Grant

Chapter Thirteen-Honesty

My mind is on Janie from last night as I wonder where the rest of the kids are hiding as I head in, but all my thoughts vanish when I see Peter heading towards the doors. Our eyes meet and I find a soft smile easily coming to my lips as the same comes to his.

"G." Slips from his lips before he just steps forward and wraps his arms around my neck. I take a deep breath of Peter before gingerly wrapping my arms around him, then clinging to him like a life preserver.

"God, Peter." I breathe and only then do I realize how much I missed him.

"G." He says again as we pull back and his hands are on my face as if I'm his anchor rather than the other way around. "Shit. Did I hurt you? I wasn't thinking-" I chuckle and shake my head with my hands over his on my face.

"You didn't hurt me at all. Even if you did it would have been well worth it. How are you? Healed up?" I ask and scan him properly, finding no new wounds nor remains of old ones. He scoffs and shakes his head at me.

"Me? I'm fine. I've been healed since the day after you left, but what about you? Are you hurting anywhere?" The innocence of the question hits me like a shot and instantly reminds me of Aunt May. That's exactly what she'd say. Peter's brown eyes quickly flit over the burn on display and I reluctantly release his hands so he can walk around it to examine it closer.

"Grizzly, yeah?" I gesture to my shoulder as he comes back in front of me and my heart flies when he takes my hand again. He shrugs.

"Well, it's fitting alongside your beard. You look a little like a grizzly bear." We chuckle softly in the hall again and I'm so glad that it's still easy with him. At least I haven't lost whatever's in me that he sees.

"Very funny. Honestly, I'd kill for a shower. Join me?" I tease, but it's me who swallows when he actually thinks about it before shaking his head.

"I think I want an official date before that." He allows with pink brushing his cheeks and god damn me, I can't help but lean forward and kiss him. It takes him by surprise and it's quick because of where we are, but the mere brush of his lips on mine makes me feel alive.

"Deal." I whisper and find myself smiling easier than I have since waking up.

"I'll uh, I'll walk you back to your room." He says and I smirk as I wrap an arm around him.

"Gives you some time to change your mind." I tease and he shakes his head with a smile on his face. We walk to my room and Peter makes sure I'm steady in the bathroom before pulling away.

"I'll grab you some clothes." He says while I lean on the sink and slather shaving cream on my face without looking at my reflection.

"Who said you could rifle through my underwear drawer, Pete?" His scoff in the other room is the only answer I get before I start sliding blades across my face and have to focus a bit. Pete finishes before me, but stays to keep me quiet company as I shave. Well, relatively quiet.

"How are you doing with everything?" He says and I'm very aware of the unspoken deal we've always had. When we ask a question about a mission or the aftermath of one, our answers always have to be honest. One hundred percent honesty. My jaw clenches as I rinse off the razor in the sink for a second before continuing.

"I feel better with you." I answer honestly and he half-smiles, but the worried look in his brown eyes doesn't go away. Sighing, I finish my face and wipe it off with a towel before looking at Peter again. "I don't...I don't really know. Everything is still so fresh on my body but then things feel so dull in my mind. Except when they're slapping me in the face." My hand slides over my clean face, but despite the change I don't feel any different. "I don't know what to do." I admit, but instead of feeling relief, I just feel shame wash over me all over again. Suddenly, I have a desire just to curl up into a ball. Desperation for care wars with my desire to be strong so viscerally inside me that Peter has to snap twice in front of my face to get my attention.