TELEKINETIC │ p.p

Chapter Twenty Five

"Hello?" Lane shouted in Vanessa's face, waving his hand frantically in front of her eyes as well.

"Sorry," she mumbled, snapping awake from her daydream. She hadn't slept much since her intrusive thoughts kept her awake all night, constantly wondering how Peter was doing since his responses via text were lacking heavily.

"Are you okay?" he asked, closing his textbook.

"Huh? Yeah." She didn't feel real. It felt as if she were floating or something. Like she was spectating herself from the past or future. She couldn't decide which.

"Something happen with your boyfriend?" he questioned, a little bitterness detected in his tone. Vanessa didn't bother looking too far into that.

"How could you have gathered that assumption?" she quizzed through her hand as she pressed both of them to her face, rubbing her eyes harshly.

"You, no offense, look like shit," Lane muttered with the slightest smidgen of humor. He wanted his insult to come off as more polite.

"Such a charmer," Vanessa grumbles, laying her head across her folded bare arms as they were pressed against the cool surface of the table.

Lane sighed, glancing out the window. His stare turned cold when he noticed Peter. Peter's eyes connected with Lane's, sending a chill over him, but his jealousy was overriding everything else. He stormed into the coffee shop, yet didn't disturb any customer from their delectable drink or treat.

"Who are you?" Peter interrogated, causing Vanessa's head to snap up. No matter how bad Peter wanted to meet her gaze, he just couldn't - it was more important for him to give this guy a message and hope he backs off.

"Peter, don't-"

"Who the fuck do you think you are?" Lane cackles, standing swiftly on his feet. He had the height advantage, which meant Peter was backing up with every step Lane took forward, fearing for what was to come after his small ounce of bravery had expired.

"Leave him alone," Vanessa shouted as she shoved the tall, muscular guy back. "He's not gonna hurt you." Maybe it was the fact that Peter felt like Vanessa seemed to be admitting how weak he was or that he just couldn't handle it anymore, but he tugged Vanessa behind him and snapped his fist forward all in one motion, ending in a sharp connection with the guy's jaw and Vanessa being sent to the floor.

Peter glanced back, gasping as he helped Vanessa up. He'd forgotten his own strength for a second. As soon as both of them regained their balance, Vanessa saw Lane take a swing at Peter. Quickly, she threw up her arm to deflect it while pulling Peter back, glaring at Lane.

"Touch him and I will chop off the raisins you call balls," Vanessa grumbles, flicking the pain out of her forearm.

"Your little girlfriend protects you," Lane sings toward Peter, smirking. "That's cute." Peter marched toward him but Vanessa held him back. She shook her head at him, telling him to ignore Lane's taunts. When she couldn't stand to hear Lane any longer, she whipped around and threw her own punch. But it was as if he detected her movements before they occurred, snatching her fist before she was within centimeters of his face.

He chuckled, beginning to twist her wrist with pleasure flowing across his face as her pain increased.

"Stop!" Peter shouted, lunging at Lane. He didn't make it to Lane, or at least not his body. Lane had stuck out a fist just in time, sending Peter backward. Vanessa squealed, feeling her wrist on the brink of snapping.

"Tell him to sit and stay, then I'll drop your hand," Lane growled. Peter heard him clearly and stayed put, defeated. Lane gave a simple nod and did as promised. Vanessa clutched her wrist and took in sharp breaths to distract the pain. "See ya tomorrow," he grumbled as he snatched his bag and exited the building.

"Nessa," Peter muttered, scrambling to his feet. He ran in front of her and grabbed her wrist, inspecting it. She winced, now feeling the eyes on her. As she looked around, she suddenly felt vulnerable. More than ever.

"Peter," she whispered. She captured his attention, and he followed her gaze. He gulped, then brought her to her table to grab her backpack and pulled her outside. "Why did you start that?"

"I'm sorry," Peter whimpered. "I'm super sorry."

"I know you are, but I want an explanation," Vanessa softly replied. "Did my stupid comment really affect you that bad?" Of course it did, she always ruined everything without the intention to.

"I'm just a dumb boy that read too far into your comment," Peter sighs.

"No, it's my fault," Vanessa whispers. "I'm really sorry."

- - - - -

After all the chaos was unleashed and left to die out, Vanessa seemed much more calm. She dried her hair roughly with a towel after exiting the ice cold shower, slipping into an oversized white t-shirt and black athletic shorts. She sighed as she slid the wrist brace over her hand and tightened its hold on her wrist. Tony would definitely ask about it once he was home.

Vanessa walked back down to the living area, where Peter waited for her to return. He had already changed into dry clothes, sticking his soaked ones into Tony's dryer. The downpour of rain still continued outside.

When the two saw each other, both gave a small flash of a smile before glancing at the TV. The men that kidnapped Vanessa had gotten their sentences earlier that day and would not be seeing the outside world for a long time.

"Feel better?" Peter questioned once a commercial appeared, turning his head to look at Vanessa. His arm was already laid out across the back of the couch, which Vanessa just sat in front of. After he asked the question, she nodded and rested her head on his shoulder. His once relaxed arm now draped over her shoulder instead. A smile appeared on his face as the strong scent of her shampoo clung to his nostrils.

Vanessa cuddled into Peter, drawn into the warm sensation his body radiated onto hers. Peter noticed how cold her skin felt, wanting to comment on it but deciding not to. He figured it was better to just enjoy her company and the moment, as long as it lasted. He pressed a kiss to her damp forehead and rested his cheek on the top of her head, sighing in relief as they seemed to have fixed the little obstacle that recently interrupted their path on the road to a gracious, youthful relationship.