Hello everyone! Long time, I know, my bad. Work has been crazy! I started a new job but I haven't quit my old one cause I'm trying to earn extra money between semesters. I am dying and I have almost no free time, but I am trying. Thank you all for your patience.

Anyways, two things about this whole thing. One, I will pay off that cliffhanger, but I have a plan and it's gonna take a few chapters so please be patient with me a little while longer. Also, I never mentioned this, but I kind of imagined Kate looking like Jade Chynoweth. Look her up if you don't know who she is, she's an incredible dancer, absolutely amazing. Anywho...on with the story!

As always, please review :)

Peter sighed as he looked at his phone as he lay in bed Saturday morning. He had been hoping for a text from Kate, at the very least letting him know that she was okay. She had come back from taking her phone call looking really pale and half way through the movie she had said she wasn't feeling good and said she was gonna go home.

She hadn't given him a chance to respond before she left, and she hadn't returned any of his texts all night.

Scrolling through the string of unanswered texts, he was beginning to really worry about her.

…

Kate stared blankly out the floor to ceiling window of her room that lead to the balcony, the alarm clock glaringly reminding her that it was nearly 11:00am. She had been like this since she had gotten back from the movie theater—5 hours later than she had promised she would be back—and she didn't plan on leaving any time soon.

She had dodged Clint, slipping past everyone when she had gotten back and when Clint came to talk to her, she had pretended to be asleep. This would only work for so long before she would have to explain why she was late last night, but she was dreading the conversation.

Hello Katie.

The voice was playing over and over again in her head; a permanent chill had settled into her bones and her heart thudded in her chest when as she thought about what could be coming.

A knock on the door startled her from her thoughts. She turned away from the window, blankets wrapping around her a little tighter as she rolled onto her back to look at the door as Clint opened it.

"Good morning sunshine." Clint said with a bit of a sarcastic smile. "You must have had a wild night considering you never sleep in past 0800."

Kate stared at her brother for a second, blood rushing in her ears as she thought about the prospect of telling him about the phone call. "I'm sorry I didn't call. I accidentally broke my phone last night." She said. If you consider throwing it against a brick wall, smashing it to pieces, an accident.

Clint raised an eyebrow and walked over, sitting on the edge of the bed beside her. "Kate, you know I hate being that authority person." He said. "Yeah, you're fifteen and I do trust you to make smart choices but there is a very real reason that I worry."

That reason called me last night.Kate sniffed quietly. "I know." She said instead.

Clint stared at her for a long moment. "Kate, is there something that you want to tell me?" He asked.

Tell him!Her mind screamed at her as she looked at him. "Clint, I—"

"Excuse me, Mr. Barton." FRIDAY interrupted causing the siblings to jump in surprise. "You asked to be informed when Ms. Romanoff arrived."

"Thanks FRIDAY." Clint said.

He looked back at Kate, but the moment was lost, and she sat up, pushing the blankets back as she turned away from him. "Come on." She said forcing a smile. "We can all go get lunch together."

"Kate…" Clint frowned.

"It's fine Clint." Kate said looking at him. "I'm fine. It's all fine." I'm going to make it fine.

…

Monday rolled around and Peter found himself anxiously watching the crowd of students at school, looking for the familiar brown curls and blue-grey eyes. He hadn't heard from Kate all weekend and he was really worried. He had found himself even swinging past the Tower to just see if she was okay, but he hadn't seen her.

Peter sat down in math, staring between the clock and the door distractedly while everyone else was taking their seats and the teacher finished setting up. Ned had asked him in the hall if he had heard from Kate, he was worried too.

Just as the bell was about to ring the door opened one final time and Kate walked in, holding her notebook close to her chest. Peter felt some of the tension in his chest loosen as she walked in, but as she sat down next to him, he looked at her a little closer.

Dressed in jeans, a hoodie, and sneakers, she still looked like she had stepped off a runway, but she looked tired. Her hair was pulled into a messy bun and she had dark marks under her eyes.

Maybe she really had been sick.

"Hey." She offered a half cheery smile. "Sorry, I got all your texts this morning, I phone broke after I left the theater Friday."

"That's okay." Peter was quick to assure her. He lowered his voice as the teacher called for quiet. "Are you doing okay? You left in a hurry…"

"Yeah." Kate said quietly. "I think I was just overtired. Sorry I backed out."

"No, don't be!" He said. "As long as you're okay."

She smiled faintly and just kind rested her chin on her arms as she listened to the lecture.

…

Second week of school went by in a blur. Kate was dragging by the time Friday came around. She had a mountain of homework that she had to finish that she had been neglecting because of her late-night activities. She had been trying to find the location of her caller, but so far had been unsuccessful.

"Hey Kate, wait up!"

Kate looked back, pausing in path to lunch. Ned hadn't been in school today, so she had been on her own for English. Kate raised an eyebrow in surprise as she saw Liz walking towards her. "Hey Liz, what's up?" She said as they fell into step together.

"Not much." Liz said. "Mr. Morita wanted me to follow up with you and how you're doing here. It's annoying I know but there is like a whole thing to go through."

Kate nodded. "No, I get it." She said. "Did you want to do it now?"

"I actually have to run. Homecoming committee is meeting in a few minutes." Liz said. "But if you want, you can come over to my house after school today and we can get it over with. Maybe I can convince you to join decathlon as well."

Kate laughed lightly. "Yeah sure. I just have to clear it with my brother." She said. "I'll let you know later?"

"Sure. Just text me." Liz said and headed off to the meeting.

Kate sighed quietly to herself as she walked into the cafeteria. Just one more thing to do. Looking around, she saw Peter waiting in line, holding a place for her. Her heart lifted a little as she went to join him.

…

Kate walked up the long walkway with Liz to her house. Adjusting her backpack over her shoulder, she admired the beautiful house as they got closer. "This place is amazing." She said looking around as the tasteful landscaping and the large windows that would let in plenty of natural lighting.

"Thanks." Liz said. "I know it seems like it's a bit much."

"No, it's great." Kate assured as they walked.

Liz unlocked the front door and they walked inside.

"Mom, I'm home!" Liz called as Kate looked around.

Kate looked at the furniture and the doorways, planning an exit if she needed one. It was a weird habit for a teenager, but it was one that had saved her life on a number of occasions. Including when her own brother had been brainwashed against her.

"Oh, you brought a friend home!"

Kate turned to the voice to see a lovely middle-aged woman appear out of a doorway, wiping her hands on an apron. Judging from the flour that was dusted on her clothes, she had probably come from the kitchen.

"Mom, this is Kate." Liz introduced.

Straightening up, Kate offered a sweet smile. "Nice to meet you ma'am." She said politely.

"It's a pleasure." Doris Toomes smiled, instantly charmed. "Are you staying for dinner? I'm making pot pies."

"Oh, I don't want to impose." Kate tried to say but the older woman waved her hand.

"Nonsense. Guests are always welcome." Mrs. Toomes said. She looked at Liz. "Honey, can you get your father from his office and we can everything ready?"

"Sure." Liz said. She offered Kate a sheepish smile as she left.

Kate didn't mind. She followed Mrs. Toomes into the kitchen, admiring the size and the design. It all paled in comparison to the grandeur that she saw with Tony, but despite the size of everything it really felt warm, like a home.

"Can I help you set the table?" Kate offered politely.

"That would be great." Mrs. Toomes said and directed her to the proper draws and cabinets.

Kate moved around setting up the plates and silverware along with napkins and glasses.

"You've been here five minutes and my wife has already put you to work." A new voice said from a doorway on the opposite side from where they had come in from.

"Oh, hush you." Mrs. Toomes replied.

Kate looked over to see a man who looked like he had spent a lot of years under the sun. "Hello sir." She said.

He seemed to be nice, but the warning bells started ringing in her head as she shook hands with Adrian Toomes.