ILLUSIONS ― p. parker

four

Mr. Dell draped a towel over your shoulders. You shivered and thanked him, sipping from the hot cocoa from the local café.

"Where did it come from?" MJ asked, sitting next to you.

"Who cares? What about that new superhero that totally took it down?" Brad said, next to her.

You glanced up at the TV relaying the coverage on the destruction. They called the new superhero 'Mysterio'. You thought he was cool. I mean, he did save your life and all. Countless canal ways were going to have to be rebuilt. Not to mention the bell tower and other walkways.

Despite your near death experience, all that was on your mind was Peter and you hated it. You scolded yourself for dwelling on him so much. If he didn't want to tell you, his best friend for fifteen years, that he was a superhero, fine. It was all fine.

Still you couldn't shake off the sting of exclusion that radiated off of him.

'I'm sorry, it's complicated.' he said. It wasn't really, now that you thought about it.

He had avoided you ever since the attack. You were okay with that, you needed to get over the shock yourself. But soon, maybe tonight, you'd ask him to talk to you.

-------------------------------------------

You knocked softly on the boy's room, hoping to find an excuse to get rid of Brad. 

"Come in!" 

You entered to Brad and Peter in a stare-off. Ned sighed, laying back on his bed. He shrugged at you.

You cleared your throat, gaining the attention of the two. "Sorry to interrupt... whatever this is, but Brad, MJ wants to talk to you." It wasn't technically a lie, MJ didn't get a chance to talk to Brad since this morning.

Brad's eyes lit up and he sent Peter a smirk. "Thanks, Y/n." he said before heading over to you and the other girls' room.

Peter spun around to face the mirror and ran his hands through his hair. "I can't believe him."

You raised an eyebrow, sitting next to Ned. "Do you know about Peter's secret too?"

Ned sat up abruptly, making you bounce on the bed. "What secret? No. I-- no secrets here." 

You raised an eyebrow. "I'm taking that as a yes." You turned to Peter. "Why didn't you tell me you were Spiderman?"

Peter's eyes avoided you and he scoffed. "Me? Spiderman? Do you know how ridiculous that is?"

"Don't deny it," You said getting up to make him face you. "Peter, we've known each other for our lives. I don't know why you think I can't tell when you're lying and hiding something."

He sighed. "Okay, it's true. I'm Spiderman. But you have to swear not to tell anyone, okay? I'm trusting you."

But you didn't trust me. You nodded anyways. "I swear. I had my suspicions and just wanted to hear it from you."

All three of you sat on the bed. It was awkward.

Ned's phone dinged. "Oh! That's Betty. Since Brad is over with MJ, she wants me to come as well. Welp, bye guys!"

A few seconds passed before Peter spoke up again.

"Sorry, Y/n, for keeping it from you." Peter sighed and laid back. "It's just... I don't want you to get hurt. The only reason Ned knew was by accident. And I'm still worried if there are people that are going to use him-- and you, now-- against me." He ran his hands over his face.

You softened. You hadn't thought of that. You opened your hair (or just left it) and combed through it with your fingers. "Hey, no worries. I swear your secret is safe with me." You grinned at him, and he returned the gesture.

You lay back with him. "I can't believe my best friend, the one who's always been sorta shy, is a superhero." 

"I'm full of surprises." Peter said, chuckling. He looked over at you and you to him. Both were caught in a trance before Peter sat up abruptly. "Well, it's getting late."

You nodded and left. You went to tie your hair (or put in a headband or something,) but your elastic/headband wasn't with you. Probably back with Peter, you thought, turning around and heading back.

You opened the door. "Pete, I think I left--" You stopped when you were met with an unfamiliar face. He was fairly old with an eyepatch. He was dressed in all black and had many weapons. One of them being a gun, which he was pointing to your face...

You ducked when the man pulled the trigger, missing the bullet by a hair. 

"Wait! Don't tranq her, she knows my secret." Peter's voice rang out.

The man motioned for you to follow him. "Alright, little lady. You know too much."

Your nervousness was silenced when you saw Peter in his suit, outlining his muscles. You blushed and followed the man, partly reluctant and partly excited.