One Love

Chapter 5

His house was pretty similar to mine. I’m sure all of these houses looked alike. We passed his kitchen and his mom was sitting at their dining room table. She looked up as we passed and stared at me, smiling big.

            “Hayden right?” She asked. I nodded and smiled. “It’s so nice to see you again, you’re such a beautiful girl. Isn’t she beautiful Pete?” She asked. I looked over at him but he just nodded, staring at his shoes. “She’s prettier than Kenzie.” She mumbled, smiling at me like she didn’t just diss Peters girlfriend. I tried not to smile because I didn’t want to upset Peter. I sniffled and that was when Peter stepped in.

            “We’re going upstairs.” He said, putting his hand on the small of my back and leading me upstairs. He walked in front of me and led me to his room. When we walked in he closed the door behind us. I swallowed nervously. “This is obviously my room,” he said plopping down on his bed. I looked around. His walls were a dark blue and all of his furniture was black. It was typical teenage boy. He has board with pictures on it. I walked over and looked at them. There were some of him with his arms around Ronnie and Sam. A few with Mackenzie and her kissing his cheek while he looked annoyed. Pictures of him and his mom, and pictures of him growing up. His hair was blond as a kid. I smiled. My eyes met a picture, but another one was partly blocking it. I lifted it up and looked at it. It was him as a kid, maybe 10, and there was an older man behind him, his hand resting on his shoulder. He looked just like Peter.

            “Who is this?” I whispered.

            “My real dad. Died 16 days after that picture was taken.” I felt tears coming up but I pushed them back. No need to be emotional.

            “Is that why you and your step-dad fight?” I asked. I turned my head and he met my eyes but looked away nodding. I went over to his bed and sat down. “Tell me,” I whispered. All I wanted was his trust, and I hoped he would give it to me. He sat up, his knees touching mine, his eyes locked with mine.

            “I hate him. My mom met him a few years ago. She claims she loves him, but I don’t think she does. He tries to act like my dad, and a lot of the time I just tend to snap back. I don’t mean to, he can be a good guy, but I just think of my dead dad. And what he would want, and I can’t do it.” He said, now playing with the skin around his nails.

            “Your dad would want you to be happy Peter. I don’t think he would be upset at you, you need a father figure, he knows that.” I said, hoping he wouldn’t lash out at me. He looked down at our touching knees before looking back up.

            “I can take care of myself,” he said. I nodded and backed up.

            “I didn’t say you couldn’t.”

            “Enough about me, are you okay?” He asked. I looked down at my wrist and knew it would be bruised tomorrow. “Hayden? Tell me.” I looked up.

            “I’m fine.” I choked out. He nodded and I stood up. “I should go.”

            “But you just got here.” He said before he knew he was saying it. “Whatever, go home then.” He snapped, looking away from me. I shook my head.

            “Why do you do that Peter?” He looked at me now and stood up right in front of me, I held my breath.

            “Do what exactly?” He asked, his breath minty. He looked down in my eyes, and I felt his fingertips touch my waist.

            “You care, I can hear it in your voice when you talk to me. But then you act as if you don’t. You need to figure it out Peter.” I said, his fingers tightened slightly, but then he dropped his hands. “I should go now.” I whispered, backing up. When I was out of his house I ran to the ocean and stood there, hoping the waves would wash away everything I said.