The Amazing Spider-Man 3

Chapter Six

MJ's leg bounced up and down anxiously as she awaited for Peter's arrival, occasionally checking the clock on the wall, then at her watch, then at her phone.

12:06 PM

MJ huffed, eyes flickering up as she saw someone walk towards her, groaning when she realized it was just her friend Janet.

"You've been here for 20 minutes. Why did you come so early?" She asked, taking a seat with her.

"I knocked on Peter's door this morning to see if he wanted to walk together but he didn't answer so.. I assumed he was here early." MJ leaned back in the booth, staring out the window in hopes she'd see him.

Janet shrugged. "Maybe he was asleep?"

"Peter is a light sleeper. He told me a few days ago he woke up after hearing me fall in the middle of the night. I tripped over a box." She laughed to herself, shaking her head. "Hopefully I'm not being an idiot and thinking another guy will be in time."

"Oh, Peter won't be on time. He'll either be really late or not show up at all." Janet crossed her arms and MJ frowned, tilting her head.

"How do you know?"

"Went to high school with him. He was never at school or always late to class. Missed his first few dates with his girlfriend." MJ's eyes widened.

"Girl.. girlfriend? Peter never mentioned her."

"She died about a year ago... tragic, too. Killed by Peter's best friend." MJ's eyes got even bigger at the shock, the strings of her heart pulling hard against her chest.

"Oh wow... I couldn't imagine losing my significant other like that... is Peter's friend locked away?" Janet nodded, picking at her nails.

"Yep. Harry Osborne."

"Osborne!? Like.. You obviously mean the Osborne company right? Norman Osborne?" Janet nodded as MJ let out a soft gasp.

She had known Harry at one point in her time. They had met at a boarding school, after her mom left her dad. He was such a sweet boy...

"He got corrupted by something genetic, from what I heard. His dad had it, Harry tried to find a cure but it only got worse... he killed Gwen, Spider-Man wasn't able to save her. Don't think Peter is a fan of our hero anymore because of it."

"You said this almost happened a year ago? Like.. around the time Spider-Man went missing for a few months?" MJ asked and Janet frowned, nodding before she shrugged and got back up, turning her head.

"Sounds about right. I'd say to just go now, MJ. I don't think Peter is going to be late. Sorry MJ, but I really don't think he's an upgrade." Janet sighed as MJ looked out the window, disappointment appearing on her face.

She thought he'd be a good partner. Peter was sweet to her, but he seemed stand-offish, like he was either hiding something or wasn't wanting to be friends. He seemed to be pretty funny and did not seem like the one to actually cause drama or start a fight.

MJ huffed, getting up from the booth and grabbed her bag, slowly walking out of the diner and down the road.

𖣔

Peter

Peter stared down at the city below him, kicking his feet and hoping to see someone trying to do something illegal as he waited for noon. He suddenly frowned, turning his head towards the clock tower, slightly hesitantly.

"Oh shit—" Peter muttered as he dropped down from the building and to his backpack, ripping off his mask and changing into his normal clothes before running to the diner.

It took him too long to get there, slowing to a halt as he ran into the restaurant, looking around in hopes to see the familiar red haired girl.

"You're too late." Peter turned his head to see an old schoolmate of his, Janet, walk out from behind the counter, holding a tray of food and a coffee holder. "She left like, 20 minutes ago." Janet handed some food to her table, refilling the father's coffee cup as Peter shut his eyes in disappointment.

You've done it again, Peter. He thought to himself, slowly walking out of the diner and back to his apartment in shame.

𖣔

MJ

The red haired girl sat leaned against the wall between her and Peter's doors, arms crossed as she waited for his return.

There was a click from the hallway door that alerted MJ, turning her head to see Peter start to walk in, pause when he saw her, and slowly attempt to retreat. "Uh, no. Get over here." She frowned, pointing as if she were a mother catching a child with his hand in the cookie jar.

Peter rested his head against the doorframe for a moment and squinted his eyes shut tightly, praying she wouldn't ask so many questions or be so angry.

"I'm sorry." Peter started as he slowly walked over to MJ. She didn't necessarily have an angered look, but she didn't look very happy either.

"So, are you going to come up with an excuse as to why you were late to our coffee date, or am I going to assume that what I'm thinking is true and that you aren't looking to get close with anyone?" Peter's eyes widened at what she had said, and he shook his head.

"It's not that I don't want to be friends, I really do... but I still have things that I'm not entirely over and I wasn't really sure if I wanted to go on the date—" he lied, knowing well that he was only late because he was too busy being Spider-Man.

MJ cut him off. "I know about Gwen, Peter. And I'm sorry. Seriously.. I truly am sorry about what happened to her. I'm not mad that you ditched me, but I'm mad that you didn't tell me you weren't ready. You got my hopes up by saying you'd be up for a coffee date, and you not showing up.. it kind of hurt." Peter looked away from MJ, wiping a hand over his face.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that... um... how about tonight then?" He blurted out and his eyes widened by his own words, MJ frowning.

"What?" She tilted her head in confusion as the brown haired boy started to stammer.

"Well uh... I um... wanted to know— if tonight would work... better? I'm not— I don't have plans tonight either and uh— well I know this MoonDance diner that a friend of mine works at that's got pretty good burgers—" MJ let out a laugh as Peter's cheeks turned red with nerves.

"Will you actually show up this time?" She asked as he nodded quickly.

"In fact... I'll walk you there so both of us are on time."