The Tangled Web | Peter Parker

Chapter 7

May brought the dustpan to the door, bending down to start cleaning up the broken glass.

"I got it," I whispered as I bent down to meet her, gently taking the small broom from her hand.

She lowered her head, sighing loudly. She nodded her head once and stood up, chewing on her bottom lip as she watched me sweep the glass, clearing it off the floor. "I told Ben to leave him alone," she breathed, her voice quavering, "that he would be fine after a while, he just needed some time to cool off is all."

"What happened?" I asked slowly, continuing to sift the glass into the pan. I avoided May's eye contact, not wanting to look at her, afraid that Peter's outburst had something to do with my kiss with Flash.

"He didn't pick me up tonight. Forgot," she explained quietly, shrugging. "Ben was furious and laid into him when he got home. He started talking about Peter's father, and I think that set him off," she continued, shaking her head. Oh. "It's always been such a sensitive topic for him. He started crying, they both started yelling and then Peter stormed out."

I closed my eyes, leaning my head back as I let out a slow exhale feeling relieved that Peter slamming the door had nothing to do with what had transpired outside on the sidewalk a few minutes ago.

Images of Flash suddenly consumed my thoughts. His smooth lips gliding over mine. His tongue trailing over my mouth. The compassion, the desperation, the wanting that was felt behind that kiss. And Peter's face when he saw you. I cleared my throat, shaking my head as I stood up.

"You seem a bit off, dear. Are you alright?" May asked, placing her hand gently on my back.

"Yeah," I exhaled, turning to look at her, trying to shake the kiss from my mind.

"Don't worry," she smiled, "I'm sure Peter will be fine. He and Ben will move past this. They always do."

I returned her smile, nodding my head. My grin didn't quite meet my eyes. I looked down at the broken glass, examining each shard in the dustpan. The glass that was once whole was now shattered into a hundred tiny pieces. Shattered, just like the look on his face when he saw us. A pain struck my chest, causing me to wince. I couldn't help but worry that my friendship with Peter was destined to end up like the Parker's front door.

"I'll make some tea for us while we wait," May stated, already walking into the kitchen to put on the kettle.

I walked over to dump the broken glass into the trashcan, staring blankly as I watched each piece fall, disappearing into the darkness. Why do I feel so guilty for kissing Flash?

"May," I whispered, turning to face her slowly. A tear rolled down my cheek as I made eye contact with her. "I think I messed up."

She spent the next several minutes comforting me, listening as I explained what happened before Peter walked outside, the look on his face, and the shame that was bubbling inside of me.

"You have nothing to be ashamed of," she assured, hugging me as I cried into her shoulder. She ran her hand over my hair, trying to soothe my feelings. "Your heart spoke to you tonight, and you listened. You shouldn't fault yourself for that. Never feel bad for doing something that feels right."

"You didn't see the look on his face," I whined, shaking my head as I cried harder into her shoulder. "He, he was so mad. He-"

"Was already upset long before he saw the two of you outside, Emerson," she explained, hugging me tighter. "His storming off tonight had nothing to do with you."

"Are you sure?" I questioned, turning to look up at her.

"Positive," she smiled, wiping a tear from under my eye. "Besides," she chuckled quietly, "I told him this would happen one day if he didn't-"