Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Sam Euckland stood on the sidewalk in front of a Blockbuster video store. The fall breeze that always seemed to linger on nights like this in Michigan was making the poor California native bury his hands in his pockets. He glanced in the big window, trying to see a certain ex but only found an assortment of dvds and the closing customers making their final purchases.

Sam was taken out of his thoughts when a girl cleared her throat from behind him, she was wearing the company’s trademark blue and her name tag said Kayla in bright yellow lettering. She rolled her eyes and said in a tone that oozed sarcasm “Do you not see the sign peeping tom, we closed like five minutes ago. If you need a movie rent it online like a normal person. Geez!” She huffed, crossing her arms across her chest. Sam frowned, suddenly disarmed by this high schooler. His mouth went dry and he realized that he was insane for coming all the way down here, then he remembered a small tired smile, long eyelashes, and a look of pure determination. Sam sighed and asked hesitantly, “Do you know if a Peter Maldonado works here?” Kayla looked at him taken by surprise by the question, like it was the last thing she ever thought he’d ask and he couldn’t really blame her. She quirked her eyebrow, a confident smirk gracing her features. “Nope-“ she said popping the ‘p’ “But a Carlos Maldonado does? if that’s any help.”

Carlos?

Is Peter going by his middle name now?

Sam smiled weakly and said with no assurance at all “Um yeah, do you know where he is by any chance?” God he sounded so confused to his own ears, if he was this girl he wouldn’t trust him. But the girl just shrugged before starting to walk towards the door she came out of, she peered over her shoulder. “Are you coming or not?” Sam took his queue and followed her inside. He looked around at the beige hallway he was being led into. Kayla stopped abruptly before turning and opening the door to the break room. The loud Judge Judy case blaring from the tv becoming background noise to the sound of his heartbeating so loudly it felt like it would just beat out of his chest.

There he stood, talking animatedly to the blonde girl in front of him.

Peter, his Peter.

although not actually his Peter. God this was such a bad idea.

He was still as beautiful as he remembered, although he’d finally grown into his baby face. He apparently ditched his glasses and traded in the perpetual eye bags for a handful of rings on his hands. He looked older, more sure of himself. It was startling to say the least. Sam wondered if he looked different from the boy he was when Peter last saw him.

“Los!” Kayla huffed and Peter looked up, so did the other girl, both clad in a blue Blockbuster shirts and Khakis. “There’s some guy here. Y’know how Timmy feels about staying after hours though so take your boyfriend to the Donk and go..” She said before glancing down at her phone and walking out the door. Peter looked up, the smile quickly fading from his face as he stood there in silence. The blonde girl seemed to pick up on his silence as a way to introduce herself. “Hi, I’m Hannah! Los didn’t tell me he was dating anyone. Silly boy never tells me anything even though I am his only friend.” She chirped excitedly. Sam smiled sheepishly back at her, wondering if that was true, did Carlos not have any friends? Did he still talk with Dylan? or the Wayback Boys?

“Sam? What the fuck are you doing here?” Peter asked with his patented scarily calm angry voice. He stepped past Hannah and pinched the bridge of his nose, like he didn’t want to be here, just as much as Sam didn’t either.

“I, well I was in town…Gabbi’s roommate from college is getting married down in Ann Arbor and well I knew you had moved down here and well I was wondering if we could talk, Peter?” Sam rushed out. God when did he get so nervous? How many times did he just say well in a sentence? Peter did not seem amused. Hannah’s eyes widened, “Peter?” She questioned “Los, who is this man?” Peters frown deepened. “I’ll tell you later ok, just go home and send me a picture of that deal you got.” He said softly to the girl, a smile that he seemed so determined not to give Sam graced his face. Hannah spared Sam a glance before looking back at Peter with a concerned frown, she grabbed her coat and made her way to the door. “Be careful Los, I’ll see you tomorrow.” She said making her exit. Peters eyes snapped up towards Sam, his smile once again replaced with a frown.

“So talk?”

Chapter Text

2017:

“I don’t think Dylan drew the dicks.” Peter said so matter of factly, that Sam couldn’t help but be intrigued by his best friends conclusion. “What do you mean you don’t think Dylan drew the dicks? It was so obviously him, I mean you see the Spanish whiteboard as much as I do!” Sam reasoned. He leaned his head on the locker next to Peters, sliding his hands into his pockets as he waited for the other boys evidence. Peter shrugged, shoving one of his notebooks in his locker. “I don’t know, I just don’t think he did it y’know? I feel like everyone just gives him a bad rep because he’s Dylan.” He said like it was the most flawless reasoning. Sam huffed out a laugh “real great detecting there Sherlock.” He wish he could say he was surprised when he was gently pushed by Peter. Peter rolled his eyes and said with his typical air of finality, “I’m going to find who actually drew the dicks, it’ll be a new film project. A Maldonado Documentary trademark patent pending. I just have to find a way to talk to Dylan.” Sam smiled, he loved when Peter set his mind to something, especially a new project like this, “So, talk.” He’d said in encouragement.

—
2022 (present):

It was weird hearing his own words repeated back to him, the déjà vu of it all forming a pit in his stomach. Sam gulped as he leveled Peter’s glare, “I-“ just as he was about to start the long apology speech he had rehearsed on the Uber ride over, the door to the break room swung open.

In walked two people clad in the trademark Blockbuster uniforms, obviously to engaged in their make out session to notice the both of them. Sam glanced at Peter, the young filmmakers eyes widened at the couple, the corners of his mouth turning up in a surprised smile. The two quickly jumped apart when Peter cleared his throat. The woman, who’s name tag read Eliza, looked absolutely mortified as she glanced at all of the people in the room. The man, whose tag said Tim, hadn’t seemed to caught up to the fact that they had been caught. Eliza nudged Tim, who shook out of his lovedrunk state and glanced around the room.

Peter snorted, “Guess I owe Perry $20.” He said walking over towards Sam. Sam didn’t really know what to do, felt like he had walked into a place where he had no right to be but at least Peter was at his side again. “Los? I thought everyone had left.” Tim said before gesturing towards Sam, “And who’s this lovely fellow.” Peter smirked “Nice subject change. Anyways we’ll get out of you two lovebirds hair.” He said tugging on Sam’s arm. Sam took the note and started to walk out, giving Tim and Eliza a short nod as he followed behind his ex boyfriend. “Cmon, let’s go. There’s a bar down the street.” He said before adding lamely “If you still wanted to talk that is?” Sam just smiled sheepishly and said “Yeah that would be nice. Lead the way.”