I was a bit confused and worried. I didn't expect her to be here today. Honestly, I was expecting her to wait until right before the dance – partially because of how much I placed on her lap, so to speak, and partially because MJ can be a rather petty troll. So, I quickly opened the door and looked at her in concern.

"Is everything okay?" I asked.

"…Yeah," she replied. She was dressed in her normal attire, but had a backpack hanging from her shoulder. I looked at her face and saw the stitches on her lip. I was about to ask if her lip was okay until she spoke again. "Are you going to just stand there and stare at me, or are you going to let me come in?"

"Oh, sorry." I stepped aside, allowing her to enter. I then closed the door and locked it. "I'm surprised you're here."

"So am I." She turned and looked at me. "But with classes cancelled for the week, I had more time to think and process that bomb you dropped on us. So, I'm ready to talk. But we won't talk tonight."

I tilted my head in confusion. "…Um…"

"So, here's the deal. As far as my folks know, I'm over at Betty's house having a sleepover and will be hanging out with her until about two tomorrow. Betty's parents are out of town until Sunday, so she can cover for me. With that said, here's what is going to happen. I'm going to sleep here tonight with you. In the morning, we're going to have breakfast here. And then we're going to have a very, VERY long talk about what you did. Is that understood?"

I wanted to protest. I wanted to tell her how ridiculous this all sounded. But then I started to really think about what was happening.

I knew Michelle. She rarely did anything without reason. When she followed Ned and I around during our sophomore year and teased us, it was her way of trying to befriend us. When she lied about the real reason she was watching me, it was because she had bad luck with getting close with people. So, here she was. She said she wanted to give me a fair shake. Maybe I was reading too much into it, but I figured she wanted to have the conversation here so I could be in a safe space – a place where she didn't have the deck stacked against me. Maybe she wanted to be comfortable enough in my space so she could be open enough to say what she wanted to say. Or maybe she wanted to be part of the space so I could be comfortable enough to be open with her.

…Perhaps it's all of the above? Yeah, let's go with that.

With that in mind, I nodded. "Got it."

"Good. Now let's go to bed now."

"Now?" I looked over at the clock. It was only 9:12. "Why now?"

"Because something tells me I'm going to have to wake up early to get actual food to cook." She looked me up and down. "You look like you only got protein bars and energy drinks on deck."

I stayed quiet for a moment. I then averted my gaze, slightly embarrassed. "…And instant ramen," I sheepishly admitted. "Okay." I looked back at her. "Um… I'm going to get changed. Can you… you know…?"

"Of course," MJ said as she turned around. After making sure she wasn't peaking, I walked up to my dresser and pulled out a drawer. I removed my pants, leaving my bottom half in a pair of black boxer briefs. I removed the blue t-shirt I had on and tossed it into my closet. I then grabbed a grey t-shirt to put on and…

I heard a creak from a floorboard. I quickly turned around to see MJ gawking at me. She quickly looked at me. While her expression was neutral, I noticed the tinge of red in her cheeks.

"…You couldn't resist, could you?" I teased.

"…I was just making sure you weren't injured from Wednesday," she quickly said. I tilted my head.

"MJ."

"Yeah?"

"You're full of shit."

"…Yeah." She sighed. "Look… you're not exactly hard on the eyes." She then walked up to me. I froze in my tracks as she slyly smiled at me. She leaned forward and placed her hand on my shoulder. Now it was my turn to become red in the face. "But since we're on the subject… how many times have we been in a room with nothing on but our underwear?"

"…To be honest… none," I bowed my head. "You've seen me in my underwear, but I never saw you in yours. And the times you saw me in my underwear were just times I was changing out of my suit."

I didn't hear her say a word. I then felt her hand cupping my chin. I raised my head and looked up at her. There was no sly smile, or any smile at all.

"How long have we've been dating?" she asked.

"About three months."

"And we never…?"

"No!" I blurted that out a lot quicker than I wanted to. I cleared my throat and looked off to the side. "No… Most we ever did was first base stuff. We didn't talk about… that… yet." I face heated up even more. I forced myself to look at MJ. I figured that, at any moment, she'd bust out laughing and tease me for getting flustered. But she didn't. She pulled away, turned around, and walked towards her bag. As she kneeled down, she spoke.

"While you're a joy to look at, Peter, I can't say that what you're telling me is a fair trade," she said. She kneeled down in front of her bag. I looked at her, a bit confused. She took off her black hoodie… and then her shirt.

"Ummm..." I tried to say something.

"It's okay, Peter. I promise you." She tossed the shirt aside leaving her in her black bra. She then reached into her bag and pulled out a grey pair of boy shorts. She smiled as she stood up and walked past me towards the bathroom. I stood there, dumbfounded.

Just a few days ago, she wasn't talking to me, I thought to myself. And now she's in my apartment, changing into underwear. What is my life right now?

A few moments later, MJ exited my bathroom. I got a good look at her, seeing her in a plain black bra and grey boy shorts. Realizing I was gawking, I quickly looked down towards the ground. However, I couldn't keep my mouth shut.

"You're beautiful, Em," I whispered out.

"Flattery won't save you from tomorrow," she deadpanned. "…But I think you're beautiful, too." I looked up at her, seeing her small smile – that sincere MJ smile that showed her real feelings. She laughed before she walked past me and towards the bed, gently brushing her shoulder against mine as she did so. After savoring that touch, It took all my willpower not to look at her backside. "Let's go to bed, Loser."

"Give me a minute," I replied, my voice coming out raspy. I cleared my throat. "I just gotta turn off the lights and everything." And I quickly did just that, turning off the lights, making sure the stove was off, and checking the desk.

After that, I turned towards MJ, who was under my sheets, sitting up. She was bathed in the dull glow of the city lights that managed to make it through the window's blinds. I smiled before I walked over to her. As MJ held up the sheets for me, I moved crawled into bed, taking up the spot next to her. I looked up at her. She reached behind her neck. I then realized that she was wearing the black dahlia necklace I bought her in Italy.

"Um… Em… please it keep it on," I pleaded.

She looked at me curiously. She then nodded and lowered her arms. After that, she raised her right shoulder briefly. I smiled as she lay down before I scooted over and laid the left side of my face on her shoulder and lay over the right side of her body. She snaked her arm around my shoulders and gently scratched my scalp. I moaned in appreciation as I closed my eyes.

"You're like a puppy," MJ teased.

"I thought you said I wasn't cute," I whispered.

"No… you're adorable." I chuckled, but didn't say anything more as I fell asleep.

The next morning, I woke up to the smell and sound of food frying. I groaned as I sat up in bed. I looked towards the stove to see MJ cooking breakfast. Interestingly, she was dressed in my pair of black gym shorts and my "Find X" T-shirt. Even more interesting was her singing a song to herself. It took me a moment to recognize the song she was singing as I stood up and stretched my arms out.

"Bright lights, the music gets faster," she sung. "Look boy, don't check on your watch. Not another glance. I'm not leaving now, honey, not a chance." It was definitely Kids In America. I knew it was sung by Kim Wilde, but I was more familiar with the version sung by Len. I walked over to her slowly, singing next lines.

"Hot-shot, give me no problems," I sung. "Much later baby you'll be saying never mind. You know life is cruel, life is never kind."

MJ turned her head towards me. "Kind hearts don't make a new story."

I leaned against the fridge. "Kind hearts don't grab any glory."

"We're the kids in America."

"We're the kids in America"

"Everybody live for the music-go-round!" we sung in unison.

We smiled at each other. MJ then jerked her head towards the bathroom. Getting the hint, I made my way towards the bathroom, stopping at my dresser briefly to grab a couple pieces of cothes. After I showered and did the necessary stuff, I stepped out of the bathroom dressed in a pair of grey shorts and a black t-shirt.

"So, where do we eat?" MJ asked as she walked out of the kitchen with two plates.

"On the bed," I replied. She gave me a look, but nodded. We both walked over to the bed and sat on it. She then handed me a plate. I took it and looked at what she served me. "Pot stickers?"

"Breakfast pot stickers – they're filled with eggs and sausage." She smiled at me. "Also, I hope you don't mind, but I borrowed your keys before I stepped out for food and borrowed your clothes when I got back."

"No worries. I think I still have some of your clothes anyway."

"…" MJ tilted her head. "…I think I have some of yours, too. I knew I wasn't buggin'. There are some clothes in my closet that I don't recognize."

I laughed. I then sighed. "Thanks for the food."

"You're welcome."

We ate in silence. I tried to eat at a normal pace, which was hard to do. There was a part of me that wanted to eat slowly so I could put off the upcoming conversation a little bit longer and enjoy my time eating with MJ. There was a part of me that wanted to eat fast so I could get it over with quickly. I guess me eating normally was a happy medium.

Eventually, we were both done eating. She took our plates into the kitchen and deposited them into the sink. She then walked up to the fridge, opened it, and grabbed a bottle of water. I figured she wouldn't let me have an energy drink if I wanted one. Good thing I didn't at that moment. So, when she walked back towards me and handed me a bottle, I graciously took it. I opened the bottle practically guzzled it all down. I then closed the bottle and set it on the floor.

"…Peter." I looked up at MJ, who looked at me with a solemn expression. I knew it was the start that conversation. I readied myself for what she had to say. "…I got a lot to say to you. I know I said that we're going to talk, and we will. But I need you to let me get what I have to say off of my chest first. Will you do that for me?"

"You know I will," I replied.

MJ smiled slightly. She then nodded before she began.

"Peter, I'm not mad about The Spell itself," she murmured. "I understand. Our universe would have been in trouble if you didn't have Dr. Strange perform that spell. And even beforehand, I get that you tried to have at least some of us remember that you are Spider-Man." She then shook her head. "But I'm mad you waited all of this time to tell us and that you originally didn't plan on telling us at all even though you promised Ned and I that you would do so RIGHT afterwards." It was at this moment, she started to pace back and forth. "Ever since that day I kept on questioning everything, like how I got this necklace, where did I get these random pieces of clothing, how I ended up being best friends with Ned, and why I get this fondness in my chest every single time I see Spider-Man swing around the city. And now that I know the reason, I want to kick you in the dick."

I shifted uncomfortably, getting ready in case she tried to do just that. But, she kept on talking and pacing.

"And then I got a bit upset with myself when I thought about your situation. I get it. So many people died around you, and quite frankly, I don't know how you can stay… stay you… after everything you been through. And… for a while, you were all alone with no one to turn to… and then I got angry with you again because why the absolute fuck would anyone put themselves through that?!" She huffed out a breath as she stopped in front of me. "What was your plan for us Peter?"

"…Honestly?" I started. "I, uh… I was hoping that stopping by the coffee shop every day to check up on you guys would be enough. But… every time I see you guys, I walk out that coffee shop asking myself if I made the right decision."

"…So, basically, your plan was to stop by, buy a donut and a black coffee so you can see if we're okay?" MJ muttered as she scowled.

I swallowed the lump that suddenly formed in my throat. "Yes."

"…And you did this knowing we're bound for MIT, right?"

"Yes."

"So, let's assume you stuck to that plan. We would have left the city by early August at the latest. You know this. So, what you were going to do then? Were you going to move to Boston and stalk us from a distance?"

Well, when she put it like that, it did sound stupid. And I had to admit, it was. I bowed my head. "I didn't think that far ahead."

"It's probably a good thing you didn't because that whole plan of yours is some high octane headassery!" With a huff, she sat down next to me. She shook her head and looked at me. "…Why? Why did you keep our distance from us?"

"…Because…" I paused for a moment. "I…" I balled up my fists against my lap as I took a deep breath. "…That day I walked into the café, I had a letter, you know? I prepared a whole letter to read to you and Ned so I could explain everything. But when I saw you… I saw you there being… you. And then I thought to myself… do I really want you and Ned to go through all of that again? You two almost died because of what I did leading up to The Spell and my Aunt May actually did. And before that, you guys were rejected by MIT just for knowing me. And… I was getting tired of people's lives ending or being ruined because of me."

"So, instead, you were going to spend the rest of your life alone, with no one to turn to when shit goes left." I looked at MJ, seeing her scowl. "…Is that what you were going to do?"

"…Yeah," I admitted.

MJ closed her eyes briefly as she shook her head. "I'm not exactly a mental health expert, but I'm pretty sure that's a mental breakdown waiting to happen."

"You're not wrong." I sighed. "…Em… I'm sorry for hiding the truth from you and the others. I just didn't want you guys to get hurt and - "

"You made a decision that wasn't yours, Peter," MJ interjected with authority as she stood up and walked away from the bed.

"But Em!" I stood up, and she suddenly turned around and glared at me.

"But nothing, asshole!" MJ balled up her fists. "Sticking by you while knowing what you do in this city was a choice we made! We knew how crazy shit could get by even being acquainted with you, and we could have walked away from you and all of the craziness in your life if we wanted to! But we didn't!" I was already feeling bad off of her words before. But as she said all of that, her voice started to crack and her eyes became red and watery. "And now here we are again. Are you going to trust us now? Or are you going to go run to Dr. Strange and have him cast another dumbass spell?!"

"I'm not," I promised. "I'm not, I'm not, I'm not, I swear to you!" I shook my head. "Em… I spent months without you and Ned and I've been missing you guys every day. And it took me befriending Scott, Betty, Kitty, and Craig for me to realize that it's okay to be close to people and…" I closed my eyes, realizing that now I was about to cry. "I'm done, Em! I'm done with keeping you guys at arm's length! I'm done with hiding my life! I'm done with lying to you and the others!" My voice started to crack and tears started to fall down my face. "I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry for every dumbass decision I've made regarding us. And if you want to be mad at me for a while longer, I'm cool with that. But I want to make things right with you. So please, I'm begging you, tell me what I need to do to make it up to you, and I'll do it!"

MJ closed her eyes and used her forearm to wipe away her tears. She then looked at me and glared. "Shut up, Peter. Just shut up." She took in a breath. "Either stand there and let me kick you in the dick or come over here so we can hold each other, you idiot!"

I quickly walked up to her. I didn't even need the threat of violence to move as quickly as I did. I wrapped my arms around her. As she put her arms around me, we held each other tight and cried. It felt like we were crying forever. And… I really needed it. For the first time in forever, I felt a weight off my shoulders – a weight I was carrying for God only knows how long.

When we finally got it all out of our system, we pulled away from each other just enough so we could look at each other. I smiled as I used my thumb to wipe away her tears from her cheek.

"So… worst Saturday morning ever?" I croaked out, trying to joke.

"Maybe," MJ replied as she smiled slightly and wiped away my tears. Her face then became solemn. "No more secrets, Peter. From here on out, even if you can't exactly tell me what's going on, I want you to at least tell me that something is bugging you. So no more secets."

I nodded. "No more secrets."