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When Happy stops the car outside the address Ada had given him, the teenager looks between him and Pepper.

"I'm just gonna run in, do you guys mind...staying here?" She asks hesitantly and Pepper looks towards the coffee shop before back to the girl with a knowing look.

"Of course, sweetie, we'll be right here, okay?"

"Thanks," Ada says, looking to Happy in time to see him nod at her before she's climbing out of the black car, holding the door open long enough for Apollo to follow her.

As soon as her feet are firmly planted on the sidewalk, Ada feels as if she's glued there. Her legs are too heavy to lift. But she's come all this way, she has to do this. She knows she'll regret it if she doesn't.

So, when Apollo nudges her hand with his nose, Ada takes a deep breath before marching inside.

Looking around at the familiar building, Ada's eyes roam over the customers eating or drinking as they talk amongst themselves. Next, she lets her gaze move to the counter, her blue eyes landing on the boy she'd come here for.

Smiling at a customer, Jamie hands them their drink before he turns, eyes catching Ada's. He freezes when he does, the smile dropping from his face.

Without knowing what to do, Ada lifts her hand in a weak attempt to wave. "Luke, I'm taking my break," Jamie tells the boy next to him before moving around from behind the counter.

"Can we talk?" Ada asks when he's close enough to hear her without her having to raise her voice and he nods, motioning for her to follow him through a door that reads 'Employees only'.

"You look better," Jamie says when she doesn't speak, the noise from the semi-busy shop muffled by the closed door behind them. "I mean, just, the last time I saw you, you looked..."

"Like shit?" Ada finishes when he trails off but Jamie shakes his head, opening his mouth to deny that but Ada waves him off. "No, it's true, I was...a mess." She chuckles without humor. "And I treated you unfairly and I owe you an apology and an explanation."

"Ada, you don't-"

"Yes, I do," Ada cuts him off and immediately feels bad. "Sorry," She mumbles. "This is Apollo by the way," She's not stalling, she's not.

"Oh, hey," Jamie offers his hand for the dog to stiff. "How did I not see you?"

"He's sneaky like that," Ada mumbles. "It okay that he's in here?"

"Service dogs are allowed," Jamie nods.

"Okay, um," Taking another deep breath, Ada bites her lips and wrings her hands together. "Before I met you, I was in a car a-accident," Might as well just start from the beginning, right? "I-...m-my dad was driving. He uh...I was really h-hurt but he..." Ada realizes then that she's never said it out loud to someone before. Never said the words to anyone but herself. "He died."

"Ada, I'm so sorry," Jamie whispers while she wipes a tear from her cheek, his hand coming up as if to rest on her shoulder before he decides against it.

"Yeah," Ada whispers. She never learned how to respond to that. 'I'm sorry for your loss'. 'Thank you', just felt...wrong. "It's not- it's not...I do-don't know how to say this," Ada huffs and falls into one of the chairs against the wall. Jamie quickly moves to sit next to her.

"Just...take your time," He tells her, and Ada nods. Poor guy has no idea how to deal with an emotional girl. Bless him for trying his best.

"After I got out of the hospital...things were just t-to much, you know? And I- well, I-I didn't handle it well. I...started drinking," Ada's voice falls into a whisper, shame rising inside of her. "Smoking...pills. You know, the whole nine yards."

"Ada-"

"It's fine, I stopped," She assures him. "I got help. I just...the day I saw you was a re-really bad day and I thought I was doing th-the right thing by pushing you away and I realize now that it wasn't. And I'm so sorry for that. For the way I treated you. I truly am, and I understand if you do-don't want to be friends anymore-" Ada's voice becomes stuck behind the lump in her throat and she stops, breathing through the tears filling her eyes.

"Okay," Shifting forward in his chair, Jamie slowly lifts his arms around Ada, giving her the chance to back away if she wants. But she doesn't. Instead, she accepts his embrace and returns it. "It's okay. Of course, I still want to be your friend. And I forgive you."

Slumping in relief, Ada hides her face in Jamie's neck and clenches her fists around the back of his shirt.

"Sorry," Ada apologizes when she pulls away to wipe her eyes. "I bet this isn't how you wanted to spend your break."

"No, I can't think of a better use for it," Jamie shrugs, smiling when Ada does the same. "I'm always here if you ever need to talk. Or, you know, a shoulder to cry on."

"That's embarrassing," Ada mumble with a sniff, her hand going to rest on Apollo's head.

"It's not," Jamie shakes his head. "I think being able to show emotion like that makes you strong. And that's nothing to be embarrassed about."

"Well, thank you," Rubbing her red cheeks, Ada breaths deeply through her mouth. She'll need to stop by the bathroom before leaving, make sure her short sob session isn't obviously written across her face. "I uh, hate to cry and dash but, I have some people waiting. They're probably getting worried. But I'll text you."

"Of course," Jamie nods and stands, offer her his hand. "Want a drink before you leave?"

"How about three?"

After returning to the car, Ada gives Happy and Pepper their drinks. the latter sends her a questioning look to which Ada answers with a nod. With a little bit of the seemingly permanent weight lifted off her shoulders, Ada tells Happy the next stop after taking a deep breath.

"Sorry to drag you out just to make you wait in the car," Ada apologizes when the car rolls to the stop but the woman shakes her head with a small smile.

"Don't be," Pepper tells the girl, reaching forward to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "I know you have things you need to do. I understand." Tony had been the same when he stopped drinking. After that fog had cleared a little, he saw the things, the people, he needed to talk to. Whether that be to apologize, to explain, or just something he'd needed to say. "I think I'll see if May wants to get lunch. I'm sure Happy won't mind."

"I'm sure he won't mind at all," Ada mumbles with a sly grin towards the driver but he pointedly ignores them. "I'll let her know."

Climbing from the vehicle, Apollo right behind her, Ada crosses the street and enters the apartment building. The elevator takes her to the seventh floor and before she knows it, she's standing in front of a very familiar door.

So much has happened in front and behind said door. She remembers meeting a hyper, nervous Peter before he introduced her to his aunt then later on his friends. Also her friends now. The movie nights, study sessions, sleepovers. She remembers rushing here, an emotional mess. Crying in the empty hall until that door opened, letting her rush into her best friend's comfort. So much has happened.

Raising her fist, Ada delivers three solid knocks before stepping back slightly, looking up and down the hall. A door is just a door, after all. It's the people on the other side that matter.

"Oh," May greets, her face morphing into surprise when she sees the teenager standing outside her home. "Hi, Ada, how are you?" The woman asks whilst pulling the young girl into a hug.

"Better," Ada whispers while returning the embrace. "It's really good to see you."

"You as well," May says, letting the girl hold on a little longer before they both pull away. "And this must be Apollo."

"Yeah," Ada smiles proudly while Apollo sits, wagging his tail happily when May pats his head. "Peter told you, huh?"

"He can't stop gushing over those pictures you sent him," May says in a mock annoyed tone. "The cat is much more manageable. She just does her own thing."

"I bet. Oh, Pepper is downstairs with the invitation to lunch,"

"That sounds lovely," May decides with a single nod. "I think I'll accept. Peter's in his room. Or he's supposed to be."

"Thanks," Ada chuckles and moves past her in the familiar path towards her friend's room. "Wow," She says loudly when she enters boldly, smiling when Peter jumps. "Do you ever clean this place?"

"Ada?" Peter questions with wide eyes, turning in his desk chair to face her. "Wh-what-"

"Well, it's not every day that someone makes Peter Parker speechless, I'm ranking this as a very high accomplishment."

"What are you doing here?" Peter jumps to his feet and wraps his arms around Ada much like May had before. "I thought- you- I could've come to the compound."

"I know," Ada says, her voice muffles by Peter's shoulder. "I know. I was feeling cooped up and I needed to do some other things."

Squeezing gently once more, wary of his strength, Peter pulls away to really observe his friend. "You look great," He tells her sincerely. Though there are still dark circles under her eyes, they're less prominent, and she doesn't look like a skeleton anymore. All good signs.

"I feel better," Ada admits. "Sometimes," She adds with a shrug. "Today's a good day." Apollo chooses that moment to make himself known with a loud sneeze. "You better not be getting sick," Ada tells him as Peter's eyes widen.

"Dog," He says while kneeling on the ground in front of the fluffy animal. "Hey, buddy," The teenager coos.

"Don't give him a big head, he already thinks he's the best."

"That's because he is," Peter says in a baby voice without looking up from Apollo.

"Great, now I have to deal with two children." Just then, something brushes up against Ada's leg and she looks down to see the second animal in the room. "Athena, hey girl," Crouching down, Ada holds her hand out to the cat. "Remember me?" As an answer, the feline growls at Apollo before darting out of the room. "I think that went well."

"Definitely could've gone worse," Peter agrees, his fingers still tangled in Apollo's fur. "Ah, they'll love each other soon enough."

"So, uh," Standing, Peter wipes his hands on his thighs and looks down at Ada. "Do you want to talk, or...?"

"Um..." Ada trails off and purses her lips. She doesn't want to but maybe she should? Eh, another time. "Pepper took May to lunch. Would you come to see Lexi with me?"

"Yeah, yeah, of course," Peter agrees readily, nodding his head. He smiles and grabs his phone before gesturing for Ada to lead the way.

It's a sunny day out, a little warm but neither teenager minds. Peter texts May to let her know they're going out so she doesn't worry. They settle on getting an uber to take them closer to Lexi's place. Ada would enjoy a long walk if it wasn't for the anxiety not so slowly building inside her.

Hesitating outside Lexi's door, Ada takes a deep breath before knocking, glancing over her shoulder towards Peter. The boy gives her a reassuring smile right as the door opens.

Ada turns her head back to see Lexi's mom. She's never actually met the woman but she's seen her picture around the apartment. "Uh, h-hi, I'm a friend of Lexi's. Is she home?" Maybe she should've called.

"She is," The woman nods, looking between both teenagers outside her home before smiling softly. "She's in the kitchen." Moving aside, she allows them entrance before closing the door. Ada makes her way towards the kitchen and Peter hangs back.

"Please tell me you're not cooking," Ada says in a way of greet, starting the other girl.

Spinning around, Lexi gasps and rushes towards Ada without a word. She throws herself into the teen's arms and they both stumble back with the force of impact. The younger girl lets out a small squeak before pulling back. "You're here!" She says with a bright smile.

"I'm here," Ada repeats with a smile of her own. She wonders then what she'd been worried about. "Sorry for the radio silence."

"That was annoying," Lexi admits but shakes her head, smile still holding strong. "Doesn't matter, come here." Grabbing her arm, the blue-haired girl drags Ada into her bedroom. "So, like, how are you?"

"I'm good," Ada nods. "I uh, got help. I'm doing better. What about you?"

"Yeah, yeah," Lexi nods and sits on the edge of her bed. Ada takes a moment to look around the bedroom. It looks much like it had the last time she was here but cleaner. And the curtains are open, allowing much more light to entire the small room. "I talked to my mom. After that night, the party then those guys...I figured it couldn't get much worse. And it didn't. It got better."

"Yeah?" Ada asks. She'd been worried about her friend. The guilt over not speaking to her has been eating away at her but seeing her now, she's relieved. She really does look better.

"Yeah," Lexi nods. "She was upset but then realized maybe she would've realized if she'd been around more. So we've been talking a lot and spending time together. Even the step-douche isn't so bad."

"Ha," Ada chuckles and sits on the bed next to her. "That's good. That's really good. I'm happy for you."

"We're just about to watch a movie together."

"Well, my phones back on, text or call whenever. I'm sorry for not staying longer but I have to get back soon."

"No, no, that's fine," Lexi shakes her head. "I'm just glad to know you're not dead. And you know, doing better."

"Thanks, Lex," Ada smiles and opens her arms to hug the smaller girl. "Now, go spend time with your mom. That's important."

When they leave the room, Ada and Lexi find Peter speaking to the latter's mom. It's a little surprising but Ada supposes it's better than just standing by awkwardly.

With another hug and many waves, the two teenagers venture back onto the streets of New York. With a little time to spare, Peter takes Anya for ice cream before they're meeting back up with the others.

"Maybe you, Ned, and MJ can come by some time soon?" Ada asks outside the car holding Pepper and Happy.

"Yeah, they miss you," Peter nods.

"I know, I miss them too," Ada sighs. She would've gone to see them today but she's just so tired. She doesn't think she has that in her. "I'll see them soon."

"Soon. That's a promise."

"A promise."

Ada going to Jamie and explaining things was important to me. It was important to her as well and Jamie took it like a true friend. I think we'll be seeing a bit more of out coffee shop boy.

And we got to see Peter, that was nice. Love our spider boy. And Lexi! She's doing much better herself, connecting with her mom more. It's great. But I'm afraid it's not all going to be sunshine and rainbows from here.

Teasers: But she also feels oddly fuzzy. / What he sees has him rushing in and crashing onto the floor beside Ada's shaking body. / He shakes his head softly to the unasked question and takes his seat beside Pepper.

'-'