Chapter Eleven
Rain
"S-Sam?" Peter could not help but question and stutter. His eyes widened. He had never expected it. Not in a million years could he have guessed that Sam Alexander would call him just a day after Peter had sneakily given him his number in hopes of…in hopes of doing what? Going back to what? They were not ever friends, but they were never more than that. Although Peter could recall a very precious memory of him and Sam doing something only he and said boy knew about, Peter would not be foolish. He could not allow himself to be that naïve and hope that one day he and Sam might be able to go back to the way they were before. Plus, they could not for Peter was engaged and Sam was… well Sam was…
"Peter? Can you hear me?" Sam was now yelling to the phone in what appeared to be concern. That small realization made a smile grow on Peter's face.
So even after all this time, he still worries about me. But soon a frown appeared on Peter's face as he asked the inevitable question, So then why is acting so coldly and distantly towards me and Ava?
"Parker I know you haven't hung up 'cause I can hear you're breathing so if you're done with whatever you're trying to pull, can we please talk like civilized men?" Sam asked in a slightly more irritated than usual tone.
Peter mentally cursed himself for allowing his thoughts to consume him once more. He had waited and longed for this moment for so long and now that it was here he was not going to let it slip right through his fingers.
"Sorry about that. I was still getting over the initial shock." Peter explained as he rubbed the back of his head out of nervousness.
A sigh was heard from the other line and after a few seconds of silence Sam said something that shocked Peter greatly.
"I'm sorry." Sam whispered.
"For what?" Peter could not help but ask.
"For…." Sam began but seemed at a bit of a predicament when it came to picking exactly what he was apologizing about. After what seemed like a lifetime, he added the true answer, "Everything."
"Everything? Sam, you're starting to worry me. What's wrong?" Peter enquired.
Another sigh was heard which displeased Peter greatly. There was a feeling in his gut that was making him feel uneasy, even agitated. Something was definitely wrong with Sam.
"I'm just feeling so stupid right now. I can't believe what I'm doing." Sam explained.
"What is wrong with calling an old friend, Sam?" Peter asked with a sad smile on his face, knowing full well that the word 'friend' was the worst understatement of the year. They had been more, so much more for so little a time.
A bitter chuckle was heard from the other line before an answer came, "Everything especially if that old 'friend' is getting married."
Peter was taken aback by the directness of Sam's tone. He could name several occasions during which Sam's bluntness had caught him off guard but this was the icing of the cake( note the use of irony and sarcasm here).
"I don't see anything inappropriate about our conversation Sam." Peter replied, knowing full well he was lying to both him and Sam with that response. It wasn't that what they were saying to each other was out of place, but rather what those words were laced with, the feelings they conveyed was not something that should be expressed between two people that were just 'friends'. No, there should not be longing in their voice, nostalgia for the happy moments and pain for the missed chances. There was also regret for the words left unsaid. There was also guilt for allowing their barely scraped hearts to indulge themselves into activities that would only lead to deeper wounds and more blood. They had to stop this. They both knew it but neither had the will to do so.
"Anyway, I called you to ask you to do me a favor." Sam said.
Peter frowned at the sudden change of topic, but he was not going to deny that he was partially grateful for it. He was rather curious about exactly what favor Sam was going to ask him to do.
"I'm listening." Peter responded.
A sigh came. Then there was silence. For a moment Peter was thinking that this sign of hesitance on Sam's part was going to lead to the latter's ending the call and the former mentally cursing himself for allowing himself to trust the other wholeheartedly in a matter of minutes, but mostly for allowing himself to hope and believe in Sam again.
"Can we hang out?" Sam simply asked.
Peter nearly choked when he was drinking water. His eyes widened and the only thing he could say was the barely uttered question, "W-what?"
"Seriously?!" Sam half yelled, half said exasperatedly.
Peter slightly flinched at the angry reply, but couldn't help chuckling at how adorable Sam probably looked right now. Peter could bet his monthly salary that Sam was now pinching the bridge of his nose and was debating whether it would be useful to yell, ignore the matter altogether or hang up.
A sigh was heard before Sam's voice followed with these words, "I'm not going to confess or anything so you can relax. I've long got over whatever there was between us seven years ago. I'm simply asking you whether it would be alright to go out and try to have some fun like old times. If this request is far too difficult for you to comprehend and/or accept, then I think continuing this conversation will be pointless."
Peter pinched the bridge of his nose before replying, "Big words for such a coward."
"Seriously Parker? Are you really going to argue with me over the phone?" Sam questioned.
"Yes, I am going to quarrel with you if all you're going to do is continue running. You don't want to hang out or try to reconcile the remnants of our relationship. You don't want to make amends. You're just feeling fucking guilty and you're searching for a way to lessen the feelings. Well guess what Alexander – I am sick and tired of being your punching bag. I might've been once but I have no interest in becoming one again. Goodbye!" Peter screamed into the phone before pushing the button in order to end the call. He could've sworn he heard some sort of comeback from the other line but could care less about what Sam had to say.
Just as Peter had thrown the phone onto the ground, it started ringing again. Peter looked up and contemplated for a long time whether it would be wise to answer the phone or not. After a good twenty seconds Peter bent down and grabbed the phone. He clicked the answer button and muttered a greeting, but was met with silence on the other end.
"Just my luck." Peter mumbled before skimming through his list of conversations for the day. His eyes scanned the screen as it rolled and soon stopped their journey when they met the numbers of an unknown phone number. Peter smirked in triumph as he pressed the call button. He waited patiently until the third ring. That was when Sam picked up the phone. The minute he did that Peter hung up. Peter then put the phone back down on his desk and waited. He counted to three and his smirk grew even wider when the phone started ringing. He answered it and was surprised at the greeting he received.
"Exactly what stupid game are you playing web-head?!" Sam half yelled as a question.
Peter chuckled but slightly scowled at the warmth that old nickname brought back. A wonderful yet dangerous feeling nestled in the pit of his stomach and refused to leave. Peter sighed as he closed his eyes. He felt the warning of a headache coming about. Peter rubbed his forehead as he answered, "I'm not playing anything. I'm simply testing you and you fell right into my trap bucket-head."
"What do you mean webs?" Sam enquired and blushed slightly. He had not intended to continue using the names he had given Spiderman a long time ago. It had slipped accidentally but no matter how embarrassing it may have been there was one thing Sam could not ignore – the familiar tug at his heart strings whenever Peter called him that annoying yet strangely familiar nickname.
"I wanted to see whether you really wished for a reunion to occur." Peter explained, he then added, "I don't want you to anything you feel compelled or forced to do. If seeing me and the others again is what you truly want, then so it will be, but if you're simply doing this out of guilt or shame…"
"Hell no! I don't feel guilty at all! I-I mean yes I do feel guilt and shame, but that is not the sole reason I called you." Sam cut off Peter. He then blushed madly at what he had just said, knowing full well he was being honest for the first time in several years.
Peter smiled as he asked, "Oh really? Then may I ask what the sole reason for calling me is?"
Sam debated whether it would be wise to tell the truth, but soon found it futile to continue to be secretive. Peter was not stupid and was going to find out sooner or later what the true reason for Sam's odd actions was. Sam might as well make it easier for the both of them and let the cat out of the bag himself.
"I've been thinking about a lot of things today and I came to a conclusion." Sam began but hesitated.
"And what might that conclusion be?" Peter asked, whilst helping Sam go on.
With a soft sigh Sam answered, "I realized I missed you too much." He then added, "And not just you. As strange as it may sound I miss Danny, Luke, even Ava. I miss our missions, our late night chats, our training sessions, even our arguments because they were just…. All those things were part of us, they were…they were…"
"Part of our home, part of who we really are." Peter finished with a sad smile, longing for the time when he actually knew all these bits and pieces about each of his members that now he could hardly recognize. Hell! He barely knew Ava and he was getting married to her. He could not imagine what it would be like for Luke to suddenly appear and wish to talk to him. That would certainly be embarrassing or at the very least awkward. He and Peter had not spoken for two years.
"Yeah." Sam's quiet answer helped break Peter out of his reverie.
"Yeah." Peter repeated before adding, "Listen Sam I'm happy for everything really I am. And I'm also glad that we talked but I need to go now. It's getting late and Ava's probably down there waiting for me."
"Oh. I see." Sam replied.
Peter bit his lip in frustration. He could not help but think that there was more to those simple words than Sam realized but Peter did not have the time to ponder on Sam's behavior right now. He needed to go home and try to talk with Ava. He had a feeling there was something wrong with her and no matter how messed up everything was and how complicated their relationship was, one thing would never change – Peter would always be there for her.
"I'll talk to you later then. Bye." Sam said.
"Wait!" Peter called out, not understanding fully well the true meaning behind the mixed emotions that one word was drowning in.
"Yes?" Sam asked.
"Are you free tomorrow?" Peter decided to answer with a question.
Sam frowned slightly but answered, nonetheless, "Yes, I am. Why are you asking?"
"Because I am as well and since you asked me whether we could meet up and do something, I was thinking that tomorrow might be good." Peter explained.
"Oh yeah, um, tomorrow's good. Actually tomorrow's great!" Sam said and forced himself to bite back his tongue at the lame response.
"Awesome then. I'll call you later with the exact time and place. Bye Sam."
"Bye Peter."
With that they hung up.
Peter put his phone in his bag, grabbed his keys and suitcase and exited his office. He went to the elevator and as the soft tune was playing in the background, Peter contemplated what exactly he was going to tell Ava of she had actually come to meet him. He did not even know where to begin. Hell, he did not even know what half of their problems were. The worst part of it all was that he was starting to have some doubts about whether he should marry her or not.
Soon the elevator reached the ground floor and the metal door slid open. Peter exited the lift and started walking towards the grand exit of the Kenner Enterprises. He then started walking towards the parking lot. Just as Peter was about to open his car a hand shot out and blocked his path. Peter's eyes widened slightly before he looked up. His eyes met those of blazing white. Peter flinched. Just what exactly was this creature?!
The strange creature looked directly into Peter's eyes and smirked. The malicious intent it carried could be sensed from anyone within a five mile radius of it yet the effect it had on Peter was stifling. Shivers ran up and down Peter's spine as the creature drew nearer and nearer. It lifted up its other hand and blocked every path of Peter's escape. Its smirk grew as it noticed the first signs of sweat forming on Peter's forehead. One droplet even ran down Peter's now shocked face.
"Are you Peter Parker?" The creature asked.
Peter could only nod automatically in return. The creature's smirk increased its width. It lifted up its hand and trailed part of the droplet's journey on Peter's face. One of its claws delved deeper into the flawless skin, making it bleed. It soon withdrew its hand and looked directly into Peter's eyes.
"Good." The creature said before moving away from Peter completely. It was soon a good five feet away from Peter, giving the poor boy enough room to breathe. The strangeness of the situation increased when the creature's expression changed from malicious to utterly serious in a matter of seconds.
"We need to talk." It said before adding, "But not here. Meet me back here tomorrow at seven p.m. and I'll tell you all there is to know about my dear little brother."
With that she disappeared. Peter could only stare dumbly at the place she had occupied as this question kept swirling inside his mind:
What the heck just happened?!
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A/N: Merry Christmas everyone! Thank you for being so awesome throughout this whole year. I'm sorry for the long wait for this story to be renewed. I hope I haven't made too many mistakes. Thank you for the wonderful reviews and support!