thief | peter kavinsky

twenty one

I clutch my stomach, the piercing pain too much to be left alone. I wheeze out another breath and grab the corner of the table in front of me, taking a huge gasp.

"It's not that funny, Dyl." Cody pouts, leaning back in his chair.

"I mean, you ate shit. Literally, kissed the floor. And over her untied shoelaces. Holy shit, you win."

"I don't think winning 'worst first dates' is something worth celebrating." He makes a good point.

"Yeah, but it is an excuse to buy another round of fries." I say as I wave the waitress.

Cody eyes the waitress as she comes back around for our order. He asks for another round of fries with a smile. I know that smile - that's his flirty smile. The smile he pulls when he wants something. Well, someone.

"You like her." A cheesy grin forms on my face.

Listen, I know I said all that "Fall Back In Love With Cody" shit. But in reality, it was the worst idea I had ever came up with. I would be using Cody just like Peter did with me, I'd be the biggest hypocrite ever. Plus, my feelings for Cody were just. . . gone.

"She's hot." Cody shrugs, slurping his milkshake.

Milkshakes. This diner. Peter.

God, everything reminded me of that bastard. I couldn't go a minute without thinking about him. I can't believe I let him get into my head. I had become just another one of those girls who fell for Peter Kavinsky. I let myself fall for him, I let my guard down. There's no one to blame here but me.

I didn't see him a lot in school. I didn't see him a lot, period. He was avoiding me, and it made me furious. I should be the one avoiding him, what does he have to hide from? He was in the wrong. Or maybe. . . he feels guilty.

I quickly push Peter away from my thoughts when our fries come. I needed a distraction, and fast. Talking to Cody wasn't enough, which is why food was my best friend. The best distraction. Not to mention it tasted heavenly.

Just then, when I thought I escaped from the Peter mindset, I see him walk into the diner. But not alone, no, with Lara Jean.

"Fuck." I grumble, quickly bowing my head down so he wouldn't see me.

He walks in and sits on one of the stools, facing away from me. He didn't see me, which is somehow worse than actually seeing me. It means that I have to stay here and pretend like he isn't there. Like I'm not burning my eyes into his head. Like I'm not trying to listen to their conversation.

Lara Jean. Why her? Why Lara Jean? It could've been one of his best buds, could've been his little brother, he could've came alone. But Lara fucking Jean Covey.

"Holy Shit, Dyl." Cody says, beginning to stand.

I grab his arm and pull him back down into his seat. "What do you think you're doing?"

"We are leaving. Now." He demands, grabbing the pack of fries and standing up from his seat.

I wince as I hear the loud bang of his chair falling backward. He quickly grabs it and pushes it back into the table, but it was no use. Both Peter and Lara Jean turned their heads at us. Peter and I locked eyes for the first time in one month.

I missed it. I missed him.

"Let's go." Cody whispers.

I clear my throat and look away from Peter's piercing eyes. "You go."

"What?"

"Go. There's something that needs to be done." I grunt.

"Dyl-"

"Go." I raise my voice.

Cody frowns but obeys, slowly leaving the diner. I see Peter say something to Lara Jean from my peripheral vision and just like that, Lara Jean leaves as well.

I brace myself for what is about to happen next. When I open my eyes again Peter is in front of me. Beautiful, magical Peter Kavinsky. It was like seeing him for the first time. It was like seeing him standing in the middle of my room. It was like seeing him that day on the beach. It was life seeing him at the door of his room, with Lara Jean next to me, with tears in my eyes.

"Peter." I breathe out.

"Dylan." He smiles, and I could've broken down right then and there.

"How have you been?" I grimace, realizing how awkward this is.

"Really? That's your opening line?" He chuckles.

"I don't think you're allowed to judge in this situation." I smile.

"Oh, I can judge whoever I want. In whatever situation, Dyl." He smiles too.

And it's almost if everything was back to normal.

But it wasn't.

And we both knew it.

"I'm sorry. I'm so fucking sorry."

I try to push the tears back into my eyes but they just flow out. Red hot tears, running down my cheek, running down his.

"I- I screwed up and I know that I did. I was being fucking stupid and I thought I was losing you. I didn't know what to do, I didn't... I didn't know." He blurts out, sniffing. "And I'm sorry."

So broken.

"I know, Peter."

"I messed up, Dyl. But I still love you. And I'm willing to do whatever I can to have you back. Please, Dyl." He begged.

So, so broken.

"Please."

I was so fucking broken. I loved him. I loved him so much. . .

But he was the one who broke me.

"I can't."

Sometimes we don't all get happy endings.

Sometimes we don't get the sweet jock who stole our heart.

And so just like that, our story ended.

———

THIEF