A Sunday Kind of Love- a Peter Parker x Reader story

Chapter 24

Y/n's POV:

I cant sleep. Earlier today, Doug had left and I couldn't handle the confusion and stress. I had unpacked my stuff and walked around my town to clear my head, but it still didn't feel right. For one, I was given so many dirty looks on the streets. Even though this is a big town, news spreads quickly.

Apparently, the story my mom told everyone is that I was sent away to a relatives house to "work on my issues" whatever that means. Technically, that is right, but everybody here thinks I should've gone to jail. I put myself through enough guilt trips each day that these don't affect me much anymore. Besides, I'm more distracted by my encounter with Doug this morning to think too long on anything else.

While I was out, I saw Rachel walking out of a clothing store. I ran across the street and she grinned at me.
"Y/n!" She yells my name and I run up to her. I go in for a hug but she backs away for a second and looks around. She flinched, like I was dangerous to her. Ouch.

"Rachel I wouldn't hurt you." I tell her, the pain visible in my voice. Shes always been nervous, but never around me. The wind whips her hair into her face but it doesn't hide her red cheeks.
"I-I know that. But they might think other wise." She points to a few boys that I recognize from my old school. They're looking at us, mainly me, with anger in their eyes.

Rachel takes my arm and we walk into a restaurant behind us. It was afternoon so not many people were there. We sit down at a table and she orders her favorite soda. I order a water, careful to still be healthy for my training. The waiter comes out almost immediately with our drinks and I thank him. Rachel looks at me funny.

"What?" I've known her long enough that I know when she's judging me. She shakes her head and unwraps her straw.
"Nothing it's just, you've changed. You seem more confident in yourself. Good for you I guess." She sips her drink and I smirk.
"Well, that's what happens when you murder someone. You should try it sometime." I tell her this just to screw her up, and it works. She visibly shudders and I chuckle.

"You haven't changed a bit, Rach. Still kissing teachers asses?" She laughs quietly.
"Kissing their butts gives me good grades. Your language issues haven't improved." She says. Damn. Since when did she get nippy?
"You sound like my friend." I murmur.
"Who?"
"Oh no one." Close call. I forget that she doesn't know the truth.

We end up having some light conversation, but nothing too deep. Talking with her is hard. Before all this, I could tell her anything, but now, everything is so secretive. She says another slightly offensive thing and it sets me off.

"What's wrong? Did I do something?" I ask her. Rachel has always had this way of hiding her anger under sarcasm and passive-aggressive remarks. For her being so calm all the time, she seems like almost a different person.

"Yes you did Y/n. First off, you kill someone and run away. Then you're sent to some 'relatives' house who I've never heard of and completely drop off the grid! I thought at least I would get something from you. Like a call once in a while just asking if I was still alive!" Shes close to shouting now, but there's no one else in this diner so it doesn't matter.

"Ok that's not entirely what happened." Shit. Should I tell her the truth? Her eyes are pleading for it, but I can't risk her safety. I let out a long breath and put my head in my hands.
"I'm sorry Rachel. There's nothing else to say. There's nothing else I can say." She looks at me dumbfounded. She scoffs and runs a hand through her hair. We're quiet for a second before I realize what I can tell her.

"Well I have a boyfriend now. But I promise that's not the reason I didn't talk to you." She raises her eyebrows, encouraging me to go on. I tell her about Peter, and she tells me about some guy at school that she's fallen hard over. For a moment I forget that we aren't just here catching up on school drama. I forget that I'm not a normal teenager who's main issue is if a boy cares about her or not.

Time flies by and I realize we've talked for more than an hour.
"Well I should be headed back to spend some time with my mom." I tell her. She nods and we get up. We silently pay and walk out the door together. We stand in front of the diner and I shove my hands in my jacket.

"Rachel?"
"Yes?" She asks, her eyes eager.
"I'm sorry for everything. I'm sorry I can't tell you things but it's for your safety. But I've missed you so much and I hope you understand that I can't tell you most about my life right now. Hopefully I'll be able to at some point, but for now, it's too dangerous." I confess and she hugs me tightly.

"I hope I'm not hugging a member of the mafia right now." She tells me and I laugh.
"I promise I'm not in the mafia." She pulls away and smiles softly.

"I've missed you too Y/n. I understand you can't tell me things, but I hope you're okay wherever and whatever you're doing." She says. She's always been the mature one out of both of us.

"Text me okay?" She tells me as she walks down the street. She's never liked goodbyes, and neither do I. We don't make it a big deal, hopefully because we both know we'll see each other again soon.

The rest of the day is spent with my mom, and I try to shove the thoughts of Doug away. Immature, sure. But I don't want to deal with anything right now. It's winter break. I should be having fun not worrying about some guy.
At least, that was my mindset for the day.

But now, lying in the bed that my dad used to tuck me in to, I can't stand the thought of my mother stuck in a relationship with a man that might be a criminal.

I get out of bed and tiptoe to the kitchen where my moms phone is. I take it back to my room and flip on my light. Her Home Screen is the same picture I have framed next to my bed. I open up messages and see Dougs name. Looking through their messages, all I see is cheesy love quotes but nothing out of the blue.
Maybe I'm just overthinking it?

I open up a dating app and go to his profile. It looks legit. I set her phone down and lay back on my bed. But it can't be a coincidence. My Peter Tingle doesn't lie.

I'm beginning to give up on this whole thing when I see a notification from this tracking app. I used to be on the app so my mom could see where I am, but I deleted it once I was safe at the tower. I press the members icon and it pulls up two people. My mom, and Doug. It shows they can both see each other and where they're at.

I'm not sure if this is normal for couples this early on to do this. Peter and I don't do this. Just for shits and giggles, I press on Dougs icon and a map pulls up. It shows Doug at the sketchy part of town where I'm still not allowed to go to. What is he doing there?

Then an idea blooms.

I get out of bed and open my closet. A silver suitcase is on the ground and I pick it up. I unlatch it and pull out my suit. The suit is still purple and black, but I worked with Tony and made a few adjustments. And, behind Tony's back, I shut off child lock so I could have full access to everything the suit offers.

After putting on the suit, I take my moms phone. Mine is no use right now, so I set it back on my bed. I jump in place a little and take big breaths. This is the first time I'll be out in my suit actually interacting with crime. And I'm alone.

I think about talking to Peter and asking him advice, but I know he'll tell me to talk to Tony, and I don't want to. Tony will tell me to not do it, but I have to know if Doug is going to hurt my mom.

I type in the address onto my GPS before jumping out of my window and into the cold night.