CHAPTER FOURTEEN

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Remember how it was mentioned earlier that Mae and Peter are just two kids trying to save the world?

Well, these kids can never catch a break too.

Gwen Stacy is pacing in her room, her lip between her teeth, with her thumb and index finger rubbing her chin anxiously. Mae wishes at that moment that she can somehow make all of Gwen's anxiety dissipate, but that poses to be a challenge when this involves her dead father.

Mae isn't sure it's her place to say anything, and Peter certainly isn't helping either.

Gwen almost threw a fit when she realised that Mae had dragged in the last person she wanted to see. But then Peter apologised genuinely- it was written in his eyes how sorry and guilty he was, Mae guesses Gwen couldn't say no to his puppy dog eyes. Although she never said she forgave him, she's too immersed in the intel Captain Raymond had given her.

Mae should probably remind him to mind his own business.

"You guys are too silent, it's making me nervous," Gwen says, biting her lip nervously. She hides her hands in her sleeves of her as they somehow ease her nerves.

Mae heaves a deep sigh. "Can you say it again? Just one more time."

Gwen huffs. "Captain Raymond said that Dr Connors- the Lizard," She stands in front of Mae, holding her breath. "Is not dead."

Shit.

Truth is, Mae knows this. She knows where Connors is too and that's all thanks to her spy family. They told her that SHIELD is holding Dr Connors, she doesn't know for what, but they are. The whole world thinks he's dead, and that's how it's supposed to be. This was supposed to be a secret. That's exactly why Mae hasn't said anything to Peter either.

But apparently, the new captain is doing a horrible job at keeping classified information classified.

"And you believe him?" Mae tries. She has to do something to get her best friend's mind out of it.

The silver-haired girl gives Mae an 'are you serious that Mae doesn't enjoy being the recipient of. "He's the Chief of NYPD, Mae. Why wouldn't I believe him?"

"Isn't that too convenient? That seems like some really classified intel," Mae shrugs. "Why would he just tell this to you? It doesn't add up."

Gwen gives her that look again. "Um, I don't know, maybe because that monster killed my dad?!" She snaps, Mae sees the tip of her ears turn red with anger. "And it almost killed your dad too, Mae. I don't understand how you're so... chill about this!"

Ouch.

That was a low blow, and Mae knew that Gwen was right. Gwen's father died because of the man who she considered a mentor, and she's still grieving over his loss. Hell, it has only been a week since he passed. Mae knows all of this. The only reason she's so 'chill' about this is that she knows things that both her and Peter don't- and she can't tell them that no matter how much she wishes she could.

Guilt immediately washes over Gwen's cerulean eyes, even Peter has shifted awkwardly in the position he's stayed quiet in. "I'm so sorry, Mae, I- I didn't mean to say it like that." She moves closer to Mae, clutching her hands in hers. "I'm so, so sorry Mae. Please forget I ever said that, I'm just on edge after everything. My dad died so suddenly and we weren't even on... good terms and he went away before I could even mend them." Her eyes start to get glassy and Mae panics, shifting closer to engulf Gwen in a hug. "I just- I miss him so much, Mae." Gwen croaks, and that breaks Mae's heart. Mae never heard Gwen sound so... broken.

From the corner of her eye, Mae sees Peter stand up. When she turns to look at him, she sees the panic reaching his eyes and he rubs his palms on his jeans nervously. Gwen is weeping on Mae's shoulder and the honey-blonde can feel the tears brim in her eyes too.

Peter's guilt is eating away at him too. The guilt that he can't tell Gwen the truth about her father's death, of his last words to him. He can't tell her of the promise he made with George Stacy.

Peter honestly wishes that he can tell Gwen the truth too, that he is Spider-Man. But in order to keep his promise to her father, in order to keep her safe, he has to keep it from her.

He's already put Mae in danger.

The tender moment gets interrupted when Mae's phone starts ringing. Gwen pulls away, sniffling as she rubs her eyes using the sleeves of her white cardigan. Mae glances over to her phone lying on the bed to see that it was Sarah calling her. But at this moment, Mae can't help but prioritise Gwen over her own sister.

As if Gwen can read her mind, she shakes her profusely. "Please pick it up, I'll go drink some water."

Mae hesitantly nods before swiping the green button as Gwen leaves the room. "Hello?"

Mae waits for a response but narrows her eyes when there's radio silence. "Hello, Sarah?"

"Oh, so you do remember you have a sister," Sarah remarks sarcastically, causing Mae to roll her eyes. "I'm starting to think that you forgot you have a family too, other than your bunch of nerd friends."

Mae's jaw clenches, and she rubs her forehead, biting back the curses that were about to escape her tongue. "What do you want, Sarah?"

"Can't a girl just wanna catch up with her baby sister?"

"Sarah."

"Okay, okay," Sarah laughs. "You should be back home soon, Mae. There's a lot of SHIELD business that mom wants to unpack with you."

Mae's interest perks up at that, turning around to Peter who just watches her on the phone with a small smile on his face. Although Mae can feel the blush creep on her cheeks, she's more worried if Peter also has some kind of superhearing ability. With the clueless look on his face, Mae doubts he does, but she doesn't want to take any chances.

"Okay," Mae replies. "I'll be there soon. Let mom know, yeah?"

Sarah hums in response. "'Course, Mae. I gotcha."

Once the call ends, Mae turns to talk to Peter but he beats her to it. "Is everything okay?" He asks, his eyebrows arching worriedly manages to melt Mae's heart into a puddle.

"Yeah," Mae nods, smiling shyly before her eyebrows furrow. "You don't happen to have some superhearing power too, right?"

"Nope," The brunet boy shakes his head and he eyes Mae suspiciously. "Why? Is there something you don't want me to know? You're keeping secrets from me after knowing my biggest one?"

Although he meant it as a joke, Mae frowns when he says the last sentence. She can't help that since she truly doesn't want to keep secrets from Peter Parker. But she can't.

Peter panics when he notices Mae's sudden sombreness. "Hey, no no no-no. I didn't mean it like that, Mae. Obviously, you're not obligated to tell me your secrets just 'cause I told you mine! I would be stepping way out of line if I did that and I promise that wasn't my intention-"

Mae chuckles as Peter rambles on, shaking her hand. She waves her hand. "Peter," She calls him, causing him to stop and stare, his mouth open since he was obviously not finished before he was rudely interrupted by Mae. "If it were up to me, Pete, I would tell you all my secrets. But I can't. I really wish I could though, Pete. I promise that I trust you, but these-" She air quotes, "-secrets, they're not mine to share."

Peter looks bewildered at her confession, petrified even. Mae raises her eyebrows at his state, it is a rare occasion to see Peter Parker be at a loss for words.

Mae rendered him speechless, and she mentally pats herself on the back for it.

The honey blonde girl feels goosebumps over her skin and butterflies in her tummy as she says, "There's something that I want to tell you, though."

Peter holds his breath. His spidey senses are tingling, but it's the good kind of tingling if that makes sense. "What is it?"

Mae visibly gulps, stepping closer to a delirious yet anxious Peter. She studies his face for a moment while the brunette boy tries his hardest to keep a straight face before her hazel eyes travel to his hands. Without warning she moves to touch them, touching gently at first, as though she was asking permission to hold his hand. Peter inadvertently gasps, the wind knocked out of his lungs.

Nevertheless, Peter moves to graze her hand too as though she would break if he went too fast. He can't read her mind right now, can't comprehend what's going on in her head as their hands slowly intertwine, both their cheeks hot and red which makes them anxious about the other person noticing.

Of course, they will notice. Anyone within ten feet radius of them can see the red like dormant volcanoes pulsing to erupt.

Mae doesn't even remember what she was telling him earlier and visibly panics. She looks up to meet his eyes and her breath is knocked out of her lungs when she sees the way he's looking at her. Like this is some kind of dream, like he can't believe he's here now- holding her hand. Frankly, Mae can't believe that either. His mouth is hanging open slightly, she wonders if she should tell him that.

Mae tries to rummage in her head to remember the reason they got in this position. She told him she would tell him something... why can't she remember what? Is she that forgetful? Or is she too deep in his eyes she lost her way?

That thought alone is too cheesy for her own taste, but somehow the idea made the red on her cheeks turn ten times deeper.

"Erm," She clears her throat. "So," Think, Mae, think. "You were asking me something?"

Peter looks flustered, blinking confusedly. "M-me? I did?"

"Mhm."

"No, I don't- you were going to tell me something, Mae."

"I... I was? Are you sure? 'Cause I obviously would've remembered that."

He chuckles. "Yes, Mae. I'm sure."

"I don't believe you."

"What?"

"I think you were looking for an excuse to hold my hand."

"You think I...-!? I think you were looking for an excuse to hold my hand."

"Nuh-uh, don't you put this on me, pal."

"Don't you put this on me!"

"Now you're just copying me-"

"Ahem."

A new but familiar voice interrupts and Mae feels a strange sense of deja vu at the situation now, recalling how this was how the events unfolded before the Lizard raided Midtown High.

Gwen's cerulean eyes move back and forth from the awkward duo who don't realise they're still holding hands. Glee meets her eyes, which is in stark contrast to the dry tears and puffiness of Gwen's cheeks. "Guess the cat's outta the bag then."

Peter and Mae furrow their eyebrows. "What?"

Gwen points to their joined hands like it was the most obvious thing and when the panicked duo notice, they immediately detach their hands as if they touched fire.

Gwen cackles, "You two are cute," She narrows her eyes at them, pointing between them both. "How long has this been going on for?"

It's like Peter has forgotten how to speak coherently. "Wha-what... How long has what been going on, Gwen? There's nothing, nothing's going on, it's all good, yeah. Nothing's going on right, Mae?"

Mae looks like she's seen a ghost. "Y-yeah, totally. Nothing's going on, Gwendolyn."

Gwen narrows her eyes at Mae when she uses her full name. "Mae." Gwen raises her eyebrows, giving Mae a knowing look. "It's okay, you told me, remember?"

Mae frowns, "Told you what, Gwen?"

Gwen scoffs and rolls her eyes. "You told me about you and Pete! Or did you forget about that already?"

If there was ever a moment in her life where Mae wished she could evaporate and vanish into thin air, it was this.

Especially when Peter gapes at her like a deer in headlights.

Yup. She was fucked.