A/N: I apologise for not updating on July 30 like I said I would. Something personal came up and I was not able to finish this chapter by the time I said I'd upload it. Hope you guys can forgive me. Xoxo, Denise

SCARLETT

"Here's the mission report, Mister Stark." I say as I casually walk into his office and throw the folder of papers on his desk. It's Friday afternoon and I'm about to get ready to go dress shopping with MJ, Ned, and Peter. "I really don't see why you made me go with the Spider. I could have taken care of it myself."

"Thanks kid." He says reaching forward. "I know you could have handled it yourself but it was either you go with him or you don't go at all. You know your father." I lean against the wall and watch him read through the report, knowing he was right.

A few minutes go by and I decide to ask for a favor. "Hey, uncle Tony?"

"Yes?" He replies, looking at me from above the report.

"I need a favor."

"What is it kiddo?" He puts down the report and gives me his full attention.

"I need you to come up with a reason to keep Peter here at the tower for the next few hours." I say quickly.

"Oh? And why's that?" He's the only one who knows that I know Spiderman's identity, and that we're best friends.

"I need to go dress shopping and I don't want him to be there." There's no sense in lying to him.

Just then, Peter walks through the door. "Scarlett, come on, we're going to be late."

"I'll be there in a sec." I wave him away.

"Dress shopping for what?" My uncle asks.

"Homecoming."

"I though you weren't going? Did he ask you?" Tony motions towards the door that Peter just exited through.

"No…" I say kind of sadly. "MJ and Ned are dragging me with them and since I don't have any dresses… they're taking me shopping."

"Gotcha. And you don't want Spider-boy to be there because…?" He presses.

"I have my reasons. Please uncle Tony… For me?" I beg childishly.

"Sorry sweet pea. You just gotta push through it. Besides, it may work in your favor." He winks at me.

"What are you talking about?" I say nervously.

"Just that you have a crush on Mister Parker and he's totally oblivious to it and he has feelings for you too and both of you need a push." He explains nonchalantly.

"He doesn't like me. He likes Liz… That's why he asked her to homecoming and not me."

"Scarlett, we have to go! We're going to be late!" Peter yells through the door.

"Coming!" I answer back. "Bye uncle Tony." I say as I walk through the door.

We go to three different stores, trying to find a dress. Finally, the last store, After the Ball, had the perfect dress. Granted, I had to try one about four other ones to get to the perfect one, but it was worth it in the end.

MJ and Ned were the most critical of the dresses. MJ was relaxed, telling me if she thought it fit right or wasn't my color, stuff like that. Ned gave his opinion of move ability and the different cuts of the neck line and such (he's such a diva sometimes), also telling me different ways I can do my hair and telling me how amazing I looked, though I denied it. Peter, however, was the most opinionated of them all.

"The neckline is too low Scarlett. You want to look good but not show everything." He explained, slightly flustered.

"Peter, it's fine. Right Ned?" I ask fight back.

"Uh, I mean, yeah. Yes Scarlett, the neckline is fine." Ned replies, unsure if he should take my side or Peter's.

I try on another dress. "Too short. Try another one."

After the first few dresses at the last shop, pulling him aside, I finally ask Peter what's going on. "Okay, seriously. I've tried on a total of sixteen dresses today and you've managed to find something wrong with every single one of them. What's going on?"

"I-I I'm just thinking of your dad and how he would react. You don't want to upset him, do you?" He lied. I can always tell when he lies.

"Do you seriously think I care about what he thinks? It's one night Peter. He can get over it. He may be old fashioned and I may be his baby girl, but I can hold my own and he knows that. If anyone tries to touch me in any way I am not comfortable with, dad trusts me to put them in their place. And I will." I explain.

"You're right Scar. I'm sorry. But even with all the criticizing I've been doing, none of the dresses seem to look like you." He apologizes truthfully. "None of them say 'Scarlett'… Here, try this one on. I think this is a good one." He grabs a dress that was draping over the back of one of the empty chairs and hands it to me to try on.

"Thanks Peter." I take the dress and give him a light pat on the shoulder, then make my way to the dressing room.

In the changing room, I call MJ in to help me zip up. I slide on the black heels we found at After the Ball and step out from behind the curtain.

Silence.

I look at everyone's face and they look stunned.

PETER

I stand up from my chair and so does everyone else.

I'm at a loss for words. She's beautiful. She spins in a circle and the way her maroon dress hugs her waist and drapes down, stopping just above her knees, hiding the thigh knife I know she always carries with her, is stunning. It has a sweetheart neckline with a sheer layer above it, with diamonds creating a line of flowers across the neck. The same diamond shapes start from the center of her waist with a large one and get smaller as they wrap around the rest of her wait, ending at the back, just before the zipper. Her feet are covered with simple black heels, with a thick strap around her ankle, lined completely in diamonds.

"So? What do you think?" Scarlett asks hopefully.

Ned starts slowly clapping. "Bravo! You look amazing!"

"Absolutely stunning!" MJ exclaims and goes to hug Scarlett.

I slowly walk over to Scarlett, slipping out of my shock. I grab both her hands. "You look gorgeous." I say, barely above a whisper.

I must be smiling like an idiot at his point. I gather her in a hug and spin her around and she starts laughing, then gripping on to my shoulder as she stumbles a little in the heels on carpet when I set her down. I grab her shoulder and waist, trying to help steady her. She blushes and I can also feel my cheeks turn a light shade of red. I take my hands from her waist and shoulder and step back, rubbing the back of my neck.

Why am I blushing?

"I think this is the one!" Scarlett tells me. "Thanks for picking it out, Peter. It's perfect." She thanks softly, her green eyes brightening and a soft smile pulling at her lips.

"I-it's no problem really. I-I just thought i-it matched your, your hair so…uh… I'll stop talking now…" I explain nervously.

She gives me a small laugh and goes back into the changing room to get dressed back into her skinny jeans and tank top, as well as her converse. I have yet to figure out how she conceals that thigh knife when she wears skinny jeans. I'll have to ask her sometime.

She goes to the register and pays for the dress with Mr. Stark's credit card and then we all travel back to her apartment for our usual Friday night movie nights. MJ goes home to help her grandmother with something and Ned's mom calls him and asks for him to go home to watch his little sister, Angel, while she runs to the store. So, in the ends, it's just me and Scarlett.

"Hey, you wanna go to the tower instead of my apartment? There's more space and I have to go there and put my dress away anyways. Wanda and Nat are going to do my hair and make-up so I figured I'd just get ready there instead of at my apartment and…" She rambles on.

"Scarlett." I say sweetly, stopping her rambles, and placing my hand lightly on her shoulder. "I think going to the tower is fine. I like it there better anyways." I smile softly at her and we make our way to the tower.