Ruled, ᴘᴇᴛᴇʀ ᴋᴀᴠɪɴsᴋʏ

how fast does the night change?

''Finally! Didn't I say ten minutes?'' Peter frowned as I emerged from the shadow of the night and into the light of the dorm's parking lot. 

''In my defence you gave me like, zero guidelines, Peter. What was I even supposed to pack?'' I crossed my arms. 

''Well, not everything!'' He chuckled pointing to the travellers suitcase beside me. ''Come here, give me a kiss.'' His arms opened and I had no choice but to immediately float towards his embrace.  That's how I felt every time I was with Peter. Like I weighted the same as a feather. Like all my anxiety no longer chained me down. I felt like I was floating. 

''Where are we going?'' I asked licking his traces from my lips as I watched him pack my belongings into the trunk of his jeep. 

''Home.'' He flashed me a charming smile under his wild curls.

''Home?'' I repeated with a confused frown. 

''Yes, home.'' His tone amusingly mimicked mine and I couldn't help but smirk. ''I know how much you've been missing your brother and we still have a month left until the break which is too long. I'm taking you to see him.'' Suddenly I felt this rush of warmness overcome my body. Perhaps it was the reminder of how much I loved Peter coming back up towards my chest, making sure I wasn't forgetting. Not that I could. I tried. Didn't work. Or perhaps it was just the alcohol from the party making itself known. Personally I liked the first theory better. 

''If I really had to, I'd wait for you a thousand years.'' I told him in a trembling voice full of emotion. 

''What?'' He frowned, clearly confused. 

''Nothing.'' I smiled shaking my head. ''Let's go home then.'' 

...

''What did you tell Chloe?'' I asked after two weirdly and uncommon silent hours in the road, raising my head from the window to read Peter's expression. He took a deep breath. He didn't like to be reminded of his dependency towards her even if he was the one, putting himself trough all the situation.

''That I had to go home because my grandmother was sick.'' He shrugged. 

''Peter!'' I protested and he twisted his nose at me. ''I can't believe you! You shouldn't lie about those things! What if she really lays sick? How will you feel?'' 

''Fuck me then, what did you want me to say?'' He raised his voice but I don't think he intended to. He knew my point was fair and so I had the impression something else was behind the tone with which he spoke. Something else was bothering him. 

''What's up with you?'' I turned my body completely towards him, clasping my legs together over the seat like a toddler. 

''Nothing's up.'' He lied. 

''What are you lying for?'' I asked with an annoyed voice. I hated dishonesty. He knew that it was one of the few things in life that clouded my judgement and made me act unreasonably, that made my blood begin to boil. 

''Rita I don't want to talk about it.''

''Is it because you saw me at the party with Leo?'' 

''If you knew then why did you ask?'' Peter said in a sarcastic laugh. ''You really piss me off sometimes.'' 

''Are you serious right now??'' My mouth dropped towards the floor as I glued my eyes to Peter's. 

''I don't want to fight right now.'' He said lowly and hoarsely.

''Then don't act like you do.'' I argued, straightening myself and crossing my arms at the chest. There was silence for a while and all I could think during the entire time was how stupid the argument had been and how much I didn't want Leo to be the reason we'd stay mad at each other. So I swallowed my pride and spoke. I should have stayed silent. ''Leo just wanted to apologise-'' 

''In other words he wanted you back.'' Peter noted on cue even if unnecessarily. ''And you went with him to his ceased room?'' 

''What do you think I'd do in there? Cheat on you?'' It was my time to raise my voice. Peter was making it really hard not to remain angry at him. The reason why was unclear to me, yet, it wasn't my job to yank it from him if all his efforts were going into hiding his true feelings. ''Honestly Peter, I don't know what has been roaming inside your head for the last couple hours but I thought we were fine. If you think that I'd throw all away after everything we've been trough then we're really not fine.'' 

''We are not.'' He agreed and I felt my heart drop to my feet. ''We are not because we're in the shadows. We're a secret and I 'm tired of it. I want Leo and everyone to know you're mine until I'm no longer alive. I don't want Leo to think he still has a chance.'' 

''Trust me, he knows that.'' I smiled, affectionately clenching  his tight. ''Furthermore it's because you're stubborn we're in this situation. I wanted to come clean a long time ago Peter. You just need to let us-'' 

''I'm scared.''  

''Of what?'' I chuckled. 

''Of Chloe.'' He gulped. ''Of what she's capable of. She's not right Rita. Chloe's so not okay.'' 

''Peter's she's a nineteen year old girl and she's half your weight and height. She might be disturbed-''

''Might?'' I nodded. 

''She might be disturbed but she'll get over you.'' I said without certainty. I just hoped I was right. ''She'll leave us alone and until she does we can deal with it. I know we can.''

''You're right. As long as you're with me I know I can do anything.'' He smiled and leaned in for a passionate kiss we shouldn't have shared while he was driving. ''I'll put an end to this nightmare first thing Monday morning.'' He said and I beamed. 

All I , too, wanted was for the nightmare to be over, not for it to be just in the beginning.