𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐠 || p. parker (BEING EDITED)

2 | Maybe Just a Little Bit More

"Calculus sucks," you announced, throwing down your pencil and laying your head on the ground. 

"Come on, we can figure this out." Ned said determinedly.

Peter ran his fingers through his hair impatiently. "We've been at it for half an hour. On just this question! I'm with Y/N, this sucks."

MJ, who was sitting next to Peter on the couch, had her nose in the textbook.

Ned smiled placatingly. "Well it's math, so there is a right answer. And I think we can find it. MJ, did you learn anything from the book?"

She emerged from behind it and shot a dead-pan look at Ned. "If I had, I would have said something before now." She closed the book and threw it to the floor to join your pencil. "I'm out for today."

Peter tossed his lined notebook after it. "Me too."

Ned seemed to struggle internally for a few seconds and then he also tossed his scratch paper onto the floor. "Fine. We'll ask for help on it in class tomorrow."

"Whatever you say, nerd rope." MJ said, rising from the couch and stretching. "I'm getting water. Want a glass Peter?"

Peter briefly squeezed her waist and smiled. "Sure, thanks."

The group of you were at Peter's apartment with the goal of finishing some homework. It wasn't going very well. 

Ned sighed and began to gather up his papers. 

You watched Peter for a few seconds as he stretched and checked his phone. Even though you had quickly come to the realization that Peter and MJ were soulmates, you had found yourself gazing at him in class or at lunch a few times. 

It was nothing though, right? If MJ was his soulmate, then you had someone else. 

Ned was just glad to have another member of the group he could talk to. You'd asked him about Peter and MJ and he'd said offhandedly that Peter had said MJ's tattoo phrase one night at a party. You guessed that was good enough. 

Still, he wasn't your soulmate. Why did you care? 

"Should we play a board game then?" Ned asked. "We haven't played Risk in such a long time."

MJ, who had come back with two glasses of water, raised her eyebrows playfully. "Peter loves that game."

"Yeah right," Peter said, "you two always beat me. Let's watch a movie or something."

"Ugh, I am so sick of Star Wars," MJ said, sitting back down on the couch.

Ned scooped up the remote. "Alright, let's just see what's on."

The TV clicked on to reveal a popular news channel.

You expected Ned to change the channel and was slightly confused when he did not. You looked around to ask why he didn't move on, but saw that he, Peter, and MJ were all watching with interest. You raised your eyebrows. 

Returning your gaze to the screen, you watched the news anchor report on an organization called The Core. It was apparently a deserter group that had been causing some disruption in downtown Queens.

"I can't imagine deserting my soulmate," Ned said, not taking his eyes off the screen.

"Yeah," Peter agreed.

"Have you run into that group at any point Peter?" Ned asked.

Peter shook his head, also watching still. "They've never been loud when I've been on patrol."

Patrol?

MJ cleared her throat pointedly and both Peter and Ned jumped.

"It's probably nothing to worry about," MJ said gruffly. "Peaceful protests almost always attract people who do dumb things for the publicity. The organization itself is probably non-hostile."

Peter and Ned both looked at each other and then nodded mechanically. "You're probably right," Ned said. Then he cleared his throat and tugged at his collar.

You furrowed your brow. "Okay, what the heck is going on right now?"

All three of them looked at you. MJ was the only one who didn't look guilty of something.

"Patrol? What is that? You guys are acting stiff all of a sudden too," you said.

Peter swallowed and scratched his chin. "Uh, it's nothing. It's um," he seemed to be casting about for something to say. "I have a role at the Stark internship called Patrol."

MJ made a motion that looked to you like a face plant into her hand, but when you glanced at her she merely brushed some hair out of her face.

You nodded. "Oh, okay."

Ned copied you by nodding as well. "Sometimes he patrols Queens. So I was asking if he'd seen anything weird from The Core that we hadn't."

Everyone seemed to be over explaining. "Right... I got that."

After a few seconds of awkward silence, an interruption occurred in the form of Peter's aunt, May.

"Hello everyone!" she said, coming out of her room. "Are we eating dinner together here or are we going out?"

Ned and MJ both got up to follow May, likely to discuss dinner options. You'd heard from Peter that May wasn't the best cook. Hopefully they could convince her not to make any food.

You glanced at Peter. He seemed totally normal now. You guessed the odd behavior earlier was nothing.

"I'm looking for a job," you said as Peter clicked the mute button on the remote. His internship talk had reminded you of that. "Do you know anywhere that's hiring nearby?"

Peter looked thoughtful. "I think a pizza place had a sign in the window last night. It's down on 4th, maybe that's too far."

You shrugged. "I'll have to see. My mom is selling the car so if it is too far I'll have to take the subway."

"Ah, that's not too bad." Peter said, also standing up. "There are some weird people sometimes, but it'll get you there fast."

"Peter!" May called from the kitchen. "Do you want to go out for Thai?"

He grinned and held out a hand to you. "One sec, May!"

You hesitated but then took his hand, allowing him to help you up from off the floor. You marveled at how strong his grip was. "Thanks."

"No sweat," Peter said. "I'll keep an eye out for any job openings I come across."

You nodded. "Thanks again."

Peter smiled. "No sweat, again."

You grinned back.

"Peter! Thai or what?"