The salty air clings to your skin the same way your lavender lotion does, creating a soft sort of scent while you lounge beneath the hot sun. Your too-big t-shirt falls over your torso and thighs, successfully hiding every curve and dip along your body.
Gwen Stacy is beside you, blonde hair tied back with a silk ribbon. Her designer glasses slip down her button nose as she takes you in. “Honestly, ___, why come to the beach if you’re just going to sulk the entire time.”
Easy for her to say, with her teal tinted one piece and spray of freckles that frame her bright blue eyes. Not to mention the fact that her body is toned to perfection, soft in all the right places and taut everywhere else. She’s like a supermodel who turned down casting calls in favor of getting a higher education. Oh, and did you mention she’s making top grades at her university?
Her eyes drift to the water, where the rest of your friends are, shouting and splashing around. She smiles when her boyfriend, Eddie, catches her eye and waves enthusiastically.
“I’m not sulking,” you counter lamely.
You’re watching someone too: Peter Parker. The friend group used to be only him, Gwen, and Harry, but then Eddie joined, having worked with Peter, and he introduced everyone to Mary Jane, who he’d photographed a few times before. You were last to join the group, after meeting Gwen at a party and finding that you liked her company. It’s been a few years now, and the six of you are the closest you could ever be. That doesn’t stop you from wanting more with Peter, though.
After months and months of friendship; of Peter’s friendly smile and eyes like melted chocolate… you had finally realized that you were crushing on the photographer, big time. But you’ve never pursued it. How could you? Peter’s known you the shortest amount of time out of everyone, and it's not like he wouldn't choose Mary Jane or Harry before he so much as looked at you.
You're not fit like them either. Peter is shredded like he visits the gym daily, which is honestly a mystery in of itself considering how much the boy eats and sleeps. Mary Jane has a soft and boyish body, flat but still pretty. She looks amazing in anything she wears, because there are no awkward folds or lines. She proves this by her amateur model status online, with thousands of admirers to prove it. Harry has broad shoulders and arms carved like stone, which sets him apart as the best hugger of the group. Even Eddie, with his certified dad bod, carries it with a sort of confidence you could only hope for.
So, as someone who has never been particularly secure in their body, beach days are not something you are eager to participate in. However, majority won in the groupchat, and Mary Jane’s aunt has a vacant beach house just waiting to be trashed by a couple of college students.
Which brings you to the present, hiding your body (and very cute swimsuit) beneath your shirt and the shade of Eddie’s umbrella. You really aren’t sulking, you’re just uncomfortable. It’s hot, and you’re sweating, and it’s not easy being the biggest person in the friend group on a normal day, let alone a day at the beach.
You do wish you had brought a book, because right now you're just ogling Peter and hoping the sun shines in his eyes just right enough to keep him from noticing.
Mary Jane runs up. Her bright orange bikini should clash with her red hair, but it doesn’t. She squats down in front of you, folding her arms over her knees. She’s smiling so brightly. She shields a hand over her eyes, squinting in the sun. “Why aren’t you coming swimming? You love the water.”
Sweet Mary Jane. If you were naive, you’d wonder if she had any insecurities at all. Can’t she see your body? Doesn’t she know?
“Gwen’s not swimming, either,” you mumble.
“Gwen turns red like a lobster if she steps out of the shade for even a moment.”
Gwen hums in agreement, “Also, the ocean is like, eighty percent fish pee.”
“Gross, Gwen.”
“Hey, I stated my reason. Now state yours.”
You know they’d never judge you, but it hurts your pride to admit how much you think about your appearance. “I feel… ugly in my swimsuit. I don’t want anyone to see my body.”
Mary Jane tsks, not unkindly. “Trust me, babe, you're the only one who feels that way. I’ve seen your swimsuit, okay? You look hot.”
Despite not believing her, you blush at the compliment. “Thanks,” you say. “Do you…” You’ve never told them about your crush. “Do you think Pete will make fun of me?”
Mary Jane opens her mouth in a suprised smile. She makes eye contact with Gwen, who’s peering over her sunglasses at you. “No. Freaking. Way. You like Peter?”
“You’ve never told us!” Gwen slaps your leg. “All this time you and Peter could’ve – ”
“Shush!” Mary Jane hisses at Gwen, and then she looks at you like nothing just transpired between them. “___,” She smiles, but there’s no warmth in her eyes, “If you don’t get your ass in the water right now, I’m going to get Peter to come throw you in.”
“Okay!” You stand up. “I’m going. Gosh.”
You gulp. Then, steeling your nerves, you pull your shirt over your head, letting the warmth of the sun ease your anxiety. It does feel so much better, to be free of your thick t-shirt. It’s almost enough to have you forget that all of your friends are around you.
Gwen wolf whistles, which makes you toss your shirt at her face. She pulls it off of her and nods towards the beach, “Look who’s watching.”
You look over your shoulder, and Peter is standing in the water, only knee deep, staring at you. You suck your stomach in as subtly as you can.
Peter begins to walk up the beach toward you. His dark brown eyes appraise your body, gaze quickly flitting up and down. “You coming in?”
“Uh,I think so,” you say. You cross your arms over your stomach and avert your eyes. “I’m kinda hot.”
Peter grins at you, and opens his arms out, gesturing towards you. “I mean, yeah, you are. New swimsuit?”
Mary Jane snorts. Gwen facepalms.
“The, uh, temperature, Pete.” You clarify, feeling warmth flood through your body. “But yeah, it’s new.”
“Oh!” Peter runs his fingers through his hair, flustered at his slip up. “Um, sorry, I wasn’t thinking.”
“It’s okay,” you say.
Peter reaches forward and grabs your hand. “C’mon, I need someone to help me dunk Eddie underwater.”
His calloused hand is rough and warm. You run after him, immediately falling into a playful banter. “Not strong enough to do it by yourself, Parker?”
Peter turns to look at you over his shoulder. He gives you the most adorable smile, squeezing your hand and pulling you to stand beside him instead of behind him. “Well, I am, but I’d rather do it with you.”
This gets you to smile, and even after you enter the water, Peter doesn’t let go of your hand. He leans against you, lips caressing the shell of your ear. “You look beautiful, by the way. Really.”
“Thank you, Pete,” you say, swallowing back the urge to argue with him. He is so kind, so lovely, you wouldn’t do a thing to persuade that smile off of his face.