[hero, the hard way]↣ p. parker | t.s daughter

|fifteen| - edited

It had been four weeks. Four weeks since the ice cream date with Kayden, four weeks since Peter told me he didn't really like Kayden. Peter didn't like Kayden, but god, I did. We were partners in New Engineering for every project, he was over almost every day after school for homework help. He really likes me, loves me, even. That's what he said. Ari, I love you. After the amputation I dubbed myself unlikeable, but Kayden? He loves me.

Peter was concerned, though. And I mean, maybe, I see his point. Kayden gets mad easily, he yells, he would grab my wrist if I tried to move away from him. Sometimes Kayden isn't exactly nice, but he loves me.

"Ari, hey," Peter said softly, popping into my room. I jumped a bit, startled. It's nothing. I never used to get spooked before Kayden, before he would yell and grab onto me. It's nothing.

"Oh, hey," I said with a smile.

"Kayden's here." He said plainly. I nodded in affirmation, and he turned to leave.

"Pete, are we okay?" I asked warily. He froze, and I could almost see him debating it.

"Of course we are," Is what he settled on, "I'll tell him you want him in here?" I nodded again. Peter disappeared.

[PETER PARKER POV]

"Pete, are we okay?" Ari asked, and I froze in my escape. My mind flickered back to the conversation, if you could even call it that, that I had with Kayden a few weeks ago.

"What did I tell you about hanging out with Ari all the time? She's not your issue anymore, Pedro. She's mine." Kayden passed me as I walked out of her room.

"She was never my issue. She's not some task that I took on and I don't think you should talk about her like that." I said firmly. He rolled his eyes and took a step towards me. I didn't step back.

"Whatever, dude. Just do me a favor, man to man, and back off."

Before I had time to argue, he went into Ari's room and clicked the lock.

"Of course we are," I said with a smile. My mind flicked back to just a moment ago, when she jumped after I walked in. Ari was always very stoic, hard to startle. What was going on? "I'll tell him you want him in here?" I offered, and she nodded. I forced my lips into something that resembled a smile and went to find Kayden.

"She's in her room, you can just go in," I said flatly. Kayden grabbed his bag and nodded.

"Cool," He said just as monotonously. He walked past me and hit my shoulder. I rolled my eyes, I really don't like this guy. But he makes Ari happy. All I want is for Ari to be happy and if that means that she's with him, instead of me, then so be it.

[ARI STARK POV]

"Hey, Kayden," I greeted him warmly with a smile, standing up off my bed. I pulled him into a hug and his lips found mine. It wasn't like the stories go, it didn't feel like fireworks. It was just a kiss. He broke away first.

"You and Peter, should I be worried?" He asked seriously. I took a step back but he grabbed my right wrist with his left, locking me into place.

"How many times do I have to tell you, Peter and I have only ever been friends," I sighed. The grip on my wrist tightened and I visibly winced.

"See, I would believe you, but I see the way he looks at you. Talks about you." He snapped back.

"You guys talk about me?"