Learning to Forgive (ON PAUSE)

Chapter one

"Whelp." Garvey's gruff voice broke the silence. Causing the two boys to look over at him, tilting their heads to the side. "Now was this so bad?"
The Tinket elder asks and looks at them.

"Yes." Peter muttered as he steps away slightly from Cole, still not fully trusting the male beside him. Peter grabbed the left side of his head protectively, nervous of it being smashed into the floor once more.

Garvey shoots Peter a quick glance before moving his attention to Cole.

Cole looks up to meet his gaze and fidgets nervously. "Uh, no. It was alright." He responds quietly as he flicks his eyes towards Peter.

Garvey nods before smiling. "Peter, are you excited to see your parents after one year?" Peter stiffly nods as he glares at Cole. He's the reason we're in this mess in the first place. Peter thinks bitterly as the skiff moves across the water gracefully.

After thirty more minutes of waiting the lovely town of Minneapolis appears from beyond the rising sun. The orange and red color shooting off and casting rays into the darkened sky. Clouds breeze by slowly as birds follow. The water ripples as the skiffs engine buzzes and rotates over it.

The Tinket elder smiles softly. "We're here boys. Home sweet home." As they start to get off a car door opens and a panicked mother and father dash over to Peter. The couple embrace Peter tightly and speak to him.

Must be nice. Having a family that waits for you. The thoughts start to flood Cole's head as he looks at the small family of three. Cole jumps slightly as he feels a hand clamp around his shoulder.

"I'm sure they'll be here soon Champ!" Garvey chirps up happily. Cole sighs and turns to face him.

"You're just relived to get rid of me, aren't you?" Garvey frowns at this and shakes his head.

"What? Cole, I'm happy that you're getting better. Staying with Peter on that island helped you two."

"They're not coming." Cole spoke coldly.

"Just wait." And he did. He waited.

After two hours of waiting and listening to Peter and his parents talk, a Black mustang pulls into the parking lot. Cole feels his body tense with anticipation and nerves. Please don't tell me he won custody. Cole prays as the door opens, revealing William Mathew. Father of Cole Mathew.

"Mr. Driscoll. Mrs. Driscoll." Coles' dad nods to Peter's parents as he walks by them, they wave to him as he passes. "Thank you Garvey for watching Cole, I'll be taking him with me." Coles' stomach dropped at that, he felt anger slowly rising in his chest. Watching me? Are you serious? Cole grinds his teeth as he looks at Garvey for assistance.

"Ah, I'm sorry Mr. Mathew. But I'm afraid that the Circle Justices would like to talk to Peter and Cole." William narrows his eyes slightly at this. His hands tightens on Coles' shoulder, to which Cole flinches slightly under the presser.

The male lets out a huff of air before replying. "Very well, lets go then." William starts to drag Cole to the car but Garvey holds up a hand.

"If you don't mind Mr. Mathew, I would like to drive Cole there in my car. So I can have few words with him." William hesitated for a few moments before nodding and releasing Cole.

Cole and Garvey make their way to Garvey's small blue rusting car. As they pass Peter and his parents Cole and Peter make eye contact for a few seconds.

"See you there, Cole." Peter speaks out slowly.

"Yea, see you there." Cole responds quietly as he opens the door to the car. He slides in with ease and closes the door.

Garvey gets in and buckles himself before turning to Cole. "Now Champ, I know what you're going to say." He starts but is cut off.

"He has custody of me!" Cole almost shouts angrily. Garvey give a grim nod in response.

"Not completely yet."

"I thought you told me he won't have it..." Garvey sighs at this and starts the car.

"I'm fighting with all my might Cole, he's got a strong grip. But I've got a stronger one." Cole starts to calm down slightly after he's parole officer starts to drive. "Now, I'll still be seeing you for a few months. Once this whole custody case dies down."

Cole nods in understanding as they pass a few trees. Cole turns his head to watch the wind blow gently at the leaves. Reminding him of the island, the Spirit Bear. Cole tries to shrug off the thought. He's not on some stupid island anymore. He's here, in Minneapolis.

After a few more minutes of peaceful silence Cole and Garvey arrive at the Library. Inside Circle Justice waits.

As the two walk into the room they see the Justice Keeper standing and talk to the other members quietly. She stops her conversation and looks up at Cole with a kind smile. He smiles back and waves at her.

More people slowly start to fill in, taking all but one seat. His mothers seat.

Cole shoots a nervous glance at the clock and waits for his mother to enter. He feels the presence of eyes on him and turns to see Peter looking at him. Peter motions with his hand to come over to him.

Cole looks at the others as he gets up. Eyes snap towards Cole, he walks slowly over to Peter as everyone stares at him. Cole makes it and stands in front of Peter, he smiles slightly as he looks into his chocolate brown eyes. Peter smile back at him and stands up.

"Is your mother coming?" Peter asks with a questioning voice as he looks at the empty seat. Cole shoots a quick glance at the clock before looking back at him.

"I don't know, I hope so. I don't want to be stuck with my father." Peter nods in agreement as the Keeper stands and clears her throat.

"Would everyone please have a seat? We are going to start." Cole gulps and says a quick farewell to Peter. As he turns and make his way back to the two chairs he sees his father on the seat to the left. Cole sits on the one farthest from his father.

He shoots one more glance at the clock before someone sits on the chair next to him. He looks over and sees Peter avoiding eye contact.