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Sitting in Jay's car, staring down the ghost boundary, Pete suddenly wasn't so sure if he wanted to leave the property after all.
He felt like an idiot. First, because he had let the others talk him into this. And second, because he didn't even want to use his power in the first place.
Pete knew this was a big deal. No one else in the house had a ghost power like this and he knew the others wished they did. And they would all have put it to good use. But here he was, scared to leave the property despite all that.
Jay started the car and smiled in Pete's direction. "I know you don't want to do this, man, but it'll be fun. Maybe we can even stop at Sonic on the way home."
Pete did not want to stop at Sonic. He didn't want to go anywhere at all except back inside the house.
As Jay started driving towards the boundary, his panic grew. And before he knew it, Pete had thrown himself out the car and was lying in the gravel, his face burning with shame. A second later, he heard footsteps behind him.
This was going to be humiliating. He just knew it.
He turned around and saw Trevor standing behind him, looking at Pete with a frown. Then he sat down in the gravel beside him.
"Hey, man," Trevor said gently. "What's going on?"
"I couldn't do it," Pete choked out, staring at the ground. "I just - I panicked. I'm not brave like the rest of you. I can't - I can't do this."
"It's fine, dude. It's just your first try. You can always leave the property another time when you're ready."
"What if I'm never ready?"
"That's fine," Trevor said. "But I feel like there are places you want to go. I know you want to see your family."
Pete said nothing, feeling even worse. Of course he did. What did it say about him that he couldn't even muster the courage to do this when it meant that he could see them again?
"What if you just walk down the street?" Trevor suggested. "You could go say hi to Bijorn son and come back. That isn't super far."
Yes, in theory, it wasn't. But the distance stretched out in front of him like it would never end.
Trevor could probably sense the hesitation in his pause, because he reached out and squeezed Pete's arm. "I can even wait here. I'd be able to watch you until you got back."
Okay. Maybe that would help. At the very least, Trevor would be able to run for help if Pete disappeared or something. Unlike Jay, as much as Pete loved the guy.
"I can give it a try," Pete said slowly.
Trevor grinned. "Awesome!" He stood up, brushing invisible dust from his legs, and offered Pete his hand.
Pete stood up and glanced at the ghost boundary. It seemed a tiny bit less daunting. Not quite enough to convince him to go further.
But Trevor seemed so hopeful. And he was even taking time out of his day to help Pete.
Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and walked straight through the ghost boundary before he could think again.
He opened his eyes to the sound of Trevor cheering loudly in the background. When Pete turned, he beamed and shot up a thumbs up.
"Hell yeah!" Trevor cheered. "Come on, man. You got this. The hardest part is over."
It absolutely was not. But Trevor's enthusiasm was infectious. Pete couldn't help but return his smile. "You'll stay here till I get back, right?"
"Of course, babe," Trevor assured him. "Don't worry about it."
"Okay." Pete blew out a breath. He looked at the road in front of him with more than a little trepidation. "I can do this."
And with every step he took, knowing Trevor was standing behind him, waiting for him to get back, he believed a little more that maybe he could.