(Eliza's POV)

June 4th

I noticed three things when I first woke up. One was that my throat felt all scratchy. Two, someone's arms were around me, and they were really strong. It was probably Peter. Three, somehow I just felt my mom's absence. Then the crashing wave of guilt and doubt came.

I couldn't save her.

What if it happens again to someone I don't know?

I unstuck my tongue from the roof of my mouth and found the strength the roll over. But I ended up falling off the bed. I wasn't even fazed by it. I just laid there.

I heard Peter slur awake and then he shot out up, looking around the room. He sighed in relief when he saw me. "What are you doing on the floor?" he asked in his raspy morning voice.

"I fell over."

"well wOt you fell over for?" he said in a British accent. The corners of my lips twitched a little, but then I remembered how my mom and I would watch Harry Potter together, and they fell back down. Tears started to fill my eyes, but I quickly blinked them away, so that Peter wouldn't see. 

"Um. Pete you can go home now. I'm okay," I said, clearing my throat. 

"No I'm not leaving you Eli. I'm your emotional support human m'kay?" he said, laying down so that his head was hanging off my bed, above mine. 

I sighed and thought for a moment. All I really wanted to do was cry, but Peter was here and I know he hated to see me cry. 

"Um, you c-can stay for maybe an hour, but you n-need to tell May," I gulped. May would be devastated. Yet another person I let down. 

(3rd Person POV)

He nodded and got up off of Eliza's bed. She heard him shuffling around in the kitchen, then smelled cinnamon. Furrowing her eyebrows and sitting up slowly, she walked to the door. She pulled the hood of her sweatshirt over her head, tucking in her hair and pulling the drawstrings, so that only part of her face was visible.

She stuck her head out of the door and tip toed to the kitchen. She saw Peter there, cooking cinnamon rolls. Her sad food. She didn't even know they had the ingredients. Her eyes softened and she ran towards him. With his reflexes he caught her in a hug, her arms wrapped around his neck and legs around his waist. His hands kept their place on her back, holding her tightly.

"Thank you," Eliza whispered.

"Anytime," he said. They stayed like that for a while before he said, "but you're kind of crushing me." She let go of him quickly, muttering an apology.

Eliza stood by the counter, watching him cook the food, his hands moving here and there, throwing together flour, cinnamon and butter. He put them in the oven and waited. He stared at her, admiring her look. 

She stared back and then an idea popped into her head, "Hey, um can we watch Star Wars? Um- I-I need to distract myself."

Peter smiled softly and said, "Sure. Anything for you." He walked towards the couch and Eliza followed. They sat down and turned on the tv. Peter's hand brushed her's and she blushed slightly. The Phantom Menace started and Peter intertwined their fingers together. Her breath caught in her throat, but Peter didn't think anything of it.

"Hey, don't you kinda think that Mace Windu looks a bit like Nick Fury?" Peter asked.

"Hmmm. Yeah, a little bit. That's pretty weird," Eliza said. The timer went off and she got up to get the cinnamon rolls out of the oven.

After the movie, Peter said, "Liz said yes to being my girlfriend."

"That's great man. Don't forget about me though," she said, pointing a finger at him.

"I could never," he grinned. Eliza grinned back, then thought of something her mom said.

"You know," she said, looking away from him, "My mom said that you were the only guy on this earth that wasn't a dick," she smiled faintly.

"Really? But I shot you in the eye with a nerf gun," he said, surprised.

"Yeah, well. I already made that point," she rolled her eyes. Then she remembered that was the last conversation she had had with her. She couldn't cry now, Peter was here.

"I-um. Y-you can go n-now," Eliza said.

"Are you sure you're gonna be okay?" he asked, still not sure if he should leave. 

"Y-yeah," she cleared her throat, "Yeah. I'm okay," she fake smiled. Peter nodded and headed to her room to gather his stuff. She followed him and leaned against the door frame, watching him move around. He got his suit and phone, then walked over to Eliza. He planted a kiss on her forehead.

Peter walked to the window and climbed up the fire escape to his room. Eliza's fake smile fell, and tears started to flow out of her eyes. She stumbled towards her bed and entangled herself in the blankets, crying her eyes out. 

After about an hour, her sobs started to subside, and there were only soft sniffles and silent tears flooding down her face. She laid down on her bed, staring at the ceiling for what seemed like a few minutes, but actually turned into five hours. Just laying there, staring at the ceiling in silence. Only thinking one thing.

I couldn't save her.

-----------------------------------------

June 11th

After a week of crying at laying down on her bed, Eliza continued to do so, but instead of thinking about her mom, she distracted herself from the subject with her laptop. It started off as just watching Netflix, but then she got bored, so she played Papa's Pizzeria.

"Oh my god I forgot how stressful this game is," she mumbled, trying to cut and bake five different people's pizza's. 

She was on her bed, surrounded by about fifteen blankets, in shorts and a sweatshirt. Peter had come to check on her everyday. But with her spider sense, she knew when he was coming, so she could make herself look partially sane before he came, so that he wouldn't worry about her.

Peter thought that she was doing abnormally well for someone who's mom just died, but he didn't know that it was all just an act.

She would go on her laptop from noon to four pm. Then Peter would come over from a day spent with Liz, and stay for about two hours, making sure she ate. He would tell her about his day with his girlfriend, and she would listen carefully.

After Peter left, she would cry for an hour and then from eight to three am, she would listen to music and not care. 

Today, after messing up the customer's order in the game, she got sad because they got mad at her, and shut her laptop. Then her senses went off and she knew that meant Peter was almost here. She got up and tried to pick up some food wrappers, making her seem like not a mess. Even though she was. She went to the bathroom to brush her teeth.

Peter came through her window, and didn't see her. He panicked for a moment, until he heard her come out of the bathroom. He saw her appearance and concern flooded through his eyes. Eliza had insane bags under her eyes, and it looked like she had just been crying. Again. 

Peter rushed over to her and engulfed her in a hug. She gladly accepted it, but she was a little confused. He pulled away and put his hands on her cheeks. Tears started to well up in her eyes and he wiped them away with the pad of his thumb.

He leaned his forehead against her's and whispered, "You're not okay." 

She shook her head and a sob escaped her mouth. He wrapped his arms around her once more, resting his head on her brown hair. Peter hated to see her cry, knowing there was nothing he could do to fix it. 

"Peter I didn't save her," she said, her voice shaky.

"You couldn't have Eli. No one could," he said, running his hands through her hair. Eliza's cries stopped after a few minutes, and she walked over to her bed, Peter following her.

"Pete, please go hom-" she started.

"No. I won't go. You have to stop pushing me away, just because you think I can't handle it," Peter retorted.

"But I don't need you right n-"

"Well maybe I need you!" Peter yelled, throwing his hands in the air, "I lost someone too you know. Anne was like my second mom. She was nothing but kind and understanding to me."

Eliza's eyes softened. She got up and silently wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I need you," he whispered. Her grip tightened.

(~time skip~)

June 12th 12:00 am

Eliza and Peter spent the next few hours in former's bed, making a few comments here and there. Peter's arms were wrapped around her waist, his head on her stomach, while she sat up against the headboard, her hands playing with his brown curls. 

She was about to close her eyes when Peter sat up abruptly.

"Oh my god Eli it's your birthday," Peter said, face palming.

She yawned, "Really?"

"You're sixteen!" he exclaimed. 

"Cool," she said unenthusiastically. 

"What- what's wrong?" Peter asked.

"Um. I was gonna go to the bookstore with my mom...It's what we do every year on my birthday remember? And then she would make fun of me for being a nerd and always knowing what each book was about," she laughed a bit and Peter smiled, "especially when it came to the hunger games. She would just say, 'iS tHaT tHe oNe wiTh jEnNiFeR LaWrEnCe????'"

They laughed and then Peter shrugged, "I could take you to the bookstore."

She looked down at her phone and read the time, "Pete, it's midnight."

He smiled, "All the more reason to go." She rolled her eyes. "Besides, as Spider woman sometimes you stay out until five am so come on!"

"Yeah, but that's usually when someone is on fire dude."

"Whatever," he grabbed her hand, "let's go."

He dragged her out of bed and she looked down at her outfit and made a face of disgust. "Imma change hold up." She started to take her sweatshirt off but then remembered she only had a bra on underneath, "In the bathroom."

Peter nodded and a few minutes later, she came out with black sweatpants and a t-shirt on. The t-shirt said, 'If you believe in telekinesis, raise your right hand.'

"Hey is that my shirt?" Peter grinned.

Eliza looked down and shrugged, "I don't know, I found it on the floor."

"Looks good on you," he winked and Eliza's lips parted slightly.

She shook her head quickly and put on her shoes, jumping out the window. Peter followed her, doing a backflip off the fire escape and landing softly on the ground.

They walked to the twenty-four hour bookstore that Eliza and her mom used to go to, laughing and probably being too loud.

They arrived at the bookstore and walked inside. The little bell rung and Charlotte, the lady who ran the store, peeked her head out of one of the aisles. She gasped and ran over to Eliza, crushing her in a hug.

(a/n- charlotte is played by keke palmer^)

"Eliza sweetie, I'm so sorry about your mom. You don't deserve this at all," Charlotte said. She released her and Eliza looked at her.

"Thank you Charlotte, that means a lot," she said quietly.

Charlotte gasped again and tried to change the subject, "Oh my goodness! Happy birthday! I can't believe you're sixteen!" she patted the young girl on the cheeks, "Any book you want, a gift from me to you."

"Nonononono-" Eliza tried to protest.

"Ah ah ah. I'm not taking no for an answer," the woman said.

"But-"

"No buts! Now go pick out a book," she smiled, and Eliza ran off, "Hey Peter! Haven't seen you around here in a long time. How are you?"

"I'm good, thanks. How about you? May asked about you a few days ago," Peter said.

"Oh, May," she put a hand to her heart, "I miss her. But I'm doing good! Usually during the summer time I have a lot more customers, so I'm looking for a new person, but yeah, excited for the upcoming season! Tell May that we should get coffee soon."

"I will," Peter chuckled. Charlotte and him heard a scream and they turned their heads towards the noise.

"oMG yOu hAVE tHe nEW ACOTAR BoOK????????????" (a/n- it's my fav book series) Eliza yelled.

"Yes! I was saving it just for you!" Charlotte responded, smiling at the happy girl in front her. Peter shook his head, he loved seeing her happy.

"You're such a nerd," Peter said.

"UNO REVERSE CARD," she yelled back. He laughed.

About ten minutes later, Eliza came waddling back, her arms full of books. Peter saw her and his face lit up. 

"Ummm...I should probably put some back...I don't think I have enough room on my bookshelf," Eliza said, looking down at the stack in her hands. Charlotte rolled her eyes at the girl. A few minutes later, she walked back, with only four books in her hand this time.

"How's Hannah?" Eliza asked.

Charlotte's eyes filled with happiness at the name. Hannah was her fiancé, they were getting married in November. "She's good. Um," she looked down, smiling widely, "yeah, she's really good. We're really excited about the wedding."

"I'm so happy for you guys!" Peter squealed like a little girl. 

"So...what about you guys? Have you gotten together yet?" Charlotte asked. Peter and Eliza's face contorted in confusion.

"What? nO" they said at the same time.

"I have a girlfriend," Peter said. Eliza nodded.

"Yeah, and he's dumb," she said.

"Um excuse me, I'm smarter than you," Peter said, offended.

"Not true, Mr. Stark told me so," Eliza said proudly.

"What?! When did he talk to you? Wait, no that's besides the point. I'm not dumb," he said.

"Surreeeee. We're just gonna act like you didn't think that the little einstein's were related to Albert Einstein before I met you," she said.

"i wAs siX yEaRs oLd," he said. Eliza laughed. Charlotte shook her head and put Eliza's book in a bag.

"Alright, here you go guys. Happy Birthday Eliza," she said, handing her the bag and winking at the girl. 

Peter and Eliza left the bookstore and made their way back to her apartment. They climbed back up the fire escape and went through the window. She checked the time.

1:00 am

"Ok, I've gotta find a place for these on my bookshelf," she muttered. Peter plopped down on her bed.

"What did you even get?" Peter asked.

"Eliza and her Monsters because-"

"Because that's your name. Of course," Peter shook his head. Eliza nodded.

"Also, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone-"

"Don't you already have that one?" Peter questioned.

"yEs. But this is the illustrated edition," she whined.

"Oh my god you're amazing. This is why you're my best friend," Peter said. Eliza blushed slightly at his comment, but Peter didn't notice.

"And lastly, my personal favorite," she said, sticking her hand in the bag and pulled out a comic, "THE ADVENTURES OF SPIDERMAN AND SPIDERWOMAN!!!"

Peter gasped loudly and scrambled over to her, "NO. FORKING. WAY. WE'RE ALMOST AS FAMOUS AS JOE KEERY'S HAIR!!"

"I know right!! I was thinking about giving it to you for your birthday but whatever," she said, smiling at him and his reaction.

"I can't believe it! They made a comic about us!" Peter said, very excited.

"Right?!"

June 12th 5:00 am

At five am on Eliza's sixteenth birthday, her and her best friend were in her bed, playing Papa's Burgeria on her laptop, listening to Frank Ocean.

"Ok, those burger's are definitely burning," Peter said, pointing at the screen. He was leaning against the headboard with his arm around her. Eliza's head was on his chest, eyebrows furrowed, trying to drag the toppings onto the burger.

"AHHHH I CAN'T DO THIS!" Eliza screamed, shutting her laptop and crossing her arms, clearly overwhelmed. Peter laughed a little at her, "You think this is funny now do you?"

She sat up quickly and glared at him. Peter stopped laughing immediately because, not gonna lie, she looked scary. "N-no. No I don't. Come back your warm." Eliza grabbed a pillow and chucked it at his head.

"EYY! Don't do that," he whined. Eliza laughed and went back to her spot on Peter's chest. 

A few minutes later, she started to drift off. Peter glanced down at her and reached his hand out, brushing the hair out of her face. He let his finger's linger for a moment, feeling her soft cheeks. He soon fell asleep too.

A/N- enjoy this filler. yay! two new characters have been introduced. just noticed that most of the characters are gay lmao.🏳️‍🌈