Fake Love

Desperate

Over the past two years Peter and Ned had been going to NYU, Peter wanted to stay in a small apartment because he wanted to stay near campus and thought it would be fun having Ned as a room mate. In the first two days they had ran out of food all together.

Ned had convinced Peter to ask May for some help, reluctantly he complied even though he convinced May he would be fine by himself. "I told you you'd need my help," she kept on telling Peter while she made up some meals for the two boys in the kitchen while Peter slumpt on the couch in defeat.

"You can't tell me these are the last packet of noodles," complained Peter from in the kitchen digging through one of the kitchen cupboards that had stacks of cans and bags of chips.

"Well I did have two for dinner last night," replied Ned from his bedroom after a few minutes allowing him to pause his computer game.

"May was right, I need her to survive," sighed Peter, his voice a bit muffled from the pouring rain coming from outside. He dumped the two-minute noodle packet on the bench and began to fill the kettle with water to boil.

"But look how long we have gone so far, a whole year," beamed Ned congratulating both Peter and himself for living in this apartment for this long without burning it down or something.

"I wouldn't call this surviving, we are barely scraping by with rent and all the other bills and I can't take too many shifts because of my studying..." rambled Peter.

Ned had now silently made his way into the kitchen and put his hand on Peter's shoulder while he tore open the seasoning packet. Ned came in really close to his face.

"It'll all work out some how," he recited exactly the was he always did to keep Peter calm each time he began to doubt himself.

Without warning a loud irritating knock came from the door. The two boys rushed to get it as it was very usual for them to get visitors other than May but they had already let themselves is bowling past them. 

"I'm using your couch losers," mumbled Mj as she pushed past them and just as she had stated, went straight to the couch.

"You can't just barge in like that," barked Peter, he and Mj didn't get in very well. She had always taken advantage of him and he couldn't help but let her walk all over him, he couldn't help it. She had a way with words that left him speechless in an argument.

"Too late now Parker I just did," she retorted pulling out her wet mass of hair from a hair band and rung it out.

"Your getting water everywhere!" exclaimed Peter putting his hands in the air in argument.

"It'll dry you big baby," ignored Mj, plonking herself onto the couch.

"Yeah come on Peter,"

"Ned your meant to be on my side," whined Peter, almost just automatically giving up on trying to get Mj to leave. But Ned had snuck back into his room to finish his game.

"Why are you even here Mj?" asked Peter, defeated, once again. He joined MJ by sitting on the arm rest of one of the couches.

"You know, annoying family, homework piling up, lack of sleep related to stress, just the normal," she listed with a big huff.

"Anyways I'm taking a nap on your sofa so if you don't mind, a little privacy," Mj demanded shoowimg Peter away with her hand.

"You can't just-"

"Ehh-hum," coughed Mj, once again signalling him to leave her in peace.

Peter stormed off in anger. I'm sick of her treating me like a pushover, Peter said to himself. When she wakes up, I'm going straight back out there and standing my ground he thought slamming the door behind him in hopes of disturbing Mj. He threw himself into his king-single bed and looked up at the fan which spun around slowly,  making him dizzy and soon sending him into a deep sleep.

Peter woke to the squeaky sound of the apartment door opening. He jumped up and ran into the small lounge room kicking the door from with his toe on the way throwing off his balance making him stumble.

"Is Mj gone?" asked Peter desperately to Ned, while he checked if his toe was broken but other things were racing through his head at a million miles a minute.

"I'm still here Parker, in fact I just got back," she smirked shoving three brown paper bags in Peter's hand.

"She brought us Chinese," Ned pipped in craning his neck to see last Mj.

"I felt bad for crashing here all of a sudden," explained Mj.

"MJ, feeling bad, that's a first," muttered Peter under his breath.

"I can eat this all myself," snapped Mj, making an attempt to snatch back the Chinese but Peter pulled it out of her reach.

"Come on dude, it's free food and we kinda need it," begged Ned for Peter to just get along with Mj for at least half an hour or so until she got bored and left.

"Fine," sighed Peter, siding with Ned mostly because he was still hungry after only eating half his noodles before falling asleep. So much for standing my ground,  Peter thought.

The each sat in silence at the small round table that sat next to the kitchen. Ned was happy picking away at his meal but Peter and Mj were giving each dirt looks and death glares.

"I know you didn't just come here to sleep on our couch and buy us food, come on spill the beans," interrupted Peter ending the silence.

"If you really want to know why I came, I came to ask a favour," answered Mj quietly.

"What is it?" asked Ned not sure if he wanted the answer of not, but Peter definitely did.

"I need one of you two dorks to pose as my boyfriend...-"

Food came flying out of Peter's mouth.

"Gross Parker," said Mj in disgust wiping bits of rice off of her shoulder.

"You want us to do what?" repeated Peter, not believing what he had just heard come out of Mj's mouth.

"I. Need. One. Of. You. To. Be. My. 'Fake'. Boy friend," stated Mj slowly and clearly.

"Uh why?" Ned thought Mj would already have a boyfriend with her good looks and slender body.

"Why would we help you?" inquired Peter, feeling like he had the higher advantage and Mj was the one grobbling for help.

"You get to come to a tropical island and chill out in luxury next week," bartered Mj, smirking at Peter.

"I would but I'm going back up North to visit family," advised Ned, with a hint of disappointment in his voice.

"That leaves one person left," implied Mj, turning her head to Peter slowly.

"No, No, No," refused Peter backing away. There were some things on Earth he wouldn't do, and this was one of them.

"Why not?" groaned Mj standing up in her chair making it squeak as the backs of her legs push it back.

"Its a free holiday!" added Ned who was actually seriously considering the offer.

"Not with Mj, why would I help you anyway, your always mean to me," pouted Peter in defiance chucking his arms in the arm and letting them fall to his sides with a 'slap'.

"Look, while we are on the trip, I'll 'try' not to tease you," offered Mj quietly. She was now practically begging him.

"Hmm, I'll think about it. Now leave me to think," stressed Peter holding his head in his hands.

"Just to let you know, everything is free, just bring yourself," added Mj before leaving so Peter wouldn't get anymore annoyed at her.

"What should I do, the free holiday part sounds amazing but pretending to be Mj's boyfriend may ruin that," argued Peter desperately wanting Ned to help him out.

"You should do it, the pros out way the cons and just remember, now she owes you something," listed Ned cleaning up the table full of Chinese containers and throwing them into the bin.

"I'll just sleep on it, maybe that will help. And lock that door so ahe can't get back in," ordered Peter as he trudged back into his room slowly.