Thank you to everyone who reads my trash :). And a huge thank you to the tumblr community! Your words of encouragement this past week mean a lot to me!
I'm working on improving my writing and your encouragement means a lot! As always, please let me know of any mistakes I miss! (Feel free to anon me if you are not comfortable doing so!)
This fic was posted originally on tumblr for spideynova week 4 and I couldn't get to my PC most of the week, so...a bit late posting here ^^; I tried to tidy this up, and tbh I see a lot I could/should expand...but I'm leaving it be out of pure emotional drain from writing this.../end rambles.
Moving to a new city was never easy. Luckily for Sam, he already had a friend in New York and was quickly introduced to even more people. Yet, he was hesitant when Luke invited him along to a house warming party for someone he didn't know. Wasn't that rude? Luke reassured him that Danny and Ava would be there too, and that their friend wouldn't mind one bit.
He met Luke at the address right after work and followed him to the correct floor. To Sam's chagrin, Luke didn't bother knocking, he just opened the door and waltzed in, motioning for Sam to follow. Sam sat his skateboard against the wall and looked around. He and Luke seemed to be the first to arrive. Sam chuckled at the decorations. Luke and Danny both told him Peter was a nerd, but he figured they meant the the comic book type. And, there was a vintage Star Wars poster framed on the far wall, but there was also a framed periodic table. A microscope was sitting on a pile of books, and in one corner was a computer that looked like it belonged to Tony Stark. It screamed "A science nerd lives here".
Luke pulled him down to the couch. Music was already playing, and Sam quirked an eyebrow at the music selection. Luke's friend Peter definitely was a grade A nerd. A small table was set up near what he suspected was the kitchen. Food was already piled on it, making Sam salivate. He had came straight from work and he was beyond starving.
Sam looked around, but didn't see any sign of Peter. Soon he heard singing coming from the kitchen.
"~I'm lying in the rain. But I never wave bye-by~." The voice sang along to the music coming from the sound system. "But I~ Try~I Try~" It was a rich baritone and Sam wondered if its owner was as handsome as the voice suggested.
Sam didn't have to wait long, the owner of the voice, who he assumed was Peter, danced into the living room with a tray of food, singing away as he moved.
"~Never gonna fall for ~ Modern Love ~walks beside me~ Modern Love ~ walks on by~." 'Probably' Peter sat the tray on the table before turning around and seeing Sam and Luke staring at him. He jumped with a slight yelp.
Sam took the moment to look him over. He was wearing a Stormtrooper apron over jeans and a green polo, all of which were slightly baggy. His brown hair was slightly shaggy and looked like he hadn't had it cut a long time. Below his messy bangs were a set of the most gorgeous eyes Sam had ever seen, covered by a pair of the thickest glasses he had ever seen.
Luke's laughter pulled him away from awkwardly staring. "Yo Petey."
Peter relaxed, "Hey Luke." He looked to Sam, "Who's your friend?"
Sam sat a bit straighter. "Uh, Hi. I'm Sam." He gave Peter a small wave.
Luke punched Sam's arm. "He's the one I told you about. Jus' moved to New York."
In front of them Peter blushed, "Uh, right. Welcome." He was rubbing the back of his neck nervously and Sam had the urge to mess with him.
"So, you often dance around singing David Bowie?" Sam gave him a toothy grin as Peter blushed deeper and stammered. He was saved by a knock at the door.
Soon the small apartment was filled with people Sam both knew and didn't. He was introduced to MJ, a journalist he recognized from the news, and the handsome heir to the Osborne estates.
Sam caught glimpses of Peter as he played host, introducing people to his other guests and refilling the food table. Luke walked up behind him while he was observing Peter, startling him.
"If I didn't know better, I'd think you're checking him out."
Sam blushed and looked away from Peter.
"Why don't you talk to him instead of ogling him from back here?" Luke gave him a light shove in Peter's direction.
Sam sighed and walked up to the nerdy man. He was currently standing alone, typing on his phone. "Hey."
Peter jumped and put his phone in his pocket. "Uh, hey." Peter gripped his elbow, "So, how are you liking New York?"
Feeling bold -because, he didn't have to see this nerd again if it backfired- Sam leaned closer. "Well, the food is nice. The people? I think I'm liking the people."
Peter raised an eyebrow. "Really? The people? No one likes the people."
Sam edged closer. "Well, I've met some pretty rad people. There's even this really hot guy I just met."
Peter frowned and his shoulders sagged. "Oh? Lu-lucky guy."
Sam beamed up at him, noticing Peter was a good five inches taller than him. "Yea, I'm new in town, so I'm not sure where a good place for a date is. Any suggestions?"
Peter looked at his feet, "Not really. I haven't been out in…" He trailed off and Sam wanted to pull in into a hug right then. Poor guy. "But, uh, I remember Ava saying there was a nice french cafe not far from here. You'd be better off asking Luke or Ava?"
"Okay." Sam watched Peter look around the room. Everyone else was too busy in their own conversations to notice them. "But, I'm pretty broke. Just moved to a new city, you know?"
Peter turned his attention back to Sam, looking uncomfortable. Sam questioned if his prodding was too much, should he be more direct?
Peter said, "Well, you don't have to spend money to have a good date. Isn't the point to get to know the other person? And if they care about how much you're spending, do you think they'll be a good fit?"
Sam blinked up at Peter. His sage advice was tinged with a hint of sadness. Sam wondered if Peter had recently had a bad breakup. No, he just said he hadn't been on a date in a while…
He realized he was staring again and quickly said, "Like a picnic?"
Peter smiled, nodding as he said, "Yeah."
Sam grinned, he had never been a smooth talker. He hoped his meaning didn't get lost. "So, are you free Saturday?"
Peter inhaled, "What?"
"I'd like to take you on a picnic. A date."
Peter stared down at him, wide eyed behind his glasses. "Me?"
Sam made a show of looking behind Peter. "Yeah."
"But you said…"
"That I met this really hot guy and wanna ask him out. He iiiisss a bit of a nerd, and seems pretty shy, but I wanna give it a shot." Sam stared into Peter's eyes hopefully, "Even if he turns me down."
Peter gaped at him. Before Sam could get his answer MJ was pulling Peter away with a rushed, "You've got to see this!"
Sam sighed, shrugged, and followed them back to the main living room where everyone was gathered around the television. Danny was casting a cat video from his phone. It was cute, Sam would give it that, but the damn thing cost him his time alone with Peter.
He observed Peter as he stood stiffly between MJ and Danny. Had he blown it?
Probably.
Luke leaned to whisper in his ear, "So? You two…?"
Sam sighed and whispered back. "I think I blew it."
Luke frowned. "Sorry, Sam. I thought he'd be into you…"
Sam stopped listening as Peter turned and caught his gaze. He sent Sam a small smile that made Sam feel warm. Maybe he hadn't messed up after all.
Thank you for reading!
