A/N #1: Hi readers. Sorry for not updating this fic for three months. Uni, life, and procrastination got in the way. But I hope you will enjoy this new update! I've written three new chapters and they're all uploaded. So you won't have to wait. After that, I will finish the remaining four to conclude Part 2B. Again, I'm sorry for not updating soon though I still try to write to finish this fic. Nonetheless, I hope you enjoy it!
(Meanwhile, at Anna's apartment...)
Sitting at her desk, Annabelle took a sip from her glass of cold water and wrote down notes on her notebook. She would glance at her laptop's screen and clicked on her browser's different tabs, before continuing to write. She had just read four articles by the Daily Bugle, regarding Spider-Man and Scarlet Spider from the past month. Said articles were about Spidey saving a store from muggers, a violent vigilante going on a four-day hunting spree on criminals to look for Flint Marko, the arrest of Flint and Dennis Carradine, and the first appearance of Scarlet Spider.
The four-day hunting spree can't be a coincidence. Kaine ghosted me and Peter at that time. Losing his father really pushed him to the edge...
Anna stopped for a second and let out a sigh. "K... You could've talked to me, to us... We would've listened to you. You made me so worried!" She continued writing down her thoughts.
Anyway, the articles I've read, Kaine and Peter not wearing their glasses after their bite, their conversation about swinging like Tarzan, Kaine ghosting me and Peter, and them being late to the meetings. Everything confirms that they became the Spider-Men after the bite. It all makes sense now. But I still don't know why they hid the truth from me...
Then, Anna put down her pen on the desk and closed the notebook. The look on her face was full of anger. She would confront the cousins tomorrow and ask them directly. But it must be done in somewhere safe for them to have a conversation. As it was about the Parkers' secret and it concerned only them. Perhaps, she would ask Kaine first in the morning. So she headed to her bed and drifted to sleep, filled with thoughts and questions in her mind.
(On the next day...)
"No... Anna. Wait," Kaine mumbled in his sleep as he turned back and forth, holding his bolster tightly. He shook his head, tears rolling down his cheeks. "Anna, I'm sorry for not telling you. I can explain. Please, I just...don't want to lose you," he said. "No. No! Anna, I'm sorry! Anna!" He jolted awake and rose from his bed, his breathing heavy. It was all a nightmare. Kaine wiped his tears and sighed.
Seconds later, his phone's alarm rang. Kaine shot a web to snatch it from his desk and turned off the alarm. He took a few moments to compose himself, still yawning after waking up. Turning his still somewhat heavy and teary eyes to the smartphone in his hands, Kaine decided to text Annabelle. As he didn't want his secret to bother both of them.
Hi, Ann. You up? I got something to talk about (Kaine)
K, you awake yet? I need to ask you something (Anna)
Kaine felt a bit awkward as he didn't expect her to text him too. Then, he typed a reply.
Uh... Sure. What is it, Ann? (K)
I'm wondering if you and Peter are free after school. There is something important I need to talk with you two at my apartment. And only with you two (A)
Reading the message, he realized Anna might've finally figured everything out. Nonetheless, he replied.
Yeah, we are. We're not planning on doing anything after school ends (K)
Okay... I'm glad. Please let Peter know about it. And take care, Kaine. Gotta continue prepping for school. Ttyl (A)
Same here. And you too, Anna. Ttyl (K)
After that, he sent a message to Peter that they would have to go to Anna's apartment after school because she needed to talk with them. Just thinking about it already made Kaine dread the day.
In the evening, the trio were at Anna's apartment. Both Kaine and Peter had notified their parents that they would be with their friend for a while. They were inside an elevator going up to a floor. They all remained silent, especially Kaine, playing with his shoulder straps. The elevator doors slid open and they walked out to a noisy hallway, going to a certain door. Anna pulled out a card and put it on her door's card reader, which unlocked it. She shoved the card into her pocket and opened the door.
"Come in. Don't forget to put your shoes on the shoe rack, guys," she reminded them while holding the door open. The two nodded and said their thank you before entering her home and did as told. Anna proceeded to walk inside, closed the door, and put her shoes on the rack.
"Anna. Why do we need to talk here?" Peter asked her, "We could've just talked at school, right?"
"We can't. I don't want anyone eavesdropping..." She looked at her friends, "Because I know something you've been hiding from me, something really sensitive." Anna picked up her notebook, opened it, and showed her notes from the previous two days to the cousins. "I know you're Spider-Man and Scarlet Spider. Did some digging through the Daily Bugle articles from a month ago and remembering the things that have happened. I connected all the dots."
Peter chuckled softly, "I already had a feeling that you began to figure out our secret."
"How?"
"Because of yesterday at school. I saw the guilt painted on Kaine's face and how you looked at him, Ann."
"I knew you figured it out too," Kaine said to his close friend.
Anna started to shake her head and laugh in disbelief. "Kaine, Pete... I'm your friend. But you didn't tell me the truth. And you left me in the dark!" She raised her voice, which scared both. "Especially you, Kaine," she walked toward him, "You did this to me...twice. First, you ghosted me and made me worried like hell. Second, you and your cousin didn't explain why you've been late so many times."
Kaine looked at her in the eyes for a moment and lowered his head, ashamed of himself.
She then turned to Peter with a mix of anger and disappointment on her face. "You and Kaine better have a good explanation why," her voice softened, "You could've just told me the reason so it wouldn't complicate things. I would've understood, it's that simple..."
"It's not that simple," Peter shook his head. "You know how it is with the secret identity thing from movies and comics. Whenever the superhero reveals who they are to the people close to them, danger, death, and trouble will follow them all. So I don't think it's a good thing."
"But there are times when things are normal, right?" Anna fired back with a question. He nodded.
"Most of the time, not really," he added. "I simply wanted to protect you from those. I'm...sorry," Peter sighed at her.
"I know what the secret identity trope can do. But at least let me make my own decision on this thing," she said, "Thank you for explaining to me, Pete."
"Anna..." Kaine called her.
"Yes?" she looked at him, who stared at her with regret.
"I agree with Peter. But I've...been wanting to tell you that I'm Scarlet Spider since a few days ago," he revealed.
"I... Why the change of heart, K? I thought you wanted to hide your secret?"
Kaine could only put up a weak smile. "I did. Until I saw how it affected you, Anna. I broke a promise that I made to myself two months ago," his voice cracked slightly, "A promise to be a good friend, to make you smile. I didn't fulfill that..." He continued, "Secrets be damned. Because I'd rather not lose someone dear to me and understands me."
Upon hearing that, Anna's eyes widened. Her lips trembled and no words came out of it.
"Ann... I'm sorry for not telling you sooner. Missions got in the way for me. I never meant to cause any misunderstandings."
"W-What...missions?"
"Superhero stuff. Taking down a criminal organization with Peter and a friend. A new vigilante the public hasn't heard of."
She nodded in understanding and cleared her throat. "Okay uh... T-Thanks, you two. I think I'll need some time to think what to do with our friendships. You guys can go now."
"Take all the time you need, Anna. It's okay," Peter told her as he and Kaine took off their shoes from the rack and put them on.
Annabelle opened her door and held it while the cousins exited to the hallway. Before going to the elevator, Kaine stopped and glanced over his shoulder, looking at Annabelle apologetically. Peter noticed this and gave gentle pats to his cousin's back.
"Give her some time, Coz. Don't worry, she'll know what to do eventually," he told him.
Kaine sighed, "I hope so... Thanks, Pete."
"Anytime."
As Peter and Kaine walked to the elevator, Anna closed the door and went to her bedroom. She threw herself onto the bed and closed her eyes, replaying everything that had happened to process them. While she didn't like the fact Peter and Kaine hiding secrets from her, she finally understood why. She realized they cared as they didn't want her to get hurt. Both had a good reason, like Gwen said a few days ago.
But when Anna recalled Kaine's words and how he looked at her with regret earlier, her cheeks reddened. It made her eyes snap open. He cared and cherished her more. She was dear to him. As she recalled the times he looked at her lovingly, the time he saved her from thugs, and their moments together. Anna gasped, her heart started to beat fast. She could feel butterflies inside her. "Can it... Can it be that he has feelings for me?" she asked herself out loud. And for a moment, a hint of a smile creeped in.
She shook her head, trying to focus on the problem at hand. If she kept her friendships with the cousins, what Peter told her would happen and she would be in danger. Otherwise, she would be safe. But that meant she would lose someone who understood her. Annabelle let out an annoyed groan and stared at the ceiling blankly.
"What should I do..?"
A/N #2: Well that just got angsty :) By the way, I hope the fic being somewhat meta doesn't come off as weird. I intend it (and the setting) to be like that. Anyways, let me know what you think of it! Feel free to follow and favorite this story and me to stay up to date with future stories and chapters. I wish you all a good day! If you want to read more stuff, why not check the next chapter? ;)
