Chapter 2
The next day, Remus didn’t show up to the library. He hadn’t told Peter that he’d be gone- and all of the library staff seemed worried about him.
Remus never missed out on the library, be it for homework or just plain reading.
Peter was pretty sure Remus would rather die.
And yet, he was gone.
Peter sat at the table- a spot that Remus usually preferred- and started his homework.
Come to think of it, Remus hadn’t been at school today, either.
Remus may not have been there, but James and Sirius both showed up, at the same time… again.
“Hey, Peter!” James waved. “How are you?”
Peter set his pencil down and looked at the two- James seemed perfectly content to talk to him, but Sirius was peering around as though expecting Remus to be here tonight.
“I’m fine- a bit busy, but…”
“Oh! What subject is it?”
Peter glanced at the paper he was using. “Uh… Maths. Honors maths.”
James sat himself at the other chair, peeking over the books at Peter’s work. “Oh! Are you stuck? Need help?”
“Uh… no… I’m actually-“
Sirius, who’d been rocking on his toes since the two arrived, finally spoke. “Is Remus here today?”
Peter shook his head. “I don’t… think so. He wasn’t at school today, either… so-“
Sirius seemed to deflate, just a bit. “Oh. Well- I mean… that’s fine.”
James and Peter watched as Sirius grabbed a random book off the shelf and slid down to the floor to read.
James stared for a moment, then turned to Peter to chat again. “Well, anyways, are there any subjects you do need help with? I’m pretty smart, so-“
Remus, in fact, was in a place you’d never expect of him, if you knew him. He was home- sick, in bed. Of course he was- every now and then, it felt as if his body was trying to kill any functioning joint in his body.
So, confined to his bed and drifting in and out of consciousness, he wondered if Peter would have grabbed extra schoolwork for him.
Probably not. Remus hadn’t even texted him- not that it was anyone’s fault for that. Remus hadn’t woken up till noon, or so.
Maybe he should text Peter.
Back at the library, Peter’s phone dinged- a notification from Remus.
Peter, however, was too busy nodding along to both James and Sirius, who were vehemently telling him a story about their school.
“-and, to be perfectly honest, he hadn’t even told us that the deadline was changed!”
“Yeah, the git told us six chapters- and the very next day, we get back, and he tells us we should be done with half the book!”
Peter remained silent- to be honest, he didn’t have much to say about their stories. Invested? Sure, yes. But Peter wasn’t exactly an active listener.
It was all well, though. Something about Peter seemed to encourage people to just talk. About anything- their families, their friends, their lives.
Peter just fit too well into the background for anyone to worry about it.
Of course, if you told Peter about it, Remus would know the next day.
As if snapping Peter out of his head, Sirius leaned forward.
“How did you two meet? You and Remus, I mean.”
Ah, yeah. There it was. Plenty of people talked to Peter just because they were curious about Remus.
Peter felt like such a background character next to him- just as well, though. Peter liked it, most days.
Not today, though.
Still, he felt required to answer.
“Well… we go to the same school. I guess… we met in biology last year. You know- Moony is really smart, but I don't think he had the motivation for biology. So… we became friends. And now we’re here.”
Sirius nodded, seeming to be only half listening. If Peter could have guessed, he’d say that Sirius only wanted to know about Remus.
“Moony? Is that Remus?”
Ah. Sirius was right, of course- but Peter didn’t exactly know if he could tell Sirius that. He could always lie, of course… but Remus always said that Peter was a terrible liar.
“Ah… yeah, that’s his nickname… And he calls me Wormtail.”
James let out a bark of laughter, all too loud for the library the three were in, then shot an apologetic look at Peter. “Sorry- sorry- I was just… Wormtail is a funny nickname, innit?”
Peter rolled his eyes.
“Oh! Not that it’s bad, you know-”
Peter waved his hand, as if to silence James. “Uh-huh. I’ve heard it before.”
“Well- how did you two come up with those names?” Sirius jumped back in, altogether failing to hide the fact that he was really only interested in Remus’s nickname.
Peter grumbled, burying himself in his books now that homework was done. “That is none of your business. If you really want to know, ask Remus yourself-”
The loud bell rang out again, and James and Sirius looked back down the aisle in sync.
Right. The bell that meant it was time for James and Sirius to leave.
James waved and stood up, grabbing Sirius’s wrist to drag him off.
“I’ll see you later! Bye!”
Sirius waved too, but said something else. “Bye! Tell Remus hi for me!”
Sigh.
Always the background character, Peter was.
There was no reason to pack up so soon, right now. Because Remus liked to be home early- and, even though he’d never admit it, was a bit scared of walking home alone.
Practically neighbors, Peter and Remus were.
So, it’s not like Peter went out of his way to walk Remus home.
And, well, Peter appreciated the company too.
It made him feel wanted.
Ding.
Another text.
This time, Peter answered it, seeing all but two unread notifications. All from Remus.
Well, shit.
Peter hadn’t brought him extra schoolwork.
………
It’d be fine. Surely.
Peter, eventually, decided it best to return home before it was dark.
He packed up, carefully tucked his school things into his folder, tucked his phone away, slung his pack over his shoulder, then headed towards the door.
Remus would be at school tomorrow, and they could catch up on schoolwork then.