sleepless night
You didn’t fall asleep that night. You couldn’t. You just laid on your mattress, staring up at the ceiling of your room, replaying the moment in your head over and over again. You sat up, looking around your room. Your mattress was on the floor, boxes scattered around the place. The walls painted a plain off-white color. Your window outlooking a couple other apartment buildings and the street line below. If you angled your line of sight just right, you could faintly see the Brooklyn bridge.
You sat up, and sighed. Getting out of bed and over to a box in the corner, opening it up. If you couldn’t sleep you might as well set up your room.
After about an hour or so, your room looked about half-decent. You had put up some artwork and a few posters of your favorite bands over the blank walls, and set up the mini projector Eliza got you for your eleventh birthday on your bedside table. Positioning it so that when you did get settled in, you could watch movies from your bed. You placed your trophies on a small shelf that was already there when you moved in, and were now figuring out how to assemble your desk without using a drill.
You rolled your tongue over your teeth, staring at the IKEA instructions you pulled up on your laptop. You must’ve stayed that way for at least twenty minutes before you gave up. Groaning as you fell back on your mattress. What the hell was a Pozidriv screwdriver anyways? You shifted in bed to look at your alarm clock.
11:46
It wasn’t even midnight? You huffed, sitting up. You should’ve minded your business, maybe then you’d be able to fall asleep. You get up, making your way to the kitchen as you rub at your eyes.
Taking a glass and filling it with water, your father comes out of his room- or your moms room that is. You turn to look at him, bringing the glass to your mouth.
“Can’t sleep?” he asks, his voice raspy.
You nod, bringing the cup down “Still adjusting to the time zone.” Is all you say. You don’t really feel like talking.
Your father nods back, taking a seat at the kitchen island. “Me either”
Your lips form into a tight line, you’re not sure how to respond. Lately, when it’s just the two of you, you’d gotten more quiet, and you weren’t sure why. Maybe it’s the resurfacing thought of spending your last year of high school without him, or maybe it’s just a part of growing up, and growing apart.
You sadden at the thought. You’d never admit it out loud due to the guilt you’d feel for your mother, but he was your favorite. He never missed any of your ballet recitals, and always supported you at whatever you did. Of course your mom did too, but not in the ways he had.
“You okay, kiddo?” He pulls you out of your thoughts.
“Yes” you say plainly. He looks tired, like he hasn’t slept in days. He had dark circles under his eyes, and looked dehydrated. You stick out your arm, offering your glass of water. He accepts it, drinking almost all of it. “Are you okay?” you repeat back.
He looks taken back by your question, like you were the first person to ask. “Yes, always.”
You scrunch your nose, taking the glass back to fill it up with more water. “You don’t look okay, papa.”
He gasps dramatically, “Are you saying I look bad?”
You roll your eyes, giving the cup back to him. “Rest more, papa. I can’t make sure you’re getting a full eight hours anymore.”
He gives a small smile, one that’s transparently sad. “I’ll miss you, dad.” you say, breaking the silence.
He shakes his head, “You won’t have to.”
“No?” you ask, eyes widening.
“No.” he pauses, taking a drink of the water. “I’m Spider-man.” he jokes, a grin spreading on his lips.
You scoff playfully. “Okay, Spiderman.” you say, dragging out the ‘o’ in okay, as a smile forms on your face. You quickly think back to what you saw earlier, almost having forgotten it for a moment.
“You should get to sleep, kiddo.” Your dad nods to your room. “I should get going too. Y’know, ‘got people to save.” he quips.
You roll your eyes, walking by him, planting a kiss on his forehead before heading to your room. “Goodnight, daddy.”
You’re not sure when you fall asleep, just of when you wake up, which felt too soon. You open your bedroom door, yawning, as you walk into the living room where your parents were setting up the couch. “Good morning” you say, rubbing at your eyes.
Your mom looks up at you, “Don’t do that baby, you’ll get wrinkles.” You stop immediately.
“What do you think of the new couch?” Your dad asks, a big goofy smile on his face.
You giggle, “It looks great.”
“Do you have anything planned today, dear?” your mother asks, fixing the throw pillows as you take a seat on the couch.
“Hmm.. Well considering I know.. absolutely no one, yup I am completely free.” You give her a wide grin.
She clicks her tongue, giving you a look, “Don’t say that, you know Miles and his parents!” she says enthusiastically.
You’re not sure how to feel about Miles anymore. He was an amazing person- I mean obviously if he were fucking Spiderman, but how do you casually go on knowing that information? You thought about what you would even say to him next time you faced him. Did anyone else even know his identity? Being next door neighbors with Spiderman was not what you had in mind when moving to New York.
“Speaking of, I want you to go by the farmers market and pick up a few things. Can you go by the Morales' place and see if Miles can take you? I don’t want you to go alone.” your mother spoke, monotonously.
I guess I’m facing him soon. You thought to yourself.
You coughed “Actually, I was gonna figure out how to set up my desk today.”
“You can do that later, I need you to go down to the farmers market.” your mom repeated. “The Morales’ said we could always ask them for help, they won't mind. ”
“I don’t think they actually meant for us to take them up on that.” you mumbled.
“Well why wouldn’t they?” Your mother retorted.
“That’s just something you say to be nice! Like when you tell me you like my skirt but you actually think it’s way too short-”
“Okay, okay!” Your father intervened. He was always the peacemaker between you two. “I will figure out your desk, while you go out to the market, okay? He asked, placing a hand on your shoulder.
In any case, you would’ve been fine going to the farmers market. It was asking Spiderman to accompany you that made you not want to go. You swallowed your pride, looking between your dad and mom. “Okay” you agreed.
You had gotten ready quickly, and practiced in your head what you were going to say the whole way to their door. Yet you stood in front of it, completely dumbfounded with what to even say to him. You took a deep breath, composing yourself, before knocking on the door.
Please be busy, please be busy, please be busy.
You heard the door-chain and standard locks being unlocked from the other side of the door and cursed yourself.
Fortunately to your dismay, Rio had opened the door, a comforting smile forming on her lips upon seeing you. “Hi y/n, did you need something?”
Seeing her smile had put your mind a little more at ease until you remembered why you were there. “I’m heading to the farmers market and was wondering if Miles could come?” You smile, leaving out the that your mom was asking so it would feel more like a choice and less of an obligation.
“Oh, sure!” she beamed. “Miles!” she called out from the door, turning to look at what you assume was the direction of his room. You peaked in, noticing his door remained closed. Rio clicked her tongue, a disappointed look on her face, as she turned back to you.
“I think he’s still asleep.” She sighed, an apologetic smile on her face. “I’m sorry.”
Oh thank GOD.
You tried to hide the relief in your voice, as you shook your head. “Nono, it’s totally fine” you smiled. “Well I better get going then, bye Mrs. Morales!” You waved, making your way towards the stairs.
“Bye mija!” she called back, closing the door.
Gwen Stacy’s Apartment (Earth-65)
To be completely honest, Miles would’ve been happy to accompany you to the farmers market, had he actually been in his room. But that wasn’t the case.
“You actually told her you had to get your steps in?” Gwen laughed.
“Hey, you can’t laugh at that- you said that to me.” Miles defended himself.
“Uh- no, I said that to your parents, you already knew what the watch did.” She corrected, taking a bite of chow mein.
“No matter who you said it to, it was stupid.” Hobie added, as he flipped through the tv channels. “God- why are all your channels so boring?”
“The news bores you?” Gwen asked, mouthful of noodles.
Hobie shrugged, “I don’t believe in television.”
Miles rolled his eyes, “You don’t believe in anything .”
“I believe in you fumbling that girl you fancy.” He quipped, causing Gwen to stifle a laugh.
“God- why are you guys teaming up on me?” Miles scoffed, “If Pav were here, he’d back me up.”
“But he’s not here, because unlike you, he’s on a date with the girl he likes.” Gwen shot back.
Miles kissed his teeth and narrowed his eyes at the two, “Y’know as critical as you guys are, neither of you are in relationships.
Hobie shrugged, shifting to sit upside down on the couch. “I told you I don’t believe in consistency.”
“I don’t need to be in a relationship to be right.” Gwen smirked. Miles hated that she was. “What do you know about her so far?
“Uhh.. she got into Brooklyn’s Academy of Fine Arts-”
“Wow,” Hobie and Gwen quipped in unison.
“She speaks four languages-”
“What languages?” Hobie asked, sitting upright.
“English, Tagalog, Dutch, and Portuguese.. I think.” Miles spoke, sounding unsure.
“What’s Tagalog?” Hobie questioned, looking at Gwen.
“I think it’s Asian.” She replied.
“She has an older sister she’s not close with, she’s also been doing ballet since she was like 2.. Oh! She also plays the bass-”
“Dude she is way out of your league.” Gwen interrupted.
“You’re only saying that cuz’ she does ballet!” Miles scoffed.
“She’s right, lad.” Hobie added in, stealing a potsticker off Miles' plate. “It’ll be hard to peak her interest again after what you did, but I believe in you.” He said, snapping his fingers. “Maybe she even forgot about what happened already.”
“Doubt it.” Miles sighed, standing up. “Anyways, I gotta get going before my parents realize I’m gone.”
“Remember! It’s not embarrassing unless you find it embarrassing!” Hobie reminded.
An apartment building in Brooklyn (Earth-1610)
“It was easily the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened between me and a guy.” you say, sitting upside down on the couch.
“Maybe he decided in the moment he didn’t like you.” Your mom shrugged, not looking up from the TV set she was setting up across from the couch.
You sat up right, “Mama! How could you say that?” you scoff playfully.
She let out a small laugh, the sound of her voice so serene. It was rare to have a moment like this with her. “I was kidding. He’d be a fool to be uninterested in you.”
You scrunch your face. “Well I didn’t say he was interested in me.”
“Even if he was, it’s not like it’d matter.” she says plainly, finally getting the TV to turn on.
Your eyebrows furrow at the statement. “Why’s that?”
“Cuz you’re clearly displeased with him.” She quips.
In a way she was right, you were displeased with him, just not for the reason she’s thinking. You shake your head denying it, “I’m not displeased with him.”
“Then what are you?” she asks, walking into the kitchen area. “Actually- I’m not even sure why you’re talking to me about this in the first place.”
You get up from your spot on the couch, following her into the kitchen, “Cuz Eliza, Juliette, and Alani are busy and I don’t have any other friends.” you grin, taking a seat at the kitchen island.
She clicks her tongue, opening the fridge. “So I’m your last option then?”
You give her a tight lipped smile to which she rolled her eyes at. “You want kombucha?” She asked, taking a jug out.
“Sure.” you yawned, the doorbell ringing as you did so. “Who’s that?” you ask, turning to face the door from where you sat.
“Probably your dad’s back from the bodega,” your mom said, pouring the tea into glasses. “Can you get the door, hon?”
You nodded, getting up to unlock the door. You open it, a smile on your face- though it quickly faded realizing who was actually at the door.
“Miles?”
“Hey! Is now a bad time?” he asked, a hopeful smile on his face.
Truthfully any time was a bad time to you. You hadn’t figured out what to say to him yet, and it’d been at least 6 hours since you’d last taken your adderall. You knew you couldn’t avoid this forever. Which is why you step out into the hall with him, closing the door behind you.
“What’s up?” you say, trying to compose yourself.
“I just wanted to say sorry for the other night.” he started, his hands were in his pockets and he wouldn’t make eye contact with you.
“Oh! Uh- it’s fine” You say, trying to maintain a forced smile.
“Nonono, I know it was super sudden and..” You weren’t sure why he was apologizing for what he did. You two had probably only talked with each for like an hour all together since you’d met. You were unsettled by what he did, but not as much as figuring out he was Spider-man. But he didn’t know that you knew, and he didn't have to. Nobody did.
“..I just felt really bad about it so” he finished.
Shit. You spaced out for whatever he said.
“Like I said, it’s totally fine.” You say, still smiling as you reach for your door handle.
“So we’re cool?” he asks, relieved.
“Yeah. We’re cool, don’t even worry about it.” You say, opening the door, still facing him as you step inside. You felt stupid for worrying about facing him now knowing how easy it actually was. Granted you were zoned out for majority of it- but it was over now.
“Okay! I’ll come by around like 8ish, then?” He smiles.
“What?” you cough, unable to hide the shock in your voice as you step back out, pulling the door closed behind you again.
“Uh.. next Sunday?.. I’ll pick you up to head over to the farmers market at 8?” he spoke in a tone as if it were obvious. Which you guess it would be had you paid attention when he was talking.
Your lips form into a tight smile, as you nod silently.
He mirrors your actions, giving a small smile and a silent nod back, as if confirming your plans. You watch him walk away and down the stairs until he leaves your line of sight.
What the fuck did you agree to?