RED - Peter Parker x F!OC

Chapter 9: Who's To Blame?

I called Jamie to come pick me up after Peter left. I didn't have much to do up there on my own. I had a good ten minutes to see what was nearby.

I walked on the sidewalk, still wearing Peter's jacket. I'm surprised he didn't take it back. He must've been in too much of a hurry to even notice I still had it on. I haven't worn a guy's jacket since I was dating Carter Bates, a guy from my old private school.

Carter was such a sweet and respectful guy. To be honest, I had a hard time after we broke up. Mainly because he only broke it off due to the fake rumors being spread around that I was only with him for his money. His family was very well off, but mine was too. I aways forget the importance my last name holds. Sometimes, I forget my dad owns Oscorp.

But, we broke up three years ago. I'm over him and know I can do better. Peter was a great example. He's everything a girl would want in a guy. He's attractive, smart, hilarious, and makes time for you. The only thing he struggles with his being punctual. You can never really rely on him being somewhere at a certain time.

Just like how he forgot about Aunt May. I wanted to call her to make sure she was okay, but I told her I'd only call for emergencies so I don't bother her.

Me being me, I ignored my own promise and dialed her number. I raised my phone up to my ear, walking into a small bookstore to get away from the cold.

"May?" She picked up after two rings, sounding just fine.

"Rose, honey. Why are you calling? Is everything okay?" She begins to worry, remembering what I had told her a while back.

"It's not an emergency," I reassured her, "I was just checking up on you. Did Peter pick you up yet?"

"Oh, I walked home." My heart dropped. I can't believe she had to walk home! The hospital is forty minutes from their house!

"Oh my god, Aunt May, I'm so sorry. It's freezing outside. Are you alright?" I ask, holding the phone close to my ear to avoid wandering eyes.

"Yes, Rose. Don't worry-"

"I'm coming over." I responded quickly, rushing out of the store.

"Oh, I don't know if it's a good time-"

"Be there in five." I hung up, waving at an incoming taxi.

I gave the man the address and arrived shortly after. I hopped out of the car, seeing the living room lights on. I walked through the door, seeing Peter standing in front of Ben and Aunt May awkwardly standing over the couch. She seemed very concerned. I swerved around the two, going unnoticed.

"Aunt May." I hugged her, happy to see she was completely fine. She was holding a hot cup of tea. I could only imagine how cold she was. I turned to see Ben's furious face and Peter looking very guilty.

"Apologize to your Aunt May." Ben pointed at the woman standing beside me. May put her tea down, holding her hands up to her chest.

"Oh, you don't have to apologize to me. It's your-"

"No he doesn't." Ben interrupted her. Peter looked over at me for a few seconds and then back at his uncle. Watching the scene unfold made me realize that this was partially my fault.

"Look, I'm sorry, Uncle Ben. I-I uh," we made eye contact for a second before turning away, "I got distracted-"

"Oh! He got distracted!" He mocked his nephew's excuse, "Your Aunt, my wife, had to walk twelve blocks, alone, in the middle of the night and wait in a deserted subway station because you got distracted." He aggressively pointed at Peter who was shamefully staring at his shoes.

"Sweetheart, honestly, I am completely capable of walking home by myself." She defends herself while I place a hand on her shoulder. I felt dirty just letting Peter take all the blame.

"Do not defend this boy!" We took a step toward us, completely moving past the fact I came over without letting him know.

"I'm not defending-"

"Wait, please!" I yelled out, standing in between them. They were both taken aback I stepped in.

"Rose-"

"Uncle Ben, listen for a second. Peter was late because-"

"Ro, don't." Peter tilted his head with apologetic eyes. I ignored him.

"Because he was hanging out with me." Ben didn't seem angered or fazed by what I just said, only glaring harder at Peter. I lightly touched his arm to divert his attention back to me.

"If anything, I should take most of the blame for not keeping him in check. He was only there to keep me company." I finished up my confession.

"Oh, Rose. None of this is your fault." Ben rubbed my arm. No, no I had to take a few punches. Peter shouldn't have them all.

"Uncle Ben.." Is lips curved slightly at me calling him that. I always struggled to call him my uncle in front of him because it felt like replacing my dad in some way.

"You are a lot like your mother, Rose." He told me, then turning to face Peter who was leaning on the doorframe.

"And you," he pointed at him, "are a lot like your father." My eyes widened at the mention of him. This is where things are going to go wrong.

"You really are. And that's a good thing. But your father lived by a philosophy, a principal. He believed that- that if you could do good things for other people, then you would have a moral obligation to do those things."

Peter's expression turned cold. I could tell he was struggling to steady himself.

"That's what's at stake here. Not choice. Responsibility." Uncle Ben lowered his voice at the last word, saying it as clearly as he could. Peter was beginning to tear up. Were those tears of sadness? Anger? I had no idea.

"That-that's nice. That's great." He nodded hid head, "It's all well and good. So, where is he." He stared into his uncle's eyes, who was staring down at him.

"What?"

"Where is he? Where's my dad?," His voice began to crack. The urge to throw my arms around him and comfort him was growing stronger, "He didn't think it was his responsibility to be here and tell me this himself?"

"Oh c'mon, how dare you!" Ben looked disappointed which only made Peter angrier.

"How dare I? How dare you!" With that, he walked out the door. When he shut it, the glass shattered just like how it did in the gym today. He turned back to see us all standing over the glass shards, too stunned to say anything.

I walked through the broken door, standing one step above him.

"Peter..."

"You should have stayed out of it-"

"And let you take the bullet for me?" I asked, raising my voice. He should've been grateful.

"Yeah, Ro. Exactly." As soon as he turned his back toward me, I grabbed his wrist, walking around him to face him again. Tears were running down his face. I walked backward as he walked forward. We were now in the middle of the empty street.

"Peter, please stay and we can talk this out. Just me and you." I cup his face, feeling the cold radiating off of him. He looked me up and down, seeing his jacket hugging me warmly.

"Rose. I need to clear my head. Please, don't make me push you away." He tried to keep his voice calm.

"You're already pushing me away! It won't help bottling up your feelings like-" He wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me into a tight embrace. I heard him sob into my shoulder. I pulled him closer, stroking his hair. The moment didn't last long before he pulled away and walked into the opposite direction.

It was best if I let him be. He'll be back tomorrow. I felt a single tear fall down my face as I watched him jog away.

Uncle Ben jogged up to me, watching Peter.

"I have to go after him. Maybe I was too harsh." I nodded, agreeing with him. I watched as Uncle Ben pulled out of the driveway in his pickup, driving in the direction Peter left in.