Spiders come in different Shapes

Wrong

Honestly, Peter liked the idea of having new friends. He didn't have to be nerdy or small or puny in front of them. He could be strong. 

So that night when he handed the slip of old paper, and a number to hold, he waited until they went down back to their apartment and smiled as he jumped off the roof. 

Meanwhile Annabeth and Percy resonated in the floor below. 

Percy's Mom's apartment was small. It was like it was meant to be that, fairly quaint, if anything. His mom let them come and go when they pleased. Finding his home only a temporary home. 

Annabeth and he sat on the couch, their arms wrapped around each others shoulders, sending a tingling feeling up his spine. 

On Annabeth's lap was the note. She reached a hand to her forehead to push away her curls. 

"Hell no, Percy," She said. "We can not call him back."

"Why? He seemed nice, and...like he needed someone. We can be that someone-or people. Wise girl, grow a heart," Percy insisted, he leaned closer to her. 

Annabeth's eyes flashed their dangerous gray. Not really cold, but set to a place. Knowing. Wise. Ready. "He felt wrong, Seaweed Brain."

"All the more reason to make him right. Just, the gods are always shoving us, they're always making us save a world we don't even want half the time. It's screwed up. If you think everyone is a monster, that's when they become that. Wise girl, we can do better," Percy stared at her, then held the crumpled paper between his fore-finger and thumb, letting it dangle with a careful touch. "Please."

Percy gave his best begging look, a baby seal, and sea-green eyes that held every moment of a tsunami and a gentle beach. 

Annabeth grabbed it, pushed his arm from her shoulders, with a startling look, and walked away. 

Annabeth was not heartless, she was sure she was right though. She could feel how wrong it was, how she felt like Peter needed more eyes. Like he should grow more arms. She knew she was right. So her hand shook as she picked up the phone and jabbed the numbers. It was red. 

"Peter?" 

She could hear his phone jumbling around, as noises sounded in the background. "Um...yeah, it's me. Peter. Parker."

"Are we good for hanging out on Tuesday?" She asked, trying to keep the disgust from creeping into her words. 

"Yeah, but, wait. What is it today?" His voice was nervous, and fluttery, like it would fly away. 

"Saturday," It came too short and hard. 

"Yeah, of course." There was a pause. "Thank you Annabeth. This means a lot."

Her heart melted. The one that Percy just made her grow. Goddammit, she ruined yet another one of them. 

"Where?"

"I know a great coffee place, it's down the street. Normally I don't drink caffeine because I can't sleep for days afterwards but, sometimes not sleeping is good."

Annabeth had no time to ponder that, to think that maybe, maybe she wasn't the only one who went through something. That maybe Peter also was hurt. But a loud explosion echoed in the phone and it hung up with a quick "Sorry!" clipped off. 

She had put the phone and swayed back over to Percy.

"You bastard," She said. "I did it."