𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐭 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤

Second Chance

Parings → Peter Parker x Reader

Warnings → angst, fluff

Summary → A familiar face, a changed heart, and a chance at redemption-will it end differently?

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You didn't want to come here, but here you are, standing awkwardly in the corner of a frat house, surrounded by strangers. Your roommate, Rachel, begged you to go with her because her crush would be at this party, and she couldn't possibly go alone. It was Friday, and the idea of staying in your dorm room sounded boring, so you caved. Now, however, you were seriously regretting your decision. Rachel had found her crush the moment you walked through the door and was already having a good time, leaving you to navigate this chaotic mess alone.

You glanced around the room, overwhelmed by the booming music, people dancing on a makeshift dance floor, and the suffocating heat from the packed bodies. You didn't know anyone here, and the last thing you wanted to do was make small talk with a bunch of strangers. Trying to find some reprieve, you made your way to the kitchen, hoping for something non-alcoholic to drink. After rummaging through a few bottles, you finally spotted some cranberry juice and poured yourself a cup.

Sipping on your juice, you leaned against the counter and scanned the room, hoping to find something familiar to anchor you. That's when your eyes landed on someone you never thought you'd see in a place like this.

A familiar mop of curls.

Your heart skipped a beat. It can't be him, you thought, your chest tightening. Peter Parker. Your high school crush. The boy who broke your heart when he rejected you for Liz.

But this... this didn't look like the Peter you remembered. The Peter Parker you knew in high school was shy, awkward, and introverted. He hated parties, avoided attention, and only ever hung out with Ned and Michelle. He was sweet in his own awkward way, with a boyish smile and nervous energy.

The boy standing in front of you, however, was nothing like that. This Peter was confident, standing tall in tight clothes that showed off the muscles he'd apparently gained since high school. He was wearing a chain around his neck, a few rings on his fingers, and a smirk on his face that screamed trouble. He was surrounded by a group of guys and girls, laughing and joking in a way that made him seem like the center of attention.

Your mind raced, trying to reconcile this version of Peter with the one you'd spent so much time pining over in high school. How had he changed so much?

You were so lost in thought that you didn't notice one of the guys in Peter's group point in your direction and say something to him. By the time you snapped out of it, Peter was walking toward you, his eyes locked on yours.

He stopped a few feet away, his smirk still in place. "You like the view, or are you just staring into space?"

You blinked, caught off guard. "I-uh-sorry, I just... I wasn't expecting to see you here. You've changed."

Peter raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "You know me?"

You swallowed hard, feeling a pang in your chest. Of course, he wouldn't remember you. Why would he? "Yeah. Well, I knew you. Back in high school. Y/n Y/L/N-does it ring a bell?"

Peter tilted his head, feigning thoughtfulness. "Y/n Y/L/N... Hmm, sounds familiar."

Your stomach twisted at the casualness of it all, but you pressed on, hating yourself for bringing it up. "I asked you to homecoming. Remember?"

"Oh!" His face lit up with sudden recognition, and he chuckled. "You're the girl I rejected."

He said it so casually, as if it was nothing. Like it hadn't meant anything to him, even though it had crushed you back then. You felt heat rise to your face, embarrassment mixing with the sting of old feelings.

"Yeah, that's me," you muttered, looking down at your feet. "I should go."

You turned to leave, but you barely took a step before Peter followed, keeping pace with you. His voice was light, teasing, as he called after you, "You still like me, huh?"

You stopped in your tracks and spun around, glaring at him. "Does that even matter?"

Peter's smirk only widened. "Come on, don't be like that. We could have some fun, you know?"

Your eyes narrowed. His cocky attitude was infuriating. This wasn't the Peter you remembered at all. "Fun? Are you serious?"

"Dead serious." He winked, leaning in a little closer. "Maybe you just haven't gotten to know this version of me yet."

You felt a rush of anger and disbelief. Was he seriously flirting with you right now? The same guy who had rejected you without a second thought back in high school? And now he wanted to play games with you?

"Peter, I don't know what happened to you, but I don't want any part of this," you said, trying to push past him.

But before you could move, he grabbed your wrist gently, pulling you back just enough to stop you. His smirk faltered for a moment, replaced by something more genuine. "Wait."

You looked at him, confused. "What?"

Peter's expression softened, and for the first time that night, he looked like the Peter you used to know-the boy with the shy smile who always kept to himself. "I'm sorry, Y/n. I didn't mean to be such an ass."

You blinked, taken aback by the sudden shift in his tone. "What's with the change of heart?"

He ran a hand through his curls, looking a little sheepish. "Look, I know I've changed. And maybe not for the better. After high school... after everything with Liz and MJ, I just-I didn't want to be that guy anymore. The shy, awkward kid who couldn't get anything right. I wanted to be different. More confident, but... I don't know. Maybe I went too far."

You didn't know what to say. This was not the conversation you'd expected to have tonight.

Peter hesitated, his eyes searching yours. "I know I was a jerk back in high school, and tonight too. But I remember you, Y/n. You were always nice to me. You... you liked me without knowing all my baggage. Maybe... maybe we could start over."

"Start over?" You echoed, your voice wary. "How?"

Peter smiled, this time without the cocky edge. "Let me take you out. On a date."

You stared at him, your heart racing. "A date? After all this time? Why?"

"Because," he said, stepping a little closer, his voice lowering. "Maybe I want to get to know the girl who saw something in me before I even knew who I was."

Your breath caught in your throat. You didn't know what to say. Part of you wanted to slap him for being so arrogant earlier, but another part of you-a much larger part-felt your heart soften at the sincerity in his eyes.

"I don't know," you mumbled. "You really hurt me back then."

Peter's face fell, and he nodded, looking genuinely regretful. "I know. And I'm sorry for that. I can't change the past, but... I'd like a chance to make it up to you."

You hesitated, the weight of your old feelings mingling with the uncertainty of this new version of Peter. But then, looking into his eyes, you saw a flicker of the boy you used to know-the boy you once liked, who might still be there underneath all the changes.

"Alright," you said, your voice soft but steady. "One date. But you better not screw it up."

Peter grinned, that familiar boyish smile returning. "Deal. I won't let you down, Y/n."

You couldn't help but smile back, feeling the tiniest flicker of hope. Maybe this time, things would be different.

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