Work Text:
Your phone buzzes as you walk out of school. You check to see a text from your best friend, Peter Parker.
meet me at the library today? :)
You send back a quick, sure!!!, before walking home, making sure to be quick to make it back before the rain starts.
⊹ ࣪ ˖
You collect your laptop, folders, pencils, and headphones and put them into your bag, say a quick “I’ll be back soon!” to your parents, and rush to the library.
The walk there is beautiful. Nothing is more gorgeous than New York in the fall, you think to yourself. Your headphones blast “Just Like Heaven” as you make your way into your favorite place, the local library.
You breathe in the scent of books and listen to the sound of pages flipping. You walk over to your usual spot and wave to Peter.
“Hey you!” you whisper, setting your bag down.
“Is that my drink?” you ask excitedly.
“I know you can’t focus without your favorite coffee.”
“You’re seriously the best Peter. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” you say.
He turns a slight shade of pink, changing the subject.
“Did you get that english paper?” he asks you, flashing those beautiful brown eyes and dimples.
You’d never tell him, but you’ve been crushing on Peter ever since you met in sixth grade. You were lab partners and grew inseparable ever since. His shy demeanor, funny jokes, and sweet smile drew you in and you’ve been drowning in those feelings for years.
“Oh yeah, I did. Wanna work on it?” you ask.
“That’d be great, I’m confused by the prompt.”
And so you work. And work. For hours you work together, switching assignments when bored.
You’re too busy to notice, but Peter constantly looks over at you. The way you look when your hair falls over your shoulder is hypnotic to him. He’s had a crush on you for as long as he’s known you, but he’s been too afraid to tell you. Why ruin a perfectly good friendship?
The sun's halfway set when you take a break from working.
“Homecoming’s this week. Do you, uhm, have any idea who you’re going with?” Peter asks, hyping himself up. He’s been practicing this for a month, he wasn’t going to screw it up.
“No idea. I’ve been thinking of just going with one of my friends, but I feel like I need an actual date this year.” you scheme. If this plays out right, you might be able to go with Peter!
“Oh yeah, that makes sense.” he mumbles nervously.
“So,” you try to say as nonchalantly as you can, “do you have anyone in mind to ask?”
C’mon Peter, you got this! he thinks to himself.
He starts packing up his stuff and you follow him out the door.
“Yeah, there’s this girl I’ve been thinking about but I’m nervous to ask her.” he says, making his way into the rain.
“Crap, I forgot to bring my jacket.” you grumble as rain pelts down on you.
“Oh, take mine.” he says immediately.
Heat rises to your face as you thank him for the jacket. You put it on, overwhelmed by the scent of your best friend.
“Who’s the lucky lady?” you ask. “Wait, no, describe her to me.”
Peter turns to you, wringing his hands.
“Well, she has this beautiful h/c hair, she has e/c eyes bright as sunlight, and the cutest laugh I’ve ever heard.” he says, blushing profusely. “We’ve been friends since middle school, and I think she’s the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen, but I’ve been too scared to ask her all these years.”
You turn beet red as you take in his words. Peter has liked you back all these years and you’ve been too oblivious to ever notice.
“Will you go to homecoming with me?” he asks, voice shaking.
You stand on your tip toes and kiss him, cupping his face with your hands. He freezes for a moment, shocked that this is actually happening, then immediately falls into the kiss. It feels like the world stops around you, the rain, the people, the hustle of the city seems to pause, like it’s been waiting for this moment. He tangles his fingers in your hair as he deepens the kiss, cradling your face like it’s something sacred.
You pull back, smiling like the sun.
“Is that a yes?” he asks.
You punch his arm.
“Of course it’s a yes, idiot.” you beam.
“Well, I’m your idiot now.” he says as he takes your hand.