A/N: Hey guys!

Okay, so you've probably noticed that this chapter is a lot shorter than what I typically submit. No, it's not an April Fool's Joke (although that would have been funny), it's just been a really hectic past couple of weeks and I haven't been able to get a lot of writing done. Therefore, I plan on making the May update extra long to make up for the mini update, especially since we're getting close to some very important scenes (wink wink nudge nudge.)

Even though this is a mini-chapter, I hope the ooey-gooey fluffiness is enough to satiate you until next month. Enjoy!

It's impossible to say who moved first. All Penny knew was that one moment she was staring up at Flash, his eyes large and his lips parted, and then the next they were already swept up into each other's arms.

He crushed her to his chest, his arms wrapped around her waist and lifting her up so that the tips of her feet barely skimmed the ground. She clung to him just as fiercely, her face buried in the crook of his neck, breathing in the scent of mint toothpaste and spiced cologne. Penny could feel his lips on the top of her head, breathing her name into her hair. The gesture, so tender and loving, made her burrow into him further, basking in his warmth and comfort.

For the first time in a long time, she felt safe. Standing there in his arms, it was as if nothing could ever touch her, could ever hurt her again. The aches and pains from the recent battle simply melted away, leaving her limp and light. She smiled against his skin, eyes sliding shut.

Yeah. I really, really like him.

They stayed like that for a while, neither one making the slightest indication that they were ready to let go. Vaguely, she could feel one of his hands move from her waist to stroke her hair.

"Penny! You're not dead!"

She stiffened against him.

And then, all too soon, they split apart. To her amusement- and pleasure- his cheeks were tinged with pink. One of his hands still remained at her waist, the faintest brush of his fingers ghosting against her skin. This paired with the intense look in his eyes told her he was reluctant to let her go.

And now she was blushing too. Great.

Mr. Harrington stumbled towards them, looking almost haggard. His tie was loose around his neck, his hair was rumpled, and a phone was clutched in his hand with someone screaming bloody murder on the other line. Despite all this, he grinned at Penny like she was a literal angel sent down from heaven to solve all his problems. Conveniently, his joy seemed to also distract him from the somewhat compromising situation he just caught the two teens in.

"Thank God! No one knew where you were!" Mr. Harrington continued to beam down at her with a childlike glee. Flash, completely ignored, watched the interaction with what appeared to be an amused smirk.

She felt a pang of guilt in her chest. Of course he was freaking out- he thought he had lost one of his students.

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Harrington-" Penny began, wringing her hands nervously, but he stopped her with a frantic shake of his head, his hand landing on her shoulder.

"No time for that- stay here, call your Aunt, pack your stuff, we're booking flights now! " A particularly loud screech came from his phone, drawing his attention away from the now-gaping Penny. He winced, lifting it to his ear and striding off to his room. "Yes, sorry Mrs. Johnson-"

"We're leaving?" Penny whirled towards Flash, her eyes wide. All of her plans for the rest of her summer- hanging out with her friends, allowing herself to fully relax, finally stealing some time away with Flash- in the blink of an eye, it had all crumbled into nothing. Her spirits, so high just moments ago, had been thoroughly sunk.

Flash's dark eyebrows were knit with worry, the smirk now wiped from his face. Ignoring her question, his free hand came up to her face, brushing a loose curl out of her eyes and behind her ear. Penny's breath hitched, her heart involuntarily skipping a beat.

Okay, so maybe things aren't so bad right now after all...

"Are you okay?" The hand came to rest on her cheek, stroking her soft skin. Penny swallowed, the excuse she had concocted slipping away from her.

"I- uh, yeah I'm… I'm okay," she forced out. "I, uh, I was just… um…"

"It doesn't matter," he said quickly, dropping his hand from her face to her shoulder. "I'm just glad you're safe. I'm… I'm really glad you're safe," he repeated, his voice both soft and heavy with emotion. He opened his mouth to say something else, and then closed it, seeming to catch himself. "Sorry, I- uh…"

And then he was stepping closer, his breath tickling the shell of her ear. Penny shivered involuntarily at the sensation.

"Can you meet me in the lobby in ten minutes? I really need to talk to you, Pen."

Her heart was slamming against her chest. "I-I was actually going to ask you the same thing," she whispered back, feeling stunned and excited all at the same time.

"Hm. Well, Great minds think alike, I guess," he mused. Flash pulled away from her just enough so they could now look into each other's eyes. His intense gaze was softened with humor. "So why would a great mind like mine come up with the same idea as yours when I am so obviously intellectually superior?"

Her lips curved into a smile. "Make it five minutes, Thompson. Try not to get too caught up with your hair," she retorted, daringly wrapping her index finger around one of his dark locks, tugging it astray.

His response was more than she could have ever hoped for. His face's brilliant shade of scarlet rivaled even the bright color of her original Spider-Man suit.

"Ahem."

She snapped her hand away from his hair like she had been scalded. Both she and Flash turned towards MJ, who was watching them with a deadpan expression.

"Wha- how long have you been standing there?" Penny spluttered, her voice an octave higher than usual.

"Long enough to know that neither of you two dorks know how to flirt."

Flash made a flustered, indignant noise at the same time as Penny let out a high-pitched squeak. Neither could seem to find the words to retort.

MJ just rolled her eyes, hooking her elbow through Penny's and pulling her off towards her room. "I'm going to steal her for a bit, Thompson. She'll meet you for your secret romantic rendezvous on time, don't worry."

"MJ!" If possible, Penny's voice had gotten even higher.

"Wha-"

And then Penny was pushed inside, the door closing behind them.