Everything was going according to Ned's plan. They were at MJ's favorite bistro. They had ordered and caught up on the day's activities. Ned and MJ shared no classes so they hadn't talked since this morning.
Ok Ned, he thought to himself, one time just the way you rehearsed it. "MJ, there's something I wanted to ask you." He reached into his pocket for the ring box.
"Oh my god!"
"Yes, this is happ..." Ned saw she wasn't looking at him.
"Peter!"
Who's Peter, he thought, then turned to see who she was looking at. The memories rushed in and for a second he was happy to see his friend. Then he saw MJ rushing to him. She kissed him, just a peck really but it seemed endless to Ned. Peter started to lean in for a real kiss. Ned couldn't let it happen.
"No. No! NO!" Ned charged at Peter and shoved him away from MJ. "Don't you dare do that!'
Ned's charge set off Peter's spider sense up so he didn't lose balance. He was confused by Ned's reaction but he couldn't believe his best friend would try to hurt him. "Do what?"
MJ put her hands on Ned's arm. She'd never seen him this worked up. She was afraid he might physically attack Peter and get hurt. "Ned, don't."
Ned looked at her with a mix of rage and puzzlement. Then his heart sank. He'd already lost. MJ would never stop him from saying an uncomfortable truth. She would only say "don't" if he was wrong and she did love Peter instead of him.
This line of reasoning came to him in less than a second. He shook off her grip and turned to yell at Peter. "You had to do it, didn't you? You swooped right in and destroyed our relationship."
Peter was still lost as to why Ned was upset. "Relationship?"
"Me and MJ. We were in love. We were happy. But it's all gone now thanks to you!"
"You and MJ?"
"Yes! We were meant for each other. I was about to propose and she was going to say yes." Ned hurled the ring box hard enough to make Peter wince as it bounced off his chest. "But now you've wrecked everything!"
"Propose?" Peter looked at the ring box on the floor in astonishment then at Ned.
"She's the most important thing in my life, the only thing that really matters. She's the only..."; Ned choked up as he looked at MJ; "...thing I truly care about, and you took her away from me."
"Ned, I'm sor..."
Ned pushed Peter out of his way and started to leave. "You ruined my life!"
"Ned, wait." MJ tried to call him back.
Ned waved his arm at her dismissively as he stormed out of the bistro.
Peter looked at the door then at MJ, who had retrieved the ring box from the floor. "What just happened?"
MJ opened the box and gazed at the ring. Ned knew her so well. Another woman might have wanted a larger stone or a more intricate setting. To MJ this ring was perfect, a model of elegance and restraint. It was the most beautiful piece of jewelry she'd ever seen.
Peter came up to MJ breaking her out of her ring induced reverie. "Peter, so much has happened since we forgot you."