusted you with everything. You should've just told me how you felt."
Carlos took my hand in his. "I know. And I'm so, so sorry." He said. "But Petra, the only reason I didn't tell you was because I was afraid to lose you. I thought that if I told you that I didn't trust you, you'd leave me. And I can't lose you, Petra. You mean more to me then anything in this whole world. And I know I make dumb decisions, but I make them because I care about you. A lot." He laughed a bit. Even now he couldn't keep a straight face. "All I ask is that you give me another chance. One more shot, that's all I ask. And I promise you won't regret it."
I tried to stay mad at him. I really did. But whether it was the smile that still played on his lips, or the sweet words that went with it, I couldn't help but laugh and shake my head. "I can't stay mad at you, you know that." I said. "You're the only person that can make me laugh at a moment like this." Carlos pulled me into a hug, and we just stood there for a moment. I laid my head against his chest. "We both made some pretty dumb decisions." I said. Carlos chuckled and put his head on my shoulder. "Yeah, but that's in the past now." He said. "Let's just forget it ever happened. Okay?" We both pulled apart and held hands. "Agreed." I said. "But I doubt Foxglove, Chad, and Cubby will anytime soon." Carlos rolled his eyes. "Those guys?" He said. "Nothing we can't handle, right?" I laughed pushed my hair behind my ear. "Right."
Dude barked and jumped around as we spoke. He had been so quiet I had completely forgotten he was there. "I think Dude agrees too." Carlos said, laughing along with me. He bent down and picked up Dude, petting the small pup. Carlos glanced up at me with a strange look in his eye. "So, when you said I was your 'boyfriend' before..."
I crossed my arms and raised an eyebrow. "I knew you would bring that up." I said. "That's what you call someone you're dating right? A boyfriend?" Carlos went bright red. "Uh, well yeah. But you said you don't do 'relationships'." I shrugged. "That's true, I did." I agreed. "But that was before I knew that all relationships aren't just a 'prince charming and his damsel in distress' kind of deal. Just, don't be all 'lovey dovey' 24/7, okay?" Carlos put Dude down and held onto my hand again. "What? I can't call you 'honey buns' all the time?" I lightly slapped his shoulder. "If you do, I'll start calling you 'puppy boy'."
Carlos and I walked back to the dorms together. The sun was beginning to set, and we had school tomorrow. "So, when do we plan on going public with this?" Carlos asked. I looked over at him and raised an eyebrow. "With what?" I asked. Carlos held up our intertwined hands. "Our relationship?" He said. I shook my head. "Why would we keep it private?" I was extremely confused. "Do people in relationships try to hide it sometimes? Walt Disney, this is complicated."
When we reached the front doors, Dude whimpered at our feet. It was as if he knew we were leaving. "Where does Dude usually sleep?" I asked. Carlos shrugged. "Wherever I guess." He said. I gasped and picked Dude up. "What? He sleeps outside?" I said. Carlos crossed his arms and cocked his head to the side, a gesture I've learned to love. "Is there something wrong with that?" He asked. I rolled my eyes and petted the dog. "He can sleep in my room tonight."
I could tell Carlos wanted to protest, but for whatever reason he didn't. Instead, he said "As long as he can sleep with me tomorrow." I laughed and pecked him on the cheek before I could stop myself. "Sorry, that was weird." I apologized, pushing the door open and setting Dude down. Carlos shook his head and walked inside as well. "No, it was cute." He said. "You should do it more often." I rolled my eyes. "Don't get your hopes up." I said, glancing at the hall that I knew led to the girls dorm.
"Well, this is where we part ways." I said. Carlos nodded. "Indeed it is." He agreed. "But I'll see you tomorrow, right?" I smiled and nodded. "Of course!" I said. "I'll make sure of it." I gave Carlos one last hug before walking towards my dorm. "Night, honey buns!" I heard Carlos shout behind me. I laughed and replied with "Night, puppy boy!"
When I got back to my room, I noticed it was different from when I left. All of Foxglove's things were gone, and the pink bedsheets that came with the room were back on her bed. Tay was flying around the room tidying up, she was always a neat freak. Dude trotted in after me and I set him on Foxglove's old bed. "So I see Foxy came by here." I said, sitting on my bed. Tay stopped her cleaning and flew down to me. "She told me everything." Tay explained. "I'm so sorry, Petra. This is all my fault."
I held up my hand and let Tay sit on it. I could see how down she was now that she was closer to me. "Tay, you can't blame yourself." I said. "It wasn't just you. We all knew it was coming, Foxy was a ticking time bomb just waiting to explode." Tay looked up at me sadly. "Are you lying?" She asked. I shook my head. "Trust me, I've learned my lesson about lying." I assured her.
Tay smiled and stood up. "Okay, let's not get all down in the dumps here. Because like I said, Foxglove told me everything." She flew closer to my face. "Did you and Carlos really-" "Kiss?" I cut her off. "Yep, and not only that. We're dating now." Tay cheered and flew around the room, pixie dust trailing behind her. "I knew you could do it!" She screamed. "I knew you had it in you!" I laughed and stood up from the bed. "I swear you have the biggest mood swings I've ever seen."
It was right about this time that Tay's enthusiasm caught Dude's attention, causing him to bark. Tay froze, having not noticed the dog yet. She looked over at me in shock. "You brought a dog back?" She asked, to which I simply nodded. This made Tay even happier then before. "You got a dog and a boyfriend? Petra Pan you are the luckiest girl in the world!"
And in that moment, I realized Tay was right. Whether or not I wanted to admit it, luck was definitely on my side. And now I was actually, truly, happy. Staring out at the stars with Tay and Dude cheering behind me I couldn't help but smile and reminisce at what would happen next for me and Carlos.
What? You didn't think this was the end of the story, did you?