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

Chapter 45

Y/n's POV:

I step in from the cold and shiver. I've been trying to skip the bus and just swing to school, but it's getting too cold for that. As I come in, I'm immediately given a blue paper with the huge letters WINTER FORMAL DANCE written on it. According to Avery, these dances are huge. I wonder if Peter is going?

It has been a week since we both agreed to be friends, and what a smart asshole that boy is.

In the halls, to get by me he grabs my waist and physically moves me out of the way. I can sense that he's going to do it, but it still gets me every time. We're hanging out again, and I sometimes sit with Peter at lunch. He will make eye contact with me and look away in every class, as if he is just waiting until we can be together again. And honestly, I am too.

-

I shut my locker and Avery is behind it. I act surprised and she grins.
"I have news about the dance." I swing my bag over my shoulder and pretend like I'm interested in who is bringing who to the formal.

"I heard that Bryce is going to ask you to the dance." She says it as if it's the cutest thing in the world. I have a sinking feeling in my stomach. I should be excited about this. I should squeal and wait in anticipation for Bryce to ask me, but I don't. I'm not sure who I'm going with, but I'd rather go with MJ. I don't tell Avery this, but I smile and fake excitement.

Her face falls a little and she bends her head toward me.
"I heard some other news about it too." She says seriously. I nod for her to go on. Down the hall from me stands Peter and Ned. Ned is talking animatedly to Peter and he is staring at me with a look I can't place. I blush and Avery snaps her fingers in front of my face.
"What?"
"Did you not hear a single thing I said?" She follows my eyes and forms a circle with her mouth.

"Oh. Listen Y/n." She takes my hands and I look at her brown eyes. "I don't know what happened at the party that night or what your situation is with him. And I don't want to push it either. But. Apparently Peter is bringing Kylie to the dance." As soon as she says it, I look back at Peter. The look I couldn't place is now clear.

It's pure guilt.

Here's three things you should know about Kylie Stevenson.

One: Kylie has always been a friend of Peters. Not really a friend, but they've gone to school together and grew closer over the years. I never really liked her, and I don't know if that is from her closeness with Peter or my jealous heart that believes everyone wants to take him away from me.

Two: Peter is way too good for her. She has never shown interest for him and usually uses guys who don't have anything better to do. What the hell is Peter doing with her?

Three: Kylie is beautiful. With her blue eyes and blonde hair, I can't help but compare myself to her. I am so profoundly jealous that it has turned into hatred.

-

"Hey." I snap at Peter. I sat the entire class with him and ignored his existence. But the confrontation is inevitable.
"Hey." He greets me nervously.
"So you're taking Kylie Stevenson to the formal?" His face goes red and his eyes widen.
"Um, yeah. We're gonna go and then eat dinner after and I'll take her home." He's mumbling and squeeze my eyes shut, tuning him out.

Now at the time, I was so mad at him. Looking back he wasn't the one to blame. But jealousy blinded my senses so much, and anger towards him was the easiest way for me to feel.

"Whatever Parker that's great. That's just absolutely fantastic. I bet you're just going to have a bitchin' time with her. You know what I'm gonna do? I think I'm going to go down to the senior citizens center and play cards with some old man. Or better than that! I'm going to toss myself into the garbage can because literally anything would be better than having to watch you with her." I let it all out. Peter seems stunned for a second, then his jaw tightens and he looks down the hall.

"Y/n you're being mean." My eyebrows raise and I bite my lip. I'm on the verge of tears and I hate that he has this effect on me. I hate that he's right.

"Mean? I'm the one being mean? You have been playing with my feelings since I got with Bryce." This isn't true, but I just want to see him hurt. "You agree that we are just friends and then you go do things that make me want to be more than that. And that's bullshit because you've been preaching how this job means so much to me and we have to sacrifice a lot but you're still acting as if we have a chance." I let a tear fall and wipe it away quickly.

Peter looks so desperately at me I want to take back everything I said. We're the last ones in the hall and he looks around to make sure we're alone. He puts his hands next to my head so I can't move. My back is against the lockers and I avoid his look.
"Y/n. Look at me." He says softly. I look away and he sighs, taking my jaw in his hand and forcing me to meet his eyes.

"I can't move on from you. It's impossible and I'm sorry if I've ever hurt you because of my feelings for you. But you moved on to Bryce and I'm trying to move on too. Its going to be hard for both of us but we have to try." I look down and shake my head. "As much as I don't want to." He adds breathlessly. His face is close to mine and I want to move in. But the bell rings and he's gone.

-

I'm still angry at him throughout the day, but I know he's right. We're holding on to each other, but if we want to be a part of something as big as the Avengers, then we have to let go.

And that is why I said yes to Bryce asking me to the formal.

It was a big thing to him, to have his friends watch as he asked me in a grand gesture. It was the end of the day and he walked up to me. He was holding a sign that had some cheesy love song on it and a bouquet of roses. I don't like roses. Peter knows that.

I know he knows that as his eyes meet mine, with Bryce still kneeling in front of me waiting for an answer. My breath catches in my throat.

Why am I even hesitating about this? I should be hugging Bryce and taking the roses and going to eat with him without a second thought. But with Peter standing there, I can't help but imagine what it could've been if it all didn't turn to shit. If Peter was here, holding flowers that I actually like with a grin that is contagious, then I wouldn't have a doubt in my mind.

Peters gaze raises from Bryce to me. His jaw is clenched and I can feel him trying to tell me no. Jealousy is radiating off of us, I'm surprised other people can't sense it.

I plaster on a grin and look down at Bryce.
"Of course I'll go to the dance with you." He stands up and hugs me. Over his shoulder I see Peter and Ned. Ned seems like he's trying to calm him down and Peter walks down the hall, out the door and into the street.

"It's going to be hard for both of us but we have to try."