𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐠 || p. parker (BEING EDITED)

5 | It Hurts

The wood hurt your knuckles, but you didn't care.

"Knock again," suggested Ned.

As you raised your hand once more, you heard the lock turn. The door swung open and Peter's aunt May stood there, wearing an apron and a grin. "Hello!" she beamed.

"Hey May," Ned said, anxiously attempting to smile. "Um, is Peter here?"

May's grin flickered. "Oh, yes. I think so." She pulled the door more widely open. "Why don't you come in?"

You and Ned stepped over the threshold and glanced all around for Peter. He wasn't there.

"He's been in his room all day," said May, a pained look on her face. "I think something's happened between him and MJ."

Ned met your eyes and you nodded covertly.

"Do you mind if we go try and cheer him up?" asked Ned.

"No, not at all," said May, meandering back into the kitchen. "I'm making spaghetti; won't you both eat with us?"

Grimacing while you slipped off your shoes, you shrugged and Ned told May you would stay.

"Cheer up," Ned said quietly as you walked down the hall. "Last time I ate here she only burned half of the lasagna. Maybe she's improving."

You pushed away thoughts of dinner when you reached Peter's bedroom door. There were much more important things to handle right now.

"Peter?" you said quietly, pushing the door open slowly.

His room was small, but tidier than you would have expected. A bunk bed took up most of the floor space and a desk sat in the corner with a chair. But there was no Peter.

"Um..." you said, turning. "Peter?"

Ned was glancing around the room too. You watched his eyes widen as he gazed through the open window. You thought you saw a flash of red beyond.

"Uh—" Ned said wildly. "It doesn't look like he's in here—" He took you by the shoulders and turned you around so you were facing the hallway. "Maybe you should check the bathroom?"

"Um, okay?" you said as Ned threw the door closed, shutting you out.

The bathroom was empty, as you had expected. But just as you flipped the lights off, you heard Ned's voice again.

"Y/N, come here!"

You retraced your steps and found Peter's door again. "What?"

"He was here the whole time," Ned said, a little too quickly. "He was just in the closet."

You pushed the door open and, sure enough, found both Ned and Peter sitting there.

"In the closet?" you questioned.

Peter only shrugged.

Ned was twiddling his thumbs nervously. He seemed even more anxious than when you'd knocked on May's door.

"So Peter," he said. "How have you been?"

You shot an incredulous look his way as Peter raised his eyebrows in a defeated sort of way.

"I'm okay," Peter said in a dull tone.

You winced at the lifelessness of it.

Ned seemed to realize what he'd said. He was looking regretful. "I—I mean—"

You shook your head.

Ned stood up, his face pink. "Why don't I go make some hot chocolate?"

Neither you nor Peter answered as he trudged out of the room and down the hall.