Work Text:
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Peter Parker
20 Ingram St.
Forest Hills, NY 11375
Lara Jean Song Covey
9147 Jefferson St.
Charlottesville, VA 22901
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12/02/2024
Dear Lara Jean,
Hi, my name is Peter Parker, and you don't remember me, but I have something to tell you that's going to sound crazy. But it's the truth, and I know you're going to believe me, because you're very good at telling when I'm lying.
We used to know each other. We were together.
But something bad was going to happen to the world. And the only way to stop it was to make everyone forget me, including you.
Because I'm not just Peter Parker.
I'm Spider-Man.
And sometimes, Spider-Man has to do the hard thing. Even if it breaks Peter Parker's heart.
Maybe I'll never send this to you. Maybe I'm just writing this for me. Maybe that's my responsibility, to live alone with the truth.
But the truth is I love you.
And I hope that deep down, something inside you remembers you love me too.
Always and forever,
Peter Parker
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Lara Jean Covey
9147 Jefferson St.
Charlottesville, VA 22901
Peter Parker
20 Ingram St.
Forest Hills, NY 11375
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05/04/2028
Dear Peter Parker,
Hi. I’m Lara Jean, but you already know that.
When I first got this letter, I thought that it was a prank. But I don’t even understand what the punchline would be.
Who are you, Peter Parker? What else should I know about you, other than that you’re Spider-Man and that you loved me? Do you like bananas over your Cheerios, too? That’s always the question I ask to judge one’s character.
You say we used to know each other. How did we meet? I can’t wrap my head around a girl from Virginia and who went to UNC for college dating Spider-Man of New York City. That kind of thing just doesn’t happen.
Sincerely,
Lara Jean
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05/12/2028
Dear Lara Jean,
I am so, so sorry you got that letter. Frank sent it. It wasn’t supposed to be sent. I already argued with him over it, but he won’t apologize.
I hope you can forgive me for any distress I caused you.
There was a time I tried the bananas over my Cheerios. I think it works when the Cheerios are dry, but not at all when there’s already milk poured over them.
Sometimes it seems there’s not much more to me than Spider-Man these days. I used to have a normal life.
We met at summer camp. It was upstate. I always thought it was fate that you were there, since you were the girl from so far away as Virginia. We kissed at the bonfire the day before the last day of camp, and we exchanged addresses. I still have all your old letters addressed to me, if you’d want to read them. I could send you copies. I can’t imagine how odd this must all sound.
How are you doing now, Lara Jean? Did you like UNC? What did you study? I remember how distraught you were about the entire application process our last year of high school. If you don’t mind me saying, I’m surprised you didn’t go to UVA. I thought for sure they would accept you if you didn’t have any associations with me.
Yours,
Peter Parker
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05/18/2028
Dear Peter Parker,
Please don’t apologize for the initial letter. This is the most interesting thing to ever happen to me. Well, if I end up believing you about all of this, I doubt it’s actually the most interesting thing to happen to me, but nevertheless.
To clarify, it’s not that I don’t believe you. It’s just an unbelievable situation. I have to ask for more about you. What does a day in the life of Peter Parker look like? Where do you buy your groceries? How do you spend your free time? What is your favorite time of day?
I remember that summer camp. I don’t know understand how this everyone forgetting thing works, but I do remember how it was the first time I was so far away from my family. It was also the first summer after my mom died, and I somehow survived being there. Maybe that was you. I do remember some of the other campers there — do the names Kenny and Blaire ring any bells?
I’d really like to see those copies of the letters. I think it could help explain some things.
I would say I’m doing alright these days. I loved UNC. I wasn’t admitted to UVA, and was planning on going to William and Mary to stay close to home, but I got off the waitlist at UNC. I think that was the best choice I could’ve made for myself. I studied English and comparative literature. It might not seem like it with how I write these letters, but I can draft a mean essay. I’m back home with my family working at a nearby diner for hopefully only a few months while I apply to every place I can think of that sounds like it might be a match for me. Let me know if you see any good openings in New York City.
If it’s any consolation, four years later, I really don’t think applications for college are the life or death situation I made it out to be. I’m sure I would have loved UVA, but it wasn’t meant to be. I think that things tend to work out in the end, even in the face of everything awful in the world. I hope they do for you, too, Peter.
All the best,
Lara Jean
P.S. Did you ever get to try some of my chocolate chip cookies? I’m making some now, and I realized that if we really were together, you had to have tried them at some point.
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05/26/2028
Dear Lara Jean,
It’s going to sound depressing, but I really do just wake up, be Spider-Man, and repeat. These past few days I’ve been trying to stop something or someone who possesses people, which has not been fun to deal with. Please do not come to New York City until it’s been taken care of. I can’t have you at risk again.
I buy groceries from my local bodega, but I have takeout and pizza more often than I’d like to admit. Super metabolism, and all. I don’t know if I really have free time that’s not put towards Spider-Man.
I visit my aunt’s grave to lay flowers.
I try to see what some of my old friends are up to. Do you remember Ned? I have no idea if you would, since you met him through me. He’s back in New York City, and sometimes I watch his life online, just to see what he’s up to. Maybe that’s creepy.
My favorite time of day is probably around two in the morning. It’s peak Spider-Man time, sure, but it’s not as chaotic as midnight, and it’s also not as distressing as three in the morning. I think it’s almost as peaceful as the city that never sleeps gets.
I remember Kenny and Blaire. Do you still talk to any of them?
I’ve included some of the letters in this envelope. Not all of them, but hopefully enough to show something.
I’m happy you liked Chapel Hill. I sacrificed a lot so that You deserve to be happy. I hope things work out in the end for both of us.
Sincerely,
Peter Parker
P.S. I loved those chocolate chip cookies. The secret was the silicone baking mat, right? I remade those for Aunt May I tried to copy your recipe so many times here but it never turned out right. I think the recipe was especially engineered for the Covey oven. Could you send me the latest version of the recipe? I’d like to try again.
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[start of attached photocopied letters]
08/02/2012
Dear Peter,
Wow! I miss summer camp already. When do you think we’ll see each other again?
Remember on the second day, I was scared to do archery and you made a joke and it was so funny I nearly peed my pants?
I was really homesick but you made me feel better. I think I might’ve left camp early if it hadn’t been for you, Peter. So, thank you. Also you’re a really amazing swimmer and I like your laugh.
Take care, Peter. Have a really good rest of summer.
Love,
Lara Jean
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01/03/2013
Dear Peter,
Happy New Year! Do you think I can visit New York City someday and meet your aunt and uncle? It would be so cool to see the ball drop in Times Square in person. Did you go to see it? I only see it on TV. Maybe I could have Dad and Margot and Kitty all come with me, and you could meet them too.
With love,
Lara Jean
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04/11/2013
Dear Peter,
Thanks for asking! It was a lot of fun. I ended up winning second place.
How was your school trip to Ellis Island? It’s so cool how close that is to you. My school trips are always to Monticello. We’re going to have a D.C. trip next year! I’m so excited. It’s still a year away, though.
Yours,
Lara Jean
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08/13/2016
Dear Peter,
I’m so excited to see you in person again! My dad, Margot, and Kitty are all going to come along with me to D.C. It’s only about a two and a half hour drive away, but my dad said that we’ll probably do a park and ride into D.C. once we get closer. Not that you have to worry about any of those details!
I know you’ll be busy with Academic Decathlon, so we’ll have to play it a little bit by ear. I know letter writing is our thing, but you have my phone number so we can coordinate once we’re there.
Always and forever,
Lara Jean
[end of attached photocopied letters]
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06/12/2028
Dear Lara Jean,
I’m so sorry I can’t believe that I
I’m so glad I saw you but I’m so sorry that
You chose such a bad week to have an interview in NYC
Are you doing okay? I just got out of the hospital.
I can’t imagine how crazy that was for you.
I’m glad that I got to see you. I’m sorry that you were used against me. I’ve only ever wanted to protect you from all of this.
I wouldn’t have been able to do this without you. You kept me human. It was because of you I was able to figure out who the real villain was. Thank you, Lara Jean. You’ve always been able to make sense of things. I also wanted to say that you were right. I’m going to try to find Ned and tell him the truth.
On a side note, I don’t know if Frank told you this while you were at his hideout, but he’s the one who sent that first letter. I wanted to remind you, now that you know met I’m talking about.
Please let me know how things are on your end. Did you end up getting to read those letters I sent you?
All the best,
Peter Parker
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06/19/2028
Dear Peter Parker,
I’m okay! Don’t apologize. I’m glad you’re out of the hospital. Please take care of yourself.
I’m here for you, Peter. I know I’m only just getting to know you again, but it feels like I’ve known you forever.
And in the midst of everything those few days there, I got the job! I don’t know how, but I did. I’ll be a copy editor. I’m moving in a few weeks, so stay out of trouble until then, Peter.
I know I’ll be there soon, but send my thanks to Frank ahead of me. I’m so glad he sent your letter.
I did end up reading the letters you sent me, after I got back from NYC. I was so young, then. It’s so weird to read letters I sent out that I don’t even remember sending. But that was definitely me, back then, and it was definitely to you. I know that now.
When you introduced me to Ned in NYC, I was trying to place where I remembered him from, and I think I met him through you during the D.C. trip in high school.
I don’t talk to Kenny and Blaire these days. I wonder what they’re up to.
I’ll keep this letter short, because we have a lot to figure out when I’m back in New York. And you’ll be helping me move in, by the way. We’ve got to put that spider strength to use.
Yours,
Lara Jean
P.S. Yes, the secret is the silicon mat. I’m attaching the recipe below.
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The Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter, softened
- 1 cup white granulated sugar
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 cups chocolate chips
Directions
1. Mix together the dry ingredients in a bowl.
2. In a separate bowl, blend the sugar and butter together with an electric mixer.
Add in the vanilla and eggs into the mixture and blend.
3. Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, and then add in the chocolate chips.
4. Spoon the dough onto parchment paper, and shape the dough into a log. Fold the parchment paper over the dough and cover the dough and paper with plastic wrap. Refrigerate the roll for at least an hour.
5. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees (F).
6. Cut the log of dough into thin slices and roll each slice into a one-inch ball. Set them on a silicon baking sheet two to three inches apart.
7. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, and allow the cookies to cool on a wire rack before eating.
Enjoy!
P.P.S. I think I still love you.