"You, ugh, must have rocks in here." Peter grunted as he lifted up the box Mary Jane had packed for her extended stay at his house.
The muscle strained in his scrawny frame but he wouldn't let MJ help him.
Laughing Mary Jane grabbed the other end of the box without Peter's permission and helped him lug it over to the Parkers.
They carried it upstairs and into the spare room.
Peter scratched the back of his neck. "Sorry the room's not great. You're welcome to sleep in my room if you'd like and I could sleep in here, but my rooms not much bigger."
"Tiger this is perfect, thanks so much."
MJ smiled at Peter's blush. He really was sweet. "So Tiger, can you help me on my calculus homework?"
"Oh sure MJ! I can do it for you if you'd like."
"Peter you nutcase you've been listening to Harry Osborn too much." She rolled her eyes at how Harry made Peter do his homework 60% of the time.
"I just want you to help me on a couple problems if you don't mind."
"Of course I don't mind, uh... you want to start now?"
"Sure." She pulled out her notebook and listened intently as Peter easily saw what she was getting wrong and quickly taught her how to do it, teaching her ways to remember everything and to get the homework done faster.
MJ contemplated Peter thoughtfully as he earnestly explained the problem.
Sarah's comment earlier had hurt. She wasn't leading him on. She took in his sloppy hair and his huge glasses. Sure she noticed the glasses and the fact that his hair was always a little too long. But that's not what she saw. What she saw was a sweet, shy guy her own age with bright blue puppy dog eyes and an endearing smile. She noticed his laughter and the way he always wanted to make sure she was ok. She noticed the real Peter Parker.
I can't believe I'm thinking this about Peter! Snap out of it MJ!
She resumed listening to Peter work out the problem. She felt a little shaky after her rebellious thoughts and gave Peter a nervous smile.
"Okay Pete, I think I've got it now, thanks." She said quietly, wishing he would leave her so she could sit down and think.
"Mary Jane? Are you alright? You look kinda shaky."
"Oh yeah Peter, I'm fine. Hey listen I'm going to unpack and stuff so I'll see you in a bit?"
"Sure MJ." He furrowed his brow. "Call me if you need me."
Mary Jane shut the door behind her and sighed. This was too bizarre. She knew Peter had a crush on her. He had made it no incredible secret, although he told no one. People could just see by the gentle look in his eyes toward her. She could see it too. Nobody had ever looked at her like how Peter did, as if everything she did and said mattered the world to him.
She loved him as a friend and she hated when he was hurt or ridiculed. Until a few moments ago she had never even begun to entertain the thoughts of a relationship with Peter. But the image of him gently looking at her, teaching her how to work the problem was still fresh in her mind.
And... she had... she had wanted to kiss him.
She slowly stood up and mechanically unpacked her suitcase. This was too weird to comprehend what was going through her mind. She decided to leave their relationship as it was for now... she still couldn't decipher her feelings quite yet.
She crossed the room and stepped quietly out in the hall. She could see Peter's door was semi open and she was about to step in when Peter, with his back to her, lifted up his shirt and took it off then turned around to grab his new shirt.
He jumped when he saw MJ at the door and his face flushed a deep red. He quickly pulled the shirt over his head with trembling fingers. Too late, Mary Jane had already seen his pale, skinny chest and MJ could see how deeply embarrassed Peter was.
"Hey I'm sorry Peter! The door was open and I just thought..."
Peter gave her a weak smile.
"That's ok MJ, I should have shut the door if I cared so much, anyways I bet you've never seen a built bod like that before have you?"
"Nope, never seen one that sexy Tiger."
"That's what I thought." He gave her a smile and nodded to her. "Hey come in, you don't have to stand at the door all day."
She came in and sat next to him on his bed.
"Are you sure you don't mind taking me in? I feel like such a pain to you guys."
"Trust me, we're the ones benefiting from this MJ, don't ever feel like your not welcome here."
Mary Jane smiled at that. Peter always did know what to say to make her feel better about herself and everything in general.
They laughed and talked until Aunt May called them down to dinner. She raced Peter downstairs, laughing like they were 8 years old again. There was something freeing about being with Peter. She never had to hide behind the façade she sometimes hid behind at school. She wasn't a party girl when she was with Peter. She was just Mary Jane and he was just Peter Parker.
"You two seem happy." Uncle Ben noted at dinner. "Did you guys have a good day at school?"
Mary Jane answered first, excited to be taking part in a real dinner conversation with a genuine family that honestly did care about her.
"I had a good day anyways." She giggled. "I actually managed to convince your nephew to attend a party with me!"
Uncle Ben chuckled. "That is a first, Mary Jane you've done wonders."
"Hey now!" Peter broke in before joining them all in laughter.
"And don't worry Aunt May, it's my friend Sarah's party and I know she wouldn't let things go out of hand."
Aunt May visibly relaxed. "You're a perceptive girl Mary Jane." She beamed at her. "I'm so glad you can stay with us for a while."
"I am too."
"How was your day Peter?" Uncle Ben directed the question at his quiet nephew.
"It was fine Uncle Ben,"
Mary Jane could tell by Uncle Ben and Aunt Mary's faces that they had no idea of the hell that Peter went through every day at school and MJ was filled again with loving compassion for the family in front of her and particularly the boy sitting next to her.
Without thinking her hand unobtrusively found Peter's under the table and she squeezed it. Peter let out a sharp intake of breath but quickly covered it with a cough and dismissed Aunt May's concerns.
Mary Jane hesitantly kept her hand loosely in Peter's and she had to smile as she heard Peter's breath quicken considerably. Luckily Aunt May and Uncle Ben were in too deep of a conversation with each other to note the obvious hormonal issues their nephew was having.
Then something happened. She had just meant to reassure Peter when she grabbed his hand. It was an almost subconscious thing and it had not seemed such a big deal to her when she did it. She had found Peter's quickened breath cute and endearing and was thinking about it when the feeling hit her. Her own breath was coming quicker too. Her own heart was beating faster. She gasped inwardly as she realized that holding Peter Parker's hand was sending such a barrage of emotion.
She turned towards Peter, still keeping her hand in his and he looked at her. She could sense the feeling in his eyes and she knew that it mirrored her own.
She couldn't deny it any longer.
She was quickly falling in love with Peter Parker.
A/N- Okay guys, I hope your enjoying this so far! I just posted the first chapter so this should be up pretty soon. I would just like to say I am leaving for a short vacation soon and so the fic will not be updated for about a week and a couple days. When I get back in a week I'll make sure to send out another chapter. So if this isn't updated for a couple days that's why :P. Note: I stayed up til 3:30 am last and typed out chapter 3 so as soon as I get back I'll post it! That way you guys don't have to wait plus days after I get back for the new chap. : )
Anyways I would like to implore you guys to review this. I really have only written one other long-term story like this and I'm still getting the gist of it. This story idea for this category is pretty original I hope, and I hope you will enjoy this. As a diehard Peter/Mary Jane fan I sometimes get a bit tired of all the angst the poor couple has to go through so I decided to write something fairly light for you MJ/P fans to lighten the mood before you head off to another angsty fic!
So as I said, please, please please review and give me your comments, constructive criticism or ideas. All reviews are read and considered seriously so anything would be greatly appreciated. I'm really not sure how the Spider-Man fans will react to a story like this so I'm heading off into uncharted territory, I just hope you guys enjoy this and have some fun.
(Sorry for the long, boring AN! No flames please!)
-Lordlanceahlot