Superhero? •PETER PARKER•

Chapter 24

I walk into Eddie's and he smiles at me. "Stella! How's your daddy?" He asks.

"Oh you know works more than ever," I say. "Slice of cheese," I say. He makes a face like he took a oof to the stomach.

"Can't do slices anymore," Eddie says.

"You serious?" I ask him.

"Fraid so," He says sadly. "I can do a whole pizza," he says. I sigh.

"Yeah okay," I say putting the twenty down. "I'll just stick around," I say sitting in a booth. I go through my phone as the door swings open. I look up and see Peter.

"Hey Ed can I get a slice of cheese?"  Peter says pulling out a five.

"No more slices Peter," Eddie says. Peter looks disappointed.

"Come on man I don't have enough for a whole pizza."

"Your Aunt with ya?" Eddie asks. Peter looks confused.

"Uhhh, no," Peter says a little awkwardly.

"Then no pizza."

"Ah come on why would that make a difference? What kind of New York pizza joint doesn't do slices?"

"We on strict budget Peter. Now maybe I'd figure something out for your very hot Aunt, but just you. Can't," Eddie explains. He turns back around and grabs sees my pizza in the ready window. He sings a bell. "Carmichael it's pizza time," he says. Peter turns around as I stand up and get my pizza box.

"Hey Stella," he says lightly.

"Hi Peter," I say grabbing the box and heading back to my booth. I open the box and mind my own business. It's this new thing I'm trying. I put my AirPods in and start watching a random YouTube video. I see Peter and Eddie still chatting but I'm trying not to listen in as I eat. I get a text from my dad that says he's caught up at the lab and won't be home until late. I roll my eyes and go back to my video. I wince a little at a car horn outside that's too loud and look out the window taking another bite of my pizza. I see my reflection in the window and see Peter behind me I turn and take one of my AirPods out. "What Peter?" I ask.

"You waiting for someone?" He asks. I shake my head. "You gonna way that whole pizza yourself?"

"Peter I said leave that poor girl alone," Eddie says with a pizza cutter in his hand.

"It's alright Eddie, he's a friend," I say gesturing for Peter to sit down. He sits across for me and slides his five dollars across the table as he takes a slice. I slide it back to him.

"Oh come on, I'm not gonna be a thief," he says already taking a bite.

"Peter I don't want your money," I say. "Eat as much as you want I just wanted a slice," I say glancing at Eddie. He huffs and goes into the kitchen.

"MJ said there was a whole fight at lunch today. Said you were a real bitch to Betty," Peter says mouth full of pizza. I shrug.

"Yeah I guess I was. Your boy Ned helped me out of that one," I say taking a drink of water. Peter smiles.

"He helped me all summer with MJ he's good when it comes to girls, surprisingly," he says taking another slice of pizza.

"What was it like having a whole vacation right after the blip?"

"I honestly didn't know if I'd go. Seemed like all the pressure from Mr. Stark's death really was crashing in on me. Especially with the other Avengers gone." He looks out the window and looks up at the Avengers tower. I sigh. "I don't even know where they are. Last I heard from them was," he stops as he gets a text. He looks reads it. "Shit! I was supposed to do that stupid Spider-Man meet and greet down at the shelter," he says tossing his phone. "Now I've let Aunt May down too." I hear him think. I look down at his hand and want to take it but I figure it won't help him like it does me. I clear my throat.

" I better be getting home," I say sliding out of the booth.

"Hey, Wait," He says stopping me. I turn and look at him. "Uhh," He looks down at the pizza I left. "Don't you want your pizza?" He asks. I let out a small laugh and shake my head.

"No Parker, that's all yours," I say. I start to walk out and wave to Eddie. He waves back. As I walk down the street I can still hear Eddie back in the restaurant.

"Boy you got it bad for her," he says.

"What? No no," Peter replies. "I, I have a girlfriend. Stella," he clears his throat. "Stella's just a friend, I guess."

"Peter ain't no one in here thinks you just wanna be her friend," Eddie says. "Go after her."

"You're crazy Ed," Peter says. "I don't," He pauses. "I don't like her like that," he adds. I shake my head and look around realizing I've stopped walking and have been leaning on a wall near by.

"Stella quit," I tell myself. I start running figure eights on my own hand and shake my head again as I begin to walk home.