That's Just The Way The World Works

We Can Always Leave

I sat on the couch and sipped champagne alone, bored out of my mind. I already didn't like parties--especially these kinds. I would rather just get together with my friends, or just with Peter. Anything but here right now. Last time was--fine, but with a bunch of stiffs here, all there was to enjoy was the food and expensive champagne. Tasted much better than Peter and I's Christmas Eve. I lean back and look at the glass doors to the balcony... I wanted to go out but would rather wait for Peter before doing so... But I felt so alone staying in here... Ugh this feels like high school and I hate it... I also hate needing Peter right now... I hate needing people in general...

"Hey, Michelle."

I snap out of my stare into space and look up at the blonde girl in front of me... No way, was that Gwen? She wore a long green dress that flowed down to the ground and revealed only her golden shoes. Her blonde hair was curled with curtain bangs and in a high bun atop her head.

"Hey, Gwen." I stand up, "h-how you've been?"

She looks over at the gathering on the second level that could be seen from downstairs, "Fine fine, you know." She says, throwing away her answer.

I study her expression, "what are you doing here?"

"I'm dating Harry..."

My mouth drops, "really?"

"Two years starting at midnight..."

I'm utterly shocked, the two seem like complete opposites... Was Gwen settling??? Or did she love him??? It was hard to tell how nonchalant she spoke about it. "Wow..."

"You don't need to do that..."

"Gwen--"

"Here comes the honesty--"

"I mean I don't know Harry that well at all but, you just seem... SO much greater."

Gwen looks down at her glass, seeming to be the only one with red wine in her hand. "... I think I've lost that greatness since you last knew me, MJ."

"... I highly doubt that... "

She looks over to me and sips from her glass... Analysing if I had spoken the truth or not... "Heh, I didn't realize how much I missed you..."

I smile and she returns it with a laugh.

"What about you?"

"Hm?"

"Who are you with, if anyone?"

"Oh... Peter, actually."

She smiles, "I see... "

Peter comes up behind Gwen, a little disheveled.

"Way to go, champ." Gwen says with a punch to Peter's shoulder.

"Huh?" He asks looking at Gwen then realizes who he's looking at, "Gwen, hey-"

"Hey, Peter... It's nice to see you guys together." She says, raising her glass before moving it to her lips.

I smile and look at Peter who was already looking at me... Time stopped for that one moment. Then Gwen snapped us out of it with her goodbye, leaving Peter and I. He closes the space between us, "Sorry I had to leave..."

"The world seems to have a way of doing that..."
He started to deflate so I quickly changed the subject, "Hey, you wanna go outside?"

He looks over at the glass doors just to the left of us before looking back at me, "Yeah..."

We walk together and he opens the glass door for me, the cold air completely overcoming me... With how warm it was inside, I had almost forgotten how cold New York is... It wasn't snowing anymore, but the balcony still had some piles near the railing and glass windows. I forgot my jacket and had left it on the couch, where Peter's was too, but we were already outside and walked into the balcony and to the railing that had snow gently resting on it. He comes up beside me and wraps an arm around my waist, I lean my head on his shoulder and look over at the flashing lights coming from Times Square.

"What did Norman Osborn have to say to you?"

He takes a deep breath in, "Just offering a job."

"Jeez, they just don't know when to quit." I say with a laugh, he laughs too... Then silence comes over us.

"I'm not having fun... "

"Me neither... Sorry I-"

"Don't be sorry... We both thought it'd be different but it's not." I shrug and come off of his shoulder to face him, "We can always just leave..."

"And do what?"

I give him a mischievous smile and hope he reads my mind.

Either way, he copies my smile and we head back inside, grab our jackets and head to the elevator, hoping to leave without being caught by anyone we know. I press the elevator button over and over and we quickly get inside, Peter pressing the close doors buttons. We look over at each other with a smile as the doors close and the elevator takes us down. I put on my black puffer jacket, looking down at my necklace as I do... Peter puts his jacket on and we walk out of Oscorp tower with a new feeling in our step. I giggle as Peter takes my hand and starts running me to the subway, "I think we can still get a good view."

I follow him and run into the subway, grabbing onto the first poll we could, people staring at us with questioning looks. We laughed at each other at the acceleration of the last minute decision, it was 11:47 PM and New Years was about to be here. Peter puts a hand around my waist and pulls me close on the subway, we laugh and tell stupid jokes about the rich stiffs we had just been with. When the subway stops we get off, unsure where we had landed near Times Square. When we resurfaced, we were only a little off from Times Square. "Ready?" Peter asks. Running in heels wasn't ideal but we were already cutting it close. "Let's go." We run down the block and get a glimpse of Times Square as we get closer. Even from this far away I could tell it was really crowded. We finally get to the corner of the street and stop, having a perfect view with only a little crowd where we stood. "Just in time..." I say to Peter with a wide smile, still out of breath from the run. The crowd started counting down from ten...

I look over at the ball above Times Square.

10

I look back at Peter who hadn't taken his eyes from me.

9

"Thank you..."

8

"For what?" he asks.

7

"Being here... "

6

"Always..."

5

We lock eyes.

4

I wrap my arms around his neck

3

He wraps his around my waist.

2

"I love you."

1

Our lips press together as my cheeks flush, but not from the cold.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!