A Bad Idea (Spideychelle)

Ch. 23: Let Me Love You

Peter POV

I crawled in through the window after a long night of patrolling. I'd checked in on MJ, glancing through her bedroom window before I went downstairs, but she was buried under a pile of blankets. I was too nervous to reach out, so I just went home.

"Hey, honey, how was patrolling?" May called from the kitchen. "You were out for a long time tonight."

"It was fine," I answered, pulling off my mask. "Hey, um, can you reach out to MJ? She didn't come to school today and I'm kinda worried about her." I slapped the centre of my chest, and my suit loosened, falling off of my body.

"Yeah, of course. I'll call her once I'm done dinner."

I pulled on some sweats and left my room, going out into the kitchen. May did a double take when she saw me.

"Are you okay, Peter?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine."

"You look exhausted," she said, leaving her post in front of the stove to come over and inspect my face. "Did you sleep at all last night?"

I pulled away, looking down. "No. I couldn't."

She sighed. "Alright, keep stirring the spot, I'll call MJ."

I forced a half-smile. "Thanks, May."

I took over dinner, stirring soup, while May sat down in the living room and called MJ. I watched her face as the phone rang.

"Hey, MJ, I just wanted to check in and see how you were doing."

"I'm...okay, I guess," MJ responded, voice garbled a little by the phone.

Man, thank goodness for super hearing.

"Have you eaten today? I just made some soup, I can bring some up and keep you company, if you want."

"I- yeah. Please. That'd be...really nice."

"Alright, I'll be up in a few."

"Thank you, May."

"Anytime."

May hung up, coming back into the kitchen.

"I'm gonna bring some dinner up for her. Do you think this soup is done?"

Without waiting for a response, she grabbed a spoon and tasted the soup, then scrunched up her face a bit trying to decide.

"Peter, give it a taste, tell me what you think."

I grabbed a clean spoon, and tasted the soup.

"It's really good," I told her, honestly. "MJ'll like it."

May smiled. "Okay. Can you fill a Tupperware and I'll go grab a book or something for MJ?"

"On it."

I found a ladle and a Tupperware, and packed up some soup for MJ. May came back with an old poetry book of hers, took the Tupperware, and kissed my forehead before leaving.

I got myself a bowl and poured some soup in, then sat down at the table.

Alone.

But I'd rather be alone than know MJ was alone.

MJ POV

When I opened the door, May immediately threw her arms around me, squeezing me tight.

"Hi," I breathed.

"It's good to see you," May said. "I missed having you around."

I don't know what it was, but I felt my chest tighten.