untitled. (soon tho)

Pete has class with Professor Way two days later, when everyone he knows is either busy, working, or Bronx isn’t comfortable around them. Bronx is having a bad day, which means Pete has been up since 4AM, doing everything in his power to make Bronx happy. It’s days like this when Pete’s heart aches for Ashlee to silently open the door and wrap herself around him and Bronx and never leave their sides ever again. Pete squeezes his eyes shut and wills himself to not love her anymore, he won’t admit it, and he doesn’t admit his heart breaks a little to know that Bronx barely remembers having a mom.

Bronx is currently screaming his head off, his face an angry red and shiny from tears, little fists pounding into the floor making tiny thuds. In other words, Pete is just the absolute worst, god awful father in existence. He gives himself a little credit though, he’s only cried twice out of frustration today. Pete decides enough is enough, and decides to skip class just this once. He dresses Bronx, sticks a pacifier in his mouth. “Wanna go to the park, baby?” he asks, stooping down to Bronx’s height. Bronx sniffles in reply. Pete takes that as a yes, picking up and grabbing his bag, heading off down the street to the park.

“Okay Bronx, I’m right here. Sit on the swings and I’ll push you.”

Bronx more than happily jumps up and down and waits for Pete to pick him up and put him in the swing. Pete begins to wonder if that whole crying act was just a facade to have Pete skip class. He pushes Bronx slowly at first, then once Bronx is happily giggling, he moves away for a moment to get Bronx’s stuff and moves it to a closer bench, making sure to keep an eye on his stuff and his kid. He walks back over to find that a little girl close to Bronx’s age has gotten in the swing next to Bronx. She’s smiling wide and Pete discovers that Bronx is doing the same. He doesn’t know where her parents are, but he’ll be happy to push both of them. He notes that the little girl has the cutest little black pigtails, and she’s dressed in a red shirt and black leggings. Pete looks around for parents, and finds none, but he does find his fucking teacher. Which is odd, because shouldn’t he be teaching the class that Pete should be in? He turns around again and hides his face, hoping Mr. Way wouldn’t know it was him. “You’re not exactly invisible, Pete.” Mr. Way laughs, coming up behind him and standing beside the little girl.

“Why aren’t you in class?”

“I could ask you the same thing.”Now Pete’s definitely stumped. (haHA) He stays silent and turns to his son again, taking him out of the seat because chubby arms were in the air, reaching for Pete. “This is my niece Bandit I was telling you about. B.W. meet B.W.” Mr. Way introduces, pulling her out of the swing. Bandit reaches for Bronx’s hand and they stayed linked for about a second before Bandit pulls her hand back, laughing. Bronx opens his hand and finds a pebble. He squeals a little and shoves the rock into Pete’s face, narrowly missing his nose. “Daddy look! Bandit!” Pete smiles and nods. “Yes baby, she gave you a rock.”“A gift!” Bronx insists, whining. Pete then changes his mind and agrees with Bronx.

Bandit and Bronx are soon let go, and find themselves in a little patch of grass. Pulling wildflowers from it, Bandit is all for shoving them into Bronx’s curls, covering his hair in pollen and petals. Great, just what Pete needs. Fuckin’ allergies. He doesn’t complain though, because Bronx has a real friend for once. Even if that friend is the niece of someone Pete should TOTALLY NOT BE HANGING OUT WITH, (Pete reminds himself almost half the day, everyday.) He’s still happy that Bronx is being social.

He and Mr. Way talk for a good solid hour, Pete finding out Mr. Way’s actual name is Mikey, (Mikey. What a fitting name.) Bandit’s parents are artists, and that Mikey loves all of the Doom Patrol comics almost as much as he likes science. Which is pretty radical to Pete. When Pete finally has to go, he says his goodbyes to Mikey and Bandit, who promptly hugs his leg and says her goodbyes into his calves. Mikey and Pete actually have to pry Bandit off of Bronx, who pouts.

Pete finally turns to leave, but Mikey hands him something, a piece of paper. Then, he’s gone. Pete opens it to find a number scrawled with a note.

Just in case Bronx wants to hang out with Bandit, I have her almost everyday.

xx,

Mikey :)

ps. I promise I’m not a weirdo. I just like spending time with your kid. Also you. But mostly Bronx. :)

Pete is not weirded out by this. Mikey is his professor, not a friend. Pete squeals anyways.

Notes

hahaha i hate myself why can't i actually meet a deadline. anyways hi thank you for reading and comments are appreciated but if you're not actually into that whole commenting business, votes are cool. thanks again!