Chapter 11
See, the thing about talking was that it wasn’t easy. Especially for Peter. What if he said the wrong thing and messed up their entire friendship? What if he offended Wade somehow and became a target in school? What if he didn’t word something correctly and everyone from their ‘freaky lil diverse friend group’ ended up hating and leaving him behind?
There was just so much that Could. Go. Wrong.
The call from Wade was unexpected to put it lightly. Looking down at his phone, Peter didn’t know if he should answer it. Groaning and sending a prayer up to the heavens, he swiped right and held the phone up to his ear.
“Hello?” He spoke, blushing at the mortifying crack that happened in his voice.
“Hey, baby boy,” Wade said, voice soft even through the speakers. “What are you doing right now? Anything important?”
“u-uh, no. Not really? Just reading. Why?” He asked quickly. “Is something wrong, Wade?”
“No, Pete. Everything’s fine,” Wade chuckled, Peter could almost see his little head shake he did when he found something oddly humorous. “You want to go somewhere with me?”
Peter’s heart nearly stopped its rhythm in his chest. Somewhere alone? Like, just him and Wade? They never did that. The one time they hung out outside of school was that one time at the diner. Wade was usually busy working with his dad on the weekends. Or he was out with Ness and Weasel, probably doing illegal or frowned upon things. Peter never asked what the trio did. It wasn’t his place.
“Alon- alone?” Peter stuttered into the phone, slapping a hand to his forehead in exasperation with himself. Get it together, Parker. Yes. Alone. He just said that.
Another chuckle that made tingles go up Peter’s spine. “Yeah. We haven’t been spending a lot of time together at school, you know?” Yes, because you keep ignoring my existence! “Figured we could go watch a movie or go for a drive? Just something.” Taking an audible breath, Wade nearly whispered, “I just kinda miss you, is all…”
Peter’s heart melted a bit at the muttered confession from his friend. “I miss you too, Wade,” he said softly. “But, we just saw each other before I walked home.”
“Yeah,” Wade scoffed, “but we didn’t get to talk. We haven’t been talking lately and its starting to weird me out, honestly.”
Sitting up, he muttered, “what do you mean ‘haven’t been talking’? We talk all the time. When you choose to respond to my texts,” Peter bit out, snark bleeding into his voice.
Wade let out a loud sigh. Peter tensed, ready for an argument and was properly defused when Wade replied, “listen, can we just go somewhere so we can talk? Without any distractions? Like school and people?” He rushed out, scared like Peter would ever tell him no. “I know I’ve some explaining to do, and it would be easier to do it if we were face to face. Just. Please, Peter,” Wade was nearly begging.
“Okay, Wade,” Peter sighed, laying back down on his sheets, a hand resting on his stomach. “Text me when you get here.”
“Of course, baby boy,” Wade said, relief in his voice. “Be there soon.”
“Drive safe, Wade,” Peter smiled into the phone. “I’ll see you soon.”
“Uh huh. Make sure you grab a jacket. It’s supposed to be cold.”
Laughing now, Peter said, “Okay, Wade. Bye.”
“Bye, baby boy!”
Peter smiled wide up at his ceiling for a moment. But then the worry set in, melting the smile away to be replaced by a frown. No. No. He wasn’t going to let his thoughts ruin this happy moment. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and relaxed it slowly and began to rationalize his worried thoughts away.
If Wade was done with him, with their friendship, he wouldn’t have even called Peter. He certainly wouldn’t have said he missed him. He wouldn’t want to be alone with him if being done with him was the case. Wade would’ve just lost his number and never looked his way again.
Nodding to himself, Peter got up from his bed to get dressed. He picked comfortable jeans and a Spider-Man shirt, knowing that Wade would appreciate it. Wade was a nerd, too and Spider-Man happened to be his favorite Marvel character. Looking himself over in the mirror, he smiled nervously. It was just two friends going out to talk. That’s it. Just friends.
But if he fixed his hair somewhat nervously after that self-declaration, well that was just between him and his reflection.
Get it together, you disaster. He thought to himself as he walked out of his bedroom and down the stairs.
Aunt May was settled on the couch. A throw blanket draped over her thin frame as she zoned out on the tv. From his spot leaning against the entryway, he observed her. Frowning, he really took his aunt in. He didn’t like what he saw.
She looked tired. Brown eyes sunken in with deep colored bags settled beneath them. She had more noticeable gray in her hair than she’d ever had before. She looked…frail. Tiny. It didn’t sit well with Peter. His aunt was the strongest woman he knew. He didn’t like seeing her look so small.
Walking up behind her, he settled his arms around her shoulders. He hugged her firmly. Delighting in her little huff of laughter. Hands came up to pat his and settled over them. He ignored the dry feeling of her hands. The amount of times she had to wash them a day explained the dryness. They’d always been dry. Even when he was a kid and she would cup his face to kiss him on the forehead.
He mirrored that memory and planted a kiss on her hair.
“What’s brought this on?” She asked warmly, sinking into his embrace. “It’s like you’re a little boy demanding cuddles again.” She laughed softly at his hum.
“Just felt like hugging you, is all,” he murmured into the gray of her hair. He inhaled the smell of her shampoo and smiled.
“Well, thank you, Peter,” she murmured, squeezing his hands.
A knock at the door pulled them from their embrace,
“Did you order anything, May?” Peter asked, walking towards the door.
“No…” she said, confused, “did you?”
Shaking his head, Peter looked through the peephole.
Wade looked good even through a peephole. Honestly, how was that even fair?
Just friends. Just friends. Just friends.
Opening the door, Peter said, breathless, “You were supposed to text me.”
Wade opened his mouth, but aunt May called out.
“Peter, Dear, who is it?”
With an unfairly charming smile, Wade brushed passed him and into the living room.
“Hi, I’m Wade,” he introduced himself with a dorky little bow. Peter groaned and hid his face in hi hands. “Peter talks about you a lot. It’s nice to be able to put of face to the name, Mrs. May. I’m here to steal Peter away for a bit. If that’s okay, of course,” he asked, hesitance in his voice, cocky swagger deflating a bit as Aunt May regarded him.
“Wade,” she said to herself before a smile came to her lips. “Oh, that Wade! My Peter talks about you often. My, my,” she whistled, winking playfully as she looked at him. “He didn’t tell me how handsome you were! Or that you two had a date tonight.”
“On, no,” Peter tried to say only to be cut off by Wade.
“He must’ve forgotten,” Wade said with a smile towards his aunt. “I’ll have him back at an appropriate time, ma’am.”
“Such a charming young man,” Aunt May cooed. “Be safe, you two and have fun!”
“We will,” Wade answered when Peter couldn’t make any words. “Come on, Pete. Grab your jacket; I’ll be outside.” Sending one last smile to May, he said, “Nice meeting you!” Then he walked out the door.
Wordlessly, Peter stared after him. Looking back to hi aunt with a helpless look, she just shrugged with a soft smile.
“Better get going, Peter. Don’t leave that boy waiting.”
“We’re just friends?” he tried.
Aunt May nodded. “For now.” She smirked knowingly.
She shooed him out and when he opened the door, he walked right into Wade’s chest.
He looked up, face flaming. Wade just smiled softly back before he pulled them towards his car.
Opening Peter’s door, he gestured with his head. “Get in, baby boy. We need to talk,” correcting himself, he said, “No, I need to talk, and you just have to listen. Okay?”
Swallowing thickly, Peter nodded.
“Okay. You talk, I listen. Okay. Yeah, cool.” He laughed nervously as he settled into his seat.
The nerves were back with a vengeance.