Broken But Not Alone

Chapter 4

While out on patrol Peter had gotten himself hurt, he got hit in the head and had a bruise on the side of his face that was pretty big.

He had left for school early leaving a note for May so she didn't worry,

May,
Sorry I had to leave early to do some decathlon thing at school. I'm getting something eat on my way. Love you.
Peter x

Of course none of that was true he just needed to figure out what he was going to do about his head. He climbed up to Ned's window and knocked so he knew it was him.

When he opened it for him Peter started to climb in only to trip and fall onto the floor he got up both of them laughing.

"Have you ever thought about using the door?" Ned asked still laughing.

"That is way to boring," Peter said also laughing.

"Okay yeah that's true. Well my mom just called me to say that she'd made breakfast, you wanting some?" Ned asked hoping he'd say yes.

"Yeah sure, thanks," he said smiling, seeing the look in Ned's eyes.

They both walked down the stairs and into the kitchen where Ned's mom had put his breakfast on the table.

"Morning mom, Peter's here," Ned said sitting down staring at his pancakes in front of him.

"Yeah I know I heard him fall in your window," she turned around with a smile on her face putting another plate of pancakes on the table for Peter. "It's good to see you again," she said smiling at him before starting her own.

Peter sat down next to Ned looking at his food realising he hadn't eaten in almost 3 days. "Thank you Mrs Leeds."

"No problem, there will always be a place here for you. But what happened to your face?"

"Oh it's uhh...it's nothing don't worry about it," Peter said now trying not to turn that side of his head toward Ned's mother.

"You sure it doesn't look like nothing," she said almost as worried as May was about his black eye.

"Wait was that Flash, I thought he only gave you the black eye," Ned said knowing how he got it trying to make it a bit better but after realising he only made it worse.

"Flash? He did this to you?"

"No, no it...it wasn't him. Like I said it doesn't matter I've got it figured out," he said finishing his pancakes only to realise how hungry he had been.

"Wow you were hungry, you wanting more?" She asked as Peter got up and cleaned his plate.

"No I'm good they were great though, thank you." Peter said about to sit back down looking at his hoodie sleeve seeing blood.

Shit, shit, shit what am I going to do?

"Do you mind if I use your bathroom?"

"Yeah of course. You know you don't need to ask," She said giving him a small smile.

After Peter had left the room he heard her and Ned talking. "Is he alright? He seems different, not himself you know."

"Yeah I know, I'm trying to get him to talk about it but he doesn't," Ned said as he put his plate in the sink.

Peter nearly broke down in Ned's bathroom he didn't know how to do this. He knew that the people closest to him could see through his smile.

But he didn't want to hurt them, he knew he had to make it more believable and he knew he couldn't go to school in the hoodie he was wearing. He splashed water in his face and left only to walk into Ned's dad.

"Oh hey Mr Leeds," he said smiling.

"Morning Peter, good to see you again," he said also smiling.

Peter walked into Ned's room where he'd been waiting for Peter. "So I guess you heard me and my mom?"

"Yeah, it's fine don't worry. I'm okay really," he said smiling. "But can I borrow a hoodie?"

Ned looked at the sleeve seeing the blood, is that why he always wears long sleeves? Is he doing this to himself?

Ned walked over to his closet and took out an old hoodie from when he was younger that he loved so he never threw it out.

He closed his bedroom door and threw the hoodie at Peter, "you gonna tell me what happened to your arm?" Ned was worried and had no idea what he was doing but he knew that saying nothing would be worse.

"It doesn't matter," Peter said keeping at a direction that Ned wouldn't be able to see the cuts or scars on his arms or wrists as he took his hoodie off. But Ned got up and turned Peter around grabbing his arms.

"This, this isn't nothing man." Ned saw how hard Peter was trying not to cry he let go of his arms and hugged him. "I'm sorry. Look I'm not going to ignore this, but I also don't know what to do but I'm here. I'm always here so talk to me next time, don't do this." Pulling away from the hug and getting his stuff ready for school.

"I'm sorry Ned," Peter said after he'd put Ned's hoodie on.

"What for?"

"For not telling you, for pretending to be fine for so long. For trying to push you away." Peter was forcing himself not to cry.

"You have nothing to apologise for Peter. I saw in your eyes you weren't okay but I didn't say anything. I don't know if it was more because I didn't know what to say or I was scared of the answer," Ned said putting his bag on his back. "But I would never let you push me away because I saw how much you were trying to hold on."

"Thank you. I'll talk to you next time," Peter said he tried to fake a smile.

"Peter y..." Ned was interrupted but knocking on the door.

"Guys you're both going to be late, what's taking you so long." Ned's dad said.

"Shit I can't be late again," Peter said picking up his hoodie putting it in his bag as they both ran down the stairs saying bye and leaving.