In love With Peter Parker: TIED TO THE FAMILY (BOOK 2)

PART 5

*MATTHEW*

I zipped through the house, stringing webs here and there. This had to be perfect. Happy birthday, spelled in big, silky letters decorated the front door.

Bringing my hands together, I made a ball of web's and shaped it to my desire. Soon, there were 15 of them strewn about the living room. Homemade balloons! I stood back admiring my work. Mom and Dad would love it. Well, maybe Dad would. Mom would probably look at all of it and go "eh. I've seen better." Not in a mean way, just a sarcastic way. The way of mom.

Lauren walked into the living room, her golden curls jumping. "Matt! Can I ask you what you're doing?"

I shrugged. "Daddy said to help decorate."

She shook her head and picked up a balloon of web's. It melted in her hands. "If decorate means clean up the entire house later, then you got one thing right."

I bit my lips and scanned the room. She did have a point. Maybe I shouldn't have put sticky stuff all over. I went to go pick it up, but I heard a key insert the door and the handle jiggled. Quickly grabbing Lauren, I launched myself into the ceiling. She got the idea and tucked her legs in between mine, that stuck to the ceiling.
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"AUGHHH!" The scream cut through the house like glass. It was so high, I lost my grip and went hurling to the ground. "Surprise?" I squeaked.

Now 13 year Azelia groaned. "Matthew! Dad did you let him decorate? He's worse then mom!"

Mom locked eyes with me. I widened my eyes pleasingly. She huffed to Azelia. "At least your brother tried. What did you do for his 10th birthday? Nothing. So shut up and say thank you."

Dad's head sweeped from Azelia's lethal glance and moms absolutely murderous one. Mom could give you a look, that's for sure.

Eventually Azelia folded and shifted her gaze to me. "Thanks Matt." 

I nodded.

With a satisfied grin, we were taken to the kitchen table.
"So mom, dad. You goin' on patrol tonight?" Azelia asked innocently, biting into a grape. I scrunched my face into an ew expression. "Vampire," I mumbled. She smacked me in the back of the head.

Mom raised an eyebrow and walked to the counter for a banana. "Well yes, Azelia. Why?"

She shrugged. "I dunno. I was wondering if I could maybe help a little?" Dad perked up immediately. He looked at mom. "Sure," mom said at the same time dad said, "no, never."

They looked at one another again. "Yes," mom said. "No!" Peter said again. Azelia looked back and forth.

Mom dragged dad into their room. With my heightened senses, I could hear everything. "Why?" Dad said. I heard the floor rumbling. Mom was pacing. "Because, Peter. She's gonna do it anyways. Why not help her on her path to success?"

"No. I can't allow it. I can't. I love her too much! What if she makes a rookie mistake of oh I don't know, straying from the plan! Like she always does. And what about Matthew? What if he wants to follow in our footsteps. One of us is going to wind up dead and it can't be them. Or you. But you make your own decisions, even though I'd rather you not."

I heard moms voice now. It sounded offensive. "You think I can't do this?" She demanded. The pacing stopped. So it was dad.

Dead silence. "Want my honesty? You can. You're more capable than I am honestly. But men, men see you're a woman. And men... they think they have something to prove. That men are stronger than women. They'll try stuff on you. It's not that you can't do this. It's that they can't stop that."

Mom huffed. "Okay Peter. You win this one. But we if she goes out on her own, that's on you."

"Not even that, Betts. Not even that. We'll teach her. Just not in a time of need."

The bed creaked as if someone was getting on or off of it.

I redirected my attention to the fruit bowl, glancing at mom and dad who opened the door seconds later. Mom opened her mouth to say something, but Dad caught my eye and leaned into her ear. She nodded. Her fists clenched and her eyes narrowed as she looked at Azelia speechless. Azelia nodded sadly. They were mind talking. Suddenly Azelia groaned.

"What! Mom he's ten, he can watch himself!" Betty said something else and Azelia calmed down a little. "Fine," she muttered, then slumped up the stairs.

I watched the entire encounter and dad came over and sat next to me. "You heard everything?" He asked. I shrugged. "How did ya know?"

Dad tapped his head. "You're just like me. Intelligent without limit. Also, the spidey sense is nice to have."

I grinned.

"Yeah I guess so. By the way dad, I don't think superhero life is for me. I'd rather watch from the sidelines and help when I have to, not when I can. I don't know why mom and Azelia want to do it so bad." Dad shrugged. "Women," he said. I smiled to myself. "Women."