Seasons of Love

The One with the Fireworks

As July approached quickly, Kallie spent every night in Peter's room. She tried to fall asleep in hers first, but she just couldn't sleep alone without the fox one of her moms gave her in high school. So, she ended up cuddling with him each night.

She realizes that she could have spent these nights with Shawn. Heaven knows he'd be ecstatic for all the private time together. But, she hesitated to knock on his door. Maybe because even though he knows every inch of her body, sometimes she's not sure if he knows every inch of her.

It might not be fair to make that assessment considering the weird circumstances of her friendships with the boys. She gave each of them a part of her that she didn't give the others. It made it fair, almost. So while Shawn got her body, Raul got her emotions, and Peter got her mind.

If only she had known then that by crawling into bed with Peter each night, she was mixing territories. And the consequences of that would be far worse for her than it would be for the boys.

Soon enough, it's the first day of July and the late morning light is sifting through the curtains in Peter's room. Kallie and Peter lay on their stomachs with their feet tangled together as they sleep. Their peacefulness doesn't last long when the thundering of footsteps comes racing down the hall.

"RISE AND SHINE!!!!" Shawn yells through the door.

Kallie shoves her face further into the pillow and groans. "Make him stop," she grumbles and pushes Peter repeatedly by his bicep.

"Okay, okay!" He chuckles lightly, having an easier time in the mornings than her. Pulling on a shirt, he trudges to the door and opens it quickly. "Do you mind?"

Shawn can clearly see Kallie still sleeping, but he doesn't seem to care. "Of course, I mind!" He laughs. "It's Canada Day and you two are gonna miss the festivities!!"

"Bring it down three notches and we'd both be happy to attend your festivities," Peter pleads while rubbing his ear with one hand.

Thinking it over for a moment, Shawn responds in a volume significantly lower. "Deal! See you guys downstairs in thirty." He drums his hands on the open doorway before disappearing as quickly as he came.

"It's like he doesn't know this is my least favorite holiday," she chuckles sarcastically while she sits up.

Peter joins her on the bed and fixes some of her hair that's frizzy. "Oh, he knows," he laughs before continuing, "he just emphatically does not care."

"Guess we better get to it or he'll come back, eh?" She squints at Peter and he just nods grimly. The expression causes her to giggle as she pulls herself out of bed. "See you downstairs." She waves on her way out, pointedly only looking at the floor ahead for her steps.

For her to keep sleeping in that room, Peter had to put all the pictures of Kaylin's face down and the rest of the mementos hidden where Kallie couldn't see. Kallie never had the strength to go through and collect all of it after the funeral. He's worried about what will happen now that the sale of the cabin will be forcing her to.

The four of them meet downstairs in the living room, dressed and ready to participate in Shawn's organized activities. Raul is slouched in a chair with a hat tipped over his face as Shawn goes through the itinerary. Kallie notices and raises her hand quickly.

"No fair! Raul is sleeping!" She tattles playfully as she points. Peter snickers beside her on the couch and Raul silently flips her off. "Wouldn't you like to?" She retorts and rolls her eyes.

Shawn scoffs. "That's enough out of all of you. You're ruining my action plan meeting," he pouts. Kallie rubs her closed fist in a circle over her chest and mouths 'sorry.' While he thought it was cute she was using sign language interchangeably with her voice, he found it annoying that only Peter could understand her without her mouthing the words.