Emerald

Three.

Poet shot up, dripping with sweat and breathing heavily. She leaned over to switch on the light. However, when she did, her eyes landed on someone sitting on the chair in the corner. It was Tony. He looked awful.

"Why didn't you help me?" He asked. "Where were you?"

"I'm sorry." She whispered. "I wanted to be there."

"I'm dead because of you."

"N- no, that's not true." She shook her head. "Why are you doing this to me?"

"You technically killed me, Poet. Didn't you?" She went quiet. "Admit it!"

Once again, Poet shot up. She jolted slightly when someone shifted beside her. The she remembered that MJ was sleeping over that night, like she did frequently. In fact, MJ was all she really had right now. The two were so close, MJ had a key to her apartment.

"Poet? Are you okay?" She asked, and Poet pressed a hand to her forehead, nodding slightly. "You're getting the nightmares again, aren't you?"

"I'm okay, I just... I'm gonna go and get some air, maybe take a walk." She said, pushing off the covers.

"Be safe, okay." Poet smiled at her.

"Always am."

-----

Poet was wandering aimlessly around. She knew where she wanted to be, so she went there when she felt she was close. They had a place. A place they would go when they were in need of some comfort. It was a lonely tree stood ontop of a hill that overlooked the neighborhood. And right now, she needed comfort more than anything. She approached the tree, but thought she saw someone. Maybe she was seeing things. Or maybe she should turn around and go back home. But she didn't. What she really did might've been the best mistake she ever made. She kept waking. Until the light from the moon hit the figure, and she could see them looking up at her.

"Hey."

"D- do you want me to go?" She asked, awkwardly.

"No, no." He answered, patting the spot beside him. "Sit." She took the seat, and stared out over all the lit up houses. "Are you okay?"

"Uh, no." She sighed. "Not really, but, um... I don't wanna bore you with my problems, you probably don't care."

"Hey, I know that it hasn't been easy between us, but I still care about you, Crazy." She turned to him, her teary eyes meeting his for the first time in a long time. "What's goin' on?"

"I can't sleep." She began. "I've been having nightmares, and I've been hallucinating. I keep seeing his face everytime I close my eyes... I should've been there, I could've helped him."

"There's nothing you could've done."

"Then why do I feel like it's on me that he's gone?" She asked. "He yells at me all the time. He says 'admit it'. He says 'you killed me'."

"Listen-"

"There's nothing you can say that's gonna bring him back."

"I get it." He said. "I feel like it's on me too. I feel like I should've done more to help, and I hate myself for it. But we can't live our lives blaming ourselves for someone else choice."

"You're so smart, Wonder Boy." She said with a small smile. "I'm sorry that I... that I didn't call. I was scared."

"I know." She let out a trapped breath, and he wrapped an arm around her, and she leant her head on his shoulder.

"You smell so good." Peter chuckled, just enjoying holding her for the first time in a long time. He hoped it would stay like this. But, of course, life always finds a way to take away what you love. Poet shut her eyes for a moment, feeling the safest she'd ever felt. But as she did, the dark clouded her brain, the events from earlier that evening played in her mind....

She stumbles through the door, laughing. She was glad she didn't cancel on him. Brad Davis had asked her out, and right now, she was glad she said yes. He had been a perfect gentleman. He even walked her home. And now, as they stood in her apartment, she wondered if he was gonna kiss her, or if he was just gonna leave. And to her suprise, he leaned down and pressed his lips against hers. She kissed him back, and it just progressed from there. Maybe a little too fast. They were on the couch, and half of his body was pressed against her. He kept kissing her, his kiss making its was down her neck. However, a frightening, unsettling feeling began to marinate in the pit of Poets stomach. This didn't feel right. Something was wrong. Just as she was thinking this, she noticed how rough he had become.

"Brad." She said, to no avail. His grip on her was tight, as he began to slide his hands up her dress. "Brad, stop." Again, he didn't listen, as the staps were pulled down her shoulders. Maybe she wasn't pleading loud enough. Maybe she needed to be. Loud enough. Loud enough so he could see how much he was scaring her. How much he was hurting her. "Brad... Brad, enough!" She squealed, shoving him off of her so he hit the floor. She quickly covered herself up.

"What the hell, Poet?!" He snapped, as though it was all her fault. "What is your problem?!"

"My problem? I told you to stop." She whimpered.

"Poet Maximoff says no." He scoffed. "C'mon... I thought they said you were easy."

"Get out." He tilted his head at her. She took in a breath. "Get out!" She screamed, tears rolling down her face uncontrollably. He jumped up, walking out of the door and slamming it on the way out. Poet was left shaking, holding onto herself for dear life. She managed to pick up her phone, dialing the first number she found. "MJ... are you up?"

...Poet shuddered under his touch, and stood suddenly.

"I have to go." She said. "I'm sorry, I just uh... I can't do this right now."

"Did I upset you?" Peter asked concerned.

"N- no, no of course you didn't. It's a long story, I just have to go." She bolted. She left him sitting there, now even more worried about her than he was before.