I sit up and try to pull myself together. Peter throws his arm around my shoulders. “Babe, it’s OK. I understand. This is moving really fast. I know with our kind that is how it is, but I understand your hesitation. After Hector I know you don’t want to be hurt like that again. I can understand that we need to get to know each other more. I know you don’t know Benjamin and I as much as you know Victor and he hurt you too. How about we take some time tonight to get to know each other. Like twenty questions, you can ask anything that you want first. We both have to answer, no secrets.”
“Alright, what was it like growing up?”
“Well, I had it pretty easy actually. I had both my parents. They sent me away for Alpha training when I was about twelve. I have been best friends with Benjamin my whole life which makes this weird. I mean to be in competition with your best friend, crazy. Anyway, I love the guy. I still get a cringe though when he touches you, but I do my best to push it down.”
“How did you meet Benjamin?”
“Hey, it’s my turn.” He playfully pushes me.
“Sorry. What do you want to know?”
Peter looks really thoughtful for a moment. “Um, how did you become friends with Victor? Omegas and Alphas don’t usually mix.”
“My mom worked for them. She was the one who cooked for them. She was the head cook. But that also meant that she was there before sunrise and didn’t go home until the day was done. Since Omegas don’t really have daycare I was brought along. Sometimes I would help in the kitchens. Most of the time though my mom would let me play. I was out back of the kitchen playing one day when I was about five and Aaron and Victor came around the corner. I guess they were trying to hide from whoever was supposed to be watching them. They asked me to play and then it turned out that we were playing every day. At five we really didn’t care about rank, we just wanted to play.”
“His parents didn’t put a stop to it?”
“Not at first they really didn’t seem to mind. I never really got in trouble, so I guess they figured that I wasn’t so bad. It wasn’t until we hit puberty that they started to object.”
“Alright so to answer your question. We were crib buddies. Benjamin and I were born about a month apart and as soon as he was out we were shoved together. My mother said when I was a baby I would push him around, but I guess I got over that.”
The questions continued on like this for quite a while, before we knew it it was dark. Benjamin poked his head in the door. “Hey, Peter, it’s time to prepare for tomorrow. I am going to take over.” He slid in the door.
Peter pulled his arm off me reluctantly and then stood. He had to stretch a bit after sitting for so long. I am glad we did this though we got the chance to really see each other a little better as people. I have some work to do, but I might do the same thing with Benjamin for a bit tonight. That way I can get to know him too.