𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐁𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐝 | p. parker

ii • unfortunate commitments

Peter's apartment was exactly like any other apartment, except for the visually impaired accommodations.

There were handrails along each wall and the doorknobs were quite larger than average. Not to mention the less noticeable things, like no rugs in the kitchen to trip over, a solid bench for kitchen seating rather than individual chairs, and television remotes connected to the coffee table with string. You assumed this made it easier for Peter to locate them. Though, whether he actually watched TV was debatable in your mind.

"May will be home soon, right Peter?" Ned said as the three of you set your bags down on the couch.

"She actually started working from home on Thursdays now," Peter said.

"Oh wow, not just Fridays? That's nice," Ned replied.

You stood uncomfortably in the middle of the room, not knowing where to sit or how to act.

"Peter, is that you?" came a voice from the other room.

"Yeah, May," Peter called.

Just then a woman appeared from around the corner. "I got an email from Mr. Hargreaves saying you haven't turned in that essay." She was studying a coupon in her hands and adjusting her glasses. "Oh, Ned," she looked up. "How nice of you to drop by,"

"Hi, May," Ned waved.

May looked at you. "And who's this?"

"Oh, this is ___," Ned explained. "She's new. And she doesn't have a Spanish textbook so she's studying with us. We have a test tomorrow."

"Peter, you have a test tomorrow?" May dropped her hand to her side in exasperation. "You need to tell me these things."

Peter only felt for the arm of the couch. He walked alongside it and reached out to grasp the back of a chair positioned at a small desk against the wall. He sat down, using his hands to understand where he was.

"Well, you guys hungry?" May turned to enter the kitchen. "I made muffins this morning but I burned half the batch. Maybe if we take the tops off they'll taste better,"

Ned was opening his backpack and sifting through his binder to find a study sheet while Peter was twisting a pencil in his fingers.

"So, ___, have you studied future tense verb conjugation yet?" Ned asked.

The three of you studied together at Peter's small desk until a smell coming from the kitchen made you wrinkle your nose.

You wanted to ask what it was, but you didn't feel comfortable speaking up. You barely knew these people.

Ned, noticing your expression, leaned over and whispered: "May's not the best cook. But she tries."

"Who wants blueberry? I added some frozen ones to the cinnamon mix I made earlier." May called from the kitchen.

"She always forgets I don't like cinnamon," Peter grumbled under his breath. He was having a hard time applying himself to his work, and was in a sour mood.

Ned bit his lip. "Uh, just two please!" He called back. "Unless, you don't want one?" He looked at you.

You opened your mouth to reply when May said "Two blueberry? Two cinnamon? The berry ones are hot! But the cinnamon ones have a crispy top!"

Just then, Peter accidentally elbowed his water bottle which spilled all over the textbook.

"Oh, no," Ned said.

You stood up. "I'll grab a towel."

"Okay," Ned said, easing Peter away from the table. His pants were very wet. "Maybe tell May I'd like a blueberry muffin. And that Peter isn't hungry."