Chapter Text
In his peripheral vision on his way to his room, Peter's eyes catch the number 518. It triggers a memory of Gen telling him that that's where she'd be staying, alone because Emily is planing to spend the night with her boyfriend. He passes it by before he changes his mind and goes back. Luckily, before he knocks, he happens to glance down at himself and realizes that his hot tub outfit might give the wrong impression, so he walks back quickly to his room, puts on something more appropriate then heads back to 518.
He knocks twice before he decides that Gen is probably not there. He's about to leave when the door opens and reveals Gen in a sexy bra and panties matching set and perfect hair and makeup. So that's why it took her a while to open the door! It strikes him that it's been years since he's seen Gen without makeup or styled hair. Not since middle school. She simply refused to let him see her un-groomed. Not Lara Jean though. He remembers her opening the door with flour all over her face and hair and a smile breaks on his face at the memory. She was insanely cute.
"Bored already, are we?" Gen smirks as she moves away to let him pass.
"What?" He shakes himself out of his Lara Jean-daydreaming as he absentmindedly walks in.
"I get it," she says in an amorous tone. "You realized your mistake when you found out that a newly popped virgin like her wouldn't know how to take care of you, so you came crawling back to me. That's OK." She bats her eyes and runs the tip of her fingers along the edge of her bra seductively. "I'm in a generous mood. I won't make you beg.. too much."
Peter flushes and blurts out, "We didn't have sex!"
Gen laughs, sounding even more sultry. "So she didn't even put out?" She moves closer and pouts coyly. "Poor baby... Don't worry, we have all night to fix that."
She tries to throw her arms around his neck but Peter stops her and steps away.
Sounding firm, he says, "You and I won't be doing anything. I only came here to tell you that we're over. I know I should've made that clear the other day on the bleachers but I had other stuff on my mind and was distracted. But we are over."
"Over?" Gen seems to be confused by this statement. "What do you mean?"
"I mean we're not getting back together. Not now, not ever. We're done."
"But I broke up with Colin! For you! Isn't that what you wanted? Isn't that why you were dating her?"
"Her name is Lara Jean. And yeah, I admit that was what I wanted at the beginning but that was a long time ago and things have changed. You shouldn't have broken up because of me. I'm with Lara Jean now."
When it dawns on her that he's serious, anger darkens her beautiful features. "Seriously?! You're choosing her over me?! How does that make any sense? You're out of your mind, Kavinsky!"
"Not in the least. For the first time in years, I'm seeing things clearly." He sighs and his stance softens. "You're an amazing girl, Gen. Smart and beautiful and fearless. Any guy would do anything for a chance to be with you."
Gen takes a step back and raises her chin in indignation. "Any guy but you, right?" When he doesn't say anything, she demands to know. "Why? What does she have that I don't?"
Peter thinks that he should probably lie, say something cliché, like 'It's not you, it's me,' or remind her that she's the one who set all this in motion when she dumped him for another guy. But he can't bring himself to do it; he owes her the truth. Besides, after the whole fake dating debacle, he's tired of lying. And sure, he hasn't told Lara Jean yet, but it's not like Gen is going to!
He simply says, "I'm in love with her."
She stops breathing. Her voice full of trepidation, she says, "You never told me you loved me!"
This reminder makes him feel guilty. Before their breakup, he knew that Gen was expecting him to say the L-word but he always made excuses, implying that it wasn't the right time; but the truth is that he just couldn't say it. He could lie about anything but he didn't want to lie about this.
He says sincerely, "I'm really sorry."
Feeling like there's nothing else to be said, Peter turns to leave.
"Peter!" When he looks back, she says with calm confidence, like she's just stating a fact, "You will regret this."
He opens his mouth to say something but changes his mind. Not wanting to make this worse than it already is, he says, "Take care, Gen," and closes the door behind him.
Lara Jean woke up this morning fearing that last night was just something she had dreamed up, but when she gets on the buss and sees a grinning Peter, saving her a seat and waving at her to join him, her heart starts beating fast and her confidence comes back. She makes her way to him pass groggy teenagers and grumpy classmates, returning the occasional hi when someone she knows is awake enough to recognize her.
She slides in and Peter takes her hand right away. "Did you sleep well?"
Lara Jean is reminded of how late they stayed up last night and blushes a little, but nods happily. "You?"
"Actually, I'm tired. Can I use you as a pillow?"
She offers him her shoulder as she settles to read her book. When she glances up, her eyes meet Gen's as she steps on the buss and a chill runs down her spine from the intensity. Before taking her seat, Gen gives Lara Jean an ominous smile, like she knows something that Lara Jean doesn't and that something is going to cause her a world of hurt.
"Hack the planet," Chris says.
"Hackers!" Trevor exclaims excitedly. "Come on, Chris! Make it difficult!"
Chris rolls her eyes. "Like Gabe's Yippie-ki-yay was so obscure?"
"OK, OK, my turn," Lara Jean says. "I'm sure they didn't forget your birthday. They just didn't remember it right away."
Peter crosses his arms and smirks while everyone else scratches their head.
"Why do you look so smug, Kavinsky?" Gabe says, "You're just as clueless as the rest of us!"
"Oh, I'm not clueless, I'm just giving you cornballs a chance. But since you're not cultured enough..." He turns to Lara Jean. "I want a reward for getting it!"
Lara Jean wrinkles her nose, looking more cute than anything else. "I'll see what I can do about that."
Beaming, Peter says, "16 Candles."
Chris throws her hand in the air. "Oh come on! Seriously?!"
Everyone else looks lost.
Trevor asks, "What the hell is 16 Candles?"
"It's a typical LJ romcom movie. Go figure PK would know it!" Chris says.
"Damn right I would!" Peter turns to Lara Jean again. "Where's my reward?"
Lara Jean laughs and gives him a small peck on his cheek.
Peter never looked happier or more proud of himself, earning him a collective eye roll. Peter and Lara Jean have been acting exceptionally cutesy today and it's starting to get on their friends' nerves.
Steve, another lacrosse player on the team, makes his way to them and says excitedly, "Yo! Party tonight at my place. You guys in?"
Everyone yells, "Yeah!" and Steve returns some high-fives. They talk about who else is going to be there and who will be bringing the booze.
"You're in, Kavinsky?"
"Not this time. Covey and I have plans tonight. Sounds like it's gonna be a lit party though."
When he turns to Lara Jean, she says quietly, "We have plans? I was kind of hoping to be home tonight, actually." She looks a little apologetic.
Peter laughs. He still can't get over how adorable she is. "I know. Christmas Cookie Bonanza. Kitty invited me, remember?"
Lara Jean's face lights up. "You really want to come to that instead of going to a party?"
He narrows his eyes in accusation. "Are you trying to rescind the invitation? I'm a smart guy, Covey. I can take a hint, but at least say it to my face."
She swats him on the arm for teasing her. "Of course I want you to be there. I just thought you'd have more fun at a party than baking with me and Kitty for hours."
His smile gets soft and he looks at her with love in his eyes. "Are you going to be there?"
Under his gaze, she feels spellbound that all she manages to do is nod.
"Then there's nowhere else I'd rather be. Besides... Cookies, girl! Cookies!"
"You know I can roll my own bag?" Lara Jean says when they're stepping onto her porch.
"Of course you can. I just want to do something nice for my girlfriend." Peter grins. "See how I didn't say fake?"
Lara Jean pretends that a hundred butterflies aren't taking off in her stomach. Only halfheartedly (because she really loves hearing it), she says, "How many times are you going to say this phrase now?"
"At least ten. Just to remind myself that it's real." They come to a stop and he says softly, "It still feels like a dream."
If Lara Jean was a snowman, she's sure she would've melted now. She still can't believe that she can now touch him and kiss him, so she does just that. He's as lost in the kiss as she is, only pulling apart when a sound from inside brings them out of their bubble.
Lara Jean opens the door and they walk into a perfectly Christmas decorated house, full with socks on the fireplace, red-and-green throw-blankets and a shining Christmas tree.
Kitty comes out of the pantry and calls out, "You're home!" Then runs to hug them.
"This is beautiful! Good job, little one!" Peter high-fives her.
"Kitty! Did you do this all yourself?" Lara Jean asks, clearly impressed.
"Well..."
"Hey, little sister!"
Lara Jean turns around to see Margot standing on the foot of the stairs, smiling brightly.
"Oh my God!" She squeals, jumps up and down with her arms flailing of excitement before she runs and throws herself into her big sister's arms. Kitty joins them and all three of them hug and hop in circle, happy to be under the same roof again.
"Let's get your bag inside and we'll have all night just us sisters," Margot says.
They all yell, "Covey Sisters Night!"
Lara Jean turns to get her bag only to be meet by Peter, standing by the door, his grin is splitting his face from ear to ear in spite of him being fully aware that his girlfriend of less than 24 hours has completely forgotten about him.
"Peter! Are you staying?" Kitty asks him.
Peter chuckles at the torn expression on Lara Jean's face. "How about a rain-check? I should get home and let my mom know that I'm back." He winks at Lara Jean and she blushes.
"I'll walk you out," Lara Jean says, ignoring Margot's curious look.
She closes the door behind them and starts to say, "I'm really sorr—"
Peter cuts her off with a kiss and everything is wiped off her mind. When he pulls away, she's frozen in place, eyes dazed for a second before she recovers.
"What was that for?" She asks.
"For being the cutest thing ever. I mean, the change of plan was worth it just to watch you do the bird dance," he says, teasing.
She fakes being appalled and he just laughs.
"She wasn't suppose to arrive until tomorrow night."
"You don't need to explain, Covey. Of course you should be with your sisters tonight. Maybe I can come pick you up tomorrow and we go somewhere? Corner Cafe?"
"That sounds perfect. Thank you."
"Anything for my beautiful, very not-fake, girlfriend."
When Lara Jean walks back in, she's smiling dreamily and touching her lips, still warm from Peter's good night kiss.
"Uhhh... Lara Jean," Margot starts, "why is Kitty saying that Peter Kavinsky is your boyfriend?"
"Because he is," Kitty says.
Lara Jean looks apologetic, clearly confirming Kitty's statement.
"Since when?"
Again, Kitty jumps in with the answer. "Right after school started."
"That long?!! And you didn't tell me all this time?!!"
"Actually..." Lara Jean says hesitantly, "It's not that long. Umm..."
Margot comes closer and looks concerned. "LJ, what's going on? How come you never told me you have a boyfriend? That's huge."
Lara Jean doesn't know what to say and tries to deflect. "That's a long story. Can we talk about it after you tell us all about Scotland?"
"Yes!" Kitty gets excited again. "I already know all about Peter. I want to know about Scotland. Did you eat anything disgusting? Did you learn to drive on the wrong side of the road? Does it snow a lot?"
"Yes!" Lara Jean jumps at the opportunity with her own questions. "I heard drinking age there is only 18. Do you really drink when you go to clubs?"
Margot laughs. "Oh no!" She takes both her sisters by the hand and leads them to the couch to huddle together. "Not before you tell me all about Peter so I know too."
For a very fleeting moment, Lara Jean considers recounting the story as everyone knows it, but being in the physical presence of her big sister, she knew that she's not that good of a liar and that it's time to get this off her chest. She sighs in resignation and starts telling Margot about her hatbox and the letters in them. She tells her why she wrote them in the first place and how the box was accidentally taken to Good Will where someone must have mailed the letters out, landing one of them into Peter Kavinsky's hand. Leaving one little detail out, Lara Jean confesses how she had panicked when she realized what must have happened that she pushed Peter down on the tracks and kissed him (Margot cannot decide if she's horrified by that or finds it hilarious). She even tells her about Peter's breakup with Gen few days earlier and how they have been fake-dating this whole time so he could make Gen jealous and win her back.
Margot frowns. "That does not sound like a good plan, Lara Jean. It sounds like something that could easily backfire."
"Well, it kind of did. Peter and I got to hang out a lot and we... started to like each other. Like, really like each other."
"So when did you actually get together for real?"
Lara Jean gets that dreamy look again. "Last night." When she sees Margot's face fall, she remembers why the ski trip is so infamous and hurries to say, "No, not like that! Nothing happened. We just kissed... but it was incredible. He had his hand on my shoulder and ran his fingers through my hair. It felt so...tender, but exhilarating at the same time."
Margot looks at her sister like she's seeing someone she doesn't recognize. "Why haven't you told me any of this? Every time I called, you looked like you didn't want to talk to me but I still didn't think that you would keep something this big from me. If I had known..."
The hurt expression on Margot's face before she turns away makes Lara Jean feel really bad. "No, Gogo. It wasn't because you weren't here. I was lying to everybody, but I knew I couldn't lie to you. I could never lie to you, I knew you would see right through me. That's why I've been avoiding your calls."
"But why, Lara Jean? Why did you want to lie to me in the first place? Why didn't you trust me?"
"It wasn't because I didn't trust you. You're the person I trust the most in the whole world."
"Then why?"
"Ummm... there's one more thing I haven't told you yet. The reason why I panicked that the letters were mailed out and agreed to fake date Peter was because... one of the letters was for... umm... Jo.. aaa Joooossshhh." She drags out the name because she really doesn't want to say it and keeps stealing glances at her big sister because she's too scared to look at her.
Margot's expression, however, is blank. "Josh who?"
Lara Jean doesn't answer, but her guilt is written all over her face.
"Josh Josh?! As in our neighbor Josh?!"
Lara Jean nods with apprehension.
"As in my Josh?!"
Lara Jean nods again.
Margot stands up and her voice is a mixture of disbelief, anger and hurt. "Lara Jean, how could you?!"
"I'm so sorry, Gogo! I didn't mean to! It was a long time ago. Before you even got together. But then you broke up and you weren't here and I missed you and he missed you too and—" Lara Jean is rambling nervously she's not even sure what she's saying.
Margot puts her hands on Lara Jean's shoulders to calm her down. "Hey, hey, LJ! Slow down!"
Lara Jean takes a breath gathering her courage and starts again. "Before, a long time ago, I was in love with Josh, but I didn't realize how I felt about him until you two got together. Of course I didn't say anything because I could never do this to you. To my own sister. With time, those feelings went away and he was just my friend again. And then you went to Scotland but he was still here, and I thought those feelings had come back but in reality, I was just missing you. Missing all three of us hanging out together. When he got the letter that I had written years and years ago, I didn't know what to do. I just knew that I didn't want you to know because I didn't want you to think that I would ever do this to you. So Peter suggested that we fake-date each other not just for his sake but also so I don't have to face Josh, and by extension, you. Because if I had a boyfriend, then the letter didn't matter. I swear nothing would've happened anyway but I just didn't know how to tell you. But then Peter and I started getting closer. We could just talk and have fun with each other, and it was completely unexpected. Peter and I are so different but we just get each other like we've been together the entire time. There's so much more to him that people realize."
Margot notices how Lara Jean lights up the moment she starts talking about Peter. Slowly, her shoulders drop and she sighs. "I wish you hadn't kept all that a secret from me but..." She smiles a little and admits, "You do look happy."
"I am. Peter is very sensitive and smart and thoughtful. He opens the car door for me. He always wants to hold my hand. He went to the Korean grocery store to get me Yakult for the buss to the ski lounge." Then she remembers how he knew where to get the Yakult in the first place. "Which reminds me, someone here is being more quite than usual..." Lara Jean looks at Kitty with sudden suspicion.
It is true that Kitty has been exceptionally quiet this whole time that they forgot she was there, which is way, way out of character for her. When her sisters turn to her, she looks like a miniature Lara Jean when she looked all guilty a minute ago.
Both Margot and Lara Jean are now eyeing Kitty with mistrust. They both say in unison, "Kitty?"
"So..." Kitty starts. "Since we're all in a confessing mood here, I have a secret too. Your hatbox wasn't taken to Good Will, Lara Jean. I sent the letters."
After blankly staring at her baby sister, Lara Jean says calmly, "I'm gonna kill you."
Then the shouting begins.
"... so we just went to the movies. Did you guys know that if you go in early enough, you get a discount on the candy? Not that we had any. Lara Jean refuses to have anything but popcorn when we're watching a movie."
Gabe groans. "Just take the freaking shot, Kavisnky!"
The three friends have been playing basketball for only half an hour and this is already the third story Peter tells about Lara Jean since they started. Needless to say, they are getting tired of hearing him talk about nothing else.
"What got your panties in twist?"
"Are you seriously asking?! We get it! You and Largy did the deed on the ski trip. Can we please just shoot some balls without you acting like she blew your brain off?!"
"The fuck!" Peter is jolted out of his good mood. "We didn't do anything on the ski trip!" He throws the ball away and walks to Gabe with unmistakable retaliation in mind. "Who's saying that about Lara Jean?"
Gabe is taken aback and Trevor steps between them.
"Whoa, hey, easy PK!" Trevor says. "Nobody is saying anything about LJ. You just seemed exceptionally happy ever since the trip back so we figured you must've hooked up then."
"Yeah, man," Gabe says hesitantly. "I didn't mean anything disrespectful. It's just that you've been together for months but you've never acted like this before. Like you hit the jackpot or something."
"Oh..." Peter flushes and backs away, feeling embarrassed for his overreaction. "Well, we did not have sex on the ski trip or after, so you can stop saying stuff like that."
"Then what did happen over there?" Trevor asks curiously. "Because something sure as hell did."
"We, umm..." Peter turns a shade redder. "We had a moment."
Both Gabe and Trevor cross their arms and raise their eyebrows, smirking in amusement. "A moment?"
Peter rolls his eyes at his friends. "We had a fight then made up and cleared some old stuff up along with it, OK?"
"Ahhhah!"
His friends keep teasing him, enjoying the very unusual sight of a flustered Peter Kavisnky.
"Just shut up and block the next one!" Peter mumbles and goes back to pick up the ball.
They play some more, trashing each other and talking about going back to school tomorrow. Peter bites his tongue every time he's about to say something about Lara Jean.
"Enjoying your last day of freedom, boys?"
They turn around to see Gen smiling at them from the side of the court. Gabe groans and swears under his breath - he was really enjoying not having her around.
"Didn't know you wanted to play, Gen, or I would've invited you," Gabe says sarcastically.
"No need to ruin your day. I just need to talk to Kavinsky for a minute."
"About what?" Peter calls without moving.
"Trust me, you want to take this in private."
Peter sighs and jogs to her. "What's up, Gen?"
"Where's your phone?"
"Why?"
"I left you a present on your email."
He rolls his eyes. "The battery ran out." That's not true. He wouldn't let it run out in case Lara Jean might call; but he just doesn't want this to take longer than necessary.
"Hmm... Well, then I guess it'll have to wait until you get home. Call me when you see the present and we'll talk."
He watches her walk away and goes back to his game. He completely ignores what Gen had said, thinking that she has probably sent him some nudes like she'd done on occasion; although admittedly not to his email. It's not a big deal, he'll just delete them.
By the time he got home, took a shower and had dinner, he has completely forgotten about Gen and all he's thinking about is calling his girlfriend to say good night. Out of habit, he checks his email first. He sees Gen's address and sighs. He opens the email just to confirm his suspicion, but instead of the pictures he was expecting, it was a video. Curious. She has never sent him a video before. His finger is hovering on the delete button, but his computer studies teacher keeps yelling in his head, "Verify! Verify!" So he opens it, intending on deleting it as soon as he sees that it really is what he thinks it is. The second it starts playing though, his eyes jump out of their sockets and he sits up straight, his heart beating a thousands miles a minute. The video isn't of Genevieve, it's of him and Lara Jean. In the hot tub. Kissing while she's straddling his lap under the water. He knows what was really happening, but looking at it like this, he can't deny that the video is extremely suggestive. All the blood rushes to his head and he swallows hard as he goes to his contact list.
He calls her three times before she picks up. He knows that she did that intentionally to mess with him, but it's fucking working.
"Found my present, have you? Did you like it?" She says, taunting.
"What's this?"
"Something I thought you might want to keep private."
"And what do you want in return?"
"Don't you love it when people pick up on things so quickly?"
He warns, "Gen!"
"Simple. Tomorrow is the first day back at school. You will be by your locker. When I come to meet you, you will kiss me and let everyone know that we're back together because you got tired of little miss prim-and-proper. If you don't, that video will land in Anonybitch inbox and be up on Instagram in a matter of minutes."
All color drains from his face. "You can't be serious!"
"Can you imagine what this will do to her reputation? Her college applications? Future employers? You know that nothing really disappears from the internet. She'll be the Slut from Adler for rest of her life."
"No! That's..." He must be having a nightmare except he's sure he hadn't fallen asleep. As unthinkable as what she's threatening to do is, he's surprised to find himself fully believing that she will make good on her word if he doesn't do what she says. "Why are you doing this?"
"Oh, and needless to say, this little arrangement should stay between us."
"She didn't do anything to you! You don't need to drag her into this. If you want to hurt me, hurt me!"
She laughs, the most sinister laugh he had ever heard. "Oh baby! It's almost sweet how you think she's so innocent."
At this point, he's not above begging. "Gen, please don't do this. I'll do anything!"
She snorts. When she speaks, her voice is dripping with sad bitterness. "Yes, you will. Anything for her, right?" She hangs up.