RED - Peter Parker x F!OC

Chapter 13: Charlotte's Web of Feelings

I sat on the white hospital bed, fidgeting with the sheets. The room was empty for the first time tonight. After all the check-ups and diagnostics, I had a hard time falling asleep. Every time I closed my eyes I could hear the screams and the sirens.

Though I have to admit, I don't think I needed to be rushed to the hospital. The doctors mentioned something about my body temperature, but nothing too severe. Luckily, Jamie sent someone to sign me out. She never told me who, though.

Music played quietly in the background to fill the silence. The TV was on, but I wasn't interested in cooking shows. I turned my head to find a book sitting on the table beside me. The nurse must've dropped it off when I took a short nap.

I grabbed it, checking out the cover. The title read:

Charlotte's Web

I smiled to myself, opening the children's book. 

-

I quietly crept through the dark hallway, afraid I'd wake my parents up. I turned the doorknob of the room next to mine, peeping through the crack. The bedroom was silent, the only sound being faint snores. Tears rolled down my cheeks, but no cries came out. Nightmares are the worst, I thought to myself as I closed the door behind me.

The noise must've caught his attention, seeing Harry had woken up, staring at me. He reached over to his nightstand and turned the lamp on. Before he could scold me, he noticed my watery eyes.

"Rosey, what's wrong?" He asked, patting the empty space next to him. I crawled into his warm bed, hiding under his big sheets.

"I had a nightmare again.." I whispered, blinking my tears away. He protectively wrapped his arms around my shoulders, rocking me.

"It's okay. Nightmares aren't real."

"Why do they feel like they are?" I questioned, pulling away.

"Your mind just creates all of these negative thoughts to scare you. But strong kids like us don't get scared of them." Harry spoke with pride, pulling the covers over me.

"Did I wake you up?" I asked stupidly, already knowing the answer.

"Yes, but I was having a hard time sleeping." He assured me. But, his bottom lip was quivering, telling me he was lying to make me feel better.

We sat in the dark, the only source of light being the rectangular lamp beside us. I always made fun of his lamp for its shape. Lamps are supposed to be round, not box-like, is what I would always tell him.

I glanced up at the miniature bookshelf hanging on the far wall. It was full of a variety of children's books, but only one stuck out to me.

I rolled off the bed, grabbing one of Harry's stuffed monkeys off of the floor. Walking up to the shelf, I reached my arm up to grab a book but it couldn't even touch the lowest shelf. I groaned, standing on a chair. Scanning the spines, I found the book I came for. I scrambled off the chair, waddling over to the bed where Harry was giving me a puzzled look.

I tossed it onto his lap, receiving an all-too-familiar groan.

"We've already read Charlotte's Web several times." He complained, opening the book.

"Yeah, but it's my favorite!" I whisper shouted, scooting closer to admire the pictures.

"You've never even read it on your own. You always make me do it."

"That's because I like when you read to me. Especially when you act out the characters." I giggled, flipping to the first page for him. He returned a sigh, speaking out the first sentence.