home is where the heart is

coffee break

Walking into the small coffee shop at two fifty nine, the door making a small 'ding' sound, Peter sees the girl he loves, or did at one point, standing behind the counter. "Welcome to Peter Pan's", MJ says unenthusiastically as she sorts through the cash register.

"Oh, I'm, uh, Peter Parker".

She looks up, surprised, and she smiles at the boy. "You're a minute early. Here, sit down", she gestures at the diner style stool. "Start talking, Peter Parker. I'm the only one in right now, so don't leave anything out".

Peter sits down and watches MJ lean over the counter, resting her head on her hands, elbows propped up. "Where should I start?", he asks.

"The beginning. I want everything" .

"Well, I met Ned in sixth grade and we became best friends right away, even though he liked Star Wars and I liked Star Trek. Then we met you in eighth grade and you didn't really like us but we thought you were cool, so we wore you down by freshman year and we were kinda sorta friends". He smiles at the memories.

"That year, on a field trip, I got bit by some fucked up radioactive spider and I got these powers but I had to keep them a secret from everyone, unless I was in my suit. I met Tony Stark and the Avengers and I was "interning" with Stark Indistries for a while, my cover up for leaving all the time, but I felt bad for lying to everyone so I eventually told Ned and even though I was, like, super worried about him, he became kind of my partner. And some stuff went down and you were suspicious of me but then I had to fight Thanos and... you remember Thanos and the blip and stuff, right?"

When she nods, he continues. "Anyway, I though Thanos with the Avengers and came back five years later. Then you and Ned and I went on a school trip and I had to deal with this bad dude named Mysterio and then you figured out I was Spiderman. Oh, you also said you liked me, which was nice", he adds, a little embarrassed.

"Then Mysterio revealed my identity to the world and so things were sucky for the three of us because everyone thought I was a villain for some reason? And then, this is the part I told you, I went to Doctor Strange for help and then some bad guys came from other dimensions and I had to fight them and more things went wrong and Doctor Strange did some magic to make everyone forget me. And you said that I should find you after he cast the spell and we could remember everything together and.... We could still have the thing we had".

Peter pauses, feeling emotional. MJ just looks at him, processing all she's heard today.

"I know you remember that I came here around Christmas, but you and Ned didn't remember me and I was afraid to tell you the truth and mess your life up again. But I was struggling and I needed to see a familiar face and I wanted to talk with you again so when I saw Flash I just couldn't help myself. And I'm so glad you decided to call me again because when I was on patrol I saw Ned die and I just couldn't-"

"Wait, what?", MJ says loudly, confused. "What... what do you mean you saw Ned die? I-", she paces, panic and pain etched in her face. "Oh my god. Are you sure?"

Tears threaten to fall out of Peter's eyes. "I'm sorry, MJ. I can't believe it either and it was terrible to see and I just assumed you knew and..."

She sits in the stool next to Peter, her hand over her mouth and her eyes closed. "It's okay. I'll be fine. I just need a second".

MJ and Peter sit in silence for a minute or two. She gets up slowly and walks to the shop's refrigerator, grabbing two water bottles. Sitting again, she drinks from one while holding the other out to the boy. Peter opens his mouth to apologize again but MJ cuts him off.

"It's not your fault, Peter. None of it. I wouldn't consider myself a trusting person, but I want to believe you. Even though your story is... insane", she laughs, "you seem genuine and kind and I want to trust you".

She leans over, close to Peter, and he wraps his arms around the girl. "Thank you", he whispers.

"Oh, I was just reaching for my phone, we're not there yet", MJ responds awkwardly when he pulls away.

"Oh", Peter says shortly. He pulls out his own cracked iPhone, and goes through his camera roll. "I know every part of my story is insane, so thanks for even sticking around long enough to hear me out". He pulls up a picture of him with Ned and MJ in Prague during the school trip that went wrong.

He shows it to the girl. "Here, this was us last summer. Before Mysterio basically betrayed me." He swipes on the screen and a picture of Mysterio, without his helmet, appears. "Oops, and this is the guy who ruined my life, but whatever".

MJ studies it. "I do remember the Europe trip, but I don't remember you being there. Also, that Mysterio guy kind of looks like Jake Gyllenhaal".

"I know, it's weird", Peter agrees. "And they're both life ruining douchebags. Sorry, back to the point".

Peter finds another picture, one of him in the suit, with Ned next to him holding up the mask. He was always worried this picture could get him in trouble, but Ned loved it so much Peter felt he needed to keep it.

MJ smiles when she looks at it. "Alright, Spiderman. Facts are proof and the proof doesn't lie. But this is all insane, you know that right?"

He giggles, saying, "Yeah, I know".

'Ding', goes the door as an older, rounder man walks into the shop. Peter quickly turns over his phone while MJ jumps up and moves behind the cash register. "Black coffee; sesame bagel, not toasted", the customer orders, before MJ can even open her mouth.

She quickly prepares his order, and after he pays, she hands it to him. But the cup slips out of her hand before the man takes it, so Peter grabs it just before it hits the floor, not spilling a drop. Not something a normal person would be able to do.

"That's one neat trick you got there, kid", the customer says to him.

Before Peter can respond, the man pulls out and opens a pocket knife, launching it at him. It sails through the air, and Peter avoids the spinning blade by less than an inch. It hits the fridge in the back of the room and clatters to the floor.

Peter looks behind him at the knife and then back at the man. "What the fuck was that?!", he yells. MJ is staring at the man with confusion.

"I just wanted to see if you could catch it", the guy shrugs.

"Get out!", shouts MJ, just as Peter screeches, "Are you insane?"

The random man walks back onto the street, not bothering to grab his knife.

MJ's eyes are still wide as she turns to Peter. "Does, uh, does that happen a lot?"

"People throwing knives at me? No, not as often as you might think", he responds. "But things like this are, you know, the reason I had to fo what I did. I never cared about putting myself in danger, but the people I love? I couldn't do it. And I really want you to be by my side again but if I can't live with myself if you suffer the consequences". He looks down at his hands.

"I'm sorry I'm being such a downer", Peter laughs, sniffling. "I'm just unloading all this stuff on you and I'm crying and it's just all too much and-"

He gets cut off with a kiss. When MJ pulls away, she says, "It's ok Peter. I feel like I know you and I like you. It's alright".

The boy wipes his nose with the end of his sweatshirt, cold even in April. He pushes back his sleeves and grabs MJ's hand with one of his, the other gently caressing her face. "Thank you", he whispers again.

He leans in for another kiss, her lips warming his cold center. He's got his girl back.