That's Just The Way The World Works

Rocky Start

We kiss as the crowd cheers, when we pull away MJ looks down...That's when I realized what I said, "Hey--"

She looks up at me, "Heh, way to catch me off guard, Parker." She turns and starts walking back to the subway. I'm left for a second until I quickly catch up to her side.

"Is there something wrong?" I ask, worried.

"I don't know... "

I study her as she speed walks down the block, trying my best to keep up with her step, "I don't think I understand." I say, laughing a little to ease my nerves. She stops right beside the green railing that goes down into a subway station, we hadn't come from this one as it was closer to Times Square. "I just... I don't think I can say—that—right now..."

I feel my entire body sink, "Right... I'm sorry..."

"No, like... I just need some time, ok?"

"Ok." I bite my lip as she turns away and goes down into the station, I follow behind. We sat down on a subway we were familiar with to make our way back home.

I don't say anything as I sit beside her... I still don't understand why... Then again, MJ has told me she wasn't good at getting close to people... I forgot that about her... Everything since we've gotten together has been---... Did she not feel the same? Maybe I'm taking it too far, it's just three words, not a big deal... No it was a big deal, that's why she can't say it... Should I have waited? I didn't even realize until I had already said it-- Shit, of course I should have waited, it's the new year and I already screwed things up... No, I meant what I said... I love her... So much... Maybe she doesn't want to hear that... But I want her to...

We walk back into the apartment and I close the door behind me, when I turn back towards her she faces me. "Hey, I know you're overthinking it so I just need to say that you didn't do anything wrong... I just can't say it right now... not now... It doesn't mean I don't like this-" she gestures between us, "I don't know how else to say it... Just give me time." She makes eye contact with me.

I look back and stare into her eyes... Without her saying anything I suddenly understood. "ok... take all the time you need..."

She exhales, "... Thank you..."

I give her a soft smile, "happy new year, Michelle."

She looks at me before returning the smile, "happy new year, Peter..."

—

When I woke, MJ laid beside me, her back facing me as she laid on her side. I sit up slowly and run a hand through my hair... Three weeks into the New Year and it was already moving faster than the year last, Yuri had made a plan to put a stop to Hammerhead... I had to leave early and meet her at the building next door to his real base. Weird to finally meet Hammerhead face to face...

I suit up and open my window, looking back at MJ... I then climb out and close the window behind me. It was raining lightly as I swung over and saw Yuri's team on top of an office building, just in front of it was a construction site with a half built half destroyed house. "Right under our noses, huh?" I ask Yuri as I land beside her.

"Welcome, Spider, ready to go?"

"Been ready..."

Yuri turns to her team who were geared up and were ready to zip line into the building, "Remember the plan, Spider-Man will take care of everyone on the outside, serving as a sort of distraction all of Hammerhead's team will be focused on stopping him."

"I was not aware of this plan-"

"Shhh--and then our team will zip into that window and find Hammerhead himself and bring him down. Remember, we only shoot if we have to... We're hoping he realizes he's surrounded and surrenders."

The members nod and Yuri gives them a nod back... It was nice to see her in her element... She was a born leader, "Alright," she starts and then looks at me about to tell me something when an officer speaks, "hey, Spidey-"

I turn to him, "What's up."

"My son loves you, and heh--he got me this for christmas:" He says and points to his watch that had a spider-man logo in the center of it.

"Taste." I say, pointing to it with a smile, "What's your name?" I ask.

"Davidson. Marco Davidson." He holds out his hand for a hand shake and I return it.

"Nice to meet you officer Davidson."

He smiles at me before Yuri clears her throat, giving a joking look to Davidson, "OK, it's time to go."

"Right." Davidson says before returning to his place.

I look at Yuri, "So-"

"You're up Spidey." She says.

I smile and then run and jump off the roof, swinging to the building and landing in the center of their yard, "What's up guys???"

And so it begins.