Part Seventeen

Deciding to meet Zoe that afternoon at RC Coffee Lounge, Peter made his way into the building, ordered himself a drink and waited in one of the corner booths when he noticed Nathan arrive looking lost in thought and confused and knowing his friend, Peter got up from his seat and made his way over to him.

“Hey Nathan, you good?” Peter greeted the teenager.

"Peter, hey," Nathan murmured, shaking his head. “Sorry, just thinking about some things.”

"Anything you want to tell me about? You have your serious face on so I know it must be important." Peter said knowingly.

"It's about Claire," Nathan sighed.

"Oh, man. What happened?" Peter wondered.

"I saw her with Jerome. Like they were on a date on the beach and they looked… Happy. Were happy until I got there…" Nathan explained.

"And what do you think about them?" Peter asked. “I mean, I know they’re our friends but they do deserve to be happy.”

"I don't know," Nathan admitted. "I just… I didn't expect it to hit me so hard."

"It's tough, Nate. I get it. But you guys broke up. You can't fault her for moving on." Peter reminded him.

"I know. It's just that it wasn't something I was expecting,” Nathan admitted. “Her and Jerome.”

"I know," Peter said, his voice low and earnest. "I know it's hard but you can't hold onto the past forever. You and Claire had your time, and it's over. And Jerome, he's a good guy. He's been there for you through thick and thin. Even before we became friends.”

“I know he has," Nathan said in agreement. "It's just… Seeing them together… It feels like a betrayal."

"It's not, though," Peter reminded him. "You guys are over and if you're being honest with yourself, you know that deep down." Peter paused. "You've got to let her go, Nate and if that means giving Jerome your blessing, then do it. For her, for him, and for you. You and I both know what it's like to hold onto things…"

"You're right," Nathan sighed. "I can't hold onto this anger and it's not doing anyone any good."

"Exactly," Peter nodded. "And think about it, if anyone deserves to be happy, it's Jerome. He's been there for us, for you, all this time. Sometimes you have to do the right thing even if it hurts others…" Peter added as he noticed Zoe enter the cafe and suddenly felt the weight of what he was about to do.

“You mean, you and Peter?” Claire said in surprise that afternoon as she and Hollie caught up with each other and Hollie had just finished informing the would-be singer about her and Peter hooking-up. “What was that like? I mean, I've heard the stories about him around campus but still a girl can't help but wonder…”

"It was... Intense," Hollie admitted.

"What do you mean?" Claire asked curiously.

“It was like nothing I've ever experienced before, Claire. Peter... He's not like the other guys I've been with. He's... Definitely lived up to the rumours but it was more than just that," Hollie explained. “It was just right. Him and me. Together.”

"So what now? He was seeing someone wasn't he?” Claire recalled.

"He is and that's what makes it complicated. You know how it is with Peter. He's seeing Zoe although based on what he was saying that might be over very soon." Hollie told her.

"He's breaking up with her then?." Claire said in realisation.

“Yeah. I can tell he feels guilty about it and he doesn't want to hurt her… I don't want to hurt either but he and I both know how we feel about each other and we know this is the right thing to do. Peter and I... I know we love each other. Have done our entire lives and will always love each other. We just finally gave into those feelings."

"I know it's tough but you guys have to do what's right for you." Claire said in agreement.

"Speaking of love, wanna tell me how's it going with you and Jerome?" Hollie questioned.

"It's... Different," Claire said with a small smile. "Like you and Peter, Jerome is not like anyone I've ever been with and it was going great until Nathan caught us last night." Claire said as she mentioned her ex-boyfriend and Jerome's best friend.

"What happened?" Hollie asked.

"He caught us and then just stormed off." Claire revealed. "I guess he didn't expect me to move on so quickly and with Jerome but I guess that's my fault. For falling for Jerome. Maybe it would have been easier if we weren't together.”

"No it's not. You can't let Nathan and his feelings decide how you live your life, Claire especially when you and Jerome seem really happy together."

"I know, but it's complicated and I'm just not sure how to handle it." Claire admitted.

"You need to talk to Nathan," Hollie told her. "You guys can't just ignore this."

"I know, but what if it ruins things with Jerome?" Claire worriedly told her.

"It won't," Hollie reassured her. "Jerome's a good guy. He'll understand you need to clear the air with Nathan and Nathan just needs time to get used to the idea of you and Jerome..."

"But what if he doesn't?" Claire asked.

"You can't control how he feels, Claire. But you can control how you handle it. You have to be honest to him about how you feel." Hollie explained. “It's the only way forward.”

"Hey," Zoe said as Peter led her to a quiet table in the corner. "I was expecting us to meet so soon today. What's going on, Peter?"

"Zoe, I-I need to talk to you about something." Peter said as he took a deep breath.

"Okay, what is it?" Zoe questioned.

"It's about us," Peter said, taking a pause and finally he added on. "I don't think we should be together anymore."

"What? Why?" Zoe said in a tone that mixed confusion and surprise.

“If I'm being honest, I've been holding onto some feelings about someone else for a while, Zoe and I don't want to hurt you, but it's not fair to either of us, especially you if I keep pretending otherwise," Peter explained.

“Someone else?" Zoe whispered.

“It's complicated, but yes." Peter nodded. “I'm sorry, Zoe. I just didn't want to keep lying to you or dragging you along because you deserve someone who loves you just as much as you love them… You deserve someone who can give everything you want from them..."

Peter wanted to continue but he noticed that Zoe had fallen silent, her eyes filled with tears and trying hard not to draw attention to them and unsure on how or if he even had the right to comfort her after breaking her heart, Peter watched as Zoe stood up abruptly.

"I need to go," Zoe softly said.

"Zoe, please don't," Peter reached out for her, however she was already backing away and was soon gone through the door.

Putting the heartbroken Zoe to the back of his mind as he realised as the source of heartache he couldn't really help her, Peter instead returned back home to Aldridge House and decided to focus on his blossoming relationship with Hollie which led to the two of them attending one of Delta Psi Beta Fraternity parties that evening.

Entering the Fraternity House, Peter and Hollie made their way pass the dancers, the various groups of people socialising or drinking until they found themselves with Jerome and Claire, laughing and talking as they enjoyed each others company and the atmosphere of the party. It was during the party that the group was surprised by the sudden arrival of Nathan.

"Hey guys." Nathan greeted the group awkwardly.

"Hey Nathan." Peter said with a small smile while Hollie gave him a cheery greeting.

"Hi." Both Jerome and Claire said in response.

"Can we talk?" Nathan asked the newly formed couple who nodded and they stepped away from Peter and Hollie.

"Look, you guys," Nathan began to say. "I just want you to know that I'm okay with this." Nathan said as he gestured to them. "I can see that you're happy together, and that's all that matters to me."

"You... You are?" Jerome said in surprise.

"Yeah," Nathan responded, his voice steady. "I am. I care about you both a lot. I don't want any bad blood between us."

"Thank you, Nate. I never wanted to hurt you," Claire said with a smile.

"I know, Claire and I never wanted to stand in the way of your happiness." Nathan told her.

"Thanks man." Jerome nodded, the tension visibly easing from his shoulders. "We really appreciate it."

Nodding in recognition, Nathan left the pair who returned back to join Peter and Hollie who noticed the happy smiles on the couple's faces as they sat back down opposite Peter and Hollie.

"Everything good?" Peter asked.

"Yeah," Claire said happily as leaned into Jerome's arm. "Everything's great."

Leaving the party late that evening, Peter and Hollie returned back home to Aldridge House, the new couple making out as soon as the crossed the front door since they planned on making their way over to Peter's bedroom however the sound of footsteps caused the pair to abruptly stop, take a step back away from each other as they noticed a familiar face of a tall woman who has pale, white skin with honey-blonde hair, stormy, light-sky-blue eyes and a slender, curvaceous body with very large breasts and a curvy, bubble-butt.

"Asa..." Hollie said upon seeing her ex-girlfriend, her hand taking Peter's in comfort.

"Hi, Hollie, Peter," Asa said with a small smile. "Looks like I missed quite a lot.”