Spider Man: Homeward Bound

THREE

THREE:
Enter, Gwen Stacy

   "I know you don't know me, but my name is Gwen Stacy, and I think this belongs to you." Gwen held the mask in her hand, smiling slightly.

   "Can you come in... please." Peter said nervously, moving out of the door frame so she could enter. She slipped into the apartment and Peter closed the door behind her. "Hey, where did you get that?" The nervousness still was very present in his voice.

   "You dropped it when you were on the fire escape. Don't worry, I don't want it or anything." She handed it over to him. "I just wanted to return it."

   "What makes you think it's mine?" He asked, placing the mask on the bed. He didn't want to expose his identity. "Maybe it fell from above me."

   She laughed. "This is a six story building. You live on the sixth story." She observed that he was nervous. "You don't have to worry. I'm not gonna tell anyone. I haven't for a while."

   His eyes widened with curiosity. "W-what? How do you know?"

   "Sorry, I spend a lot of time on the fire escape. I live right below you so I see you... swing in, I guess." Clearly Peter wasn't as secretive as he thought he was. "I know it seems kind of suspicious but I was really just trying to return the mask. I see you on the news all the time. I think you do great things."

Peter's cheeks felt hot as she delivered the compliment. Stop it. He turned around to tuck the mask away, trying to hide the blush on his cheeks. He wasn't sure why he was reacting this way. In reality, it had been so long since he had really talked to someone, let alone a girl. And still, he was only a teenager. Teenagers are awkward. It's in their nature. "Well, thank you. I really appreciate that." He was surprised by her pure motives. In this mind, she would want something from him, but it seemed she was genuinely trying to be nice. "I'm Peter, by the way." Now that could have been a huge mistake but only time will tell.

She smiled at him. She had a really captivating smile. Enough, Parker. "Have a good night, alright?" She said as she made her way to the door. Opening it and standing in the door frame, she turned to look at him. "And Peter. Maybe keep better track of your belongings."

He laughed awkwardly. God, he was awkward. He hadn't acted like this since MJ. It felt weird for him to relive that feeling, especially with someone who wasn't MJ. "Well maybe if I keep dropping them you'll keep bringing them back... or something." She laughed in a flirty way, smiling before she shut the door behind her to leave. Peter exhaled loudly after a minute, just to make sure she was out of earshot. "Stupid, stupid. Why would I say that? Why would I say that?"

He flopped back on the bed, confused as ever. Hell, he barely knew the girl. And Gwen aside, there was still MJ, who he loved but she literally didn't know who he was. That was right. She didn't know who Peter Parker was, and he didn't plan on telling her. "I need to sleep." He spoke to himself, climbing into his bed. It was almost instantly that he fell asleep. A long day of crime fighting and internal crises would do that to you.

~•~

Sundays. Peter didn't work or have classes on Sundays, so it was one of his favorite days. He slept most of the day on Sundays, but this was different. His mind was a little occupied with everything that had happened that night. Peter got up, stretching and stepping out onto the fire escape to catch some air. It was nice outside, warm enough already for short sleeves. He looked around at his usual view before looking down. On the level below him sat Gwen Stacy, of course. She really did spend a lot of time on that fire escape. She didn't look up at him though. She seemed invested in whatever book she was reading. Peter stomped on the metal floor of the fire escape, making it shake. He quickly looked out at the city again.

The blonde girl below him looked up from her book. She placed a bookmark into before closing it. "Good morning, Peter." He looked down at her and matched her smile. "Fancy seeing you here."

"Good morning."

Gwen stood up. "I made coffee, would you like some?" Peter nodded. "Come down." Peter climbed down the fire escape easily, meeting Gwen at the window of her apartment. "You know, most people would use the stairs. Inside."

"I thought you already knew I'm not like most people." Okay, not bad, Parker. Gwen handed Peter his coffee through the window, adjusting the cream and sugar on the tray in the windowsill. "Thank you."

   "Of course." She stepped through the window, sitting across from Peter in the fire escape. "So Peter..."

   "Parker."

   "Peter Parker. Tell me about yourself." It was kind of odd. She knew his biggest secret, but didn't even know his last name before a few seconds before. Peter started adding cream to his coffee, not saying anything. He really didn't have much to tell her. He felt like he barely existed. "I just want to know you."

That really struck a cord. Someone wanted to know him in a time in his life where nobody knew him. "I don't know if we have time to unpack all of that. It's really quite a story."

   "I'm in no rush." There was a comfortable silence between the two for a moment before Peter cleared his throat.

   "Okay, so you remember Iron Man?"