The Twisted Sisters

Peter

Peter had been in his dorm by himself since 4:00 seeing as Timothy was playing a game of soccer that evening. But Peter hated to be idle and refused to do his homework so he set off to walk out to the field. He was quite terrible with sports, and knew this full well as he made his way to the field full of college guys. It wasn't a professional game by any means- there were no refs, shirt and skin style in the middle of September, and a real disgrace to the actual soccer team. Peter sat down on the bleachers to get a good assessment on the game. Apparently, the drizzling from that morning had made the grass slippery so all the boys had gone barefoot to invent a slip n' slide soccer match. Soon, Timothy spotted Peter enjoying the circus show of a sport and ran up to him.
"Take off your shoes, you're up next!" Timothy encouraged.
"That's a great idea!" Peter replied, mimicking Timothy's excitement.
"Really though come play- this way you won't be the only one making a fool of yourself." Timothy backhandedly encouraged him, knowing he was a clutz when it came to sports.
"Never in my life have I cared about embarrassing myself." Peter stated confidently as he pulled off his shoes and socks. It was true- Peter never felt much remorse in what others would deem an embarrassing situation, he was mostly the go-lucky type. Not to say he was careless, however, he was extremely cautious towards people's feelings, but in the event of a slip n slide soccer game, the only thing that he planned on being cautious of was his neck.
"Alright guys, Peter's headed in!" Timothy announced as the pair ran out to the field. The others yelled out mostly "Let's go, Peter!" and "Watch out, everybody!"
In the first game Peter scored for the opposing team and nearly got kicked out. "Come on guys! At least he scored!" Timothy defended him the best he could. Peter was not a very muscular guy and ended up getting thrown around a lot. Especially by Ian Slavwood, his arch nemesis of many school years. Ian was the most horrible to Alexandria when it was popular culture to go after her. Peter still remembers the day they were in the hallway within a circle of students watching in either terror or excitement, he was talking down to her and grabbed her arm roughly when she backed away. She kept repeating, "I'm so sorry." as he yelled and shoved her. "You're sorry, huh?" He taunted, "You'll be sorry, you stuck-up retard." Then he threw her to the ground, her books sprawled all over the floor. As the crowd dispersed Peter rushed to pick up her things and help her up, but she pushed him away, her eyes welled with unfallen tears, "I've got it, Peter, thanks." she had said hurrid and brokenly, turning away from him and the rest of crowd quickly. Ever since that day Peter felt he had a responsibility to be nice to her, but still kept his distance because he knew if he fell in with the wrong crowd, he'd be the one getting his books thrown to the ground. He felt as though he didn't really fit in with the 'it' crowd though. He was never bullied or rejected, but there was always a looming sense that he didn't belong. This sense was especially apparent when in the presence of Ian.
"Come on, Petey. Don't have nothing better than that?" Ian taunted after practically tackling him to the ground.
"It's soccer not football, big guy." Peter retorted becoming annoyed with Ian's persistent fowls.
Ian stopped in his tracks as he ran past Peter and turned around slowly making his way into his personal space. The whole game seemed to pause, waiting to find out how many pieces Peter would be in after the encounter.
"I am playing soccer, dipswitch. And you're playing garbage." His voice was low and threatening as he tried towering over Peter who was of the same height.
"You know what, man." Peter said backing down from a soon to be escalating fight, which was exactly what Ian was pining for, "If it means that much to you.." he let his voice trail off as he turned toward the bleachers to get his shoes and leave.
Ian threw the ball at the back of his head thrusting it forward roughly as he walked away. This got a laugh out of the other guys. "Where'd you learn to be such a puss, Pete?" Ian jabbed as Peter glanced back in shock.
"Leave it alone, Ian." Timothy demanded before running up to Peter to take his side.
"You pair make one cute couple." Ian continued still reeling for some action.
Timothy only shook his head in response as the two turned to grab their shoes. Without taking the time to put them on they made their way across the field back to the dorm shoes in hand.
The walk back was mostly silent aside from Timothy finally remarking after some time, "That guy really sucks the fun out of everything." and Peter replying, "It's alright. I'm really no good anyways." This forces a chuckle out of Timothy, "Yeah, but it's not like everybody else were professionals."
"He thinks he's a professional." Peter commented, "I guess he is captain though."
"I can't imagine he's a very good one." Timothy offered, "Besides nothing beat you sliding into the goal with the ball."
Peter laughed, "Yeah that was pretty epic. I don't get how the ground stayed wet for so long though."
"Some of the guys may have stolen a hose out of the grounds keeping shed to keep the game alive." Timothy hinted amused.
"Some of those guys didn't happen to be you, did they?" Peter asked knowing where the conversation was going.
"I can neither confirm nor deny the present accusation." Timothy replied.
"Of course you can't." Peter stated amused.
As they made their way into the dorm they both silently realized it had gotten dark out. It was now nearing 8:00 p.m. and about time that Peter actually did his homework before it was too late. "Well that was fun and all, but I'm starving. Wanna head to the cafeteria?" Timothy inquired.
"No, I've got some stuff to finish up for tomorrow. I'll walk with you there though." Peter liked to study in the library best and it happened to be in the same building as the cafeteria.
"Sounds like a plan," Timothy agreed, "However, I will require dry socks for the journey."
"And I as well, good sir." Peter replied mimicking Timothy's dorkery.
Not before long, the pair walked up the steps of the grand building, which withheld a, needless to say, less than grand food selection, especially after 7:00 p.m.
"You sure you don't want to get a bite to eat?" Timothy asked, "It's not very effective to study on an empty stomach."
Peter laughed, "How would you know that? I've never even seen you study."
"I don't have to because I never have an empty stomach," Timothy explained, "If you eat twice the amount of food you would eat while studying then it makes up for not studying."
"Wow, you're really dumb." Peter remarked. "I will be in the library if you realize that."
"There's nothing to realize but the universe, Pete" Timothy said airily, trying to sound dramatic.
"Alright then." Peter said shortly before parting toward the elevator.
As the elevator dinged to signal his arrival, Peter stepped out and immediately headed left. His favorite place to sit was at the little wooden desk in front of the window. As he began to set up shop he noticed Alexandria sitting two spaces away from him. He thought it strange to see her here so late seeing as she normally leaves once her classes her finished for the day. He lifted himself off the chair again leaving his things on the desk to go say hi for a moment. They were pretty much the only people there, so there was no one to hide the encounter from, not anyone like Ian anyway.
He hesitantly stepped up to her and said, "Hey Alexandria."
Her head shot up, but her shock was soon melted by the face looking back at her. "Oh, hi, Peter." she said quietly as if she hadn't spoken in hours, which she actually hadn't as Viola was the last person she had a conversation with that day.
"I don't usually see you hang around campus," Peter chuckled, "I assumed you usually bolted the first chance you got."
Alexandria smiled, "I don't have much reason to hang around I guess. I'm just here because I couldn't focus at home and I thought I'd go someplace quieter."
"Don't you live out in the country?" Peter laughed, "I guess I figured it was generally pretty quiet out there."
"Yeah, it definitely is, but sometimes a change of scenery can stimulate the mind." Alexandria replied.
"I'm having a little trouble with that too I think," Peter said, "I'd be pretty helpful if I could stimulate some productivity."
She chuckled at that. "That would be extremely helpful."
"What, are you calling me stupid?" Peter responded playfully hurt.
"No! No, not at all. I meant me. It would be nice for me." Alexandria explained naively. 
Peter laughed, "I know what you mean, I'm messing with you."
"Oh, sorry," Alexandria laughed at herself, "I guess I'm just a little wrapped up with all this work or something."
Peter smiled, "I should probably get to being wrapped up myself. It was good talking to you though." Peter said as he turned slowly back to his spot and got busy.
Alexandria sat for a moment in a slightly lifted mood at having conversed with someone outside of her family then soon got back to her work as well.
A few hours passed quietly, during these hours Peter couldn't help but think about how starting college could be a way to make amends with Alexandria for all the terrible things that happened in highschool. Peter always wanted to be friends with her but the expectations and social punishment were too intimidating to his highschool self. Soon enough the librarian came around to give a fifteen minute reminder. Alexandria and Peter packed up their things and left at the same time. As they walked out and down the stairs together Alexandria finally looked to Peter and sayed sweetly, "Well, have a goodnight." to which Peter replied, "Yeah, you too." He was still contemplating what to say to her but he knew it was now or never since they were alone. He looked at her as she walked away, still wanting to say something else.
"Hey, wait up!" he called out before she got too far. She turned around surprised and watched him half-jog to catch up to her.
"What is it?" she questioned curiously.
"I just wanted to know if you were going to make it to the bonfire this weekend." Peter improvised quickly.
"Um, yeah actually. My friend is kind of making me." Alexandria explained, still unaware as to why Peter was so curious.
"Well that's good of her then. It'll be a great time." Peter hesitated a moment, "I just didn't want you to feel like you'd be unwelcome in any way. All that highschool bull is in the past, at least for me anyway." he finally let out.
"Oh, um, thanks." Alexandria stammered unable to decipher whether he was flirting with her or genuinely making an effort to include her. She knew he wasn't like everyone else, but it was unclear at times whether it had to do with an admirable empathy for others or an attraction toward her specifically. Usually with Peter it was the former, and so that's what she assumed.
"Sorry if that seems super weird I just wanted you to know." Peter said quickly, slightly regretting bothering her to begin with.
"No, I'm really glad you said that. This whole college thing was either gonna go one of two ways, so I'm glad you're here." Alexandria decided she wouldn't take his concern as creepy, but she most definitely noted that she could.
"Okay, good." Peter said with a smile. "I'll see you around."
"See you around." Alexandria replied.
Alexandria had only realized they had made their way all the way down the stairs and out to the front of the building's concrete steps when she felt a cool breeze blow by, lifting her hair gently off her neck. They parted ways as Peter headed for his dorm and Alexandria made her way to the car waiting to pick her up.