I'm Always A Text Away -- Peter Parker Texting Story

eight

MJ WALKED INTO MIDTOWN TECH, her backpack over her shoulders. Her head was down but her eyes searched for Ned Leeds as she walked to her locker, muscle memory allowing her to unlock it without looking. 

As she pulled out her books, she heard footsteps behind her, and immediately knew it was Ned. 

"Hey," said Ned, and she replied with a hello back. 

"Let's get to Biology," she said, and they fell into step, walking together to Biology like they'd always done. 

But it felt different...it felt odd. It felt like they were missing someone. 

"Hey! They added our new decathlon trophy," Ned said suddenly, dragging her over to the showcase. MJ followed grudgingly and stared at the trophy she'd won four months ago. 

But it didn't feel right. 

"Ned," she said slowly. "What question did I win?" 

Ned opened his mouth to respond, but then his eyebrows furrowed as he stared off in space. "I...I can't really remember," he said.

MJ's mind went to Peter Parker. 

He had been in that photo in the yearbook. Why had he been in there? He hadn't won the last question; MJ had. 

And how the hell did she not remember a boy standing in between her and Liz Allen? 

***

SHE SAT ON THE ROOFTOP, HER HAIR FLUTTERING back gently in the wind. Her eyes were closed and she held a book in her lap. She wasn't sure when she had stopped going to the cafeteria during lunch, but one day she—and Ned, of course—had found themselves starting to have lunch together at the rooftop of Midtown High. 

She was waiting for Ned. He had Tech, which was down in the basement, and he was generally pretty slow. She opened her eyes and flipped open the pages of her book, but suddenly, a tiny sound tinkled in the back of her mind, a distant laugh of a distant memory. 

"This is a good one...'Some suggest that Parker's powers include the male spider's ability to hypnotize females.'" MJ chuckled. 

"Stop, come on!" a boy's voice groaned in exasperation. 

"Yes, My Spiderlord," MJ responded teasingly. 

MJ stared down at her book, her lips parted in surprise. 

Parker. 

Was this Parker...was this Parker actually Peter Parker? The boy who she couldn't seem to remember? 

She thought back to meeting him in the coffee shop months ago. There had been sadness and despair in his eyes, but also determination and had it been...love? And then, later, at Delmar's...he had stared at her again, like he couldn't believe she was there. 

And then the yearbook pictures. The decathlon trophy. Her not remembering the question she'd answered to  win that trophy, when she always remembered the questions she answered. 

She snapped the book shut, sending a little breeze to hit her face, sending her hair away from her face. 

So. 

This was confirmation. 

Confirmation that, yes, she really had known Peter Parker. 

Words: 482 

This is only 500 words?! What?! 

It felt like a lot happened in this chapter? 

...maybe it's because I left this chapter for like a week. 

Whoops, I totallyyy didn't forget about this lol

Anyway hope you're enjoying this so far! Let me know what you think! 

Haidlyn <3