Chapter 1
Rooney never enjoyed change. Whether it was a change in seasons or a change in decor, Rooney was against it. So when her family started breaking, she wasn't sure how to react. She liked being in a familiar environment that she knew would never hurt her, New York is not one of those places. She'd rather be in her room, in Philadelphia, drawing her feelings away, or listening to the way the rain pitter-pattered on the ground from her apartment complex's rooftop. Instead, she's stuck on a train headed to New York, with a social worker by her side, being sent away to live with a mystery man who apparently knew her dad. Rooney let's out a sigh after getting bored while listening to her playlist.
"So," she starts, looking over at the social worker sitting next to her. A fairly tall woman who is the definition of business-casual. "Who exactly is Peter Parker?" She rarely ever talks to people she doesn't know, let alone a social worker, but she is curious about her father's friend she's never met before.
"Well, he's an engineer like your father. He worked with him in his early years before your dad left for Pennsylvania. He has a husband named Miguel O'Hara and a daughter named Mayday." The woman said, unbothered.
"Have you met him before?"
The woman shook her head.
"So you have no idea what he's like?"
The woman shook her head, again.
"Great." Rooney said, slightly annoyed. She wants to know if Peter is at least a good person before living with him, but it's whatever. She'll only be worrying about if he, or his husband for that matter, is a serial killer for half the trip.
"I'm sure your dad wouldn't leave you with a man he didn't trust." The woman says with a soft, reassuring, smile.
Rooney only lets out a hum of acknowledgement, not really wanting to form full sentences at the moment. She's too busy thinking about leaving her home and family behind. Or how her mom literally ran away from responsibility. Or how her dad turned to alcohol after the divorce, which led him to rehab. It all happened so fast, she barely had any time to process what had happened in the past couple of months, nothing makes sense anymore.
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She'd give anything to be a little kid again. (Sure she's still a kid, but it certainly doesn't feel like it.) Rooney would give anything to still be playing tag on the cracked sidewalk with her friends. Or to scrap her knees on her uncle's gravel driveway while hitting a piñata at her cousin's birthday party. But we all grow up at some point, and Rooney hates that. She hates that she can't hide away forever and be protected by the ones she loves most. It's unfair. Deeply unfair.
The more she thinks, the more she can feel tears form in her eyes. Everything sucks. The world sucks. People suck. School sucks. The fact she can feel her toes cramped up in her shoes sucks. Rooney can feel herself spiral but quickly snaps out of it. 'I need to get a grip' but how can she when her world is falling apart, piece by piece?
She sighs and pulls out her sketchbook from her backpack to keep her mind busy. She doodles her heart out before she can feel her eyelids become heavy and weak. Eventually, Rooney dozes off into a light nap before being rudely waken by the train stopping.
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The next half hour is a blur. Getting on another train, then walking, then getting into a cab, then walking some more, before finally reaching the Parker-O'hara household.
"Wow..." Rooney says, quiet yet amazed. Their house is huge! God, how on earth do they make such a living?!
The woman, who has accompanied Rooney this entire time, rings the doorbell. Rooney can hear a faint 'Coming!' from the other side of the door.
The man to greet them is holding a baby with a bink bath robe on, looking like he hasn't slept in a while. 'Perks of being a parent, I guess..'
"Oh! You must be Rooney!" The man says, surprisingly with a lot of energy.
"Hi. You must be...Peter?" Rooney says, flatly.
"Indeed I am." He smiles.
Peter let's Rooney inside his house before talking to the social worker outside. She silently looks around. 'spacious.' She makes mental notes on everything she looks at. It sure is a big place for only three people though.
Peter's house is definitely nice, no doubting that, but it doesn't feel like...home. Home is where she learned how to ride a bike. Home is where she would constantly watch all of the Barbie movies. Home is where her parents were. None of this feels right. She should be cuddling with her mom and dad on the couch watching a stupid movie, not be here. Rooney feels her chest tighten from all the stress she had caused herself from the few seconds she was inside. She loses control of her breathing and she can't focus on anything. She can't think, she can't see, she can't move. She's stuck. She's stuck and she can't get out. Where's mom? Why am I here? Why is it-
"Hey, kid?" Rooney is immediately grounded by the sound of Peter's voice. She feels kind of ridiculous now. "You alright?" He seems genuinely concerned.
"I'm okay, Mr. Parker." Rooney straightens herself up and avoids eye contact with the man in front of her.
The man in question let out a small laugh. "Oh please. Call me Peter!"
Rooney only nods in response, still looking everywhere but Peter.
"Y'know, you're dad warned me that you'd be quiet. But I didn't think you'd be this quiet." Peter gives Rooney his signature smile. "No matter though! If you like being quiet then I don't mind it."
Rooney gives him a faint smile, grateful he's not as bad as she thought. Maybe staying here won't be as awful as her brains makes her think it is.
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Oh boy, was she wrong.
Rooney was playing with Mayday and her toys, when all of a sudden someone entered the room. A tall, muscular, man. Very intimidating. Rooney could feel herself unintentionally shrink when they make eye contact, although Mayday is seems to be unbothered by this man's sudden appearance.
"Who the hell are you?" He asked, malice laced his words.