Maya Stark

Chapter 104: If we get there

Back at the hotel, after I showered and changed, I was being grilled. Everyone was watching the news and they all had different takes that they all told me at the same time. I finally got away from them to call Pepper.

'No, no, I'll be fine,' I said. 'Parker has his suit and I have mine. Besides there's that new guy. I'm sure he's got it all under control.' I close my eyes hating to have to lie to her. 'Besides Parker seems to really want to stay. He deserves some form of a break. We both do.'

'I know, I know,' she said. 'Just—'

'Be careful,' I said, chuckled. 'I know. I promise I will be. Tell Morgan I love and miss her?'

'Of course,' Pepper said.

'Also...' I look back at Peter who was on the phone with May. 'Uhm...'

'Yes?' Pepper said, his voice teasing.

I rolled my eyes. 'I just... I think Parker's going to try something?'

'Like what?'

'I don't know he's acting weird,' I said. 'Weirder than usual.'

'So? You two have been more then friends since your 16th birthday without admitting it,' Pepper said with a scoff. 'Maya, would it be so terrible to finally accept the fact you like him?'

I couldn't tell her all the reasons why that shouldn't happen right now. Like how I'm lying to him. Or how I'm working with someone that would be considered a criminal if found out. Or how I'm being blackmailed and threatened into working with him.

'I don't know,' I mumble.

Pepper laughs. 'God, you are just like Tony. Want to keep your options open do you?'

'No, no, no,' I said quickly. 'I just... well... Did you know Happy, and May are spending a lot of time together? What's up with that?'

Pepper laughs again. 'Have fun, Maya. I love you.'

'Love you to,' I mumble.

I hang up and I move to where the other people were watching the news on Beck. I leaned against the stairs railing where MJ was sitting.

'He's no Spider-Man,' Flash was saying. I smirked.

'What is it with you and Spider-Man?' MJ asks as Peter walks up next to me.

'What? He's just awesome, okay? He protects the neighborhood, and you know, he's inspiring. He inspires me to be a better person.' He then looks at Peter. 'Sup dickwad? I thought you drowned.'

I send Flash a glare and he quickly look back towards the TV. Peter and I look at each other both trying not to laugh. It's a running joke between us and sometimes Ned how many times Flash will say how much he loves Spider-Man, call Peter a name, and then get scared of me and walk away. We always try not to laugh. It happens more than you'd think.

Sounds like his name's Mysterio,' Brad said.

'L'uomo del Misterio is Italian for man of mystery,' I said. 'They don't actually know who he is.'

'Mysterio,' Ned said.

'Cool name,' him and Betty said together. 'Babe!'

'So, Paris tomorrow,' Peter said. 'Go to the Eiffel Tower. Should be great.'

'Yeah,' I said. 'Apparently it was secretly built as a mind-control antenna to create an army of the insane.'

'Oh...' Peter said.

I shrug. 'If I had to hear that then you had to hear it. MJ told me. Anyway, uh, yeah, I'm excited. It should be great.'

If we get there.