Karl badly wanted to tell Jen how he truly felt for her.

The next morning, after Todd’s birthday, he was dying to tell her. He finally got the courage to do so. But he first told the other boys about his plan in the living room, while the girls were out.

Brian and Todd encouraged Karl. But Peter had a different idea.

“I don’t think you should tell her yet,” said Peter firmly.

“Why?” cried Karl. He wanted to tell her at last, and now his best friend was stopping him. Why? What could be in the way now?

“I think we should find out what she feels for you first,” his best friend suggested. “In that way, you won’t be scared of ruining your friendship with her.”

“You know,” Brian piped in slowly, “I think Pete has a point, Karl.”

Karl looked thoughtful for a few minutes.

Well, he certainly didn't want to ruin his friendship with her. That would be such a waste, wouldn't it? It wasn't all the time that Jen was friends with a guy this closely. He didn't want to destroy what he built.

So he started nodding, liking the idea. Then, he smiled.

“Okay,” he agreed. “What should we do? How are we gonna find out?”

“We should just ask her,” shrugged Brian. He thought that it was easiest and simplest way.

“Right,” snorted Peter. “As if she would tell us the truth.”

“Well, what other way is there?”

“We could ask Maxine or Kim to ask Jen what she feels about me?” suggested Karl, unsure if his plan was good. “After all, Maxine’s close to Jen. And Kim’s good at this stuff, right?”

“That’s not a bad idea,” nodded Brian.

“I don’t think Maxine will be stupid enough to spill a secret like that,” said Todd indifferently. “And I’m sure that Kim won’t tell us anything.”

Peter stayed quiet, thinking thoroughly about it. And then, it was as though a light bulb suddenly turned on above his head.

“I got it!” he exclaimed, an evil grin stretching across his face.

“What?” asked Karl and Brian at the same time.

Peter cleared his throat. “I’ll pretend to be a fortune-teller and tell her stuff about love. Then, I’ll ask her for a name that’s very special in her heart. That’s it.” He said it confidently, thinking that his plan was a very brilliant idea.

Karl, Brian, and Todd stared at Peter incredulously.

Todd recovered first.

“That’s the stupidest plan I’ve ever heard,” he commented harshly.

“What’s so stupid about it?” demanded Peter hurtfully.

“First of all, I’ve never seen a male fortune-teller. Second, I don’t think it’ll be that easy to fool Jen. And lastly, how are you going to disguise yourself as a fortune-teller?”

Peter pouted and frowned. “I’m not stupid, you know. Before I suggested that plan, of course I’ve thought about all of that. And I’ve got it all worked out. For my disguise, I’ll dress myself as a girl. As for making it believable, I’m as almost as good as Kim in the love stuff, remember? So what else is wrong with my plan?”

“You,” Todd replied at once.

“Me?” asked Peter, completely confused.

“Yeah, you.” Todd breathed deeply and continued, “The problem is — do you have to be the fortune-teller? I mean, we could always pay someone to play the role as the fortune-teller. It doesn’t necessarily have to be you.”

“Now that you mention it, Todd,” said Brian, turning from Todd to Peter, “why do you have to be the fortune-teller, Pete? You do know that Todd is right? We could hire someone to do the job.”

“Bah.” Peter waved his hand dismissively. “Where’s the fun in that?” He looked at them as though they didn't know how to have fun.

Todd and Brian exchanged dubious looks and then grinned.

Where is the fun, indeed?

“Well, it’s not my decision to make,” shrugged Todd, smiling a little.

“It’s up to Karl,” grinned Brian.

“What do you think, Karl?” asked Peter eagerly.

“Well,” said Karl thoughtfully. “For one thing, I trust you. For another, not one of your plans have ever failed yet. So . . .”

“Excellent!” exclaimed Peter gleefully. Just as quick, he turned serious. “Now, here’s phase one.” He paused to look at Karl. “Karl, go to town and buy me some makeup, wig, and clothes.” He faced Brian. “Brian, take the girls at cottage near a big boulder. Tell them that we’ll meet you there.” Then, his eyes landed on Todd's bored face. “Todd, when I’m finished dressing up, go to the cottage and tell them that you’ve met a gifted fortune-teller and if they want to consult me, you’ll take them to me, one by one. And make sure that Jen goes first.” He took a deep breath and looked at all of them. “Any questions?”

“Yeah,” said Karl, his brows furrowed. “Why do I have to buy the makeup, wig, and girl clothes? People will stare at me.”

“Because you’re boyishly cute,” answered Peter simply. “Ladies will simply think that you’re doing an errand for your Mom than think that you’re up to something.”

“Oh.”

“Why am I the one who’s taking the girls to the cottage?” asked Brian curiously.

“Because you’re decent,” shrugged Peter.

Brian snorted. “What’s that suppose to mean?”

“You’re a good boy,” grinned Peter. “They won’t think that you’re planning something.”

“So why am I the one who’s going to tell them I’ve met a gifted fortune-teller?” inquired Todd with a raised eyebrow.

“Because they’ll believe you right away,” beamed Peter.

“Hey, what’s phase two?” Karl wondered aloud.

“Do not interrupt me,” said Peter seriously.

Todd, Brian, and Karl waited and stared at Peter. Peter stared at them in turn.

“We’re not interrupting you,” said Brian finally.

“What are you on about?” Peter frowned in confusion. “That’s phase two: Do not interrupt me. Most especially, don’t interrupt when I’m already talking to Jen.”

“Oh, okay,” nodded Karl.

Brian and Todd nodded, as well.

“Let’s do it, then,” grinned Peter.

“Come out, Pete! You’re wasting time!” Karl called out.

Peter was currently in the bathroom.

Brian succeeded on taking the girls to the cottage. Karl, on the other hand, arrived after an hour of shopping. He already gave Peter the girl clothes and wig. Karl and Todd went to Peter’s room with him.

And now, they’ve been waiting for quite a long time since Peter came in the bathroom to get dressed.

“This will be hilarious,” said Todd quietly, looking at the bathroom door.

“Peter! Come out, NOW!” demanded Karl impatiently.

“No! It’s humiliating!” cried Peter in a muffled voice from inside the bathroom. “Darn it! What was I thinking?”

“Are you backing out?” asked Todd testily.

“No!” replied Peter at once. “I’m just — very — ugly . . .”

“Well, you won’t know that until we see it,” Karl urged on. “Come on, it’s not like we’ll laugh at you.”

“You will laugh at me!” accused Peter.

“Just get the hell out of that bathroom, Pete!” snapped Todd.

There was a moment of silence.

Slowly, the door opened. No one came out for a few seconds.

Very slowly, someone emerged.

The person was thin, tall, with a short curly blonde hair, big hoop earrings, and a gipsy outfit. It was almost believable. The only thing that ruined it were the shoes, the expression that Peter wore, his flat chest, the manly shoulders, and the way he was standing.

Nonetheless, Karl and Todd burst out laughing.

“See! I knew you’ll laugh!” retorted Peter heatedly, glaring at them.

Karl and Todd didn't say anything. They simply laughed their hearts out. Tears were coming out of Karl’s eyes from laughing.

“You try and dress like a girl. Let’s see how you like it!” barked Peter, scowling at Karl and Todd.

“Dude, you’re the one who volunteered, remember?” said Karl, when he finally composed himself.

“Shut up,” hissed Peter through gritted teeth. His eyes darted at the makeup, and then his expression brightened up. He happily walked towards it, examining it. “How did you know which item to buy, Karl?”

“Actually, I asked the saleslady for the basic things that girls use,” admitted Karl.

Peter was now examining the foundation. He opened it and damped it on his face using the pad.

“Are you serious on wearing makeup, Pete?” asked Todd, eyeing the foundation. “Do you even know how to use makeup?”

“If I’m going to play as a girl, I might as well play it well,” shrugged Peter as he picked up a pink blush. He examined it for a moment, and brushed it across his cheeks, forehead, nose, all over his face.

“Pete, I think that pink thing is only used for the cheeks,” said Karl uneasily. “Why are you putting it on thickly? I think it should just be light.”

“But those fortune-tellers I see on movies wear thick makeup,” argued Peter defensively. His face now glowed pink. He picked up the eyeliner and examined it. He took off the cover and started drawing it under his eyes.

“Stop!” gasped Todd, horror struck. Peter looked at him with his left eye that looked as though they had eye bags. “What are you doing? You’re supposed to be lining it around your eyes — not just under it! And I don’t think it’s supposed to go that low!”

“No way,” said Peter stubbornly. “It would hurt.”

Karl stared at Peter with the expression of complete awkwardness.

“I think Todd’s right,” he said. “I’ve never seen a girl wear a makeup like that.”

“Yeah, I know,” sighed Peter calmly, “but I’m not supposed to be just a girl, am I? I’m a fortune-teller. Stop interrupting me.”

He continued to put eyeliner under his eyes. When he finished, Todd clenched his teeth to stop himself from laughing. Peter took the mascara and eyed it curiously. He started to put on his eyelashes but his hands were shaking, it resulted to be really messy. For the final touch, he ignored the eye shadow and picked up the red lipstick. He neatly spreads it on his lips.

Peter finished and looked at himself in the mirror. He had a pink face, red lips, messy black spots around his eyes, and a slouchy figure.

Todd coughed to hide his snigger.

“I think I’ll go to the cottage now,” he announced, hiding his grin. He stood up and began walking toward the door. “I’ll meet you downstairs by the back porch,” he said over his shoulder.

“Okay,” said Peter, looking for cards around his bedroom.

“Pete, it’s really flat,” Karl told him awkwardly.

“What’s flat?” asked Peter as he rummaged his closet.

Karl cleared his throat. Peter looked at him. Karl looked away but he pointed at Peter’s chest. Peter stared down and realized what Karl was saying.

“Piece of cake,” grinned Peter. He pulled out two pairs of rolled socks and placed them inside his clothes by his chest. “Is it fine?”

“I think so,” muttered Karl, frowning. “But your voice.”

“I’ll come up with something later,” shrugged Peter, and then he pulled out a set of cards from a drawer. “Aha! I better go downstairs. Don’t come!” he quickly added when Karl made a move to follow him. “It’ll look suspicious.”

Karl sat again at Peter’s bed, while Peter hurried downstairs and to the veranda. He sat on the chair and placed the cards on the table. Barely a minute later, Todd came with Jen. She looked a little excited. Todd pointed at Peter and left without another word. Jen walked toward him alone. She stared at Peter for a minute before sitting down.

“Good afternoon,” she greeted, sitting on a chair in front of Peter. “Madam . . .?”

“Madam Merlinessa,” finished Peter in a squeaky, high, misty voice.

She stared at him again. He was sweating and getting conscious.

She didn’t always stare at someone like this. What was wrong? Was his cover blown? But that was impossible. There was no way she could recognize him looking like this.

“Well, dear, what do you want to know?” squeaked Peter, a bit nervously.

“Please, Madam Merlinessa,” began Jen in her dreamy voice. “I have a friend . . . and I rather think he’s gay. But he just doesn’t seem to have the courage to admit it.”

Does she mean Karl? thought Peter.

“Can you tell me the name, dear?” he squeaked patiently.

“Full name?”

“Whatever you like,” he squeaked as he took his cup of tea and drank.

“Peter Sullivan.”

Peter splattered the tea in his mouth when he heard his name. He wildly looked at Jen, but there was only innocence in her face.

“Pardon me?” he squeaked, his voice shaking.

“I think my friend, Peter Sullivan, is gay,” she repeated, slightly amused.

“What made you think that?” squeaked Peter, fanning his face to keep himself from sweating.

She only shrugged. He stared at her, waiting for her to say something. When she didn’t, Peter took a deep breath.

“And what do you want to know about it, dear?” he queried in his squeaky voice.

“Nothing,” she replied brightly. “I just think you ought to know.”

Peter’s jaw slightly fell open. She was so weird. He suddenly remembered the days when he fell for her. He didn't regret letting her go. But he faintly wondered how any girl could be as different as her.

“Do you want me to foresee something for you, dear?” he squeaked.

“Oh, yes,” she nodded, smiling cheerfully. “Please do.”

Peter closed his eyes, pretending to see something.

“Hmm . . . I see . . . There is someone . . . someone special in your heart . . . that someone is not your mother nor your father . . . that someone is a boy . . . a teenage boy . . . am I right?” he squeaked as he opened his eyes to ask Jen.

She shrugged. “Why are you asking me? You must know.”

That made him frown. “Why, of course. Of course — I just — do you want some tea?” he added suddenly, gesturing to the tea pot and tea cup.

“Why, yes. Thank you,” said Jen, pouring some tea to the cup. When she took a sip and looked at Peter, she tilted her head. “Madam Merlinessa?”

“Yes, dear?” Peter squeaked.

“Not to be rude, but your breasts are uneven,” she pointed out casually.

Peter hurriedly looked at his chest and sure enough, his left rolled sock was sliding down to his stomach. He looked at Jen and laughed weakly.

“Oh, that,” he squeaked nervously. “They just keep sliding down. He he . . .” He tried to casually pull up the rolled sock to make the pair even.

“Please continue,” she urged him. She looked highly amused for some reason.

Peter closed his eyes again, shutting his eyes tight.

“Love is a very powerful thing. It sometimes surprises us to find some people who we do not expect to fall in love, fall in love . . . even if they do not expect it. Friendship is a start of every relationship . . . always bear in mind that, dear . . . Now, I need a name, dear,” squeaked Peter, half opening his eyes. “Tell me, who is your most special someone?”

Jen looked thoughtful. She didn't say anything for quite a while. Then, she looked down and smiled. Peter thought she mumbled something, but he wasn't sure what. She swiftly looked up at him, still smiling.

“You ought to know that by now,” she said dreamily. After that, she stood up and took out her wallet.

“No need, dear.” He shook his head. “Meeting you is enough.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course.”

“Thank you,” she said politely. She stuffed her wallet in her pocket and started to run away. She looked back at Peter and added, “It was really fun. Bye, Peter!”

“Bye!” Peter called out, waving at her. When she was far away, it just dawned on him that Jen called him by his name.

Meaning . . .

Peter's eyes widened in disbelief.

She knew all along!

_________________________________________

 There you go. Something to smile about as we embrace the day of Christmas! Who else to make us smile and laugh but Peter's antics? Hahaha! That was fun. :) And Jen knew all along, didn't she? Well, she's Jen. No one can really fool her. ;)

HAVE A HAPPY ROCKIN' CHRISTMAS, WATTPADERS!!! :D xx

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