Prelude One
Prelude One:
Scuffed, muddy black converse pitter-pattered out of an open elevator, giving others a perfect opportunity to catch a ride to whatever floor they needed to be on.
The tip-tapping of the rubber soles was enough to turn a few heads in their owner's direction, but they quickly went back to minding their own business once they saw no threat.
The small feet stopped in front of the second to last door in the hallway, and little hands knocked on the hardwood, waiting for an answer.
Sensitive ears perked up and could hear rustling inside before the door finally opened.
"Hi, Lainey." A teenage boy greeted. "It's been a while."
It was Lainey's oldest friend. Actually, her only friend, Peter Parker.
Despite their age difference, with her being eight years old and him thirteen. They had been the best of friends for as long as they could remember.
To be honest, Peter had always been more like and older brother than a friend.
His parents had been good friends of her mother's since before they were born, so there had never really been a time where the two hadn't known each other.
"Come in." He allowed her inside and she put her bag down where it would be out of the way.
Her mother always told her not to put her bag down where people could trip over it.
Bags didn't belong right in front of the door where anyone could step on them.
"Aunt May isn't home. She's still at work." Peter moved towards the fridge and tossed the little girl a water bottle, which she caught effortlessly. "How's your mom?"
"She's okay." Lainey spoke for the first time since she had arrived, sitting down on his couch.
It was a nice couch. Patent brown leather with a throw blanket folded over the backrest.
And the leather was soft…...almost as soft as suede, but not quite. But it was enough for her to sink into and relax all her muscles in the process.
She didn't get to relax very much.
Between getting up early for school, taking the train to school, actually going to school, and then coming home and doing homework, Lainey's days were usually very busy.
She liked her routine, but today was different.
She wanted to visit Peter.
"She's always working." She shrugged, not at all bitter about the situation. "So, I get some time to myself."
And if there was one thing Lainey knew she enjoyed, it was the time she spent alone.
Her mother worked a lot, so she had gotten used to spending many hours at home on her own.
"She works hard to give you the life you deserve, you know?" Peter plopped down next to her.
"Yeah, I know." Lainey nodded, her eyes emptying out for a split second.
"What are you doing this weekend?" Peter asked to lighten the mood. "Ned and I were gonna head into Times Square and raid the m&m store. Do you wanna come?"
Lainey certainly did like a good m&m.
And going into the city sounded fun. Especially with Peter and Ned around.
She always had the best time with them.
She didn't know Ned all that well, but he was a nice guy. He and Peter never treated her like she was tag-along. They actually seemed to enjoy having her around.
"Sure…..maybe I'll get a whole bag of blue m&m's." She smiled, bumping his fist to seal the deal.
"Are you sure you don't wanna wait for Aunt May to get home? Or even spend the night?" Peter asked, watching as Lainey slung her bag back over her shoulder.
They had spent hours upon hours just talking and laughing about anything and everything.
But now it was time for Lainey to go home. She needed to get home in time for her mother's phone call and if she stayed any longer, she'd miss it.
Allison Taylor always called the house at a certain time from work and Lainey was not to miss a single call.
She had to make sure that her daughter was home where she was supposed to be.
The train ride from Queens to Brooklyn wasn't at all short, so she needed to start heading out as soon as possible.
She had already stayed a lot longer than she had planned.
"No, thanks. I have to get home before it gets really dark. My mom is gonna call."
"Oh, okay." Peter nodded understandingly, pushing his glasses up over the bridge of his nose from where they had slid down. "Get home safe and don't stop anywhere."
"I'll see you this weekend." Lainey waved one last time before making her way to the elevator.
There was no one else on it, so the ride down to the main floor was quick.
As soon as the doors opened once again, she rushed outside, feeling the sharp, cold air hit her face.
She didn't even make time for herself to shiver, she just ran as fast as her feet would take her.
She needed to get home.
"Hey, watch it!" Some guy she had bumped into shouted after her.
But she didn't bother to run around.
That was New York. Rough and tough.
The streets were always buzzing and the city never slept.
Luckily for Lainey, she had actually managed to catch her train just before the doors closed.
And she had caught an express train.
So, the ride would be a lot shorter than anticipated.
And once the train got to her stop, she flew up the stairs and onto the street, keys in hand, and ran a few blocks to the apartment she and her mother shared.
Hauling herself all the way up the steps to the fourth floor, she finally made it.
Home sweet home.
Her mother hadn't beaten her home, so that was a good thing. And she hadn't called yet either.
She had made it just in time.
She was lucky.
A/N: I hope you enjoyed this one! Short, but they will get longer as things begin to pick up :) Until next time! XOXOXOXO