FRIENDS ARE A LUXURY.

lux·u·ry
/ˈləkSH(ə)rē,ˈləɡZH(ə)rē/
noun: something that is not essential but is desirable and often expensive or the state of having or enjoying desirable and expensive things.

Friends are a luxury not all can afford.  If you're too ugly, too pretty, too big, too small, too light, too dark, too tall, too short— anything out of society's "norm" will leave you discarded like the candy wrapper you carelessly stuff in your pocket and forget about till laundry day. Making friends doesn't seem that hard, but keeping them is where the problem arose.

With the right kind of friends, your connected souls weave through any difficulties you may face in life. With the wrong kind of friends, you may find yourself being your own difficulties in life.

Children can weasel their way into friendships with much more ease than any adult you'll ever meet. A simple spill of chocolate milk, wanting to play in the same sandbox or accidentally matching clothes, children have no problem sharing and spreading their love far and wide. But once you grow up and realize that your love is unneeded, unnecessary or flat out crushed and rejected, that love begins to diminish; wrapping your inner child in a box with a bow in the corner of a dark attic.

For Maxwell Dillon, that box was half cracked down the middle, allowing small bits of light to shine through every time he discovered something new in his sciences or was given praise from his superiors for his work. But no light would shine brighter than his niece and nephew, who lit up his whole like no other.

Ever since Imane was a baby, her and her uncle were inseparable. His inner child clashed perfectly with the real child who wanted nothing more than to spend more playtime with him. The two played dolls together whenever she wanted, learned how to walk together, learned shapes together, even Imane's first words were "Dillon"! Well, at least that's what Max hoped considering all that came out was "DiDi", he would accept it!

He accepted all of her falls, throw ups and tantrums because he loved the baby like no other person alive.

And then Runako was born and, oh did Maxwell Dillon's heart expand beyond physical capacity.

After his sister and her husband dropped the kids off at his doorstep with a couple bags and toys and some cryptic goodbye, Maxwell cared for those kids like his own. He was there when Imane first went to high school, when Runako first joined volleyball after watching the girls team play, when Imane went on her first date, and when Imane's first date ended horribly. He was there. Him and Runako were there for Imane in ways nobody else had ever need.

Traditions grew between the three of them, they spoke to each other about practically everything and even if Max couldn't give much helpful advice due to his limited life experiences, he was always there to listen. And for that, Imane Morris would forever be in debt.

Because who else was she going to run to after getting accepted into Oscorp?

"Oh this is so not fair! When can I get a job? I need money too!" Cried out Runako, his puberty voice cracking at he raised the pitch in his voice.

"What the hell do you need money for? You're 13." Imane laughed, her uncle shaking his head at the kids as he twirled the fancy spaghetti around the fancy fork given him at the restaurant Imane had chosen to celebrate in.

"How else am I supposed to maintain this handsome face with no money?" Runako ran his hands down his chin, rubbing his nonexistent beard with a dramatic look out into the distance. The adult and teen laughed at the boy's dramatic display before continuing to eat.

Warm silence draped over the family comfortably until the adult cleared his throat and dried his sweaty hands on the complementary napkins at the table nervously.

"Okay, now I'm not usually good at this but," he cleared his throat once more and pulled out a small crumbled paper from his pocket, "Imane Morris, I am so incredibly proud of you. When you told me you wanted to work at Oscorp after visiting me that one day in 8th grade I just thought it was because you had a crush on that Harry kid. But now, seeing how far you've come and how hard you worked for your position at Oscorp, I believe you when you say you only even considered the position because of me. I've loved you since you were a baby and I am so proud to be able to say you're my niece, so as a surprise, I decided to invite an old friend." His outstretched arm lead their eyes to a much taller blonde haired boy dressed in a nicely tailored suit, a smile on his face.

"Harry?" The dark haired girl stood up in shock, "Oh my god, Harry!" She pushed her chair back and walked over to her childhood friend with wide arms, inviting him in. He accepted and allowed the girl to wrap him in a hug, much happier than the last one they'd shared years prior.

"Hello Imane, it's been a while." He greeted her kindly and pulled away from the hug, taking in her appearance, "My god, you're so much taller than the last time I saw you. And even prettier, didn't think it was possible." Imane rolled her eyes playfully and led him to their table.

"Me? You should see Mitzi, you remember her?"

"Mitzi...ah, Miriam, right? She hated when I called her by her full name." Harry and Imane reminisced together about their shared childhood, "I also distinctly remember my thirteen year old self walking straight up to her with a real diamond ring and asking to marry me. I was one bold little man." All those at the table burst out in laughter at the story.

"You used to have the biggest crush on her, it was adorable, really!" Harry shook his head at her words and sipped his water to hide the blush growing on his cheeks.

"Hey, where's everyone's favorite loser boy?" He changed the subject

"Peter? We...actually haven't talked or even seen each other since I got here." She paused, "And this was supposed to an exclusive family event until someone—" her eyes fell into her uncle who raised his arms in defense.

"Hey, don't blame me! It took talking to thirty different people to even get on the phone with his assistant. You are one hard man to contact, Harry Osborn." The two men laughed and the younger one nodded.

"Yeah, my father is a little more than "a little" paranoid, as he likes to say."

"Mmh, speaking of your father, is he the reason you're back in New York?" Imane asked curiously, Harry rubbed the back of his neck nervously.

"Uh...yes, we needed to discuss some important matters but honestly, I think I'd come back on my own anyway." The boy smiled at his old friend, she reciprocated the warm smile and thought about times before their lives became destructive by the very people who brought them in it.

Scientists are serious. So serious, in fact, people in Imane's parents workplace always wondered how they even managed to have one child, let alone two. Granted, her parents were quite unpleasant personality wise, the group of scientists with big families was a quite slim at the time. Especially the ones doing something so preposterous, others would've shamed them for it. 

Richard Parker, father of Peter Parker who was already on his way to become a young child prodigy. Norman Osborn, father of Harry Osborn who already had his future set in stone the moment he was concepted. And then there was Jaivyn and Evita Morris, parents of Imane Morris who just...wasn't perfect.

To them, at least.

Bring your child to work day was supposed to be a fun and happy time for both parent and child. Your co-workers meet the carbon copy of yourself and everyone's children get along good and well; yet all Jaivyn and Evita could do was compare. Compare the children's intelligence, compare their clothes, the way they spoke, the way they looked, anything and everything was pointed out, and anything and everything grew a pit in the young girls stomach.

She could never hate her parents for the love of a child is unconditional. You could hurt your child in any way but they'd still run back to you because they know of nothing else, of nobody else.

 You are their safe space, so why was Imane Morris so unlucky in hers?