NOW, KAELYN HAD ONE MYSTERY SOLVED. However, the affections of a boy were probably the least of her problems. Not that she was unhappy she had a (kind-of) boyfriend. They weren't really discussing labels they both had much bigger things to worry about. One of those things being the apparent supervillains running rampant in Manhatten. Not to mention the fact that after a few days hiatus, her amateur murder investigation was back on. At three in the morning after their night on the rooftop, Peter had snuck back into Kaelyn's apartment to help her reassemble her murder board. This time on her wall instead of the inside of her closet so it was much more organized than before. If Caden tried to get mad she would simply pack it up and leave again. She was over letting her brother control her like this. She was close enough to eighteen to be able to make at least some of her own decisions.

Now, a lot had happened in the past forty-eight hours, Kaelyn thought she would be able to expect most things that could happen. However, she did not expect to hear knocking on her window as the hands on her alarm clock were ticking towards morning. The noise awoke her so suddenly she yelped and fell out of bed.

There was the sound of faint laughter and she saw Beth outside her window, giggling at Kaelyn's misfortune. The redhead rolled her eyes before walking over to the window and unlocking it.

"What's up, Beth? It's been a while since you darkened my fire escape," she mused, her eyes still somewhat blurry and her voice groggy from sleep.

"You weren't texting me back!" Beth whisper-yelled as she climbed into the apartment.

"I was asleep!" the redhead defended herself, looking at her best friend in disbelief. "It's like three in the morning!"

Beth scoffed, "Please, it's only like two-fifty! Now, back to my emergency! Guess who called me crying because the boy she liked was dating someone else? Ahem, Liz Allan!"

"Didn't you comfort her at the party anyway? Why'd she call?" Kaelyn asked, crawling back into bed with her back against the wall and the covers just covering her legs.

"I attempted to, but she was pretending to be fine and I knew that wasn't true so I very subtly took my chance and gave her my number and told her that if there was anything she wanted to talk about I was totally there and bam! At one, I get a phone call and it's Liz! Her voice is like totally broken and this girl has definitely been crying and I asked her what was wrong and she said she didn't want to be affected by you and Peter dating, but she definitely was. Anyway, I told her that the best thing to do is move on because if you and Peter last it's going to break her so basically I have a favor! I need you and Peter to pretend to date long enough to make sure Liz is over him and into me! Got it, thank you so much, I love you, and you're an amazing best friend! Also, how are things with Caden? Is everything okay?"

It took about five minutes for the redhead to process everything her best friend had just spewed, especially since the girl usually spoke at about a mile a minute and tonight was no exception. After a moment, Kaelyn inhaled deeply before saying what she wanted to say.

"Me and Peter dating won't be a problem because we're kind of... like... dating. For real."

"I leave you alone for like five hours and you have a boyfriend? And you didn't tell me as soon as it happened?" the raven-haired girl sat back for a moment, her mouth agape, before she exploded in typical Beth fashion, "You have to tell me everything! Who asked who? What happened? Give me a play by play of everything that happened after I dropped you off until now. I cannot believe you are dating Peter Parker, oh my God! Do you know what's gonna happen once Caden finds out, though? If Peter steps foot into this apartment he is so dead, ugh! This is so exciting, I am so proud of you, Kae, you have no idea."

Kaelyn just squinted at her. She didn't have enough energy to comprehend anything right now and Beth was not making things easy for her in the slightest. Another beat of silence passed as she figured out how to put her words together.

"Caden kinda welcomed me home, but once he went to bed I just felt... suffocated, like I had to get out. So I went up to the rooftop like usual and Peter was there. We had some dramatic argument about what happened at the party and then he just said he didn't want to be friends and just kissed me. Blah, blah, we kissed again. Then I kinda asked him to be my boyfriend, I guess. Then we just... sat up there and talked for a bit. It was really nice. I mean, I feel different with him. Kind of like I do with you, where I can just let my walls down and just be me. That sounds dumb and this stupid high school relationship will probably go nowhere, but I just, I really like him, Beth."

"Well, I have some really awesome news for you, Kae," Beth said with a laugh, "He's your boyfriend. You're allowed to feel like that with him."

Although what Beth was saying was common sense and Kaelyn should have known that already, there was something about hearing those words from her best friend that felt different. As if having someone else tell her what was feeling was okay made it feel that much more real. The thought of Peter being her boyfriend was something happening on a different plane of existence, not right here, right now. Yet, here she was, right here, right now. Peter Parker was her boyfriend.

"Are you okay? You're zoning out on me?" her best friend waved her hand in front of her face, giggling as Kaelyn blinked back into reality. "I'm really happy for you, Kae. Plus, this gives me a way better chance with Liz. That was super selfish, but we both know I'm right."

"Thank you for being so supportive, this is the first time one of us has dated anyone, huh?"

Beth nodded. "I was ready to just convert you to lesbianism so we could give up on boys and just date each other, but Peter beat me before I could do anything."

The two girls looked at each other for a moment before they both burst into laughter. For the first time in a while, Kaelyn felt happy. She had a boyfriend, an awesome best friend, and for just a moment, everything was okay. She could forget about things like an unsolved murder, a weird sibling relationship, and recently discovered superpowers. Right now, she was okay and she didn't mind it. Kaelyn quite liked this feeling, but something was nagging at her telling her not to get used to it. For now, however, she was happy to ignore the nagging.

After their laughter died down, Beth's face got serious for a moment as she looked her best friend in the eyes. Her voice soft, almost sad, she said, "Just... don't forget about me, okay?"

"Oh, my God, Beth, I could never!" Kaelyn gasped before pulling the girl across from her into a tight, almost suffocating hug, "What would I do without my partner in crime? Literally! We committed probably multiple crimes today! Wouldn't have done that if I didn't have you by my side!"

They pulled away from the hug laughing and Beth's expression appeared to brighten a little when she spoke next, "Okay, okay, I get it! I just wanted to make sure! I absolutely support you and Peter being together and I'm super happy for you. I love you, Kaelyn, and I'm really glad you're happy."

"I love you, too, Beth, so much."

I've said it before and I'll say it again! Female friendships are important! Also sorry it's been a month since I updated this I have been very busy but I'm back and I'm going to try and have this book mostly done in a couple of months! If you're still reading, thanks for sticking with this story and I hope you'll stay with it for many chapters to come!