RED - Peter Parker x F!OC

Chapter 10: 24th Street

I paced around the living room, eyeing my phone on the coffee table. Aunt May sat down at the dining table, bouncing her leg. I rubbed my scalp, trying to think of anything but Peter. I should have gone with Uncle Ben to look for him.

No, I caused Peter to believe that I trust him, and I do. They will both be back soon.

I glanced at my black screen, hoping I would see Peter's name pop up.

I waited. And waited.

I checked the clock, seeing an hour had passed. I quickened my pace across the living room, feeling panic rise in me.

"Rose." Aunt May walks toward me, but I don't look up from the ground.

"Please, stop pacing." I shook my head, moving past her. But before I could, she grabbed my arm, holding me in place. I looked up at her blank expression. She wiped my eyes clean of tears I didn't know were falling.

She didn't give me a chance to say something, pulling me into a loving hug. I wrapped my arms around her, hiding my face in the crook of her neck. The way she calmly shushed me made me feel better. My mother never comforted me like this.

"I'm sorry, Aunt May. I shouldn't have kept Peter out for so long." I apologized in a muffled tone. She pulled me away to cup my face with her cold hands.

"None of this is your fault, sweetheart. If anything, we are happy you and Peter are talking again. I've never seen him smile so much."

I smiled at that. I'm glad I made Peter happy. But, that didn't change the fact that he ran away and could be anywhere.

BUZZ BUZZ

My phone violently vibrated on the table, slowly rotating as it did. I picked it up, my heart skipping a beat when I see who's calling. I immediately pick up the phone, holding it close.

"Peter?" I say, wiping the last of my tears.

"Rose- Rose. I-I need you. Please come to 24th Street." His voice was shaking. My face fell when I heard the sound of sirens getting louder. He hung up, leaving me flustered. Aunt May stood waiting for me to tell her what he said. I contemplated bringing her with me, but she was already in a fragile state.

"Peter wants to see me. I promise I will bring him back." I hold her hands in mine, giving her a reassuring hug.

I grabbed Peter's jacket as I walked out the door. My eyes locked on Peter's bike resting against the wall. I hopped on it, heading towards the city.

The cold wind hit my face like sharp needles poking at my skin. My legs were moving as fast as they could. I stayed on the side of the road, avoiding traffic. I skimmed the street signs, looking for the one he gave me. But, all I needed to do was follow the flashing lights.

I unintentionally dropped Peter's bike on the sidewalk, sprinting to the scene. There was caution tape and warning signs blocking the streets. I ducked under the tape, calling out for Peter. It would be best if I didn't break down right now. Peter needed someone strong to comfort him.

"Rose!" I heard him yell. I found him kneeling on the ground, tears on his face. I rushed to his side, pulling him into a hug.

"Oh my God, Peter! You're okay. I'm so happy you are okay. Aunt May and Uncle Ben are worried sick and-" I shut myself up, noticing the blood on his hands and cheek. The way he stared at them told me that the blood wasn't his.

"Peter...what happened?" I asked, leaning down in front of him so he could see me. His bottom lip was trembling and his body was shaking. He looked paralyzed. Before I could ask him more questions, a group of paramedics crowded around us. Two grabbed onto Peter's arms, pulling him up. I frantically looked at them as they took him away.

"Hey! What are you doing?" My voice cracked as I pulled onto one of the paramedic's shirt. She turned around, seeming in a hurry.

"We have to check for injuries. Make sure he didn't take part in the shooting."

Shooting?

They sat him down on the sidewalk. His eyes were still wide open, staring at his bloody hands. I stood in the middle of it all, being forced to figure things out myself. I noticed the back doors of an ambulance open up. Some nurses were pulling a someone into the truck. I jogged to them, wanting to know who got hurt.

No one seemed to stop me when I walked up to the lifeless body. My hands ran up to my mouth, covering my pained scream. My eyes met cold, empty ones that I had just seen earlier tonight. His mouth was slightly open, blood streaming out of it. My hand shook as I ran it through his gray hair.

"Uncle Ben..." I choked on his name, shaking my head repeatedly.

"No, no, no. No, I'm so sorry." I whispered, resting my head on his chest while holding one of his hands. I let all my tears out on him, shouting out in denial. One of the policemen had to pull me away so the truck could head off.

"No!" I screamed in his arms, watching them take Ben away.

"Hey, hey. Everything will be alright." The officer assured me, tightly gripping my arms, "Did you know him?"

Was he really questioning me after I found out my only father-figure died?

"Y-yes. He's my best friend's uncle." I point at a  traumatized Peter. The officer nods and writes something down on the clipboard he's holding.

"What's his name-"

"I don't want to answer your stupid questions, okay?" I yell in his face, needing to take my anger out on someone. He backs off, afraid I might throw myself at him.

All I wanted was to be with Peter.

I waited for the last police officer to leave him before I walked over to him. I tried to control my sobs, not wanting to stress Peter any more. I sat as close as I could to him. He didn't acknowledge me, only sniffing and wiping his eyes with his sweatshirt.

We both knew it would be best if we said nothing. He leaned his head on my shoulder, turning his face to bury himself in his jacket I was wearing. I wrapped my arms around him, pulling us closer together. We cried into each other's shoulders quietly. Staying there for God know how long.

-

Around one in the morning, the police returned us to Peter's house. We were no linger crying, but we were both a trembling mess. Peter opened the front door he shattered earlier, walking over the shards on the floor.

I saw Aunt May huddled up on the couch. She shouldn't be up, it's late.

Peter taps her shoulder, grabbing her attention. She gasps and pulls Peter into a hug. I see him whisper something into her ear, his chin resting on her shoulder. Her body stiffened up once he pulled away.

She knows.

She didn't yell or shout. She only stood there, hugging Peter as tightly as she could without hurting him. I leaned against the wall, peering away. I hate watching other people suffer.

Peter came up to me, holding my hands in his. When we touched, it felt like everything was going to be fine and we could be free of our problems. He moved his face closer to me to where I can hear his unsteady breaths.

"You need to go home." He told me, tightening his grip on my hands.

"Wha- Peter. Are you sure you want to be alone right now?" I ask, wrapping my hand around his wrist.

"I think I need to be alone for a bit. I promise we can talk tomorrow. I-I just have a lot to process." I nod in understanding, wrapping my arms around his neck to embrace him. I ran a hand along the back of his head, leaning into his ear.

"I'm here for you, Pete." I whisper before leaving. The police car was still outside, too busy reading a file in his hands. I knocked on the door, asking for a ride home. He respectfully accepted, taking me to Jamie's.