Always // Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield)

-11- nothing to say

Peter had made multiple attempts over the weekend to try and contact Maya, though she never picked up her phone once. He wanted to apologize and make things right after running out during prom and then not showing up to their plans the day after. He felt terrible. He missed her and her company so much but being the friendly neighborhood Spiderman just kept getting in the way of his regular life.

The one thing he never realized until now was just how isolating it was to be a superhero.

He had even made an attempt last night to catch her at her house by tapping on her bedroom window, but all the lights were off. Apart of him was almost relieved that she hadn't caught him there, he could just imagine how mad she would have been. He had only been around to her dad's house a handful of times before she had demanded he stop coming around and that his place was their prime hangout location. Peter was skeptical but she had assured it was just because her dad didn't like visitors.  

Peter waited at the spot the two would sometimes meet up at to walk to school together before deciding she wasn't coming. This wasn't a big shock to him though as Maya would sometimes get to school early to use the library if she had a big assignment coming up and he did recall her complaining lately of an essay that was due for English. Usually she would text him before hand to let him know not to wait for her, but he knew she was mad at him and rightfully so, he thought maybe she let them stand there and wait for her as a way to get back at him for standing her up.

He headed to school on his own, pushing along on his skateboard at a quicker pace than usual. He need to see her before school started. He wanted to explain himself to her, everything would just be so much easier if she knew, he hated how much her feelings were getting hurt because of this. He absolutely had to warn her about Dr Connors, she interned for Oscorp and it wasn't safe for her to be there while the 'Lizard' is loose. 

He had found out just how strong and dangerous he was after fighting him on the bridge the night of prom and again the day after in the sewers and he feared that Connors would at some point return to Oscorp and he would not let Maya get hurt.

Peter walked through the crowded school hallways in search for Maya. She wasn't at the library, or in the courtyard, or at her locker, she wasn't here. Peter started getting anxious as the bell rang out for the start of class and he still hadn't caught sight of her.

He fidgeted with his pen between his fingers for half of first period, his mind on everything else but the voice of his teacher ringing out at the front of class. He couldn't stop worrying about the whereabouts of his friend, he was planning to skip out on next class to swing to her house and figure out what was going on, that was until the teacher spoke a name that made his head shoot up.

"Late, Miss Jackson" 

The girl handed a slip to the teacher without a word before hurrying to her desk in front of Peter. He tried to catch her eyes but she had her head down until she reached her seat.

"It's a weird sight to see Mr Parker on time and you late, Maya" Peter watched as the girls figure slumped in her seat, as if she was hoping it would swallow her whole.

Peter tried getting Maya's attention as he lightly poked her in the back with his pen, she jumped at the sudden touch but refused to turn around. 

The bell rang out, calling for the end of the class and Peter had never seen Maya run out of a classroom so quickly before. He followed closely behind her.

"Maya!" He called out. No response. "Maya" He reached out and grabbed her shoulder. "Hey" He turned her around to face him.

His heart dropped.

An angry purple bruise laid across her right cheekbone, accompanied by a light cut on her bottom lip that still had dried blood stuck to it. It looked so painful, but what was most painful was the look in her eyes. She looked broken. He had never seen her like this.

She had built a cast around her broken heart after her mother died in an attempt to heal, but that cast had been ripped off and her heart had been broken again and Peter couldn't help but feel he was a big part as to why.

"Maya" Peter's voice was barely a whisper, his words getting caught in his throat. She stayed silent, slightly shaking her head before her eyes fell to the floor again. He put his hand under her chin to lift her head up towards him, so gently out of fear she might shatter like glass. 

Maya refused to look at her friends painful expression, she didn't want to crack. She was very aware of Peter's eyes scanning every inch of her swollen face and she hated the fact that he saw her as broken. She didn't want sympathy, she didn't want to be seen as some helpless victim. She just wanted to live, not just survive like she felt like she was currently doing. 

"Talk to me" He spoke in a hushed voice.

Maya snapped out of her thoughts "I have nothing to say" She spoke before she turned on her heels to walk away.

Peter grabbed a hold of her hand and pulled her back towards him. "Please" He begged.

Maya opened her mouth to speak before she was cut off by the commotion of the wall she was standing near collapsed before the Lizard emerged. The impact forced her back and she felt herself falling before Peter swooped her into his arms before she reached the ground.

All the students rushed for the exist as Maya grabbed Peter's wrist and tried dragging him along. He shook her off and turned to her and grabbed her shoulders.

"You have to get out of here" He spoke with a warning tone.

"So do you" Maya protested.

"No"

"Peter-"

"Go!" 

Maya's eyes widened as Peter gave her a look as if to say 'Trust me'. She turned around and followed the crowd, turning around and giving Peter one more look before exiting the school.