broken cd

Your apartment (Earth-1610)

“Just recently, the mayor has named Spiderman ‘A savior to New York’ and citizens are not happy, complaining he’s causing nothing but harm to the community. We have more on this story coming up soon. In the meanwhile-”

You yawn, shutting down your laptop that disconnected from the projector you were watching on. It’d been two days since you went to the farmers market with Miles, and a week since you’ve talked to any of your friends. 

Ever since you discovered Spiderman’s identity, you had tried to distance yourself from them, not wanting to let on anything. You simply dismissed the situation as an anxiety attack and didn't elaborate, but that didn’t stop them from interrogating you on it.

You reach for the duffle bag that sat at the edge of your bed and begin to tie your hair together, your phone going off in the midst of doing so.

You accept the call without checking who it is, “Hello?”

“MY GOD! Finally, you haven't been responding to any of my calls.” Juliette exclaims.

You roll your eyes playfully, grabbing your keys with your free hand. “Hi, Julie.”

“What are you doing right now?” 

“Heading out,” you say, locking your apartment door. “I’m checking out my new ballet studio today.”

“Good, you can chat to me as you walk.” she smiles.

“Why, what’s wrong?” you question.

She scoffs at your question, “Does something have to be wrong for me to want to talk to you?”

“Not necessarily, but usually you only call me to tsisme. (gossip)” you chuckle.

“Oh please, don’t act like you don’t love hearing about it.” she quips. “Anyways, what’s up with you and Morales?”

You scrunch your eyebrows together, “Why would anything be up with me and Morales?

Juliette shrugs, “Dunno, you haven’t been talking to us as much and he’s basically your only friend in New York.”

“Well I’m watching the fireworks with him tonight if that’s what you wanna hear.” you say, plainly.

Juliette sits up straight, “Like a date?”

“Like neighbors.” you correct. “Everyone in our building is watching them together on the rooftop.”

“But you’ll be watching them with Miles specifically?” she questions.

“I guess so,” you shrug. “We’re the only teens in the building.”

“And that’s the only reason you’ll be with him?”

You kiss your teeth. “Juliette, what are you insinuating right now?”

“Nothing!” she spits back. “And not that you asked, but your horoscope for this month says you’ll experience an unexpected romance.”

You roll your eyes. “Did your horoscope mention anything about being unrealistic and nosey?”

“Maybe you’re just uptight because you don’t have a boyfriend.” she suggests, voice going smug.

“I assure you, that is not  why I’m so tense lately.” You emphasize.

“Come to think of it- have you ever had a boyfriend?” Juliette asks.

You’d had a few situationships every now and then but never actually went through with a relationship. You had always kept busy with ballet and the bass anyways so it’s not like you had much time for one anyways.

“Not that I can recall.” You say.

“Y’know if you want, Jackson has some friends that you could-”

“Goodbye, Juliette.” you say, hanging up on her. 

Walking to the studio, you were happy to say the least- but now that you were actually there, all you wanted to do was leave. Ballet practice goes by slow, and you don’t really socialize with the other girls, not that they made an effort to talk with you either. And while Ms. Roche wasn’t the worst, you couldn’t help but think she was nothing like your old ballet teacher. 

You wouldn’t go as far to say you were homesick, things were just different now. A lot different, and it’d take time to get used to that, but you’ve always been able to overcome your difficulties, so this would be nothing. Right?

“Line up, girls.” Ms. Roche instructs sharply, pulling you out of your thoughts.

You quickly do as told, trying to shake off the feeling and focus on what she was saying.

After what felt like an eternity, practice was over and you didn’t hesitate to leave as fast as possible. Packing up your duffle bag in the changing room, you hear footsteps approaching but don’t turn around to see who it is.

You feel a finger tap your shoulder, prompting you to turn around. 

“Hey, you’re new right?” the girl asks as you meet eyes with her. She had blonde shoulder length hair, blue eyes, and the sweetest smile on her plump lips. “I’m Betty,”

You muster up a small smile, “I’m y/n. And yeah, first day.”

“Oh cool, why?” she asks. She kind of reminds you of a barbie doll you used to have as a kid.

“Why?”  you repeat, confused at what she was asking.

“I mean like- why are you just joining now?” she corrects.

“I just moved here from California.” You respond, blankly nodding your head.

“Ohh fun! I haven’t been to Disneyland in years!” She giggles.

You flash a smile and stay silent, not feeling like telling her you lived up North and not anywhere by the famous theme park.

“Do you live around here?” She asks, politely.

You scrunch your face, calculating how long it took you to get here, “It’s like a.. twentyish minute walk.” 

“You want a ride?” She smiles sweetly.

“You drive?” you ask, surprised. She looked at least three years younger than you.

She shakes her head, “God no- I mean, I do have my license but I don’t like driving that much. My brother’s picking me up though so he won’t mind.”

You hesitate, wanting to decline- but her doe eyes gazing at you makes you want to give in. You inhale, nodding your head. “Yeah! Sure, that’d be great!” you smile at her.

She returns the smile back, taking your hand and leading you out front. “So how are you liking New York so far?”

You use your free hand to shield your eyes from the setting sun as you step outside. “It’s.. different.” you answer, honestly.

“You’ll get used to it.” she quips. “Oh hey, there’s my brother's car!” she let’s go of your hand to wave at a black BMW pulling up to the curb. 

She opens the back door, sliding in. “Hey, we’re gonna give my friend a ride.” You slide in after her, closing the door. “This is my brother, Michael.”

He nods, “Where do you live?” he asks, making eye contact with you in the rearview mirror. 

“East on 12th street.” you say, as he puts the gear stick into position.

“Hey.. what is this?” Betty asks, holding up a framed painting of the Golden Gate Bridge she found on the floor.

Michael turns to look at her briefly before looking at the road again. “Hey- be careful with that.” he visibly became more tense. “I have to submit that piece for orientation.”

Betty rolls her eyes and places it back where she found it. “Would you Relax? God knows I wouldn’t dare come between you and your precious finger painting.”

Both siblings roll their eyes at each other, which they don't seem to notice. You stifle a laugh at their mannerisms.

“You’ll have to excuse my brother,” Betty starts, “He’s all freaked out cuz’ his fancy art school picked him to represent their painting program.”

Your eyes flick between the two. “Art school?” you question, sitting up straight, looking at him through the rearview mirror.

“Yeah,” Betty answers, leaning back in her seat as she goes on her phone. “Brooklyn Academy of the Fine Arts.”

A small smile creeps on your face as you lean back into your seat too.

“Oh hey, give me your number before you leave.” Betty says, handing you her phone.

You finish inputting your number and contact info as the car pulls up to the front of your building. “We’re here.” Michael says dryly. 

“Thanks for the ride.” you say, handing her the phone back, and grabbing your duffle bag as you get out of the car. “And see you at orientation!” You call back, closing the door without giving either of them a chance to respond.

gwen: jesus miles just ask her

miles: what if she says no??

gwen: try not to cry 🤷♀️

Miles scoffs at the message, tapping the screen of his watch to close their messages. He was currently outside your door, trying to work up the courage to ask if you wanted to come with him to the bodega before the fireworks started to get drinks.

“..Miles?” you question, as you reach the top of the stairs

He turns around quickly, surprised he didn’t sense you coming. “Hey!”

“What’s up?” you ask, taking an earbud out. 

“Well I was gonna see if you, um..” He slightly chokes up as you walk closer, seeing your eyes soften and eyebrows raise slightly as you wait for him to finish. 

He coughs, “Do you wanna come to the bodega with me before the fireworks?”

You narrow your eyes as a playful smile forms on your lips. “Hmm, I don’t know.. You have a tendency to run away whenever we’re alone.”

Unprepared for your answer, he hesitates before responding. “Third time’s the charm?” he murmurs through an awkward smile.

Sometimes you find it hard to believe he’s Spiderman by how dorky he is outside of the suit. 

You purse your lips together and cross your arms, saying nothing. You can almost see the panic in his eyes as you stay silent. “You’re paying for my coke.” you speak up, blankly.

You turn on your heels, heading back down the stairs not giving him a chance to react. “Hurry up bug-boy!” you call back.

You walk through the bodega, skimming the shelves to see if there’s anything worth getting as the sound of the news channel playing on the old tv echoes through the store. 

You walk up to Miles by the refrigerated section of the store, gently nudging his arm to let him know you’re there without saying anything. For a moment it’s just the two of you standing side by side in front of the glass refrigerators, looking like a picture perfect frame to those passing by.

“You find what you’re looking for?” you break the silence, still looking at the drinks in front of you.

He shakes his head, his tongue sliding across his teeth inside his mouth. “Can’t find the coke.”

You turn your head in his direction with an are-you-serious expression on your face. He looks over to you confused, to which you use one of your arms to gently push him three feet to the right.

He turns forward realizing he’d missed what he was looking for by a mere few steps away. “Whoops,” he chuckles awkwardly, opening the door.

You lean against one of the cool doors and roll your eyes as a smile forms on your lips.

“Regular?” he asks, turning to look at you, holding up a can.

You scrunch your nose and shake your head. “Diet cherry.”

He nods, swapping the regular coke for what you requested. As he closes the door, you stand up straight and walk beside him to the counter. “How come you get cherry?” he asks.

You shrug, “It’s what my mom always got.”

Reaching the counter, Miles places your coke and his gatorade down as he starts conversing with the store owner. 

“Following the controversy of whether Spiderman should be allowed to swing through the city or not, citizens are also complaining about the Metropolitan Museum having been shut down for three consecutive days, due to a closed investigation on a painting that was stolen last weekend, by none other than what witnesses have nicknamed her, ‘The Black Cat’-”

“Nothing but trouble.” Victor, the store owner, spits as he rang you guys up. “That girl belongs in a maximum security prison.”

“She’s kinda hot.” You comment, watching the clips of her play on the tv. You turn to look back at Miles, seeing both him and  Victor staring at you like you were crazy.

You toss your arms up in defense. “My bad.” You utter, not necessarily meaning it. 

Miles chuckles as Victor rolls his eyes, “$4.36”

Miles hands him the money, and thanks him. “Tell your dad I say hi!” Victor calls out as you turn to exit the store.

“I always do!” Miles calls back as he holds the door open for you.

He hands you your drink and it becomes quiet between you two again, aside from the sound of you snapping your can open. “Sooo.. you and Black Cat?” Miles jokes, breaking the silence.

You roll your eyes, taking a sip from your coke. “Say what you want, but you can’t deny she’s hot.”

“Ok- what if she’s like thirty?”

“I’ll just have to hope she’s willing to wait for me.” You say seriously. You’re able to hold your face until you make eye contact with Miles, to which you both break into laughter.

As the two of you walk, you quickly forget that you felt out of place earlier. As much as you felt unearthly about your next door neighbor being Spiderman, he sure made you feel like you belonged right where you were.

“Oh hey, I forgot to ask, where’d you come from?” he asks, gesturing to your duffle bag.

“Ballet studio.” you yawn, “Ms. Roche says if I’m competent enough to learn the choreography in three weeks, she’ll put me in the recital next month.”

“That’s good right?” Miles asks, his tone was cheery but he was confused why you weren’t excited with him.

“Yeah I guess.” you exhale. “I’ve been thinking about dropping ballet though. ‘Focus more on the bass or something, y’know?”

“Why do you wanna quit? You just signed up.” Miles points out as you guys turn the corner.

“It’s just not the same as it used to be.” 

“Well, yeah but that doesn’t make it a bad thing.” he responds, drinking his gatorade.

You pause, thinking about what he said. You hadn’t thought about it like that. “I guess so."

"Oh! And I made a friend.” you add, smiling.

“Ouch. Replacing me already?” he jokes.

You scrunch your face as if you were cringing, “I’m afraid so, Morales.”

He shakes his head, “Right after I bought you a coke too.”

You almost giggle at him, “In all seriousness though, she was really sweet. She offered me a ride home. Or offered on her brother's behalf.” you say. “Oh! And I found out I’ll be going to school with him in the fall! Isn’t that great?” you beam.

“Wowww, two friends in one day!” he teases, nudging you with his shoulder as you enter your building. You’re smiling until you remember you have to climb up eleven flights of stairs to get to the rooftop.

“Why can’t this building install an elevator?” You groan, making Miles chuckle. 

You were wrapped in a blanket that you shared with your mother, as you watched the fireworks crackle and burst into pretty star-like fragments above you. The sky looked like a lively watercolor painting, when the colors are still spreading around the canvas as you brushstroke. 

You look between each of your neighbors and their families. The way they all held each other, watching the fireworks made you feel like everything fell perfectly into place for them. You look over to where Miles and his parents were. His mom was resting her head on Miles' shoulder, as Jeff kept a hand on hers. 

As if the stars had aligned, Miles turned to look at you not long after. He smiles at you as your eyes meet, and you return one back before shifting your gaze back to the sky.

Eventually, the fireworks stop, and everyone heads back to their homes.

“You ready, dear?” your mother asks.

You step out of the shared blanket, “I’ll be down in a bit.” you smile, adjusting it to keep her warm.

She nods and takes her leave. You hear the last of the neighbors make their way down the rooftop’s access stairs, behind you.

“I guess it’s just you and me again.” Miles speaks lowly.

You turn around, a displeased expression on your face. “You gonna run off and get your steps in?” you tease.

He scoffs, making his way over to you smiling. 

You feel your heartbeat speed up in your chest. shit.