~Age 5~
It was 9pm and you were in your room playing with your stuffed animals. Your mom and dad should’ve come into your room to tuck you in and say goodnight about an hour ago, but all you could hear was your parents hushed whispers as they talked on the phone with someone. You did not think much of it, because why would you? Your parents were letting you stay up way past your bed time and your stuffed animals Lucas and Milo were finally getting along. Life was good in your 5 year old world.
Before you could register your parents steps, they swung the door open. “(y/n)? Wait, what are you doing up-”
“-5 more minutes please?” You begged your parents, you hugged your toys and your parents just looked at one another. Your father’s hands went up to his furrowed brows and your mother had her lips pursed.
Your dad spoke up first, “It doesn’t matter, either way, but,” your father let sigh, trying to find the right words. “(y/n) do you know our neighbors the Parkers? They live on the floor directly below us.”
You tilted your head trying to remember the people your parents were referring too. “Is one of them the lady that comes up for coffee and always brings those brunt cookies?”
Your father let out a shaky breath and your mom nodded your head, “Well, we want you too come and visit them. Their nephew who is your age is coming to live with them. We want to introduce ourselves.” Your mom held out her hand and you hesitated to take it it.
“But boys are stinky and Margot down the hall says boys have a diseases called coochies.” You made a vomiting noise as your mother let out a tiresome laugh and your father’s eyes went wide.
“Uh, sweet-pea, I think you mean cooties, and I can a sure you that Margot is completely wrong. Cooties are not real.” Your father walked over to your and picked you up.
“Ok I’ll go, but are you sure boys don’t have coochies.” Your parents just nodded their heads, too tired to correct you again. You dad put you down and your parents helped you put on your shoes and a jacket.
As your mom locked the door behind you and took your hand and helped you walk to the elevator. You heard a ding with the doors opening and you and your parents walked in.
Your mother sighed and bended her knees and got on your eye level. “Now sweet-pea, you remember how your cousins fish died? Did you, understand what dying means?” You vaguely remember that happening, all you know is that you flushed the fish in the toilet and that it was ‘no longer with us’. You shrugged your shoulders and shook your head, and your parent shared a glance.
Your father got on his knees and took your hand, “Well, you know how your heart is beating and that what makes you alive and help you move around and play with your toys?” You nodded your head, “So, when someone or something is dead, their heart does not beat anymore. Does that make sense?” You nodded your head again, you started to understand the concept. The elevator dinged and your parents stood up and you all walked out.
“Well, the Parkers nephew, his parents died, and now they are living with the Parkers. And we want to make him feel welcomed and maybe you two could be friends.” You looked at your mom and nodded your head.
Your dad knocked on a door and your mom squeezed your hand. You heard a few quick steps and then the door swung open. “Please, come in.” The women who made the really bad cooked said as she stepped aside and they you all in.
As you entered the apartment, the living room was filled with boxes. Some labeled toys and others labeled bed. A tall man with funny curly hair entered the room, “Hey, thank you so much for coming.” He looked down at you and got on his knees and held out his hand, “and you must be (y/n), I’m Ben and that women right there is May. It’s really nice to meet you.” He extended his hand and your mom lightly tapped your shoulder and you shook Ben’s hand.
Ben got up and went back to talking to your parents, “He hasn’t come out his room ever since he arrived.” Ben’s voice was extremely hushed but terribly stressed. You looked up to May who’s eyes where looking down a hall pass the living room and kitchen.
“I know you didn’t want to talk log on the phone, so what exactly do you need us to do?” Your mom’s voice was equally hushed. May and Ben looked at each other and then they both looked down to you, which then was followed by your parents looking down at you also. May and Ben did not have to say anything for your parents to understand what they needed, it was an odd request, to ask your neighbors daughter to try and become friends with a kid who had just lost his parents, but it couldn’t hurt to try.
Your dad nodded his head and sat on the floor, facing you and now holding both of your hands. “Sweet-pea, do you remember your mom and I telling you to always help people.” You nodded your head, “Well there is a boy in there who is your age and really needs cheering up, do you think you could try and befriend him?”
Making friends was sometimes a challenge for you, you were always scared that kids at the park would judge you. Not to mention you were terrified of your first day at kindergarten that was coming up, meeting a whole bunch of new screaming kids with some of them having something called coochies. No thanks, too scary.
But, maybe, having one friend would make school easier.
You nodded you head and you heard Ben and May let out a heavy sigh of relief. “(y/n), dear, can you come here?” May whispered and started to walk to the closed door, you followed and looked behind you. It looked like Ben and your parents were sitting on the sofa, but as you moved further down the hall and got to a shut door, your parents and Ben were out of eyeshot.
“What am I suppose to?” You whispered, May looked at you like she was unsure herself.
“I’m not sure, every time I’ve tried he wont let me in.”
You thought about what should you do, “maybe I should be the only one at the door?” Your own words surprised yourself, you had no idea who your talking to and you don’t even know what to do other then too 'become friends’ which is a challenge of it’s own.
May nodded her head and gave you quite words of encouragement and left you alone at the door.
You knocked on the door times and waited a few seconds. No response. So you did the next logical thing and grabbed the door handle and poked your head inside, “can I come in?”
The room was pitch dark, but your could see a figure whip his head up. Your voice was unfamiliar to him and he was clearly curious, “ok.” You fully came in and closed the door behind you.
The kid turned his bedside light on and you finally saw him. His body from the neck down was surrounded by his bed covers, and as you looked at his eyes they were blood shot, his nose was red, and his hair and a complete and utter mess.
You didn’t know what to do, so you figured you would start with the basics, “I’m (y/n), who are you?”
The boy shuffled under the covers and eventually he got out from under them. He sat on the edge of his bed, “I’m Peter.” His voice was raspy, most likely from crying, and it shocked you, what should you do? How do you comfort someone you barley even know?
You sat down next to him on the bed, and all you knew was that you had to make a friend. But you do have some standers when making a friend, “Do you have any coochies?”
Peter shook his head, “no, a kid at the playground gave me the coochie vaccine a few months ago, it’s good for the rest of my life.”
You nodded your head, “good”. Ok, so Peter met your standards, but what now? “Do you wanna be friends then?”
You looked up at him and found him sheepishly smiling at you, “Yea, do you?”
“Yea.” You looked around his room, it was also filled with untouched open boxes filled with some toys and boxes with clothes. “So, what sort of stuff do you like?”
Peter started to fidget with his fingers, clearly nervous, but at least it was better then sad. “Don’t laugh ok? Do you promise?” He held out his stubby pinky towards you, “pinky promise.”
You held out your stubby finger, “pinky promise.” You intwined your pinky and raised your hands up and down, like a handshake. “Now tell me what you like.”
“Ok, so I really like star wars.” You let out a small gasp and Peter shoved you lightly, “You swore you weren’t gonna laugh (y/n).” Peter whined.
“No, no, I really like Star Wars too.” Peter jaw dropped, and was now shaking with excitement. “What your favorite character?” You asked.
Peter took a little time to answer, “I really like Han Solo, but they are all cool, I just want a lightsaber or to be able to fly.” Peter flung himself back so his back was now laying on his bed, “what about you?”
“I’m not sure, I really like Leia, I think she’s cool.” You also laid back and then you both faced each other. There was a peaceful silence, but you didn’t want Peter to feel alone and think about his parents, “my room is right above yours.” You pointed up to the celling, and then got up and went to his window. “My room leads out to this fire escape too!”
Peter jumped out and got over to the window, then started to fiddle with the window lock. Eventually he got it open and sticked his head out, “You live right there?!”
You stuck your head out and pointed up to your window, “right there!”
You looked over to Peter and he looked happy, which was a relief. Even though you only came into his room to become a friends because your parents asked you too, you were really enjoying being with him.
“That’s so cool!” He looked over to you and smiled, then Peter yawned causing you to yawn. “Can we go to sleep, I’m getting sleepy.” Peter rubbed his eyes and you nodded your head. Peter turned the light off and moved the covers so that you both could slip under. It was kind of funny, you both made sure to stay far far away from one another and not to touch.
But then you remembered seeing Peter when you first walked into his room, he was so sad and you wanted to take his mind off of everything you avoided talking about anything touchy. But what was he feeling? Would it be rude to not ask?
“How are you feeling?” You didn’t want him to kick you out of his room, you really liked being around him, so you hoped he didn’t mind you asking.
Peter sniffled and moved a bit, “Sad, but I’m feeling better thanks to you.” You smiled at the thought of making him happy, “What do you like about Star Wars?” Peter clearly wanted to change the subject, and you respected that. You didn’t want to say something that would hurt him, so it was no big deal.
“I really like how all of the Jedi are like space wizards with really deadly swords. Like Thor, but instead of a hammer he would have a lightsaber.” You replied and Peter lightly giggled at your comparison.
“Yea all of the Jedi are so cool! And the Superhero’s too. I wish I could be a hero, but I’m too lame for that.” You kicked Peter under the covers, “Ow, what was that for, meanie.”
“Peter your gonna be a really really cool person when you grow up, and if you ever become a superhero, you're gonna be the best hero ever.” You half scolded him. You looked over to Peter he was probably blushing.
“Pinky promise?” You shimmed out your hand and extended you pinky, and Peter did the same.
“I Pinky promise Peter.”
~Age 15~
Things have changed since you were little. You now understand the difference between coochies and cooties, and that you in fact are the one with a coochie and not Peter. Your now best friends with Peter, and your much closer. Ben had passed, and your not sure how Peter’s dealing with it, but all you know is that he is keeping himself busy; maybe too busy.
You were walking down the street coming home from school. Normally you would walk home with Peter, but lately he had been making up excuses to why he had leave. You still talked to him during school and sometimes you and him would take the train to school together, but it was become less and less often.
As you walked down your street you saw this very expensive car that no one in Queen’s could probably afford, it was a stunning red and it was almost laughable about how out of place it was. You pulled out for phone immediately and started texting Peter.
You: did you see the car outside of the apartment???
You: what kind of self absorbed douche would but that
You looked up from your phone and opened the door to the apartment building. You pressed the elevator up button and glanced back to your phone and saw Peter was texting. Before you could read the message the elevator dinged and when the doors opened, you saw Tony Fucking Stark. You immediately moved out of the way and he just nodded his head and left the elevator, heading to the exit. You slipped in the elevator just before the doors closed and looked at your phone.
Peter: Can you come up to my room?
You pressed the button for Peter’s floor and immediately started texting back.
You: PETER WTF THAT WAS TONY STARK
You: I FUCKING PASSED HIM ON MY WAY UP
You: I called tony stark a self absorbed douche
You: I’m not wrong but still he’s tony fucking stark
The doors dinged and you sprinted to Peter’s door and unlocked it with the key that May gave you. As you opened the door you were met with May squeezing Peter, he was completely pink and it looked like May didn’t even realize you were standing there.
Peter looked up and when he saw you, he looked relieved. “May, (y/n) is here.” May loosed her grip on Peter, now giving him and normal hug and she glanced back to you.
“Hi dear, did you heard Peter’s news? Peter tell her.” May let go and she was practically jumping up and down.
Peter put his hand through his hair and was still all red in the face, “I uh- got the Stark Internship, thats why he was here.”
Complete and utter bullshit
You’ve known Peter since you were 5 and you know every single one of his tell-tell signs when he’s lying. When Peter was lying he would stutter a lot, like way more then when he was just nervous. Normally he would only lie to you when you were playing a game or when he was trying to hide a surprise of some kind. But lying to not only to your face but to May’s too? What is he doing?
“Isn’t that so exciting (y/n)? My little boy is growing up!” May kissed Peter on the cheek then checked her watch. “Shit, I have a shift and the hospital.” She started to grab her work bag and put on her shoes and coat. “Peter I’m so sorry, but I am so proud of you, we can go out tonight to your favorite place, (y/n), your welcome to come too. Love you both.” And with that she shut the door behind her and now it was only you and Peter.
Peter went into the kitchen and opened a jar, “cookie?”
You sighed and walked to Peters room with Peter on your trail holding two cookies. You dropped your bag down on his desk and crossed your arms.
“So, Tony Starks car is really wack, am I right?”
“Peter cut the bull, I know you don’t have an internship with Stark so why the fuck was he here?” You questioned. You were pissed, sure maybe a little over reacting but still, why the fuck was your best friend lying to you? Sure he has kept secrets from May, but Peter always confined with you.
“(y/n), what do you mean, I applied for the internship last year and he just showed up out of the blue.” Peter was always shit at coming up with excuses. Even when you asked him why he was not walking you too and from school he would come up with a lame excuse, like saying he had to do 'stuff’ with May. But how much stuff could May possibly want him to do.
“No, Peter don’t lie to me. If you applied for an internship you would not of shut up about it for months. I know how you worship the ground Stark walks on, hell, you would be his foot rest if it ment that you could be close to him.”
You sat down on the ground of his room and sighed, you didn’t know what to do. Peter was most definitely lying, no doubt. But why?
“Look, Peter,” you let out a heavy sigh, “If you don’t want to tell me, sure, I understand. If you don’t want to spend time with me anymore, just please tell me that instead of lying to me.”
You were looking down at the ground, you had no idea of what Peter was feeling or thinking. You tried to give Peter an opportunity to say that he doesn’t want to be friends anymore, so he would take it if he needed to, but why?
“(y/n) what no, your my favorite person ever, I love you, it’s just…” Peter sat down next to you and you put your head on his shoulder and he wrapped an arm around you. “Can you uh, keep a secret?”
You lifted up your left hand and extended the pinky, Peter lifted his hand and extended the pinky. “pinky promise.”
Peter left out a shaky breath, “pinky promise,” he echoed. He cleared his throat, “you see my backpack over there?” You nodded your head, not sure where he’s going with this. He whipped his right arm and did a funny motion with his wrist and you saw a white substance attached itself to the bag then Peter did another hand motion and the bag was right in front of you. “I’m Spider-man.”
He looked over to you and found you frozen in shock. You just found out your best friend literally leads a double life, a life where he is out in the streets fighting people and not just any people but dangerous people with knives and guns and alien stuff.
Every time he couldn’t walk you home and walk you to school, couldn’t study at the library, couldn’t go to Delmar’s, couldn’t have a sleepover, couldn’t just spend time together, he was being Spider-man?
In your mind there was no way that it’s true, but it makes sense. Peter had always been obsessed with superhero’s, he is always wanted to be one, to help people. Ever since his 5 second interaction with Tony Stark when he was 7 made him even more obsessed with superhero’s.
But how could your dorky, nerdy, and geeky best friend be Spider-man? The kid that couldn’t even be in the same room as a Spider was a fucking Spider themed hero. The kid that was scared of heights was a hero that swung through the fucking sky.
“(y/n)?” You turned your head to see Peter, eye’s close to watering. “Are you ok?”
You jumped Peter and hugged him, causing him to fall on his back and you laying on top. “I swear to fucking god Peter if you ever die from being Spider-man I will bring you back from the grave and kill you myself.” Peter let out a shaky laugh and snuffled a bit. You parted from him to get a better look, “Is Spider-man crying?”
Peter sat up, with you still on him, “no, I’m just really glad you didn’t hate me for keeping a secret.”
You lightly laughed, “I could never hate you, maybe slightly annoyed but never hate. Just if you ever need anything from me don’t hesitate.”
Peter thought for a minute, “Actually there is something.”
“What is it?”
“Could you give me your homework answers for the next few days? I’m going to Germany.”
~Age 18~
You at on the floor of your bedroom, not doing anything, just staring out into space.
Today was the last day that you could pretend like you would be seeing these people in the halls of your school the next day, the last day that you could pretend that you’ll be seeing the same people in your class next summer.
It was the night before graduation, your gown was sitting on your desk and you couldn’t even bare to unzip the bag and look at it. You are now adult and it just hit you that you are going to be thrusted into the world with no idea what your going to do, where you going to go, when you just knew nothing.
And the worst part was that you had never told Peter how you feel. You never told the love of your life that you are completely and one-hundred percent in love with him.
You didn’t even realize all of this until today. It hit you today seeing all of your friends say goodbye and make false promises that they would keep in touch and that you’ll never forget one another. But it’s all shit, no one will keep in touch, no one will remember each other.
And all of the partners saying that they’ll make it through long distance, and the first person that came to mind was Peter, and your not even dating. Yet, it felt like you would be loosing your partner.
Then it hit you.
You were to lost in thought to hear the window open up and didn’t even realize that Peter had crawled through until his hand was on your shoulder. “Are you ok?”
You shook your head and Peter picked you up bridal style and sat you up on your bed. He was wearing sweats and a midtown high school sweater, matching your look, except his hair was not a mess and he was all put together.
“Did it all just hit you?” You nodded your head and he pulled you into a hug, “You know we wont loose each other.” Peter voice began to crack and he was clearly tearing up himself.
“How do you know that we wont just forget about each other?” You murmured. The question has been gnawing at you for the past few hours. There was no certainty that he would remember you. He could barley remember to do all of his homework in between all of his Spider-man duties.
Peter hugged you a bit tighter, and held his breath, “because the love I have for you is unescapable, there is no way I could ever forget you.”
Peter’s words stung you though your heart, you weren’t sure it it was a good thing or a terrible thing. You didn’t know if he ment that platonically or romantically. You wanted so so bad for him to mean it romantically, you wanted him to say or do anything to show he ment it romantically.
“Peter, you say that but you don’t love-”
Peter cut off your words by kissing you. His lips were soft but a little chapped, but you couldn’t care less. He took your breath away, literally as he kissed you when you were about to breath in, but also figuratively. The kid you fell in love with when you were 5? 15? Who cares, the boy you fell in love with loves you back, and you wanted this moment to last forever.
Peter broke the kiss and immediately jumped back, “I’m so sorry (y/n), I’ve loved you since we were 5 and you were talking like we will never see each other again, when I know we will, I just,” Peter honestly looked like he had no idea what to say, he had his 'thinking face’ on which was him biting his cheek and looking around. He clearly didn’t regret kissing you, he just regretted not telling you sooner. “I just had to kiss you so you know we wont loose each other.”
“I love you Peter, so so much.” You grabbed his face and you kissed him again. You loved every moment of it. You loved every moment of just being with him. And being able to hang out with him, was a nice reminder that maybe you wont loose everyone, or at least, you wont loose Peter.