Peter walks into the coffee shop, his ears pink from the cold, his fingers playing with a corner of the paper in his hand. It was his personal script for him to tell MJ everything that had happened. There’s Ned with MJ.
If I could tell her, tell her everything I see
To him, MJ looks more beautiful than ever. He saw her body shake slightly with cold when the door opened. Ned laughing at her for shaking led to MJ’s middle finger going towards him. MJ turned to Peter to take his order, a smile on her face from the previous encounter with her friend.
There's nothing like your smile, sort of subtle and perfect and real.
Her smile brought a rose to the boy’s cheeks.
You never knew how wonderful that smile could make someone feel.
“Can I help you with anything?”
“Hi, my name is Peter Parker and I,” he pauses, looking at his paper. “Would like a coffee.” He had so much he wanted to say.
He wanted to pour out his heart on the counter, tell the girl in front of him that he loves her and she loved him. Loved. God, that hurt Peter. MJ loved Peter.
MJ exhales out of her nose, mimicking a laugh. “Okay, Peter Parker,” she teases.
“A donut for my fellow engineer!” MJ says, handing Ned a donut. He thanked her, looking up from her phone. Peter overhears their conversation.
“They’re talking about MIT.” Peter thinks. He breaks into a small smile, holding back slight tears.
MJ slides the paper coffee cup across the counter. “Peter Parker?” She calls out. Peter doesn’t hear her the first time. MJ repeats herself.
“Yes, sorry,” Peter says so quickly, it was almost like the two words became one. “You excited for MIT?” he asks, pointing towards Ned’s general direction.
“Yeah, I’m excited! Which is kinda weird- I don’t really get excited about things. I expect disappointment.”
“So you don’t get disappointed?” Peter finishes.
“Yeah, right. I dunno, it just feels different this time,” MJ takes a small breath, pushing a fallen hair behind her ear. “For some reason.”
But we're a million worlds apart.
And I don't know how I would even start.
If I could tell her.
Peter smiles and looks in his pocket for his payment. Looking up, he noticed the band aid on MJ’s forehead. “Fuck.” Peter thought, knowing his smile fell a little. He wanted to reach out and touch it. Kiss her wound, even.
“You okay?”
“Doesn’t really hurt anymore.”
MJ closes the cash drawer. “Is there anything else?”
Peter stares.
What do you do when there's this great divide?
She just seemed so far away.
Peter shakes his head, gathering up all of his feelings.
What do you do when the distance is too wide?
“No. Thank you.”
“No problem!”
Peter wanted to be there longer. He wanted to stay in that warm coffee shop. He wanted MJ to know. He longed for it. Longed for her again. He walks towards the front doors, calling back to MJ, “I’ll see you around!”
And how do you say ‘I love you?’
I love you.
Peter loves MJ. MJ loved Peter.