Peter's POV

"Dude, this is epic. We're going to a real party that we were invited to without anyone thinking that you'd hook them up with Spiderman!" Ned cheers as he adjusts his hat.

I can barely focus on what he's saying. I haven't been able to really focus on anything since I last saw Y/N. She looked so scared about whatever secret she wants to tell me. It worries me, what could she be hiding that would be so bad? What would make her so think that i could ever hate her?

"You okay?" Ned questions when he notices my lack of response and enthusiasm. "I thought you would be pumped about this. It's Y/N's party, which she personally invited you to. You know, Y/N, the girl you've been practically in love with for the past few months?"

I shake my head to dispel the cloud of worry and allow a smile to make its way across my face at the thought of her. Y/N. The girl who's had me falling harder every day. "Yeah, I know. I'm just a little nervous. I don't want to embarrass myself in front of her--or her friends--or her siblings." The list just keeps continuing in my head bringing back an onslaught of nerves.

It doesn't help when the place Y/N told us the party's at comes into view. "Peter, deep breaths. You're Spiderman; if you can face a bunch of bad guys, you can definitely handle a party with your crush for a little bit. Plus, I'll be your guy in the chair. I've got your back the whole time."

"You're right." I tell him with a nod and shift the small package I got for Y/N between my sweating palms. My heart feels like it's going to beat through my ribcage right now, but I can't shake the excitement of seeing her again. "Alright, let's do this."

The music immediately greets us as we step through the door. People crowd the dance floor and bar area, each one smiling, laughing, and clearly having fun. The blonde woman, who I assume is Y/N's sibling, approaches us with a smile. "Hi, welcome to the party!" She cheers and her eyes widen in recognition, "Wait, you're Peter, right?"

I nod, feeling my throat close up with nerves. "Y-yeah, that's me, and this is Ned. We're--um--friends of Y/N's."

Her smile only grows and there's a strange glint in her eyes. "Oh, I know. She's been talking about you non-stop. It's nice to finally meet you. I'm Lila, her older sister. Ben's behind the bar–no alcohol allowed, and Y/N is most likely dancing. There's snacks and--"

Her voice fades away as I catch sight of her. Hair floating around her, hands lifted, and a dazed smile on her features. It makes my breath catch in my throat at the sight of her. She looks absolutely gorgeous and carefree. Our eyes meet, and I swear I don't know where I'm at for a second.

Y/N's POV

He's here. The thought rings in my head as I nervously wrap my arms around myself. What if he saw? What if he's already under the influence of the Song? I know I shouldn't have let myself go just yet. I should have hung back, socialized instead of dancing before he got here.

"H-hi, Y/N." Peter stutters with wide eyes, and I don't reply. Instead, I just smile and wrap him up in a tight hug wanting nothing more than the comfort he brings. His arms tentatively wrap around my waist, and we stay like that for a long moment.

Lila clears her throat and gives me a half-scolding, half-knowing look. "Y/N, don't be rude. You have more than one guest here."

I shake my head at her and give Ned a hug. "Hi, guys. I'm so excited you came! C'mon, the party's just starting." I tell them excitedly as I grab their hands and tug them along after me.

"Wait, Y/N." Peter stops after a few steps and nervously shifts on his feet. I can't help but smile a little at how nervous he is. It reminds me of all the reasons I keep wishing that Peter is it. "I-um-Happy Birthday."

Normally, the phrase makes me nauseated beyond belief. I've hated my birthday, ever since I turned seventeen for the first time. But when Peter says it, it finally feels like something worth celebrating.

I watch him softly, admiring the way the lights dance across his features as he offers me a small package. "You really didn't have to get my anything, Peter. I'm just glad you came."

He presses it into my hands and signs, "It doesn't matter. I wanted to." We share a smile that makes my heart swell. "Open it."

The paper crinkles under my fingers as I peel it back. Underneath is a small white box, which holds a small necklace with a coffee cup charm. "To commemorate how we met and our friendship started." Peter whispers, and I hold back tears as I pull him into another hug. "I can help you put it on if you want."

I hastily nod and allow him to gently place it around my neck. It rests perfectly below my collarbone, and I touch it to remind myself that somehow Peter Parker truly exists. He smiles at the gesture, which gives me enough courage to ask, "Dance with me?"

Peter just looks at me nervously but agrees and allows me to drag him to the middle of the dance floor. I can't help but let out a small laugh. He stands there, fidgeting fingers, wide eyes, and swaying back and forth. "C'mon, Pete! I know you can do better than that." I tell him with quick fingers and a wide smile.

He looks at me with uncertainty, but I just grab his hands. The beat carries away my worries about tonight. My hips sway to the beat, and soon enough, Peter is dancing right alongside me. His laugh fills my ears as he tries to stay on beat. And dang. As much as he will refuse to think it, the boy can dance.

I can't help it. Peter's presence makes me feel free. His smile brings warmth through my body, his laugh music to my ears, and his eyes make me feel seen like no one else has ever done before. It's enough to let the beat overtake my thoughts and movements.

The party swells under the influence of my Song. Friends laugh louder, crushes finally make their move, and Peter--well, he surprises me. He places his hands on my waist, utterly halting my movements, and I notice a gleam in his eyes beneath the gloss of the Song. I want to scream in joy.

It's him.

Peter Parker is my Hope.

It's the last thought I have before the room goes fuzzy. Peter leans in. My breath catches in my throat as his breath fans over my lips. He closes the distance, and our lips meet. It sends the room into a haze, and I can only think about the wondrous boy holding me in his arms and kissing him back.

We both pull away, smiling like idiots and trying to catch our breath. "Wow." Peter smiles, that extra glimmer still present in his eyes. "That--you--wow." I chuckle at the comment, but the sound dies in my throat when I catch Ben and Lila watching with bittersweet smiles.

"Peter, I" My movements stutter as the confidence wavers, "I should probably explain that secret to you now. There's a lot you need to know." His expression shifts, the previous happiness fading to concern. "Follow me." I take his hand in mind and lead him away from the crowded party into the employee lounge.

"Y/N," Peter calls when I don't turn to face him. When I do, he frowns at the sight of my tears. "Hey, what's wrong. You can tell me."

"You might want to sit down for this." Ben says as he slips in behind us. I give Peter's hand a squeeze as we both take a seat. "Don't worry, I'm just here to translate and fill in the blanks. Y/N said you know basic ASL, but we thought it best to not leave anything to misinterpretation."

Peter's eyes bounce between the pair of us, growing clearly more anxious with each moment that passes without an explanation. "First, I know you trusted me with your secret, and I hope I can do the same with you." I tell him with trembling fingers. "I'm--we're Sirens."

His eyebrows furrow as he looks back to Ben for confirmation. "Wait, sirens. Like in the Odyssey?"

I shake my head, "No, those weren't sirens. At least, not like us. We are people who were cursed at some point in our lives. Cursed to never age, to never know happiness, to never know love, and to never be the people we were before. Not until we found something--or in most cases--someone. It's called the Siren's Sorrow. Each one of us has something wrong. Mine is my lack of voice.

"It ties in with our lives before. Sometimes it's not clear how, but mine is because I loved to sing. My father used to tell me I was born a songbird in a girl's body." I pause, forcing myself to take a deep breath as I continue. "When he left, my mom changed. She became paranoid, worried that I would get hurt or taken advantage of. So she took me to some psychic's shop, told me that it was a birthday present, and made me into this.

"She let the woman take my voice, my future, everything. I thought I was as good as dead." I can't hold back the tears anymore as I finish. "I ran, as far away as I could before my mother could ruin me any further. I thought I was a monster back then. People were acting differently around me."

Ben places a hand on my shoulder and continues. "We found her in Brooklyn, scared, alone, and starving. She didn't have any control over her Song back then." Peter gives him a puzzled look, and Ben offers him a further explanation. "It's the rare piece of the siren myth that's true for us. Each of us has a way of 'singing' our song. It's how we search for our Hope. Y/N's Song is dancing. Body language is the equivalent to her voice."

Peter's eyes widen when it settles in, and I close my eyes too terrified to see how he's looking at me. I don't want to see him watch me with hatred, betrayal, or disgust at what I am. "Only the siren's Hope can't be influenced by the song." I sign, and Ben repeats it to Peter. "You were never under any influence of mine, Peter."

Ben relays my message and continues. "We're telling you this, because you weren't influenced by her Song. You have the opportunity to be her Hope."

"What--what does that even mean?" He pauses, takes a shaky breath, and continues. "I'm still a little lost."

I open my eyes, barely managing to meet his. "It means, you can break the curse--for me, at least. There's not really an easy way to explain it, but you have to be willing. It's a process, which I don't really understand entirely, but if it works, I can be free. I could have my voice back, age like you, and have a second chance."

I drop my hands into my lap, fiddling with a frayed edge of my jacket before continuing. "Look, I understand if you don't want to, but please, know that I never meant to trick or lie to you. I really care about you, Peter Parker, and I'm glad it was you. No matter what you decide."

Peter watches me with those beautiful brown eyes that still make me melt. I can see the emotions battling in his mind. He just stays silent, and I accept that his decision might not be what I was hoping for.

Maybe I was wrong. Because now, there's a look in his eyes that tells everything I need to know.

"I'm gonna go." I tell them and try my best to not run out. My friends don't notice as I slip out of the pub and run all the way back to our apartment. There's an ache in my chest that's burying itself deeper than anything I've ever felt before. It settles in my bones and wraps around me like a blanket as I cry myself to sleep, completely unbothered by my wrinkling clothes and smudging makeup.