All Our Hidden Places: Chapter 1

All Our Hidden Places

Chapter 1

Peter

Peter Parker has never been lucky. First his parents died, then he got superpowers (it's not cool), after that, his aunt died and finally, everyone he's ever loved has no idea who he is. To top it all off, he has to balance being a 19 year old who works as a superhero. Yeah. A superhero. Heck, he's even DIED. Hopefully the universe decides to make his life better, but as I said, Peter Parker has never been lucky.

Well, maybe he got lucky in one thing. Becoming neighbors with Yelena Belova and Kate Bishop. Fellow superheroes who are under the age of 25 and have almost died more than once (wait Yelena did die) Peter can actually feel at home with them. Apart from all the arguing, gunshot sounds at 3 in the morning, and accidentally sitting on arrows, the three of them work well together, on the field and off. They practically consider each other siblings and fit together like pieces of a puzzle.

It was around 8:30 am when Yelena pushed on the bell of Peter's apartment five times in a row. "Are you dead Peter?" she asked sarcastically.

Peter opened the door, trying to catch his breath, "Yelena, oh, what are you doing here?"

Yelena looked him up and down. He was wearing shorts and a shirt with undone buttons. His brown mop of hair was wet and dripping and his hands were on his thighs as he took deep breaths.

"You look like you ran a marathon," said Yelena, frowning.

"Yeah, well, I thought there was an emergency and I almost slipped and hit my head. Do you know what that can do to a person? Things, Yelena, lots of them."

"Says the boy who was brought back from the dead. Here, it's your casserole bowl. Next time have a better grip and sharper reflexes," said Yelena, shoving the bowl into his hands.

"Tha- okay never mind," Peter says as she slammed his door.

At the exact moment when Peter set down the bowl and buttoned up his shirt, the doorbell rang three times again. "Now what?" he groaned.

"Oi! Peter you in there?"

Peter swung the door open, "Kate. What do you want?"

"Can't be a friendly neighbor can I? Anyways, I can't find your casserole bowl, I'll just look for it when I get to the store."

"Yeah, about that Yelena already-"

"I'm not done kid. The mail is here so I'll just read out the throw pile since I'm going out anyways. Let's see, dentist, marketer, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, another dentist gosh what's up with you and your teeth? A card-"

"Wait, did you say Massachusetts Institute of Technology?"

"Uh yeah, I think so," said Kate, handing over a letter. It was raining outside and cars were honking, like any typical New York day. The hallway was big, the walls white and carpet beige. Kate peeked into his apartment.

"Hey can I come in-"

"I found some exercises to work on your reflexes," said Yelena, coming out of nowhere.

"Yeah but let's go inside first-"

"Stop interrupting me Kate-"

"ME interrupting YOU?"

"Yes I have something-"

"That's awesome Yelena! BUT I WAS HERE FIRST."

"STOP!" yells Peter. He shot two webs on each of their mouths.

"Keep it down kids," said their elderly neighbor Stan.

Peter sighed and walked inside. Yelena and Kate followed him, trying to remove the webs. Kate closed the door and rolled her eyes, "I thought we agreed to stop doing that." Yelena massaged her mouth with one hand, while the web was in the other. Kate plopped onto the forest green sofa as Yelena sat on a brown chair.

"So?" asks Yelena.

Peter grinned, his smile stretching from one ear to the other. "I got accepted!"

"YESSS LETS GOOOOO" said Kate.

"They sent tickets to Boston and everything! This is huge you guys. I can't believe it."

"Aw we're proud of you," said Kate.

"Okay okay good, now pack your bags we're leaving first thing in the morning," says Yelena.

"Wait we are?" replies Kate.

"Kate, you are going to book our tickets while I let everyone know."

"Wait I am?"

Yelena sighs, "Yes, yes. If we leave Peter all alone then he'll probably get himself killed."

"Hmmm, you have a point. Anyways I better get to work. Let's go, Yelena." Kate and Yelena walked out the door.

Peter sat in disbelief, looking at the letter. After everything that happened, maybe, just maybe…

He snapped out of his daydream when his phone buzzed with a notification. Peter walked to the kitchen counter. It was an Instagram notification about a post by user @mj_1945. Peter clicked on the notification. It was a picture of MJ with the caption, “Took a gap year but I’m back… and going to my dream college! (Also, I’m not alone, @nedisdead.)"

MJ looked gorgeous. The sun was streaming through her dark hair, giving it an angelic feel. Her skin was glowing and her warm, brown eyes were alight. She was wearing her favorite brown shirt and orange leggings and holding a letter in her hand.

Peter liked the picture almost instantly. He never replied though. He always thought that would make the situation weird. He kept scrolling until something hit him. “My dream college,” he murmured. “Wait but isn’t MJ’s dream college MIT?”

He quickly scrolled up to the post again and clicked on the replies.

User betty_8541 replied: “OMG happy for u bff!”

User itsbradbitches replied: “have fun mj!”

User nedisdead replied: “MIT HERE WE COME!”

Peter took in a sharp breath. So it’s true, he thought, I’m meeting Ned and MJ.

“Hey Peter, I've booked the tickets and- you okay?” asked Kate.

“Ned and MJ got into MIT too,” Peter said looking up.

“Well that’s great, second chance romance, now get up and pack.”

“Kate, you don’t get it. I don’t want to put them through what happened all over again.”

“Then just avoid them on campus.”

“Kate, look, it isn’t that easy-”

“Peter. You have to get over this someday. Somewhere MJ is waiting for you. And if you’re meant to be, you’ll find your way back to each other,” she said motioning at his letter, “ and if you’re not, you won’t be together. But I am not letting you give up on your dreams. Ever. Understood?”

“Yeah. Thanks Kate. I really needed this.”

Kate sighed and said, “Clean up the house. Me and Yelena spoke- er, more like she threatened the director of the company and he got us posted in Boston. I have the tickets. Get some rest. And Peter? Don’t overthink this.”

Peter smiled at her and closed his door, took out a suitcase, and started packing. She’s right. I deserve at least this much, after everything I’ve been through. MIT, here I come.