Chapter Text
"Hello, I'm here to pick up an order," you told the cashier, smiling.
She nodded, polite smile in place. "What's your name?"
"Y/N L/N."
Nodding, she typed in the computer, then brought her gaze back up to meet yours. "That will be $12.45."
Once you handed over the payment, the cashier said your food should be out in five minutes. Nodding, you sat down in the lobby area, lightly patting your lap to an unheard tune. A soft jingle played when the front double glass doors swung open. Your eyes slightly widened when a very attractive young man around your age stepped inside, his cheeks rosy from the cold. He rubbed his hands, glancing at you and flashing a brief smile before approaching the counter.
He's hot.
You blushed at the sudden, bold thought. The young man took the seat by the far wall, removing his cell phone from his pocket and tapping away at the screen. You shifted your gaze to the floor so as to not appear creepy. You could see your reflection in the polished, white tile and frowned, not really liking what stared back at you.
For as long as you could remember, you've always struggled with your physical appearance. Though you exercised daily and ate reasonably well, still you struggled losing weight, much to your ever growing frustration. You snuck another glance at the boy, his attention still on his phone. His eyebrows were furrowed and eyes narrowed at his phone's screen. You thought he looked irresistibly adorable. You wondered if he had a girlfriend. He must have one. He's too cute not to have one.
Stifling a sigh, you returned your eyes to the floor. You've never been in a relationship. No guy has ever taken an interest in you. You've had crushes aplenty, but none were ever reciprocated. You started considering that perhaps you really were unattractive. That no one could fall for a chubby girl like you....
"Hey, smile," said a gruff voice.
Blinking, you looked up to find an older Black gentleman leaving the dining area paused at the exit, one hand on the silver door handle. When he caught your attention, he flashed a warm smile of his own, then swept out the door. You blinked after him, your face warming rapidly when you felt the eyes of the cashier and the boy on you. Well, that's certainly embarrassing. You fumbled for your phone to reduce the awkwardness.
"Next time someone says smile, tell them a friend of yours died," said someone to your left.
The young man had spoken. His phone out of sight, he smiled kindly at you. You smiled back, hesitant.
"Ha, yeah. I'll keep that in mind next time," you said.
Silence descended once more between you. You tapped your phone's home button, Kylo Ren taking up the lock screen. According to the time, more than five minutes had passed and still no food. You huffed. This restaurant was notorious for failing to deliver food in a timely manner, whether eating out or dining in. Yet you always came back because you loved their spicy chicken wings.
"You like Star Wars?" the boy asked you.
Looking over at him, you found him staring at your still lit lock screen. He brought his brown eyes up to your face, his eyes alight with joy. Your heart stirred from his reaction, and you smiled, nodding meekly.
"Y-Yeah. I'm kind of a new fan. I just got into it last month."
"Oh, really? What got you interested?" Quickly, you looked away, not wanting to answer. Sensing this, the boy threw up his hands in apology. "I'm sorry if I'm being super nosy—"
"No, no you're fine. It's just...." You chuckled once, shaking your head. "It's embarrassing."
The boy's brown eyes lit up in amusement. "Well, now I'm even more curious."
"Um, I was browsing YouTube when I came across an SNL skit video. 'Star Wars Undercover Boss.'"
Grinning, the boy leaned forward. "Oh, I know what you're talking about. Starkiller Base!"
"Right!" you said, twisting your body so that you faced him. "I love Undercover Boss, so even though I was sure I wouldn't understand the Star Wars in-jokes and references, I still wanted to see the skit. Best. Decision. Ever." The boy laughed, the sound pleasant and warm to your ears. "I must've watched the skit a hundred times. Adam Driver is too funny."
"Yeah, he's definitely awesome," the boy agreed, nodding. "So, what, you decided to watch Star Wars because of Driver?"
You grinned sheepishly. "Guilty as charged. I dunno, Kylo Ren seemed cool, even if it was a sort of parody of himself." You shrugged one shoulder. "It's stupid, I know."
"What? It's not stupid," the boy disagreed.
"Yes, it is. It's embarrassing to say I fell in love with Star Wars because of Adam Driver's performance in an SNL skit."
"...To be fair, it was a great performance," the boy said.
You smiled. "Yeah, it was."
Once again, silence settled between you two, though this time the awkward air had gone.
"You have a beautiful smile, by the way," the boy started, grabbing your attention. "Just thought you should know if you didn't already."
You stared at him speechless. Besides your parents and close friends, no one had ever complimented your appearance.
"Thanks," you said, smiling softly.
"Y/N?" The cashier held up your bag of food. Rising to your feet, you accepted the bag. "I apologize for the delay."
"It's fine," you said automatically.
"Have a good one."
"Thanks. You, too."
You looked back at the young man, his eyes on your food. His eyebrows were slightly pulled down as if he was upset about something. Perhaps he was impatient waiting for his own food?
"Um," you started.
The boy blinked, as if pulled from his thoughts, bringing his eyes up to meet yours. He offered a smile, though the light in his eyes had dimmed.
"Have a good one," he said.
You nodded, the plastic bag crinkling under your tight grasp. You didn't want to leave yet. For once, you wished it had taken the restaurant longer to deliver your food.
Remembering his words, you flashed the biggest smile and said, "Thanks. You do the same."
And with that, you swept out the door into the bitter cold. You started down the short steps when a soft jingle played behind you.
"Y/N!" someone called.
You looked back to find the boy holding the door open, his face slightly pink.
"Um, th-that's your name, right? The lady had called you by that name, so I thought it was safe to assume that's your name. Unless you're one of those people who give out fake names on purpose because your real name's too long or hard to pronounce—"
You burst out laughing. You couldn't help it. You found the guy's rambling utterly adorable. The boy's face flushed a darker pink, and he stuffed both hands in his jacket pocket, the door swinging quietly shut behind him. You were still laughing, and it must've been contagious because he started laughing along with you.
Once you collected yourself, you said, "Y/N is my real name."
"Okay, cool. I figured. I mean, I saw this YouTube video about people giving out fake names when ordering at Starbucks and... that's not why I ran out here and stopped you," the boy said, shaking his head and earning more giggles from you. He grinned. "I'm Peter Parker, by the way."
"Okay, Peter, what's up? Why did you run out here and stop me?"
"I, uh... I was wondering if you.... If you're free right now...."
Oh, no way. Holy crap. Was he trying to ask you out?! You stood there mouth agape as Peter stumbled his words.
"I was thinking instead of eating out, like the both of us originally planned, you and I could eat in... together."
"...Together?" you repeated quietly.
"If you don't want to, I completely understand—"
"Let's do it," you interrupted.
Peter stared, surprised. "R-Really?"
You smiled. "Yeah, I think it'd be fun."
Peter smiled back, his brown eyes soft and tender. With a start, you realized he was looking at you with sincere affection. He opened the door, the same soft jingle playing, and gestured for you to enter first. Peter's food had yet to arrive, so you both sat in the lobby, talking some more about Star Wars and other topics. You learned he lived with his aunt, is a junior at Midtown School of Science and Technology, which meant his intelligence was above average, and enjoyed many of the same things you did.
Peter Parker, the first guy to ever like you and treat you respectfully. He was funny, sweet, smart, and soon, you hoped, to be yours.