CHAPTER THIRTEEN 

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The last week went by in a blur.

Mae is seated in the police station next to Gwen, her hand on hers as the blonde weeps in silence.

It's challenging for Mae to keep in her tears as well.

The entire city, if not the whole world is still in shock at what occurred during the past week. The media is still in a frenzy about it, not letting the NYPD breathe. They don't even let them grieve for the loss of their captain.

Captain Stacy, the Chief of NYPD, her mom's friend and Gwen's dad is dead.

Gone.

And Gwen hasn't stopped crying since, Mae has made sure not to leave her best friend's side for more than ten minutes. She still sleeps over at Gwen's place even though her mother and Sarah are back home. Mae just can't handle the thought of leaving Gwen alone when she is grieving.

There is a difference between giving someone space to grieve over the loss of a loved one and just leaving them to cry alone. Mae knows this, unlike a certain someone.

Mae is still clueless about what's going on with Peter. She tried reaching out to him multiple times the past week, and not once did he answer. He didn't respond to any of his texts, and after four days of trying to get in touch, Mae gave up with a heavy heart.

Truth is, Captain Stacy died in front of Peter. She doesn't know what happened between them before he died, doesn't know if the captain knew who Spider-Man really was, but Mae knows that his death took a toll on Peter as well but unlike Gwen, Peter is suffering in silence.

That breaks her heart a little.

Mae feels responsible for that, in a way. Gwen has people she can grieve with, her family and her other friends. But in Peter's case, Mae is the only one who knows the truth about him, so really she should just drop everything and walk up to his door, knocking until he opens up.

But Mae also knows that she can't force that, or at least that's what she has been telling herself. She has been trying, and all her efforts so far have been one-sided. She can't do anything if he wasn't willing to reach out to her first. Mae won't accept this to anyone, but he could just text her a 'hi' and she would instantly drop everything and climb up into his room without thinking twice.

Of course, she can't do that. But that doesn't mean she doesn't want to.

Besides, any mention of Peter is forbidden now, because Gwen is furious at him. And if Mae was in her place, she would be too. It broke Gwen's heart when Peter didn't come to her father's funeral- both of them kept calling him but he just wouldn't answer.

Mae suspects that he may have actually been there, watching from afar, as the guilt gnawed at him. She should really just drop everything and go up to him, shouldn't she?

There hasn't been any news on Spider-Man since then either. Mae is kinda worried about him.

Kinda.

Mae and Gwen scurry out of their seat when the door to what used to be Captain Stacy's opens and reveals a tall, sturdy man walking out.

Billy Raymond is over six feet tall, and he wears the same annoyed expression constantly. Mae has never seen the man without that look, although she has only met him a handful of times during the week.

Raymond is going to replace Gwen's father as the chief of police, and that doesn't sit well with Mae. He's known to be an avid opposer of anything related to superheroes, supervillains or superpowers. You get the drill. He has got to be the world's least cool man if you ask Mae.

He blames Nick Fury as 'the reason for this world's damnation' and hates him with a burning passion. Mae didn't care much before, but now that he's chief of police and her entire family is involved with the man Raymond considers his biggest nemesis, Mae thinks that it's safe to say that she's screwed if he ever gets word of it.

Not to mention that he hates Spider-Man too. Rumour has it that he and JJ Jameson (aka Spider-man's number one hater) are going to collaborate to diss on the 'vigilante' together. Mae resists the urge to roll her eyes when Raymond greets her and Gwen.

"Evening girls," He says and Mae cannot understand how he refuses to smile even now. He turns away from Mae and looks at her blonde best friend.

"Miss Stacy, I have something to tell you, if you will," Raymond says as he studies Gwen's confused expression, his face revealing nothing about what is running in his head.

Gwen bobs her head, "Of course," she says softly, before looking back to meet Mae's eyes. "You can go home now, if you want, Mae. Thank you for staying with me." She gives Mae's hand a squeeze.

Mae's heart swells and she smiles back at her silver-blonde friend. "I need to be somewhere now, but I'll be back Gwen. Take care, I love ya."

Gwen chuckles softly, her cerulean eyes clearer because of all the tears spilt. Her nose and cheeks are gusted red. She has looked like this the whole week and Mae dreads how used to it she's becoming. She never wants to see Gwen like that again.

Once Gwen and Raymond have gone inside his office to discuss whatever he wanted, Mae leaves the station and her legs automatically lead her towards the person she can't stop thinking about.

She huffs angrily, calling her legs stupid for not listening to her brain, but follows their lead anyway.

Although she tries her best not to, Mae can't not think about how she can't stop thinking about Peter, if that makes sense. Ever since she spoke to Gwen about the weird feeling she got whenever she thought about him, it seems like she can't stop thinking about him more. And at this point, Mae has accepted the fact that she has fallen for her brown-eyed friend.

She's still disappointed he didn't come to the funeral, though, although she can't possibly blame him since Peter was also affected by it in a way, right?

Mae sighs with exasperation, her cheeks becoming hot as she recalls how the conversation with Gwen unfolded after she overheard her conversation with Peter.

Mae paces in her room as she hears Peter sigh a breath of relief through her phone. "Okay, great. Listen, I need you to go to Oscorp, okay? I need you to access the cross-species file. It's a blue serum, um, it's file 12389."

"12389, got it." Mae repeats, grabbing a pen and jotting it down on her hand just in case her mind decides to act hazy. "Okay, I'm on my way now."

"Great. Thanks, Mae. I owe you one." He says before cutting the call.

She scrambles towards the door hurriedly but her heart drops when she swings it open. Gwen stares back at Mae with piercing azure eyes.

Uh-oh.

Gwen had overheard her conversation with Peter.

Gwen's azure eyes narrow down on Mae, pinning her feet to the floor. Mae has, admittedly, never seen Gwen so red in anger. The blonde seems to flare, her eyebrows contorted so deeply that their ends are touching. Eyes wide with the unexpected (and unwelcome) interruption, Mae's mind scurries for an escape. However, Gwen's icy eyes are an indication that she just cannot escape this one.

"...hi!" Mae attempts weakly, flinching when Gwen responds with a long, deep sigh and her rage pouring out with it.

"What is 12389, Mae? Is it a code for something? A password? And who were you talking to?"

Mae flinches again at the load of questions that are thrown at her. Why is Gwen so angry about that? It's not like she said anything wrong.

"Oh, th-that? That was um,"

Gwen raises her eyebrows, bemusedly asking her to go on. "That was...?"

"Erm..." Mae searches her mind for an answer. She could always come up with a fake name and fake idea, and if she presses on it hard enough, even someone as vigilant as Gwen can be convinced. But the problem right now is that Mae is surrounded by Gwen's suspicions, fits of anger and doubts and she just cannot find an escape this time.

Or she could admit that it was Peter who Mae was speaking with, but the code was just his laptop password since he needed something from it and he can't be home at the moment because he is... hurt from Lizard's attack at school?

But then, Gwen might insist that they meet Peter in the 'hospital' and bring his laptop to him. Obviously, Mae doesn't want that.

So... Mae sticks with her final option. The least ideal one. And frankly, the one she secretly wanted to do.

"My, um," Mae gulps, already dreading what she's about to say. "Boyfriend."

Gwen's jaw slacks, "Boyfriend?!"

Mae nods, rolling her lips into her up. "Uh-huh, yep, my boyfriend. Bet you didn't see that coming, huh?"

Gwen widens her eyes, her hands covering her mouth. Her previous anger has somehow dissipated. After ten seconds of pacing, she looks up to meet Mae, and the twinkle in her blue eyes scares Mae. "Is it Peter?"

Mae swears she wants to laugh it off, scoff a 'say what?', roll on the floor laughing because the idea of her and Peter dating would be so ridiculous. But instead, Mae meekly nods, her cheeks red as tomatoes squished together.

"I KNEW IT!" Gwen howls, her hands clutching onto her stomach because apparently, the look on Mae's face is hilarious. "I freaking knew it! You and Pete! It makes so much sense... since when have you been sneakily going out behind my back?!"

Mae wishes nothing more than to slap that smirk off of Gwen's face, but she has more important things to worry about- like the antidote.

"I would love to tell you all about it," Mae starts, slowly walking towards the door. "But I have to go now, so I'll tell you when I'm back?"

Gwen is squealing and hopping up and down like a four-year-old who just met Santa. "Okay, okay, yes! You can go and tell me all 'bout it. Have fun!"

She practically pushes Mae out of the room before adding, "But not too much fun!"

Obviously, that conversation she promised never happened because Gwen's father died that night. Mae thinks that Gwen has forgotten all about it, and she is thankful for that. It's crazy that one night can change everything forever.

Before she knows it, Mae is standing in front of Peter's house aimlessly. She stares at the front door, debating on whether to knock on it or just turn around while she still can. But now that she's here, she doesn't have the heart to go back. Especially when her eyes look up to Peter's window without her realisation.

Mae quickly reaches out for her phone, typing a new text to Peter.

Mae: I'm at your house.

She feels her heart's pace quicken when Peter's window slides up and his face pops out. His eyes widen when he sees her and Mae passes him a short, awkward wave.

Then he leaps out of the window like it's nothing. Show off.

Upon closer inspection, Peter looks... tired. His face is puffy, with dark circles underneath his brown eyes that are usually full of curiosity. Now they look bored. Mae can't stop the frown that falls on her lips. "Pete..."

"Hey," He says, studying her appearance. She wonders what he sees on her face, wonders if she looks as tired as he does. She certainly feels like it, but again, when does she not? "What are you doing here, Mae?"

Mae scoffs at that, playfully rolling her eyes. "You weren't answering my calls or texts, so I thought I can pay you a little visit."

He chuckles, averting his eyes from her. "Yeah, I was gonna reply to those."

"Really? When?"

Peter snickers again, looking at Mae for a little over one second before turning away. His mouth opens and closes a couple of times as though he wants to say something but then stops himself. It irks Mae a little.

"Peter." She calls, her honey eyes narrowed at him. Her blonde curls are tied up into a ponytail today and though she doesn't know it, Peter's heart is beating erratically because of how good she looks. "Spit it out."

Peter furrows his eyebrows at her, unable to remember what she was talking about five seconds ago because he was so caught up in counting every freckle on her. So far, he counted thirteen.

"Spit what out?" Peter asks obliviously.

Mae raises her eyebrows, giving him a look that asks, 'are you serious?' Peter shrugs simply. "Something is obviously bothering you, Pete," She says sweetly, a cute pout escaping her lips. "I want you to talk to me about it if you want to? I hope you know that you can trust me..."

Peter chuckles at that. "Obviously."

He says it like it's the most obvious thing in the world and it is, considering how she is the only one who knows his secret. "And it's not that I don't want to, Mae. I just can't."

Mae's frown deepens. "Well, why not?" She bites her lips hesitantly before adding in a lower voice. "Does it have something to do with Gwen's dad...?"

The tired sigh from Peter is all the confirmation she needs. "Pete's whatever happened... it's not your fault."

"No, Mae, you don't get it." He shakes his head, his feet anxiously tapping on the ground. "I made a promise to him and- and those were his dying words, Mae. I can't just ignore it, it haunts me whenever I try to!"

"What did he make you promise?" Mae insists urgently, holding Peter's hands. He didn't realise they were shaking until she held onto them. He bites his lip, shaking his head profusely. He wants to tell her about it, but the haunting image of George Stacy dying won't let him.

"Tell me, Pete. I can't see you like this. Please."

Peter opens his eyes to look at her, and the desperation in her hazel ones is enough to make him relent. He sighs, "He told me I should stay away from you and Gwen. Made me promise him that."

Relief washes over Peter. He believed he would never be able to reveal this to her and Gwen, but Mae's pleading eyes were more than enough to break through Peter's resolve and for some odd reason, Peter is glad about that.

Mae's forehead creases. She looks confused and upset. "Me too? Why, it's not like he's my dad, right?" She scoffs, shaking her head. Two seconds later guilt washes over her face. "I- I didn't mean it like that, I mean, he did just die and Gwen is still grieving and-"

A sudden realisation interrupts her, as her eyes widen. "Is that why you didn't attend his funeral?"

She scoffs again when Peter nods in agreement. "I can't believe him. It's not your fault that he died in the first place! He's the chief of police! It's his job to die for the safety of-"

Guilt washes over her again and Peter can't help but laugh, the scene unfolding like a broken record. "Shit. I didn't mean it like that, Pete... Gwen was so upset that you didn't come."

Peter looks at the floor with conviction. "Yeah, I... I saw."

Something sparkles in Mae's eyes. "You really were there?" She asks, "I had a feeling that you were."

"Yeah, I was." Peter smiles softly at her. The fact that she 'had a feeling' that he was there felt oddly comforting. He'd like to think she was able to feel his presence around her. 

Mae gives her that sweet smile that melts Peter's heart into a fudge. "How are you holding up, then?"

"Yeah, I'm fine, uh..." He looks like wanted to say something but shakes his head. "I'm fine, Mae."

"Ooh-kayy!" Mae replies awkwardly in a sing-song voice, dancing on her toes as she glances around the empty street. In reality, the clogs in her head are twisting as she debates her next move. She hopes that Peter doesn't notice the blush creeping on her face (he does) because that would simply be embarrassing.

But Mae doesn't have the time to be embarrassed now. Not when this is something that can maybe make him feel better. He looks like he needs it, anyway.

She groans suddenly, her cheeks hot as she spreads her hands open to him, avoiding his eyes. For God's sake, Mae, it's not like you haven't hugged him before!

She stands there in the same position for a few moments and when Peter makes no movement to get closer, she flushes in embarrassment. I need to run into a corner and hide like a crumpled piece of paper negligible to the naked eye.

Mae closes her eyes to save herself the embarrassment and moves to retrieve her hands away, but another pair latches onto them.

"Wait! I'm kidding, I'm kidding," She hears Peter grinning and she swears to God she will punch that smirk right off his face-

She doesn't have the time to complete her thoughts as she feels Peter's arms wrap around her shoulders, snuggling her closer to him. Mae can hear his heartbeats, but they are far from stable. His heart is beating rapidly, and it's a rhythm that Mae can get used to.

Her own heart is beating at a quickened pace, and Mae can only hope that he doesn't feel it. (He does.)

Mae internally scolds herself, but she pays no need to her own mind. The world is in shambles right now, there was about to be a lizard invasion in New York City, her father is still in a coma, and Gwen's father died- nothing seems to be right anymore.

But this does. Mae finds herself thinking as she snakes her hands around his waist. Because during the course of the entire week, this was the only thing that reminded them of what they really are.

Just kids. Kids trying to save the world.

a/n : FUCK U WRITERS BLOCK AHAHAHHAA! I intend to finish this book no matter how long it takes, and I really appreciate anyone taking their time to read this little piece of mine- it really means the world to me. I never imagined this book will gain more than like, 10K reads maybe? and now it's at 50K?? THAT'S HALFWAY TO 100K HOLY SHIT

thank u so much, truly. and I appreciate your bearing on my horrible update schedule. Another few chapters and we'll be moving onto ACT 2, which is an AU of mine! I hope you guys are looking forward to , if you do decide to stick around :D