Peter's Secret

Chapter Fifteen

*Peter's POV*

I looked in the mirror of the bathroom. My body was practically covered in blue and purple. I took a deep breathe. I told her I loved her and she didn't say anything. I probably made things weird between us. Perfect.

For the past two days I haven't been home and for the past week I wasn't at school. My dad almost killed me because I didn't want to do what he wanted me too. He beat me for it everyday up to Tuesday. Everytime he would think about it he would hit me. On Tuesday night I left to one of my old friend's house.

The bell for last period rang and I put my shirt and sweater back on and grabbed my backpack and left the bathroom. Walking upstairs to my locker I was met with Riley standing there. I haven't talked to her today as I only went to half of my classes. "Hey." I said softly as I walked up to her.

"Hi." She said looking down. She wore a lacy white crop top with a light blue skirt that went to her mid thigh. I felt my heart speed up. Shaking her out of my mind. I opened my locker. "Peter, listen about the other day." she started. I nodded at her to tell her to go on.

"I don't want you to go home. You can come live with me if you want—" "I'm not going home." I said turning to her. "You're not?" she asked confused. "I live with my friend. He lives down the street from Collins High." I explained. "Oh okay..." she trailed. "Do you want to hang out right now?" I asked, needing to get everything off my mind. "Where?" she said. "Ice cream?" I suggested. "Sure." she smiled.

***

"I mean not a lot has happened really." Riley said taking a bite of her ice cream. We were sitting in a booth at the ice cream parlor on the other side of town. She laid her head on my chest and I felt butterflies in my stomach. "I'm sorry." she said. "About what?" I asked. "About overreacting." she said. "It's okay. You felt like I couldn't trust you...I understand that." I said.

"I know but I still felt like we should've talked about it." she said. "Hey, it's fine. I promise." I said looking down at her. We sat in a comfortable silence for a while until she said something—

"My dad is trying to come home." "That's good." I said. "No. Not really." She said sitting up. "Why not?" I asked. "Because I don't want him to. He cheated on my mom and I don't want him to come back." she said shaking her head. "Riley..." I didn't really know what to say.

"And my family's thinks it's a good idea but I don't know how to feel. He was so much to me and he threw it all away for someone who didn't even love him." she said. It sounded like she wanted to cry but showed no sign of it. I put down my ice cream cup and wrapped her in a hug.

"It's gonna be fine." I said rubbing her back. "What time do you have to be home?" I asked. "2:00." she recalled. I nodded. "Wanna walk around town?" I asked. "Yeah." she nodded. We then left the ice cream place and started to walk around.

"Do you think that school is better?" Riley asked as we passed by Collins High School—the school on this side of town. "Maybe to some people. I mean I don't think so." I said. "Why?" she asked. "Well there's nothing there for me. Everything I ever need I see everyday at Palmdale." I said looking at her.

She smiled at me. "Here's where I live." I pointed out. "Your friend's?" she asked. "Yeah. His name is Hunter. He goes to Collins." I said. It was a two story white house that was pretty big compared to my Dad's house. "Wanna go inside?" I asked. She nodded and we walked up to the house.

Opening the door with the spare key Hunter gave me. Walking inside Hunter was sitting on the couch with someone. "Hey. I'm home." I said to Hunter. Hunter paused the game and the two boys looked over and Riley and I.

Hunter and the boy got up. "Hey, Peter. This your girl?" He asked nodding towards Riley. "No. Just my friend. Who's that?" I asked in return. "Bryan Hill. He goes to Collins." Hunter explained. "Hey," Bryan said. His voice was deep and his blonde hair was very different from Hunter's jet black hair.

"Imma show her around." I said leaving with Riley. The boys said their byes to Riley and I led Riley to the kitchen. I turned to Riley and her face was red. "What?" I asked. "It was Bryan." she said hiding her face in her hands.

"What did he do..." I asked skeptically. "I used to know him when we were little and we had a crush on each other and it was super awkward." she said putting her hands down. I felt a stab of jealousy in my heart. "Um, this is the kitchen and I can show you to my room." I said shaking out the images of her and Bryan together out my head. "Okay." she said. I lead her upstairs and to the room I was staying in.

The room walls were gray and in the center of the room against the wall was my bed and by the door was a desk with a black spinny chair and a bookshelf on the wall to my left next to the closet. "It looks nice." she said looking around.

"Thanks." I said closing the door and sitting on the bed. She sat down next to me and laid back. "Life kinda sucks." she sighed. "How so?" I asked. "Just everything. Like my dad wants to come back into my life, Xavier won't leave me alone and you're...hurting." she said. "I guess you're right." I said.

"Are your bruises getting better at least?" she asked looking at me. "I think." I said questioning it a bit. I stood up and took off my sweater and shirt and then turned to her. "Are they?" I asked. I saw her eyes trail down my body and I felt my skin heat up under her gaze.

"Maybe in a few days." she said finally. I nodded and laid down next to her and stared at the ceiling. "Do they hurt?" she asked. "No. Not unless someone puts pressure." I said shaking my head. Laying there in silence I felt her trace one of the scars on my shoulder.

She left goosebumps on my skin in her trail as she traced down my body. Her eyes scanning the bruises scattered across my body. I wonder what's going through her mind. "You have goosebumps." she said quietly. "Oh..." I trailed. "Did I do it?" she asked. "...yeah..." I said.

She traced another scar near my neck and I could feel her watching the goosebumps appear. "It's cute." she said. I didn't say anything as I didn't know what to say. After she traced more scars she began tracing a hickey on my neck.

"I thought they fade after a while?" she questioned. "I don't know really, they're just there." I said. She then traced another one. "Peter, do you actually love me?" she asked softly.

"Yes." I said without hesitation; turning to her. "Do you love me?" I asked—afraid of the answer. "I-I don't know." she whispered. I nodded. "Why do you like me?" She asked. "Because you're smart and you're so nice and really fun to talk to and you're beautiful. And so many other things I can't even put into words." I said quietly. "Thanks." she smiled.

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Yellow

How'd you guys like this chapter?

Kinda nice?

Hopefully.

Anyway, if you read the Author's Note (it's alright if you didn't) you'll notice where the same universe stuff comes into play in thi chapter with a cameo.

And if you don't know, Bryan Hill is a character in The Boys And Her, who goes to Collins High. This is when Bryan is a junior.

Hope you all liked this chapter

- Creative

P.S. I was rereading this chapter and I'm wndering why the word 'love' was used. I honestly don't think that teenagers know what love is unless you've been with that person for quite some time.

But I'll keep it there.