The Amazing Spider-Man 3

Chapter 17

Peter couldn't believe his luck. He thought for sure he'd fixed his toaster, but the slices of bread he'd inserted came out a much darker color than they were supposed to, and a lot crispier as well. For some reason, no matter what setting he put it on, it had always run particularly hot. Peter had taken it apart, fooled around with it and put it back together time and again, but nothing had worked. The irony was almost hilarious in that he could do something crazy like create an antiserum to cure a lizard person but couldn't fix his toaster.

Some scientist he was.

Looking around the kitchen area, Peter contemplated other sources of breakfast. He didn't really have much to go with. He'd never really had a fully stocked kitchen since he'd moved out, always making sure to have just enough to get by while still saving money for rent and, well, suit repairs and stuff. Unfortunately, on a day like today, where his stomach was really starting to let him know it needed sustenance, it was only showing yet another way that he didn't properly take care of himself.

He was about to reach for a couple of granola bars he'd stumbled across, when suddenly there was a knock on his door. Peter had no idea who it could be, given that it was so early in the morning. He hadn't even really ordered anything recently, not that he did much of that in the first place. Walking over to the door, Peter unlocked it and opened it to find none other than Mary Jane, who was holding a box of donuts.

"Here," she said, holding out the assortment of pastries to him.

"Uhm, thanks," Peter said curiously as he slowly took the box. "Not that I'm complaining, but what are these for?"

"Call it a thank you/I'm sorry for last night," M.J. said, ringing her hands together. It was strange to see her appear this nervous.

"It's not a big deal, really," he assured her. She just kind of lightly nodded, but remained in front of his doorstep, so he asked if she'd like to come on, stepping aside to allow a path for her. She took him up on it, moving just enough inside for him to shut the door. She looked like she had something she really wanted to say but couldn't quite find the words to put out there, so Peter decided to break the tension a little.

"You know, these were actually a godsend," he said, holding up the box of donuts before setting them on the counter. "My toaster broke earlier, and I don't really have a lot of groceries right now."

"I wondered why it smelled a bit smokey in here," M.J. teased.

"Yeah," Peter replied as he took out a donut from the box and took a bite. "Some future Nobel prize winner I am."

Realizing he was being rude by talking with his mouth full, Peter covered his lips in embarrassment, a move which provoked a small smile from M.J.

"Sorry about that," he said sheepishly.

"It's fine, really," Mary Jane assured him. She hesitated before continuing, like she was summing up the courage to say what she needed to say, which caused Peter's mind to race as his concern grew over what exactly that was.

"Listen, Peter, I... I'm sorry for unloading on you like that last night," she finally said. "I know you say it's not a big deal, but I... I've never really been the best at expressing that side of myself, even after years of therapy, so I know it came out really messy."

"I think on some level we're all a bit of a mess," Peter replied. "I guess sometimes it's just an inevitable thing that we can't keep it contained anymore."

"You talk like you're experienced in this," M.J. said.

Peter let out a huff through his nose. Oh, if she only knew.

"Something like that," he said, taking another bite of the donut in his hand.

"Anyway, I wanted to thank you for just being there last night," M.J. stated, her voice still a little more somber compared to her more upbeat and livelier usual tone. "It really meant a lot."