I stay up talking to the moon

It’s been two weeks since MJ showed up at Peter Parker’s apartment building unannounced. Since then, things have improved slightly and MJ found that reading more books was a perfect distraction for what was going on at home.

She owed it all to Peter’s bedside table. If it wasn’t for his narrow selection of books, MJ would have never found Satellite by Nick Lake. At first, she couldn’t wait to tease Peter about having a fictitious book about space next to his Star Wars collection, but when she got to the library the next day and actually read the book, she was engrossed. Peter had good taste after all. Who would have thought?

MJ took off her jacket and slung it over her chair before taking a seat. The classroom was so warm compared to the wintry chill outside. Pausing, she felt a smile fall over her face as she watched Ned Leeds plop in a seat next to her.

He gave her a wave, then pulled out his cell-phone from his back pocket. MJ preferred to draw during homeroom, but she understood those that chose to spend homeroom looking at pictures of food and cats. Anything to pass the half-hour of nothingness.

Mr. Harrington had to duck when he entered the classroom, the door decorations they created before winter break were still up and causing problems for tall people. Mr. Harrington made his way towards his vinyl desk in his corduroy jacket and decade old trousers. He shoved his glasses up his face while looking over the sheet of names that sat on his desk.

“Okay, sit down everyone. The bell is about to ring.”

With a roll of his eyes, Flash Thompson strutted over to an empty seat in the back of the room. One of his jock friends fist-bumped him on the way.

As Mr. Harrington began taking attendance, MJ pulled out her notebook and contemplated drawing.

She usually liked to draw Peter, but Peter wasn’t there, again. He’s been making a habit of coming to class late. Fortunately, Mr. Harrington has been letting it slide since Peter was on the academic debate team and see as how Mr. Harrington was in charge of the debate team, he didn’t want to penalize Peter. But the boy was really pushing it lately. This was the fifth time this month.

“Good morning Midtown High,” Betty said cheerfully, the Tv broadcast of the morning announcements flickered above everyone. “A quick reminder: everything is theoretically impossible, until it’s done - This is a quote by Robert Heinlein. Now please rise for the playing of our national anthem.”

MJ stood at the side of her desk, along with her whole class, and put her hand over her heart.

After the national anthem and morning announcements came to a close, Peter opened the classroom door, and walked in with his head down.

“Hey, hey, hey, hold it right there Mister,” Peter stopped walking. “You need to sign in,” Mr. Harrington said.

Snickering, Flash tossed his head back against the wall behind him. “Aww Penis Parker’s late again. What’s the matter? Another wardrobe malfunction?”

His football friends cackled along with him. “Maybe he pissed himself?” One boy teased.

“Did you piss yourself, Parker?” Flash taunted.

“All right, that’s enough of that.” Mr. Harrington said.

There were the few whispers of ‘Peter had an accident’ floating around the room before the class went back to talking about the latest party and embarrassing videos of some girl dancing on social media.

Peter scribbled his name on the tardy sheet and quickly took a seat in front of Ned. He put his head down, laying his face on the desk. Well, MJ liked to draw people’s misery, but this was just plain sad. Peter looked worst than miserable he looked defeated.

MJ shuttered, feeling unnerved by Peter’s behavior. Something was wrong.

Mr. Harrington passed back the morning sign-up papers and fundraising sheets, but MJ wasn’t paying attention.

“If anyone is interested in the unique field-trip opportunity to the Statue of Liberty, we are having an essay contest to choose which ten lucky students will get to go. Instructions are on the sheet. If you choose to participate the deadline is January 27th.”

MJ passed the sheets back, watching as Peter did the same for his row. He didn’t bother to look back at Ned, just held the sheets behind him.

“Hey, man, you alright?” Ned whispered.

Peter didn’t move, didn’t look up or acknowledge his friend. One elbow was propped on his desk while his hand was cradling his forehead, and the other arm was wrapped tightly around his stomach.

He looked sick or something. Ned nudged MJ and pointed at Peter. She shrugged, having no idea what was up.

“Peter, hood off.” Mr. Harrington said as he walked past him.

Slowly, Peter removed his blue hoodie, and kept his face down on his desk. MJ shifted in her chair, trying to get a good look, but failed miserably.

Finally, after what seemed like forever, the bell rang. Peter gathered his books and rushed towards the door so fast that MJ didn’t have time to blink.

“You think he’s okay?” Ned asked as he grabbed his book-bag.

MJ shook her head. “I’m going to try and talk with him.”

“Good luck.” Ned called after her, “Hey, keep me in the loop.” He pointed to her cell-phone and she nodded.

Outside the classroom, the hallway was bustling with kids. Luckily MJ was tall enough to see over half their heads. She managed to spot Peter hustling down the hall in the direction of his first period class.

Quickly, MJ ran past a few kids to chase him down.

“Dork! Wait up.”

He straight-up ignored her, which MJ found rather rude. “Peter! Hey, I’m talking to you.”

She finally caught up to him and grabbed him by the sleeve.

“Peter.”

He turned towards her, a purple stain stood out starkly around his right eye. His left cheek had a nasty smudge of purplish-yellow bruises, and his right cheek was swollen like he got his wisdom teeth out, but a red welt was the cause.

MJ stepped back, letting go of his sleeve as if it somehow burst into flames. She couldn't help but gawk at his banged-up face.

“What do you want?” He croaked out, voice raspy, as if he’d been screaming.

“What happened?” She whispered.

“I- I have to get to class. There’s this physics test -”

“Peter,” her tone was cold, “What happened.”

“I - I need to get to class.” he fumbled nervously.

Regaining confidence, MJ grabbed his hand, “Screw class. You can make-up the physics test.”

“MJ, I’ve already missed so many days of school. I’m going to get in so much trouble.”

MJ refused to let go, dragging Peter down the school hall-way. He could have pulled back. He had enough strength to free himself from her strong grip, but part of him didn’t want to.

By now most of the kids had cleared out of the hallway. The bell was about to ring.

“Why don’t we eat something.” MJ suggested, tugging him towards the cafeteria.

Peter grinned. “Comfort food?”

“Yeah, I was thinking maybe some ice cream.”

“I don’t think there’s any ice cream back there.”

“No but there is some frozen sherbet.” MJ’s eyes danced with mischief.

Peter bit his bottom lip, “I don’t know, we’re literally going to be in so much trouble.”

As soon as he said that, the bell rang. Screw his life. Peter Parker was about to be homeless. May would kick him out for sure.

MJ sat at the empty cafeteria table, and Peter sat next to her in silence. He held his head in his hands. His breathing was picking up, and he really looked like he was about to puke.

MJ grabbed his hands within her’s. Peter’s eyes widened as he looked at her, a mix of shock and innocence.

“What happened?” She asked again.

“Oh.” Peter’s eyes dropped, “I kinda fell.”

“You fell? Like... down the stairs?”

“Like off a building.”

“Oh.” MJ looked at her beat-up backpack which was sitting on the floor next to her leg. “Were - were you um... swinging on your webs?”

“Kinda.” Peter nodded. “I - I was fighting this guy and um, I was chasing him across the city when he turned back and shot my web with something. Don’t know what it was, but it broke my web. I went to shoot another one, but by the time it stuck, I had already hit the ground.”

MJ winced. “Please tell me it was grass.”

“Um, no. It was cement.”

“Is that how -“ MJ pointed to the bruises on his face.

“Oh, no. When I fell, I cracked my ribs.”

She gasped, looking at his clothed stomach. Peter flushed, feeling incredibly self-conscious. Gently, he lifted her chin with his finger so she wouldn’t look at him there. They locked eyes.

“Right before class? That must have really hurt.”

“They hurt. But uh, the guy punched me a few times in the face which is how this happened.” He pointed to his black eye.

“I guessing this wasn’t an average burglar?”

“No, it was some supervillain.”

“Did you stop him?”

“Oh yeah,” Peter grinned, “I stopped him.”

MJ hopped up. “I’m going to go in the back to see what they have hidden. Want me to bring you back some sherbet?”

“Yeah, thank you.”

Peter sat alone in the huge open cafeteria. It seemed strange, but in a cool way, to be the only person in a place that would be packed full of people in a few hours.

Every breath he took reminded him of the tenderness of his chest. Peter was lucky. Normally a fall from that height would kill a person. He healed fast enough that he was only left with a few cracked ribs, and even those were healing. He felt sore and achy, but not stabbing sharp pain like he felt an hour ago.

When MJ returned she was holding two paper cups of sherbet.

“No way!” Peter grinned, dimples showing, “They actually have them?”

“I had to dig behind the frozen vegetables, but yeah I found them.”

She handed him one with a spoon, and sat back down. They ate together in silence for a few seconds.

“Can I tell you something?” MJ broke the peaceful vibe that they were both feeling.

“Yeah of course. What’s up.”

“So you know how I went to your apartment that night?”

“Yeah I remember.” Peter nodded, scooping out another spoonful of orange sherbet.

“You told me I didn’t have to tell you what was on my mind, but then you said whenever I was ready to talk about it, you would listen.”

Peter’s doe eyes met hers. “Yeah, I meant it. Why? Are you ready to talk about it now?”

“Maybe.” MJ sighed. “I’m not used to - to stuff like this.” She pointed between the two of them, hoping that Peter would understand what she was trying to say.

“It’s okay. I’m not the best at talking either, in case you haven’t noticed, I stutter a lot, and I ramble when I get really nervous, actually I think I just ramble in general. Maybe it’s when I’m really excited because Mr. Stark says -“

“Peter, you’re doing it right now.”

He flushed, “Sorry.”

“Don’t be. I think it’s cute.” MJ jolted upright as if she had been electrocuted. “Oh - I didn’t - I meant that you, ya know... you um... shit.” She muttered at herself. How could she have called him cute to his face?

“It’s okay, MJ. I like when you tell me how you feel.”

“Really?” She was flabbergasted, “It doesn’t creep you out?”

Peter shook his head, a strand of brown hair fell out of place, and he casually slicked it back.

“It creeps me out,” MJ admitted. “I hate opening up.”

“That’s cause it makes you feel vulnerable, and vulnerability is a scary thing.”

“It’s terrifying,” she corrected.

“But once you put it out there in the open, you can truly embrace yourself for who you are instead of hiding behind the fear of judgement. I was so afraid to tell you I was Spider-Man, but now I know you like me for the real me. I have no regrets.”

MJ nodded quietly, “I’m scared you won’t like me anymore if you know everything about me.”

“I’m not the type to judge.” Peter said just below a whisper, “There’s no reason I wouldn’t like you, especially if it’s because of your family. We can’t choose the people we were born to. Whatever your family has done, it’s not your fault.”

“My Dad’s addicted to drugs.” MJ blurred out, squeezing her eyes shut. She envisioned telling him this a million different ways, but never did she picture saying it so bluntly. She felt dizzy all of a sudden. This was a mistake, this was a mistake her mind screamed.

Peter grabbed her hands. “Hey, it’s okay.” But MJ was shaking her head, keeping her eyes closed.

“It’s not okay,” she breathed out. “He did it before, a long time ago when I was really little. But then he quit after going to rehab. My life was pretty normal until last year when I caught him in the basement snorting cocaine. He made me promise not to tell my mom.”

MJ opened her eyes, “I never told her. But two weeks ago she found out on her own, and they had the worst fight I’ve ever witnessed. God, it was awful. They both said horrible things, and then it slipped out that I knew about it. Let me tell you, I’ve never seen her so angry. I felt like I betrayed her, you know? My Mom still hasn’t talked to me since and I’ve been hiding out at the library.”

MJ’s eyes were watering as she tried to look anywhere but at Peter’s burning eyes. She felt his thumb run soothing circles over her hands. But nothing could calm her down. She spilled her guts, and now she’s drowning.

“I’m so sorry, MJ. That must have been awful. I can’t even imagine what you must have heard your parents say.”

A single tear slipped down her face, and she removed her hands from his hold to wipe it away.

“But you were caught in the middle of your parents fight. You weren’t the cause, and no one should blame you. I’m sure your mom might have felt betrayed in the moment, but if you two sat down and talked... I’m sure she would feel better and you would too.”

MJ finally looked at Peter, really looked at him. He had so much genuine faith in his eyes, MJ wanted to believe him.

“Maybe.” She said, “But things are broken. I don’t think they’ll ever be the same. Sometimes I’m scared to go home. I never know which one will be there. My Mom and Dad are never there at the same time.”

“Well if you need a place to hang out, you can always come over to my house again. Or if you want to sleep over, you can go to Betty’s house. Ned says she’s really cool.”

“Thanks Peter. But like you said, I guess I should try and talk to my Mom. I have a feeling a divorce is coming soon so that will be fun.”

Peter winced. “Well, whatever you need to do, I’ll be happy to help. Even if you just need some more books to borrow.”

MJ gave a weak smile, “Oh you noticed I went through your space book?”

“Yeah, and by the way, if you’re going to make fun of my Star Wars collection, I’ll have you know it will be worth millions someday.”

“Oh really?” She snorted, “I guess we’ll have to wait and see.”

“Guess we will.” Peter said, and suddenly he was wrapped in a tight hug.

“Ow, ow, MJ, my ribs!“

She back off quickly, “I’m so sorry.”

“No, it’s okay,” He grunted, “They’re getting better. Still hurt a little, though.”

She inspected his face, “Yeah, your bruises are almost completely faded. Wow, that’s amazing.”

Peter nodded, “I knew they would be gone soon. That’s why I didn’t ditch school. Even though...now I- I kinda did ditch class.”

MJ crinkled her nose, “Yeah sorry about keeping you from your physics test. How much trouble are you going to be in?”

Peter shrugged, “Not that much. It was totally worth every hour of detention they’re going to throw at me.”

“I’ll sit with you, if you want. I’ve got nothing better to do.”

“That would be great. The only problem is I really want to get back out there and you know, be Spider-Man.”

“Not today. You’re in no condition to be flying around the city with cracked ribs.”

“They’ll be fine by the end of school.” He whined.

“No Peter.” She pointed a finger at him.

“Aw, you sound like Aunt May.”

“Shut up, dork!”