I, met, my prince upon a popcorn bowl

★゜・。。・゜゜・。。・゜☆゜・。。・゜゜・。。・゜★

★゜・。。・゜゜・。。・゜☆゜・。。・゜゜・。。・゜★

chapter three

sometimes talking works

your words sent desire running through my veins, I knew I had fallen in love. me

People do brave things. People do brave and heroic things, all the time. Being a hero is not just about having physical strength or extraordinary abilities. Rather, it is about having the courage to do what is right, even when it is difficult or dangerous. Heroes are individuals who are willing to put themselves at risk to help others, and they often exhibit qualities such as selflessness and compassion. Peter Parker was rarely one of them.

When Meredith and Gwen got back inside, it was already time for their next period for the day, which just as well happened to be AP Chemistry, a class they shared with the Parker boy. Gwen, as always, took a seat next to the pink-haired girl. The whole class looked up when they saw him, the boy that had dared to stand up to and then also had just gotten hammered by Flash.

He came in and sat in a seat next to Meredith and Gwen, looking a bit lost as he did so. With his camera on the desk, Peter let his head rest on his arms before Gwen spoke. "I thought what you did was great." The pair watched as he lifted its head, first looking at Meredith and then at Gwen.

Meredith added, "It was stupid. But it was great."

"You should go to the nurse," she spoke again, "You might have a concussion. He did kick you in the head. Hard."

"What's your name?" Gwen asked.

"You don't know my name?" Gwen let out a small giggle.

"No, I know vour name. I just wanted to know if you knew your name." Meredith watched curiously as he lifted his head to look at both of them.

"She knows my name," Peter looked at Meredith but just received a look from Gwen. "Parker. Peter... Parker." Gwen let out a sigh of relief.

"Okay, Okay, Good." She laughed causing Peter to grin.

"You're Gwen, Right?" He asked.

"Yup," Gwen answered, popping the 'P' at the end. "Gwen Stacy. We've been classmates since we were practically babies." Peter turned to look at Meredith. Her eyes were already on him. She watched as his baby brown eyes bored into hers. Meredith was suddenly lost in the color of rich earth and sweetened chocolate. His eyes were like deep pools that would draw someone in and hold their gaze. A warmth that embraces, a comfort that heals. His eyes fascinated her, that was for sure.

"You remember your crazy neighbor, don't you?" Meredith's smile was warm and bright, something that made her feel... weird. Peter laughed. When their teacher arrived and began the class, the young girl leaned over a bit towards Peter's desk and whispered.

"I'd still go to the nurse."

Meredith sat near a pavement outside of Midtown High, waiting for her dad to pick her up. She would have walked home but the father-daughter duo had a tradition of ice-cream after the first day of school, and considering that this was senior year, she would have thought tradition would have continued.

The text message reading, 'got held up at the hospital, see you for dinner,' said otherwise. She got up, annoyed and even a little bit hurt.

It's fine, she convinced herself, it's better when he is missing out on a day rather than months like he used to.

Meredith's father was a workaholic. Before the divorce happened, he would disappear for days, weeks even and if he wanted to avoid a fight with her mom, he would work overnights. Back then, Meredith rarely saw her dad. This, the caring dad who made weird food items for her and loved her was better better than the dad who she only ever saw around when he was fighting with her mom.

She started to walk around when she turned, hearing her name being called out.

"Meredith!" Peter Parker caught up to her, skateboard in his hand and a goofy smile on his face, "Walking home?"

"Nope. To the strip club." Meredith wished she could snatch the Parker boy's camera because the look on his face was priceless. She laughed, "I'm kidding, Parker. Of course, I am going home."

He let out a sigh of relief, "Oh okay. I'm sorry, I just wanted to know if you wanted to walk home together, because um– because we are neighbors and–"

She rolled her eyes at his awkwardness, "Just walk."

Meredith took a few steps before Peter realized he can walk with her and rushed after her.

"So," Peter coughed nervously, "Where are you from? Like before you, you know, moved here."

The brunette girl laughed, "I'm from Atlanta, it was a great place but I hated the weather there."

Atlanta, a city nestled in the southern United States, was a haven to the Jones girl that used to ignite the flames of compassion in her heart. As the city lights would twinkle in the night sky, Meredith would sometimes feel hopeful that better days would come. Atlanta was never the problem. The alcohol in the house, the drugs in her mom's washroom cabinet and the hatred she carried for her daughter in her heart were.

"So you moved because of the weather?" Peter joked as he pulled out a chocolate bar from his bag. Snapping it into two, he offered the bigger half to the girl. She accepted.

Taking a bite, she continued, "No, we actually moved because my parents got divorced. We had to go to family court, it was an entire mess. My dad got custody." Peter nodded in understanding, knowing he shouldn't push for more answers. "What about you, Parker? Tell me about your family."

Peter took another bite of his chocolate, thinking something with a faraway look in his eyes. "So, my parents died in a plane crash when I was a kid. They were both scientists and they were really great. They had left me with Ben and May, saying they'll be back but... they never were."

All of a sudden, Meredith understood the look that had overcome his eyes. It was grief. The usual sparkle in his eyes was replaced with a dullness that reflected how he probably felt. Meredith did not know grief, she had only ever read it or seen it from afar. All those she had lost in her life were those she preferred gone, as horrible as it sounded.

Suddenly, there was more to Peter Parker than anyone ever knew.

"Ben and May are great though. Still in love after so many years and they treat me like I'm their own son. I am who I am, because of them."

Meredith brought the hand that wasn't holding chocolate to touch his shoulder lightly, "I'm sorry, Peter," she whispered softly.

They were almost at their house now, Peter's doorway already visible clearly.

"You called me Peter," the brown-eyed boy smiled.

There was something in his smile. She was lost again and a fear ran through her mind. Was Gwen right? Was she actually falling for this boy?

"I did, Parker. Don't let it get into your head," she winked, finishing all of her chocolate. Seeing as hers was already over, Peter broke his piece a bit more and offered her.

"Never do... MJ." He said, testing the name. Of all the nicknames Meredith was ever given, this was instantly her favourite one.

They stopped right outside Peter's house.

"Do you want to come in? I don't want to intrude but I know your dad gets in late but you can hang around here for a while. My aunt's making meatball and spaghetti today."

Meredith thought for a while. She really did not have much going on and her dad wouldn't be back for a few hours.

"Sure. As long as you keep feeding me with chocolate."

Maybe more updates from now??