Thick mist obscured his vision, yet still Peter stayed exactly where he was. Frozen in place, unbothered by the fog that blocked his sight.
'Just like the thick mist of unrequited love and despair that clouds my mind.' Peter thought sullenly as he heaved a loud mournful sigh.
"Oh for goodness sake Peter!"
Suddenly his view became startlingly clear and he yelped in indignation, glaring at the fiery red-headed woman that had just stolen his glasses.
The young woman casually cleaned the glasses with the bottom of her blouse before shoving them carelessly back onto his nose.
"Now Peter, sweetheart, are you going to tell old auntie MJ what's up?" Mary-Jane said lightly, placing her head in one hand and raising an eyebrow mockingly.
"MJ..."
"Don't you 'MJ' me buster!" She jabbed a finger into his face abruptly, almost poking him up the nose with the force she thrust her hand out.
"All you've done since we got here is sat there sighing and staring forlornly at your coffee like it just stole your lunch money!"
Peter winced, he had to admit he was being a bit melodramatic today. He ran a hand through his honey-brown hair and glanced up at his best friend thoughtfully. Mary-Jane was his closest friend next to Gwen and well...she was a lot more emotionally supportive and sympathetic compared to Gwen.
His other friend could be bit...abrupt, specially if she thought he was being an idiot. The sort of situation he was in, definitely needed a bit of the MJ sympathy. It also didn't hurt that Mary-Jane knew he was Spiderman, it made some things a bit easier to explain...like black eyes and bloodied noses.
"Well...do you remember that err new friend I told you about nearly a year ago?"
MJ's eyes narrowed suspiciously, an almost knowing glint beginning to sparkle in her soft green eyes.
"Oh yeah? The one that was driving you up the wall, literally, by grabbing your ass and making really inappropriate propositions towards you? The one you said you hated? That one?"
Peter flushed guiltily, shifting uncomfortably in his seat at the almost predatory way MJ grinned at him from across the small table.
"Yeah...that would...be the one..."
He quickly swept his gaze around the small, chic coffee shop Mary-Jane had pulled him into; determinedly ignoring the red-head's amused look. He admired the numerous bookshelves that lined the walls and the huge chalk boards full of the names and creative scribblings of previous guests.
A soft cough brought his attention back to MJ, whose smile had widened dramatically. She looked almost shark-like with the way she beamed at him.
"What's he doing now?"
Peter scoffed and threw his arms up.
"It's what he's not doing that's the problem!"
Sudden laughter made him jump and he stared at MJ wildly as she cackled loudly to herself.
"OH PETER!" She giggled. "I knew it!"
"Knew what?" He pouted, not appreciating her seemingly random laughter.
Still snickering shrilly MJ said.
"About your little crush!"
The brunette spluttered furiously. How could she have known that? He'd only just accepted he had a crush on Wade himself a few months back! Plus he'd only really been making a proper effort to date him recently, not counting the months of back and forth flirting. Scowling he opened his mouth to ask but was cut off by a flippantly waved hand in his direction.
"No one ever complains so venomously about someone unless they really genuinely loath them or have a mad crush on them."
She folded her hands on the table and leant forward, wolfish smile still firm on her face.
"And you my dear complained far to passionately..." Mary-Jane purred the word.
"And far too often, to hate him."
Peter groaned out loud, putting his head firmly in his hands and tugging lightly on his hair.
"I take it; Wade was it? Hasn't bent you over the nearest surface and shagged you six ways from Sunday yet then?"
Peter jolted upright, squeaking in embarrassed alarm and knocking his head firmly into the bookshelf behind him.
"Mary-Jane Watson!" He yelped, equal parts horrified, flustered and dreadfully amused.
Laughing uproariously she patted his hand in faux sympathy.
"Nothing worse than when you're pining for someone and they just don't get the hint to take you against the nearest wall."
"MJ!" Peter grinned broadly, embarrassment dying down to be replaced with pure amusement.
"What?" She giggled, sipping her mocha demurely. Innocence practically radiating from her person.
He snorted unflatteringly.
"It is true, it's driving me mental...I mean ever since I met him he flirts all the time! Well he flirts with everyone but especially with me...it might be a bit of hero worship but I really thought he was interested!" Peter sighed sadly.
"Now I'm not so sure."
Mary-Jane smiled gently, genuine sympathy on her face as she looked at him.
"It may be a case of hero worship but from what you've told me about Wade, sounds like a lot of the flirting he does with others is just to get attention."
Peter slumped dejectedly causing MJ to quickly reach across and grab his hands, squeezing reassuringly.
"Buuuut." She stressed. "It also sounds like he doesn't quite treat others the same as he does you, much more touchy feely for example."
Chuckling, he squeezed her hands back. He noted the beautifully glittering engagement ring on her left hand and smiled widely.
"Harry's lucky to have you MJ, as for Wade...like I said, I just don't know anymore...at first when I realised I had a crush on him I just started playing his game back you know?"
MJ nodded seriously a slight smile on her lips.
"Then when sort of nice, normal flirting didn't get me anywhere...well..." He pulled one of his hands away to rub the back of his neck sheepishly.
"I started thinking about the stupid pick up lines his always throwing around...and started throwing them back at him, see if that worked."
The serious expression struggled to remain on Mary-Jane's face as her smile started widening against her will.
"Didn't go as planned?"
"Argh no! He takes me LITERALLY every time I say anything!"
That was it, all seriousness was lost as MJ burst into full bellied laughs, eyes streaming...Peter had told her enough about the sort of things Wade shouted at him to probably come up with a reasonable guess at some of the cheesy lines Peter had been using.
She wiped her eyes furiously with the back of her sleeve, chuckles slowly lowering in volume and intensity.
"Oh Sweetheart you're such a dork! I love you so much!" She giggled, fanning herself and smiling widely.
"Why don't you just tell him out right that you like him?"
Peter snorted again, smiling ruefully.
"I tried that."
"Didn't work either?"
"He patted my head, said I was a 'itsie bitsie cutie wootie pie' and walked off."
The red-head, whose face was slowly starting to match her hair from laughter, had to quickly clap a hand over her mouth to prevent another loud outburst.
"Didn't take you seriously then?"
"Nop." He said, popping the P.
"Why don't you just grab him, roll the mask up, and snog the living daylights out of him?"
Peter blushed furiously.
"I don't think I'm quite confident enough to do that MJ."
She shook her head disappointedly at him.
"Well, if you're not going to do that lets arm you with some more lame pick ups!"
She quickly whipped her phone out of her bag and after a few seconds waiting for the internet to load up, began rattling off a long list of some of the most cheesiest lines Peter had ever heard of.
He grinned at her, sometimes he wished he was straight or that MJ was a bloke. Everything would be easier. Then he thought of Wade and the phone call he'd received earlier that morning and smiled widely. He would never be able to listen to Abba's 'Dancing Queen' in quite the same way ever again.