Just Out of Reach

Ch. 11: Got To Get You Off My Mind

"Got to get you off of my mind. I know it's just a matter of time. You've found somebody new and our romance is through. Gonna throw your picture away. You didn't love me any old way. You've found somebody new and our romance is through." - Solomon Burke

* * *

The clouds were big, fluffy, and moving at a pace that could have lulled you to sleep as you laid on your back on the soft yellow and white gingham blanket under the sun. It was the blanket that remained in your closet all through the winter just waiting for the nice picnicking weather to arrive. And this year, with everything going on during the warmer spring days, the blanket had lain forgotten.

But it was your last day of finals and the sun was bright and shining. It was the kind of warm day that you felt like you could cry from how perfect the temperature was, and when you'd walked out of your last final of the year to see Thandie and Lazlo waiting for you with a picnic basket in one hand and the blanket tucked waiting under Lazlo's arm ... you almost cried.

"I think we could do better on the tarts," Thandie said, shoving another bite-sized raspberry tart into her mouth, "I think it's the jam."

"Too thick," you agreed with a yawn, "We'll do better next time."

"I thought they were fine," Lazlo pouted.

"We know. You ate five of them," Thandie giggled and poked Lazlo in the shoulder.

"Hey, how was your date last night?" you asked suddenly, rolling onto your stomach and propping yourself up on your elbows, "You never told me."

Thandie rolled her eyes and plucked at some of the grass surrounding you. You couldn't remember the last time the three of you had all relaxed at Central Park. Your days prior to interning at Stark Industries and having a normal college experience seemed like another world.

"It was fine," Thandie muttered while blushing.

"You know you don't have to be embarrassed about liking Jason, right?" you smirked, "It's cute."

"I just feel stupid," Thandie wailed, "He's not what I expected and after finding out about our history, I just feel like an idiot for trying to pretend I didn't like him for so long. He's so dorky."

"I mean, he's kind of hot," Lazlo pointed out, "You just liked having the power to make him ask you out over and over."

You laughed as Thandie threw the last tart at Lazlo. You watched the two of them laugh and interact before closing your eyes and rolling onto your back. Taking in a long breath, you let it out and pictured yourself sinking through the gingham and being rolled up in its soaked up warmth. It had been a week since your birthday and though you'd enjoyed spending moments like this with your friends, there was a tension no one was talking about.

You'd gotten a very flustered call from MJ, who had found out about Peter breaking up with you through Thandie. Harley had then of course texted you, which had also included a casual text from Tony 'just checking in' to which you responded, "Ah ... so you heard?"

You'd done your crying in private and you'd attempted to keep a strong façade, but you'd cracked a few times - at trivia night (which you shouldn't have gone to in the first place but you'd tried your best), and when you were doing laundry and found one of Peter's hoodies in your basket.

Your friends had declared war on Peter, which included Peter's friends, and that didn't settle right with you. Peter and MJ had been doing alright finally, and now she was fuming with a burning fiery rage about "how she knew this would happen and even though Peter said it wouldn't, he had proven himself to be a dick."