Chapter 27: Fancy Dinner

"Put your bid in, before I disappear
You don't have to be, don't have to be a stranger
Come and get and get little closer"
- Sabrina Carpenter

"So, were you ever planning to tell me about this little group date or was I not supposed to notice?" Ember mumbled pulling Ned aside as they walked into McDonalds after a very awkward ride, May and Peter right behind them.
The entire car ride had been a disaster, Ember spent the entire ride glaring at the back of Peter's head while both teenage boys panicked under her suspicious stares. Poor May Parker had to sit through a ride where she wasn't sure wether the blonde wanted to kill her nephew or kiss him, she opted for turning on the radio and driving as fast as possible.

"I-it's not" Ned denied a little too loud catching the attention of the duo behind them. "My mom got sick and she called May, that's it" He breathed out, hoping she couldn't see right through his lie.

"Why didn't you just call me?" Ember questioned, not a hundred percent certain he was being honest.

Ned tried to think of an excuse better than 'my phone died' but he was short of ideas. He was never one for lying or keeping secrets, in fact it was very impressive that he had even managed to keep Peter's secret identity for so long, he doubted he could keep his plan to win Ember over a secret for long.

"Ned, could you help me with the orders while you two find us a table?" Almost as if she sensed his distressed, Aunt May was quick to come to his rescue, smiling sweetly at the three teenagers.

"Sure" Ned is fast to agree and almost runs after the adult, leaving Peter and Ember alone in awkward silence.

"That wasn't part of the plan" Peter muttered under his breath, glaring at his aunt and best friend.

"What?" Ember asked, not hearing what he said.

"Nothing!" Peter exclaims giving her a panicked look.

Ember gives him one curious look before letting it slide as she began walking further into the restaurant looking for a table, trying her best to ignore the teenage boy rushing to catch up to her. After finding a table she took a sit and pulled her phine out hoping Peter would catch a hint and leabe her alone. Of course that didn't go as planned.

"So... Nice day huh?" Peter awkwardly tried to start a conversation. The blonde frowned and just sat there giving him and incredulous look.

"What are you doing?"

"Just, uh, trying to break the silence" Peter cleared his throat, leaning casually against his sit, trying to appear unbothered and casual, which only made the blonde roll her eyes at him. It seemed like that was all she did with him lately.

"No, I mean what are you doing here?" The blonde pushed, leaning on the table and looking at him closely.

"Ned's mom had to work and May offered-" Peter tried to excuse and break eye contact with her. He wasn't a great liar and when it came to her it was always harder. Ember raised an eyebrow at his words but he didn't even notice he was looking over her shoulder, waiting for May or Ned to come and save him.

"Just cut it off okay?" Ember demanded, slapping her hand on the table to get his attention. Peter snapped his attention back to her and didn't fail to notice some ice covering her hand before she quickly pulled it away and crossed her ams against her chest, hiding it from view.  "I know for some reason you came here with us, probably to annoy me but it doesn't matter I told you we were done with whatever little game we were playing and I meant it"

"Don't even bother." Ember cut him off as he began opening his mouth, probably ready to give her the same excuse, but she wasn't stupid she knew he was up to something. "You already messed up, Ned told me his mother was sick"

"Damn it" Peter hissed under his breath, dropping his calm facade, giving her a pleading look as she was about to stand up and leave. "Please don't leave okay? Ned was actually really excited to go to the dance with you"

"He said that?" She asked, not even trying to deny that she felt flattered. Ember wasn't very social, as far a she was concerned Michelle was the only person outside of her family that liked her enough to be friends with her. Knowing that Ned Leeds actually thought she was nice warmed her heart a bit.

"Yeah." Peter nodded, watching how something so simple made her smile so pretty. It was a smile he loved and he wished he could see it more often directed at him. "And he's right you know? He's going to the dance with the prettiest girl in the world and the funniest and nicest... he's going with the perfect girl"

The way Peter looked at her made her heart beat a hundred times faster , Ember was surprised it didn't just burst out of her chest. It was moments like this, were she almost forgets why she's mad at him, why she's even trying to keep him away. Ember tried clearing her throat and began nervously pulling at the charm on her bracelet, trying to hide the blush that was already creeping up her cheeks.

"I don't wanna fight Peter" Ember sighed, avoiding his eyes.

"Me neither"

"Then please, stop saying those things" Ember begged him, her voice cracking slightly as she fidgeted on her sit.

"Why? It's the truth" Peter argued, leaning closer to her trying to catch her eyes.

"I- I cant pretend like nothing happened you know? You really hurt me and I've been hurt too many times before I'm not sure I'm willing to take any more risks" Ember retorted, giving him a sad smile.

"I never meant to hurt you" Peter apologized, you could hear and he could see in her eyes that she believed him "I just want us to give it a chance, give me a chance to fix things"

"How?" Ember asked.

"We can start by saving me a dance tonight?" Peter asked, looking at her with pleading eyes. However, before he could even get an answer, May and Ned arrived with their food and the conversation was long forgotten.

❅

Peter and Ember didn't talk after that. Once Ned arrived, May and her nephew went to a different table, just a couple meters away from Ember and Ned.  Ember was relived and instead of thinking to much about what Peter said, she focused on spending a good time with Ned. After all that was what that night was supposed to be about.

Ned was laughing as she told him a story about her uncle Steve, when May finally pulled up to a modern looking house that the blonde instantly recognized as Liz' house. For a moment her breath got caught on her throat as she realized that Peter did actually asked the senior to the dance. In her mind she never liked to thunk about Peter with any other girl but she was the one who gave him the go ahead. She pushed those jealous thoughts out of her head and smiled at Ned, she didn't want to be one of those girls who got mad over something that didn't involve her at all. Peter Parker wasn't her boyfriend and he deserved a dance as gorgeous and wonderful, he deserved Liz Allen.

"Well, lets go" Ned announced before getting out of the car and helping Ember get out after him.

"Such a gentleman" Ember gushed at him, locking her arm with his, leaving the Parkers to have a conversation on the car.

"So, what's the plan?" May asked, once the other two were out of earshot. Not that it mattered since Ember would probably just assume they were talking about Liz.

"Open the door for her. Tell her she looks nice, but not too much because that's creepy." Peter listed, looking at his aunt for reassurance.

"Don't be creepy."

"When I dance with her, I'm putting my hands on her hips." Peter finished, trying hard not to forget anything. "I got this."

"Don't forget this" May said, handing him a small box that he quickly put on his pocket.

"Love you." Peter said before running to catch up with the pair waiting for him by the front door.

As he got closer he couldn't help but to grow a bit nervous. Sure, he and Liz were going together just as friends but this was still the first time he ever went to a girls house to take her on a date. Not to mention her parents were going to be there.

"Hey" Probably noticing his distress Ember walked closer to him, she carefully began fixing his tie that crooked a little bit during the ride. "Go get her tiger" She smiled reassuringly at him, the two standing so close Peter could smell her perfume and he almost forgot where he was but snapped out of it once the blonde stepped away towards a chuckling Ned.

Peter swallowed the lump on his throat, giving Ember one last smile, he couldn't help but feel that tonight was looking rather promising if the blonde was actually talking to him. He put on a bright smile before finally ringing the doorbell.

His smile was fast gone as he looked at the man who just opened the door. The same man who had caused him so much trouble on the last couple of weeks. The Vulture himself was standing in front of him and Peter felt like he was about to pass out.

"You must be Peter" Adrian Toomes greeted him with a friendly smile.

"Yeah." Peter said quietly, like a deer caught in headlights.

"I'm Liz's dad" Toomes said extending his hand for Peter to shake. "Put her there. Hell of a grip." He chuckled, before turning to the other two teenagers "And you must be the rest of the party" He smiled, looking at Peter expectantly, obviously wanting him to introduce his friends but the teenager just stood there staring at Liz' dad with a terrified expression.

Ember cleared her throat to try and get the attention off the boy and smiled sweetly at Mr. Toomes "I'm Ember Snow" she shook hands with him before Ned introduced himself.

"Nice to meet you." He said nicely, opening the door further for the three to pass "Come on in here. Come on."

Peter didn't move a muscle as he still stared at the man, both Ember and Ned sending each other a confused glance. They knew he was probably nervous but he seemed almost petrified. As if silently agreeing they both step forward and pushed him slightly towards the door, snapping him out of his trance.

Peter turned to give a panicked look to Ember, trying to tell her something with his eyes but it was pointless. The blonde had never encountered directly with The Vulture much less seen him without his mask. She was completely clueless as to what was going on.

"Hi, Peter." Liz' mom greeted Peter with a bright smile as the three teens made their way down the hall. "You look very handsome as do you Ned" She complimented the two teens, making Ned grin proudly puffing his chest out a bit which made Ember chuckle a bit.

"Thank you" Peter said, his voice barely above a whisper.

The woman smiled, ignoring his strange behavior before turning to the blonde in the room. "You look gorgeous Ember." The green eyed beauty smiled in thanks before returning the compliment. "Oh you're too sweet. Liz was waiting for you in her room, just upstairs and down the hall. Tell her to hurry up alright?"

Ember tried to hide her confusion and looked at Ned who was giving Peter a wprroed look. "You'll be fine by yourself?" Ember asked Ned but her eyes slipped towards Peter who nodded slightly, the further she was from Toomes the better.

The blonde sent another smile towards Liz' parents before heading upstairs, wondering why would Liz Allen be waiting for her. Liz and Ember weren't exactly friend, but they got along when they had too. It wasn't like Ember had anything against the senior but Liz wasn't on her grade so the inly time the two saw each other was during decathlon, and lets be honest even if they did Ember wasn't the kind of girl that went around high school making loads of friends. Once she reached the door at the end pf the hallway, you could hear some music playing and she hesitated to knock on the door.

"Come in" The voice of Liz sounded through the door and Ember sighed before going inside.

"Ember, hi!" Liz greeted happily, raising from her vanity chair to give a hug to the blonde girl. "Look at you, you look amazing" Liz gushed at her, grabbing her hand and giving her a spin.

"Uh, thanks. You do too." Ember smiled, at the stunning girl who returned the gesture. Liz was a real beauty, anyone with eyes could see it, even at the moment, with no makeup on and her half of her hair on a messy bun waiting to be curled, she looked gorgeous.

"Perfect timing, could you help me with my hair?" The blonde nodded, before following the taller girl back to her seat, grabbing the curling iron on the side.

It was a good thing Liz asked her to help with her hair instead of her make up, while Ember used a curling iron almost on a daily basis she couldn't say the same about make up. Liz however was pretty good at it and went to continue with her make up as Ember began curling her dark locks.

"So how's it going with Ned?" Liz asked after a couple seconds of silence.

"Oh, it's going well" Ember answered simply, she was never good at making conversation and it wasn't until she noticed Liz looking at her expectantly through her mirror that she realized the girl was waiting for more details. "He looks really cute with his hat"

Liz chuckled at her comment, remembering how he also brought a hat to her party. She went to finish with her eyeshadow, adn decided it was the perfect moment to begin with the plan.

"What about Peter?" Liz asked casually, catching the blonde off guard.

"Uh, yeah he's downstairs" Ember answers after almost dropping the curling iron as soon as the question left the senior's mouth. She didn't know how she was supposed to answer, after all he was Liz' date not the other way around. A loud laugh came from Liz turning to look at the blonde girl.

"I meant how does he look?"

"Well, uh. He looks really handsome." Ember sighed, continuing with the hair as soon as Liz turned to look at the mirror again "You're a lucky girl"

Liz chuckled, giving her make up the finishing touches. "I think we both know who's the lucky girl here"

"Whats that supposed to mean?" Ember asked.

"Oh please, like you don't notice the way Peter looks at you" Liz giggled watching Ember's face turn bright red, even her ears seemed to heat up.

"I'm not sure what you mean. He doesn't look at me in any special way, if anything he probably looks at you that way. He asked you to the dance remember?" Ember chuckled nervously, trying to focus on curling hair and nothing more.

"Yeah as friends. And only after you turned him down" Liz argued, turning in her chair to look at the younger girl straight in the eye, "Why did you turn him down?"

"It's complicated" Ember mumbled, leaving the curling iron back in its place before dropping onto Liz bed, not caring if her hair got ruined. Not even bothering to deny that she liked Peter and that just maybe he liked her back.

Liz nodded silently, going to sit next to her "I don't see why. He likes you, you like him. If the girl I liked asked me I would say yes in a heart beat."

❅

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