Breaking the Void

Chapter 12 - First Day Of School

(Your POV):
The rest of the week passed with no words from Peter. I had texted him a few times in apology, but all I got back with those little grey words beneath the text that said read then listed the time. It pained me that he wouldn't even give me a response, I thought I had at least meant that much to him.

But he couldn't avoid me forever. School beginning again today and I had prepared what I wanted to say to him. I was going to force him to listen, I was going to confess one more aspect of my life. I knew that my identity and association with H.A.M.M.E.R. could not get out, but I could confess the abuse. Then perhaps he would understand that I had to obey my parents, maybe I would have half a chance to win him back.

Nerves sat like a heavy rock at the bottom of my stomach as I walked into the building and stopped by my locker, keeping an eye out for Peter. I was closing the door as he walked by, his eyes fixed ahead and not drifting from their current course to pay me any mind. I spoke his name, desperate to get his attention and fix what little we had left, but he ignored me, not even glancing back as he walked away.

Peter was in almost all of my classes again this year, but this time it was planned. We had figured out how to have the most similar schedules, with Peter even willing to try his hand at AP English if I promised to proofread all of his essays for him. I had still promised to proofread his essays, but he had found a way to remain in the lower level but still share the other classes that we wanted together. Of course I doubted I would ever read a word that he had written now that he had broken up with me.

But I refused to give up that easily and seeing Peter in all of my classes pushed me to fight harder to keep him. I loved him too much to let him slip away now when I felt I was finally getting comfortable in the relationship. At Ned's invitation, I joined Peter, MJ, Betty, and Ned at their normal seats in the lunchroom. Peter was already sitting down, his head buried in some work which I assumed was an excuse not to talk with Ned, Betty, and MJ about the breakup. He didn't seem to notice me as I sat down, although I was unsure of whether that was because he actually didn't realize that I was there or because he was continuing his silent treatment.

Since Peter was not talking, I smiled at Ned, "how have you been Ned, we didn't really have a chance to catch up with each other earlier today. Anything crazy happen to you in the last week before you were condemned to return to hell?"

As I spoke, I noticed Peter's head twitch upwards but the anger in his eyes was too much for me to bear. I tried to keep my voice cheerful as I spoke but my heart was breaking with every word. And before Ned could respond, Peter spoke the first words to me that he had since breaking up with me.

"Why are you here, (Y/N)? You have no right to come here and try to win me back. It's not going to change anything and you're only making a fool of yourself," he growled and a wave of anger swelled up inside of me to mask the pain.

"I have no right? I have no right to sit with my friends and inquire about how they are doing?!" I snapped, fighting back the tears that threatened to fill my eyes. "They are my friends too, Peter-"

"Shut up! You don't get to come waltzing back over here after what you did!"

I scoffed, "so you think you can control my life?! You're an ass, Peter, you know that?! I make one mistake and now you think I am nothing more than a piece of garbage that you found out on the street!"

Glaring at Peter and ignoring the stares from other students, I stood from the table and stormed from the room. I had to get out of there before I broke down, before I professed what I had done in front of the whole school. I went to the only place that I felt safe, where I had sought solitude since arriving at this godforsaken school. Upon arriving in the library, I took a book from the shelf and sat down at one of the tables, pretending to be engaged in the material so that I would not get kicked out.

"Hey, (Y/N), I'm sorry for what happened back there," I heard a kind voice speak as Ned approached my table.

I gave him a sad smile, "you have no need to apologize, it wasn't your fault."

"But I was the one who invited you to join us for lunch," he argued, sitting down across from me.

I placed my hand on his arm, "you were being kind and giving me an opportunity to be with friends. Thank you for everything, Ned, it really means a lot to me for you to treat me as a friend after what Peter undoubtedly told you."

"He mentioned that you cheated on him?"

I drew in a shaky breath, "it wasn't what he thought it was, I was just doing something for my parents. I do not and never had feelings for anyone except for Peter. But I fucked up, Ned, and he's never going to forgive me for it. And-and it hurts, it hurts to see him and have him just ignore me like I mean nothing to him and I know that it was all my fault, but I want him back so badly. I would do anything to remedy what we had."

"So talk to him about it," Ned proposed, placing his hand atop of mine.

"I can't, he won't listen to me. I tried to explain myself already, but all he sees is my mistake and nothing else, he has turned blind to how much I love him."

"Make him listen, (Y/N), it's not fun when the two of you are at odds, it hurts the rest of the group as well. If he won't hear what you have to say, write him a letter, I'll make sure that he reads it."

My lips spread into a smile, "thanks, Ned, but I doubt it will change his mind. He's ignored my talk and texts, what makes you think a letter will change his mind?"

"I guess you're just going to have to write him a damn good one. And stain it with tears, I'm sure that will help," he joked, although I knew that if I were to actually write Peter a letter it would be a miracle if I were able to keep my tears from dotting the paper.

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(A/N): So you've got Ned on your side now! Maybe there's a chance? Who knows! Also, meal planning is so stressful and exhausting so I apologize if I missed any errors during my proofread!