AN: I forgot to mention in the last chapter that I am assuming they were at the end of their freshmen year or beginning of their sophomore year when the series started. Just pretend with me :) I put a note on the first chapter as well (and will remove this note when I post chapter 3).

Sorry about the 'texting' thing...I wanted to introduce it now because it will be a major plot point later. I hope it doesn't turn anyone off, and if there is a better way for me to do it please tell me!

Thank you TearDrop! SpideyNova is my newest guilty pleasure and there is a huge lack of it around. Also TearDrop: I appreciate your kind words. And thank you for the cupcake! Your defense was very moving; I saw it while at work and it put a smile on my face- on a Monday at that! After careful deliberation I deleted it. I hope you are not cross about it. My motto has always been: Do not feed the trolls :). On the bright side, that was my first flame review; I feel like I've finally 'made it', haha.

I love criticism and welcome it. I can not improve without it. However, anonymous reviews with hateful messages are not constructive to the community at all.

The next morning Peter said his goodbyes to Aunt May and made his way to school. He was nervous about Sam being at his house without Aunt May there. At least if she were there he would absolutely not make a move, regardless of how tempting it was. But he was doomed to spend the afternoon alone with the person he desired -wait desired? When did he decide that?

He hoped a villain would show up and cancel the whole thing before he made an ass out of himself.

Luck wasn't on his side. Or it was. Peter wasn't sure which would be better: super villain fight or an afternoon alone with Sam.

By lunch there was no sign of any trouble requiring Spiderman. Avoiding Sam was still his priority and he quickly found a seat next to MJ. She was a few tables away from where the rest of his team was already sitting. Sometimes MJ would sit with the team, sometimes she and Harry would sit by themselves or with their other friends. Peter tried to rotate who he sat with, but since his and Nova's last fight he spent most of his lunches with MJ. Hey, he needed some personal space. Space. Nova. Nova in his personal space...

"You okay there Pete?" MJ smirked at his dazed expression.

"Sorry MJ, spacing out..."

She hummed. "You've been doing that a lot lately."

"Because," Harry said as he set his lunch at the seat across from them, "someone finally caught his eye."

Damn his observant friends. He couldn't think of a witty comeback or joke to counter Harry's accusation. He settled for something between gaping and grimacing.

"Oh...my...Peter you are sooo blushing! So it is true? I thought Harry was crazy when he suggested that yesterday, but..yes!" She threw a fist in the air. "It's about time! High School is almost over, you need to ask her out before it is too late! Do we know her? I can totally put in a good word for you. She would be stupid not to say yes!"

Peter let his head fall onto his sandwich. So much for hiding it any longer. He wasn't sure if he wanted to come out yet...or if he even was gay, or just for Sam. He did have a biiit of a girly figure if you squinted. And he was the only guy he ever felt this way about...but he also never felt like this around a girl...

He sat up and took a deep breath to steady himself. "I don't want to talk about it. It wouldn't work, and you're right, high school is almost over and I'll be moving away for college, and...and I don't want to get attached. "

MJ patted him on the back. "So, you decide which school you're going to?" Her and Harry already decided to study in New York. There was no way MJ was going to leave her job at the Bugle. He felt terrible for thinking about leaving, but he needed a change. On Aunt May's advice he had applied to several schools, and, surprise, he got accepted to nearly all of them.

"Not yet. But, who turns down Stanford? They have a fantastic biology department, and state of the art facilities..." Peter huffed, and it costs way too much. But if he wanted change, there was nothing quite like moving across the country.

"Hey, Stanford. You have baloney on your face." Peter looked up and blinked. Sam was standing behind Harry with a blank expression. When did he walk over? How much had he heard? Sam walked away as quickly as he had appeared. Briefly he wondered if Sam wanted to talk to him, but quickly dismissed the idea. He was probably just walking past and couldn't ignore an opportunity to throw out a jab.

"Damnit." Peter excused himself to go wash his face. He totally did not run out of the cafeteria to avoid taking to MJ about 'feelings'. Nope.

He was able to avoid MJ and Harry the rest of the day. There was no way MJ was going to let the subject rest until he told her who he was 'crushing' on. Shudder. He was also able to avoid Sam since after lunch- a skill which he perfected over the last month or so. When the final bell rang he shuffled outside to meet Sam.

The bucket head was no where to be seen when he got out of the school. And, darn, no villains. While he waited for Sam his phone buzzed.

[3:01pm] MJ: you are not off the hook.

[3:01pm] Peter: For what?

Peter glared at his phone; he was going to have to come up with something to set her on the wrong path.

"Space to webs," Sam waved his hand in front of Peter's face.

Peter jumped at the sudden intrusion into his personal space and put his phone in his pocket before Nova could read the texts. Nova loooooved to snoop. "Damnit bucket creep, don't you know what personal space is?" If he was honest with himself, he didn't mind Sam being so close.

Sam took a half step back and shrugged. "I wanted to talk to you at lunch, but you seemed to be having too much fun with your sandwich. Mrs. Preston, my English teacher, she wants me to stay after to make up that test I missed last week. You know, when you-know-who decided to wreck up downtown during 3rd period."

Peter frowned, "So you're canceling. Again."

Sam jumped, "No, no! Not canceling. Just, won't be over until... for like an hour or so. I'll come straight to your place when I finish making up my test." He shrugged, "that alright?"

Peter nodded. "Yea, I'll see you in a bit." He watched as Sam visibly relaxed then just nodded and walked home.

Normally he would duck in an ally and change into his costume and web sling home in no time. But today he wanted to take the long way. Walking gave him time to think and organize his thoughts. The whole day he avoided thinking about how to talk to Sam.

When he reached his house 30 minutes later, he still had no clue what to say. He sighed and threw his bag onto the chair next to the couch. Aunt May had already left, so he didn't particularly care if he made a mess.

His phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and groaned at who the message was from.

[3:40pm] MJ: Is it someone I know?
[3:40pm] Peter: MJ, please just let this go.

He had no hope she would let the matter drop. Five minutes later his phone buzzed again

[3:45pm] MJ: I'm just going to guess until I get it right
[3:45pm] Peter: I won't tell you if you do happen to guess

[3:46pm] Sam: omw. Pizza?

Peter sighed and dialed the pizza delivery number. When he and Sam would hang out almost every week they made a ritual of ordering pizza. He knew just which toppings Sam liked, which he hated, and which he would complain about but secretly love. So he ordered Sam's favorite and went about setting up his game system. Since the whole thing with the guardians of the galaxy he usually kept it in his room. That way Aunt May could have the tv in the living room and wouldn't be as quick to remind him to do chores. But his rational side kicked in and reminded him that Sam+Room+Alone= Disaster. Heavy on the dis.

While working on sitting up the system his phone kept going off. He took it out of his pocket, saw there were several texts from MJ, and threw it on the couch. He would just pretend they didn't exist.

Peter just finished plugging in the wires and was about to put the controllers on the couch when there was a knock at his door.

"Wow, the pizza got here fast." He ran into the kitchen to grab the $20 Aunt May had left him. With the money in hand he opened the door, only to find Sam standing awkwardly on his porch.

Weird, he normally just let himself in. Peter stepped back to give Sam room to walk inside.

Sam smirked, "Sorry Parker, I cost waaay more than $20."

A million comebacks raced through his mind, ranging from calling Sam a 'cheap whore worth about tree fiddy', to asking him if that was why he was always late for training. He spun his internal wheel and it landed on 'blushing and stammering out a quick, "Uh, thought you were the pizza guy."

Sam snorted, walked passed him, and threw his bag on the left side of the couch. With a sigh he sprawled out on the couch and shrugged at Peter. "I hate English. So, you going to yell at me now?"

Peter closed the door and observed Sam. He was sitting on the middle cushion, legs crossed on the coffee table and arms draped across the back of the couch. It was how he often sat, but the tension in his shoulders gave him away. Sam was nervous. It was a defense mechanism Peter caught Sam using often: pretend to be at ease and show no fear.

Opting for a less direct approach, Peter crossed the room and gathered the controllers. He turned to hand one to Sam and heard his phone buzz again. Never one to respect personal space or property, Sam immediately grabbed his phone off the couch and started reading the texts. Peter freaked and dropped the controllers.

"Drop it!" He lunged towards Sam,who moved to the side.

Sam grinned and read as many texts as he could before Peter grabbed his phone back. "Dude, what is MJ going on about?"

Oh, great. What had she text? How much had Sam read?

[3:50pm] MJ: Ava? That would be the most obvious
[3:52pm] MJ: You do spend a lot of time with her
[3:55pm] MJ: Sara, from bio?
[3:56pm] MJ: That girl from English? Whats her name?
[3:56pm] MJ: The blonde that always wears sweaters even when it's hot?
[3:56pm] MJ: Jessica is her name.

[3:57pm] MJ: Veronica?
[3:57pm] MJ: The Maston twins?
[3:57pm] MJ: Someone I don't know?
[3:57pm] MJ: Peter?
[3:57pm] MJ: Are you ignoring me?!
[3:57pm] MJ: Hello!
[3:59pm] MJ: I'm not giving up!
[3:59pm] MJ: please? See, I'm not above begging!
[4:00pm] MJ: Peter!

Peter groaned, she was not going to let up. He peered over his phone to where Sam was sitting. The other teen had an unreadable expression. Was he really expecting Peter to yell at him like the last time? He was still tense.

[4:02pm] Peter: Sorry, was cleaning up. Sam came over to play video games

He sent the quick text back and threw his phone on the table. Maybe MJ would leave him alone for a bit. Peter sat on the couch and sighed. MJ was so far off on all of her guesses. At least she would never guess at this rate, but she would be completely blown away if he did fess up.

How would his friends handle it if he did, on the very rare chance, date Sam? Sam, who was sitting right next to him. Almost too close. He didn't try it! It was a complete accident that his bag was on the chair and Sam's was on the couch. He totally didn't mean for them to be sitting side by side. Not that he was complaining. Feeling the other boy's body heat was comforting. It wasn't like they never sat this close before, they often did when they played games together. But now it was different for Peter. Now, he was far too aware of Sam. Now, he wanted to be even closer.

Movement from his right pulled him from his thoughts. Sam was adjusting his position and moved slightly away from Peter. He turned to look at Sam. A sigh came from Sam and he found himself wanting nothing more than to grab him, hug him, and apologize over and over for his tirade. But that would probably cause more problems between them.

"So..."

A knock at the door interrupted what was going to be the start of a very awkward conversation. Why had he not prepared what he was going to say? Why did he think winging it was a good idea?

He came back shortly with two pizzas and set them on the table in front of the couch. Sam dug in immediately and Peter followed suit.

Halfway through his first slice, Peter realized he didn't have an appetite. He blamed it on his guilt and totally not the fluttering in his stomach being this close to Sam was causing. Okay, it was both. Getting it over with sounded good. He sat his half eaten slice down and turned to look at Sam next to him. The black haired teen seemed to be fairing the same, and had only nibbled on his slice.

"I hate this." Peter glared at the wall. He felt Sam tense next to him.

"I know. I'm sorry I let you down again. My 'showboating' got you injured. Just yell at me and get it over with." Sam stared at his lap. "You are the team leader, like you said last time. So, just throw me off the team already. Stop dragging this out."

"Sam! No! Why would I kick you off the team? I wanted to talk about...Look, I'm just winging this so forgive me if I ramble." He sighed. "I am sorry about everything I said before. I should have apologized weeks ago, but, I thought we were okay. I mean, we've fought before...well, most of our interactions since we met have been a fight of some sort. I thought we just needed space to cool down, but I didn't expect you to start avoiding me."

He watched Sam as he talked, but the other teen just stared at his lap. "Sam, I was incredibly angry that night...I honestly do not remember half of what I said to you. But what I do remember..." He shook his head. "Anger or not, I had no right to talk to you like that. You deserve more from me."

Sam looked up warily at him. "You are the team leader. You can talk to us -me- however you want."

"Dammit Sam! No! If I have learned anything while working with SHIELD, it is that being a team leader is a choice, not a rank. I should not have called you a failure, because you are far from it! You are a great hero, and I am proud to have you on my team." He put his good arm on Sam's shoulder. "I don't think you are a fuck up at all, if anyone is, it is me. I've been so caught up in my own issues lately I didn't stop to think how you must feel."

Sam went back to looking at his lap. "So, you don't hate me?"

"Far from it Sam." Now just wasn't the time to tell him just how much he didn't hate him. He smiled when Sam looked up to meet his eyes.

"I think I'd prefer you go back to being an insufferable prick over this sappy crap." Sam grumbled and shrugged Peter's hand off his shoulder, but his smile betrayed him.

Peter grinned. "Sappy? You have not seen sappy yet!" And he pulled Sam in for a hug before his rational side could argue against it. For a brief moment Sam relaxed into the embrace and Peter inhaled the smell of Sam. If he could bottle it up he would...never share it. Never.

As quickly as Peter initiated the hug, Sam pulled out of it. "No one finds out about that. Ever." He stood up and walked into the kitchen calling over his shoulder, "Do you want a soda?"

"Sure." It was everything Peter dreamed it would be, and having a small taste of Sam only made him yearn more. Yearn? He was screwed.

His phone buzzed again. He glanced over his shoulder to make sure Sam was still in the kitchen before he picked it up.

[4:15pm] MJ: So, you two are talking again?
[4:15pm] MJ: Wait...
[4:15pm] MJ: o.m.g.
[4:15pm] MJ: Peter! Are you serious?
[4:15pm] MJ: Squee! Yes, I squeed! Out loud!

He sighed. Really? This was real life? She was going to make a damn good journalist. She had an intuition to rival the greats. He contemplated several responses. Denying it would make her suspicious since he didn't deny any of the others. First thing first, he set his phone to silent. No more MJ interruptions tonight. He was about to type a smart ass response when another text came through.

[4:16pm] Harry: please just tell MJ so she will stop obsessing?

"You're friends sure are nosey." Sam was leaning over the back of the couch and Peter hoped he only read Harry's text.

He took the can Sam offered him, "Yes, they are." He raised an eyebrow at Sam.

"So, is MJ trying to set you up with someone?" Sam opened his soda and resumed eating his pizza.

For a moment Peter debated telling Sam to mind his own, but the tension had left the other teen after Peter apologized. Maybe being more open with Sam would help mend their friendship. Just, you know, not too open.

"Something like that. MJ thinks I should do the whole 'dating' thing. She has always pushed me, but never this bad. I don't think it's a good idea...I mean besides the whole secret identity thing, it's already March. In like less than four months we will graduate, and move away, and I don't think it is fair to get involved with someone." No matter how much he wanted to.

Sam nodded. "So, you are going to Stanford? That's in California, right?"

Peter noted the disappointment in his voice. "So, you only eavesdropped on part of that conversation, huh?" He nudged Sam with his shoulder. This ease around each other again was nice. "I haven't decided yet. But I am proud you know what state it is in, Sparky. Do you also know where California is?"

"Oh shut it web head. I looked it up aft-" Sam cut himself off.

"Aww, you thought about me." Peter was totally not flirting. "How sweet." Hopefully Sam didn't think it was weird.

Sam groaned, and had the noises he made always been that hot? "Yeah, well, at least I've dated before!"

"Liar. I've never seen you with anyone."

"It was before I joined the team. I had a life before you, you know. Haven't really...had the time since."

"Bet she was ugly."

Sam shrugged, "Believe what you want. At least I've been kissed."

Oh, why wouldn't the conversation change? "I have so kissed someone!"

"Aunt May does not count. Neither does anything before, like, you were 12."

Peter huffed. Damnit. Subject change. "Have you decided what college you're going to?"

Sam shrugged, "Wasn't planning on it."

"Oh..."

Sam sighed, "Are we playing the game or what?"

Peter nodded and let the subject drop. They settled in and started playing. Sam suggested playing co-op instead of against each other, and dammit, they were unstoppable. Even with his injured wrist, Peter was able to hold his own. They played for hours and had no concept of the passing of time. Occasionally their shoulders or knees would brush and Peter would become hyper aware of just how close they were. There was something comfortable and familiar about sitting so close next to Sam. All of the harsh words and hurt feelings seemed to have been washed away and they lost themselves in the game.

Guilt had a funny way of creeping back up. Was all of the hurt really gone? Sam was a master of hiding his feelings behind bravado and nonchalance. Was everything between them truly okay? Or was sam just playing 'pretend everything is normal? He wanted to believe it was as simple as apologizing, yet he couldn't help replaying everything Sam had said.

Then it him him.

Peter hit pause on the game.

"What the hell, dude?"

He could feel Sam staring at him, but he kept staring forward at the tv. After a moment, Peter sighed. "Sam, I am asking this as both your friend and teammate." He paused and looked Sam directly in the eyes. "Is everything okay?"

Sam blinked. "Yea, dude. Except we were totally kicking ass you paused the game."

"Sam. You have been distant for a while, even before..." he shook his head. "Do you believe you belong on the team?"

"Dude."

"Because, some of what you said...last night and today...I mean...you said it like you believed it. You didn't defend yourself."

"Dude."

"Sam, please talk to me."

"Dude. Peter. Just stop." Sam looked at his feet.

Peter sighed. "You don't have to talk to me about it. But please talk to someone. Danny is a great listener, and he gives good advice once you translate it." He put a hand on Sam's shoulder, but Sam shrugged it off.

"There is nothing to talk about."

"You are a great hero, Sam. You need to believe in yourself."

Sam jumped up. "Enough with that crap, alright? It's not about the team!"

"It's not crap. Sam, please."

"Thanks for the pizza Parker." With that he grabbed his bag and left.

Peter sighed. So much for that. He didn't have the energy to chase after Sam. Cornering the other teen would only make it worse. After a few minutes he picked up his phone to text Danny.

Of course there were several texts from MJ and Harry.

[7:35pm] Peter: Can you talk to Sam?

He hit send and started cleaning up. The other texts could wait. How could he get Sam to open up? Why would he suddenly have so much self doubt? Nothing stood out to Peter. Sam was always confident in his abilities...or seemed like it. Was that why he rushed in, and showed off, so often?

With a groan he sat back on the couch and pulled his phone back out.

[7:36pm] Danny: Sure thing. Everything okay?

[7:36pm] Peter: not sure. Talk tomorrow.

Then came the task of reading MJ's texts from the last few hours. Joy.

[4:30pm] MJ: Peter.
[4:35pm] MJ: If i am right...I'm not going to judge you or anything
[5:15pm] MJ: talk
[6:02pm] MJ: Let me help.

Peter flopped onto the couch and began to type a response. And retype. And retype again. Finally he settled on postponing it further.

[7:40pm] Peter: Talk tomorrow?

Defeat. Maybe talking to MJ would help him figure out how to get over Sam. Or at least ignore his feelings for the next few months. It was a long shot, but if he could convince her it was a bad idea to pursue Sam...maybe, just, maybe, he could enjoy the next few months with his friend.

[7:41] MJ: Tomorrow is a half day. I'm coming over after school. I'll need to stop home first, but then I'll be right over!

Oh, right. Friday was a half day. That usually meant copias amounts of S.H.I.E.L.D. training. Lately Fury and Coulson had eased up. He should thank Ava for that. Her 'How am I supposed to get into a good school if I fail high school?' and 'I need to study for the SATs!' rants definitely helped. That reminded him, they needed to have a team meeting. Knowing they were breaking up was different than acknowledging it out loud. Deep down, Peter knew going back to a solo act was going to be difficult.

AN: Thank you for reading! Once again, the next chapter is almost done and should be up in a few days :)

I couldn't help throwing in a little Young Justice humor :P If you caught it : I love you, and we can cry over its loss together.

Forgot- this will remain as a 'T' rating. If it does get an 'M' chapter, that one will be posted separately.

Feel free to look me up on tumblr under the same name minus the EM part. (Am I allowed to say that?) or shoot me a review/PM.