HufflepuffHolland's Writing Collection

The Girl Across The Hall (Part 1) // Peter Parker

By Hufflepuffholland on Tumblr

Request: hi, i don't know if you take requests but if you do could i request one where reader and peter live in the same building and peter has secretely been in love from the beggining have a nice dayyy x

Pairing: Peter Parker + Reader

Warnings: none unless you count cute and dorky peter!

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This had to have been the fourth time this month that Peter had waited after school longer than usual just so he could casually bump into you on the way into both of your guys' apartment building. Peter had thrown longing stares at you from across the hallway since you moved in three years ago – those stares going completely unnoticed, or so he thought.

He would talk to you, but every time he had gained just an ounce of courage to do so, he'd find himself remembering the one time he did try that two years ago. Aunt May had encouraged him to do it – feeling bad for the poor boy who had just stuck to admiring from afar a whole year. May had gotten one of your letters in the mail "on accident" and asked Peter if he could run it to your door. He blushed profusely before mumbling a simple 'yeah, sure thing May' and tripping over his own two feet the short distance to your door.

He stood outside your door for about fifteen seconds trying to compose himself – his hands were sweating, his heart was racing and he kept rehearsing the words he'd say to you so he wouldn't mess them up. By the time his fist came up to the door it was too late for him to register that your door was already opening, causing Peter's knuckled to knock on the person who opened the door rather than coming into contact with the door itself.

His face twisted into one of horror as he registered that the person opening the door was you, and it took him even longer to realize his fist was still on your forehead. His hand retreated quickly as he heard you laughing. He was sure now that it was innocent and you were probably just trying to not make Peter feel as bad as he had already felt, but at the time Peter took your laughter as a sign of you thinking how pathetic he was. He dropped your mail on the ground and rushed back to his apartment door, ignoring the incessant shout of his name, in turn he ignored the loud and sharp feeling of his heart hammering against his chest when he realized one thing: you knew his name.

Now here he was, two years after that incident, admiring you from afar again. Even while he bumped into you while entering the apartment building, he hadn't tried to exchange any words with you. He opened the door for you to walk in ahead of him, he would return your smile, and he'd ride the elevator with you in quiet, sneaking glances at you when he could – not knowing you had been looking up at him quite a few times, too.

He couldn't even remember why he was so infatuated with you. He remembers when it happened, though. It was Thursday night – pizza night in the Parker residence. He had just gotten back from picking up dinner when he rounded the corner too fast and collided with a body. The pizza almost flying out of his hands, but luckily another pair came to the rescue. Peter had looked up to thank whoever the person was but came up dry when his eyes landed on the most intoxicating looking girl he had ever seen. Her smile was wide as she laughed light-heartedly at the incident. He tried to laugh or smile back, anything to indicate that there was a soul inside of his body, still.

"Sorry – hey! You live next door! Um, Parker... Peter! Right?" You got no response so you continued, "I was just on my way to pick up a pizza! Is Thursday your pizza night, too?" This time he managed to nod at you, earning him another, the way he described it, angelic smile. "Well, I'll see you around, Peter! I like your sweater by the way. Maroon's my favorite color."

And right then, he swore he could've bought out his closet and painted his whole entire life with that color if it meant that he would become your favorite anything.

"Peter?" He snapped out of his thoughts as he looked at you next him in the elevator, his eyes wide with surprise.

"Um, yes?" His voice came out higher than usual, causing him to scold himself internally and wanting nothing more than to punch himself in the face.

"You're good in science, right?"

His knees almost went week with the shy look you had given him. Your eyes looked up at him through your lashes as your teeth sunk into your bottom lip, the grip on your books tightening as you brought them closer to your chest. The elevator doors opened on the floor you both wanted to get off on. Peter held the door open for you as you both walked out, nodding in the process as to answer your previous question.

"Cool, I, uh, I just – oh, never mind." Peter saw the faint color of red that colored your face as you walked away, but before you could get too far, and without him thinking, his hand reached out to grab your arm, spinning you back around to face him. Although, since Peter was, well, himself, he didn't quite measure his own strength, causing you both to stumble into each other. One of his arms found its way around your waist, preventing you from falling, as his other arm extended against the wall to prevent himself from burying you under his weight.
He looked at the minimal space between both of your bodies before his eyes flew up to meet yours – you were already looking at him. You both made no sign of moving, too invested in the color of each other's eyes. Peter finally managed to get a grip on reality and registered the semi-awkward stance you both were in – that, and his arm was getting tired from supporting himself against the wall. He reluctantly stepped away from you and brought his arm up to scratch the back of his neck.

"Um, what did you need with science?"

You brought your hand up to soothe out your hair before smiling softly at him. "I guess I just wanted to know if you could come over some time and help me out. You know, like, uh, tutor me?"

"Yes!" His voice came out rushed, his eyes widening as he noticed how creepy he sounded. "I mean, yes. Of course, no problem."

You laughed at him, reaching up to kiss his cheek. "You're a life-saver, Peter! Okay, cool. Want to come over tonight? Around six?"

"Y-Yeah, that's fine. That's cool, yeah, okay."

You smiled widely at him again. "Alright, Parker. It's a date!" You leaned in to kiss his scarlet colored cheek again before making a beeline for your door and closing it quickly.

That was it. That was all it took for Peter to realize he wasn't infatuated with you. He was completely, helplessly, and most importantly, pathetically in love with you.