"Thank you." Peter hoarsely whispers.

You see, it has been days since I've heard from my childhood best friend Peter. He wasn't showing up to classes and he wasn't answering any of my calls or messages. Obviously, I knew something was up. I know my best friend. I hop the subway line to Peter's stop he gets off for the apartment he lives with his aunt May and uncle Ben. Or at least, Ben used to live there. He was shot. Ben is gone. Ben and May took Peter in when he was just an infant boy and raised him like their own. I barely remember Peter's kind parents and nor does he but Ben was his second dad. When I knocked on the apartment door May stared at me a second with her pretty but tear-stained face.

"Thank god for coming!" May exclaims giving me a bone-crushing hug.

"Where's Peter?" I pause, "Where's Ben?"

With the face May pulled I knew my answer. I knocked on Peter's door to no avail. Softly I tried to coax him out, or at least to let me in. No such luck. So I slide down the door with my back to it.

"Let's do this!" I exclaim, "You've done this for me multiple times so now it's my turn." I pause waiting to see if Peter would respond, "I ain't giving up on you Petey. You didn't for me." Again I wait for a reply but no, "How long was you out here for last time for me? Five hours?" I question.

"E-eleven." I hear a response.

"That's it Parker point out my maths errors, like usual." I laugh to try and lighten the mood, "You're not gonna keep me that long are you?" I ask drawing it out, "I've got Nerds and I want to see your cute face, no matter how many tears stain it." I sigh frustrated at the lack of communication, "I suppose I earnt this huh? Karma's a bitch." I laugh again to try and lighten the given situation.

But then I hear the unlocking of his door and May's relieved sigh. She quickly scatters to give us privacy as Peter slowly opens his bedroom door.

"You've got a cute face too, Y/nn."

My heart broke at the state of Peter and now I truly understood how he felt when it was the other way round. Peter's hair was a mess like he'd ran his hands through it several times. With bloodshot eyes and a stutters voice Peter pulled me gently in his room, locking his door after us. He embraced me in a tight hug where both of our tears were shed. I held the fifteen year old boy for a while. Then he quietly explained about the spider bite, the changes, the Spiderman suit and about Ben.

"Don't thank me." I pause, "You've done it countless times for me in the past." I smile softly.

It had been a week since I came. The funeral was a couple of days and I stayed throughout it all. Now May is a strong women but she was wracking with sobs. Peter even though he feels a paramount of guilt - and shouldn't - still put a brave face on.

"I don't care. It means a lot. I never stayed this long." Peter mumbles quietly.

"I'm here for you okay Parker? No matter how long I have to stay I got you. Always." I say squeezing his hand.

"You're amazing you know that right?" Peter smiles a small smile.

"I know." I shrug comically which earns a laugh, "Now you stay safe." I murmur.

"Always, for you."