Maya Stark

Chapter 149: Wanda

              It was memories Wanda pulled from the back of my mind. Well, maybe not memories. It was one specific memory she pulled from the back of my mind. A seemingly important one because the second it started to appear I started to get emotional. It was at the cabin and again the only person in sight was Peter Parker. The cabin door opened and this me looked so unbelievably shocked as Pepper walks slowly further into the house. This me stepped outside and closed the door with a sigh. I somehow move closer to watch the scene unfold.

   'What are you doing here, Parker?' I ask.

   'I saw what happened on the news and everything,' he said. 'I, uhm, wanted to make sure you weren't going to do anything... rash.'

   'What would make you think I'd do anything rash?' I mumble, slightly sarcastic.

   He gave me a look. 'I just... wanted to make sure you were okay. I've been trying to give you space and everything. I just didn't want you to like run away.'

   'I would never just run away,' I said.

   'Really? Where are you going, then?'

   I hesitate slightly. 'I'm going to see Sam. Make sure he's okay. See if there's anything he needs help with. I'm just trying to be useful.'

   'You know you're useful here, right? With Morgan?' he said. I shuffled on my feet. 'Maybe instead of jumping into a random fight, you should come back to school and talk to some people you've been ignoring?'

   I narrowed my eyes at him. 'It's not a random fight, Parker. It is a very real, a very personal, fight. Sam will be fighting it no matter what and maybe, just maybe, I can do some good by helping him.'

   'Maya, come on, you can do good here too,' he pleaded. 'You can come patrol with me or something. If you leave now, I just... I feel like you won't come back.'

   'I'll always come back. My family is here,' I said, harshly. 'Why do you even care? We haven't spoken in months. It shouldn't matter to you what I do.'

   'You think that just because we haven't talked in just a couple months that suddenly the like three years of caring about you disappeared? I've been worried about you, but I knew you didn't want to see me. That's why I haven't come by.'

   'Yeah, well, maybe you shouldn't have come by here either,' I said, going to walk to my car.

   He grabs my arm, preventing me from leaving. This me turns to look at him, and I can hear my own breath catch. Despite the obvious surprise of him being brave enough to even grab my arm, there was determination in his eyes.

   'I don't think you really mean that,' he said quietly. His eyes searched mine. 'I just think you're hurt and scared.'

   'I'm not scared,' I said, way too quickly. 'What would I have to be scared of?'

   'Lots of things, actually,' he said. There was a small smile on his lips. 'I just... Maya, you're very important to me, okay? I just want to make sure that you're safe and okay.'

   'And I am very capable of doing that all on my own,' I said. His hand was still wrapped around my wrist.

   'I know,' he said quickly. 'But... I mean... God, Maya, you make this real difficult. Is it so bad if I want to be the one to make sure you're safe? That I want to be the one you talk to when stuff like this happens?'