"May, you ready to go?" He hefted up the last box and slid it into the back seat of the car where several other personals lay. His new backpack sat silently on the floor behind the passenger seat stuffed with clothing instead of his usual school books.
"Just a minute, I need to drop off the key to the tenant. Can you double-check if we got everything Peter?" Her voice echoed down to him from the second-story ledge of the apartment building.
He nodded, though she couldn't see it, and started his way to the stairs. Going upwards he passed one of their neighbors. Mrs. Kirkland is a middle-aged woman who as far as he knew lived in the complex her whole life. She was a nice enough woman but tended to think he was doing illegal things.
Unsurprising considering what he actually gets up to almost every night. She glared at him while going down and muttered under her breath. Something about delinquents. Maybe he should mention he once came home bleeding and he didn't notice, but she saw. She probably thought he was in a gang. So her thought of him wasn't good.
Walking into his door he glanced around, suddenly feeling sad. The once lived-in apartment he and may shared was now empty. They shared a lot of memories here and with Ben when he was alive. This is where he grew up for the past 7 almost 8 years and he was leaving it. He didn't think he would feel this way about an old, ratty, and worn-down apartment, but here he was.
Behind him, he could hear May coming up the stairs her footsteps sounding heavy on the metal staircase.
"Everything good here?" She asked slightly out of wind.
She looked tired and worn out. She has been working overtime to save up for a deposit on a newer apartment in Queens. May had dark circles under her eyes and she walked like the living dead. He wished he was old enough to get a job to help her out, even if it wasn't much.
He figured it was unproductive to cry about something he has no control over, so he let it go for now.
"I'm just going to check the bedrooms real quick." He heard her make a noise of acknowledgment and the sound of the cupboard opening and closing.
He made quick work in May's room not finding anything. When he entered his room he only found a half-full vial of web fluid in the corner of the closet. Definitely didn't want that getting into someone else's hands.
He looked around his room remembering everything that has happened in here. Sleepovers with Ned, study groups, almost dying from the spider bite, and not to forget Mr. Stark asking him to go to Germany.
He sighed and went to find May again when he didn't find anything else.
"We are all good!"
His Aunt stood in the middle of the apartment with her hands on her hips looking around. He joined her and hugged her from the side. She instantly started hugging back only moving to fully embrace him, arms circling his shoulders.
"I can't believe we're leaving." She whispered.
"I know."
"Ben and I lived here for almost 8 years when you came to live with us. This was our first and only home." He heard her sniffle a little and he hugged her tighter. She didn't seem to mind.
"When you came to live with us we thought we might have to move, but it ended up working out. Ben just moved his office to our room and we moved you in. You were such a quiet child. We were worried for so long that you wouldn't be happy."
She pushed his shoulders back while still holding them and gripped him strongly.
"It took 3 months for you to finally smile. We were so relieved everything finally fit together and it felt like home." She paused for a second to wipe her eyes. "This was your home too, how do you feel Peter?"
He wasn't excepting the question, so he just hugged her again and she complied.
"Okay, I guess. I'm sad to leave, but excited for the new place." He looked at her now. "I don't need to fight the roaches for the cereal anymore." He laughed when she did, her wiping the leftover tears on her face.
"Don't worry May, everything will be alright. We will have to make some new memories. Besides, it's closer to your work and Midtown. That nice!" He smiled sincerely at her to ease her a little. It seemed to work when she smiled.
"Yes, my boss will be happy." She laughed. "Come on, let's get in the car." They walked out together only turning back to close the door. The darkness of the room was the only thing they saw.
XXOOOXX
10 minutes later they arrived at the new apartment complex. The moving truck was already parked in the unloading area. It was a 5-year-old building with 6 stories and a large parking garage connected to the apartment. The exterior was a nice calm blue color with an outdoor park and trail. It looked really nice. They parked and made their way to the office.
When they stepped inside they were greeted by a young woman maybe in her 20s. She looked up from what she was doing on her computer to welcome them.
"Hello, what can I do for you two?" She was smiling at them.
May moved forward while he found a chair to sit on in the corner.
"Hi, we're the new tenants. We talked on the phone earlier."
The woman looked confused only for a second before she seemed to remember.
"Oh! Yes, May Parker, right?"
"Yes."
"Perfect, I assume that is your moving truck outside?"
Again May answered yes.
"Great, if you like we have a few employees that we help you move in. They have a small fee if you're interested."
He didn't hear May's answer as he started to tune out their voices. He glimpsed out the window and stared at the building. From where they were it loomed above them. Shadows hitting the side of the walls. There were a few people walking upstairs, no doubt going home. Some were carrying groceries and others were dressed in athletic wear.
He hopes they can make it work here, it looks nice compared to the other place.
May interrupted his train of thought and was dangling a set of keys in front of his face with a smile on her face.
"You ready to see the place?"
He jumped up in answer and grinned at May, enticing her to laugh. "Alright, we are on the top floor, room number 613. Let's go sweetheart."
"I've been waiting to see the place since I didn't go on the tour with you and you didn't show me any pictures." He glared at her, but he couldn't keep it up and ended up smiling anyway.
"I'm sorry Pete, I wanted to surprise you. It looks really nice it has hardwood floors, built-in bookshelves, and granite countertops. We are living in luxury now!" She puffed out her chest and strutted a little to make her point. He laughed at her more from embarrassment when someone from outside looked over at them.
He ignored the stare and continued walking with May to the elevators next to the stairs entrance.
The door opened after a moment and someone stepped off the elevator and walked past them. They didn't seem to even acknowledge them and continued on. Not that unusual for the area. They stepped into the metal box and pressed the number 6, a second later the door closed and the outside disappeared.
There was no music and the space was comfortable and warm. The old apartment smelled moldy and the elevator was more often than not broken this place was already a step above the old one.
The elevator dinged above them signaling their arrival and the door slowly opened. They stepped out together and the hallway branched off in two directions. Left and Right. There was a sign that said 601-639 to the left. They went that way.
It took only a minute to get to the door. The hallway was silent and empty except for them. They stood in front of the door almost nervous to open it. May looked over at him and he nodded with a smile encouraging her to go in. It seemed his small encouragement was enough to get her moving and she slowly unlocked the door. With his enhanced hearing he heard the tumbler turn.
The door swung open and the smell of cleaning supplies hit him. The windows blinds were opened and brought in natural light from the outside illuminating the open concept room.
The first thing Peter could see when he walked in was the decent-sized living room with some built-ins on the far wall. The walls were an eggshell white and looks and smelled of newly painted. The floors were a darker oak color that contrasted nicely with the color of the walls.
The kitchen got his attention next. It had a large island with white granite and a slightly darker cabinet color than the floor. They had stainless steel appliances that fit into the style perfectly. Peter had to wonder how much this place was costing May. He knows she got a raise and a better position, but he wonders.
There was between the kitchen and living room a big enough area for their dining room table. May next to him set her purse on the countertop and turned to him raising a brow silently asking what he thinks.
"It's nice and bright in here…" He paused for effect. "I like it." He said and she seemed to relax a little. He didn't realize that she was tense.
"Good, your bedroom is that down the hall and the first door on the right. I'll let you look through and then we can start moving things in from the truck. I need to return the truck today by 3:00p.m."
He saluted her mockingly and heard a snort before she walked out the door presumingly to go move the truck closer for unloading. He and May moved the large vehicle here earlier this morning then went back to get the car and other leftover things.
Excitingly he goes through the entryway into the hall and sees 3 doors. One is May's room on the left of where he stands and then the last two are his bedroom and bathroom. He first looks at May's room to see the size.
He notices it definitely is larger than her previous bedroom and the nice hardwood floors continue into the room. The walls are a different color though and have a nice light blue/grey color. It feels soothing in here. He notes there is a balcony and briefly steps outside and sees the parking lot below. He sees May and is tempted to yell down at her, but doesn't not wanting to disturb the new neighbors.
He doesn't want to start off on the wrong foot and be known as those neighbors.
Going back inside May has her own bathroom and walk-in closet and figures he should go see his room too.
Instead of the blue-grey color on the walls, his is an off-white shade. Boring, but practical. He nods in approval and checks out his closet and his balcony. Then moves to the bathroom at the end of the hall. Everything is bigger than the old apartment and he is happy.
Again he wonders how much May is spending to make sure they are more comfortable. He hates making her work extra hard for him. He feels guilty for thinking that way and shakes his head and goes outside to help May move all the stuff in.
Couple hours later
They were able to get everything off the truck with enough leftover time to relax for a minute. May and he were on the couch, the last item to be brought in, and laying down not moving. Boxes lay everywhere unopened and it would take them a couple of days to fully unpack everything.
May grunted and stood up popping her back and walking into the kitchen. She looked for a certain box before opening it and after a moment pulling out two glass cups. She filled it up in the sink and walked over to hand him one. He thanked her and gulped down the water greedily, he didn't realize how thirsty and hot he was. It was the summertime and very hot in New York and luckily the air conditioner worked great, blowing in cool air from the vents.
He sighed in content for the moment and May joined him again on the couch.
"So, what do you think?" She placed her glass down on the coffee table and turned her body to him laying back on the cushion.
He sat up a little. "I like it. My room is nice and big and I love having a balcony overlooking the city. It's a nice view." He meant it, it was nice. He waited a moment to continue. "What do you think May?"
She sighed. "I think it's good, a good change for us. I wanted to stay where we were but it was becoming impractical for my work and I always hate making you walk that far to school. Also, while I never mentioned it the tenant was increasing the rent at the end of the year. I didn't want to be there when they did." She reached over to ruffle his dirty hair and smiled at him. "I'm beat now from moving everything. When were you ready to go to return the truck?"
"Now if you want."
"Okay, let me grab my purse and we can go. We will have to take the subway back, but we live close enough to a station."
He smirked slightly at her. "Or…" He said. "I can swing us back and we don't need to walk anywhere or take the subway." He wiggled his eyebrows for emphasis and he heard her snort.
"As much as that is tempting, I do not want our new neighbors seeing us swinging through the sky and landing on our balcony wondering if Spider-Man lives here." She poked his chest a little at that, but she was smiling too. "Be careful going in and out if you suit up okay?"
"Of course May. I like to keep our privacy if I can."
She clapped her hands as if to say that's settled and went to grab her purse from the counter. She turned around and gestured for him to follow, opening the door for him as she went.
"Well come on slowpoke, we can stop on the way back and get some food too if you're hungry too."
He walked towards her and started closing the door. Grabbing his copy of the key and fully closing the door he was laughing at something May said to him, not noticing the shadow that moved along the wall inside.