Tear In My Heart Chapter Three
My take on The Amazing Spider-Man 3 :TASM Peter Parker x MJ
This is set before NWH
Warnings: slight age gap, eventual smut, violence, language, eventual NWH spoilers, poor attempt of slow burn
Word count: 4,691
Inspired song for chapter: Life Goes On - Fergie
“ life goes on with or without you
It’s up to you what you’re gonna do
You could go or you could stay
Who cares anyway”
CHAPTER THREE
*okay so I’ve been trying to think of how MJ looks and when I think of it, I think of her face as Emmy Rossum with her hair curly hair
(MJ with hair up)
(MJ with hair down)
“Okay so we should meet up the afternoon before the party so we can do makeup and hair,” Jenny clapped her hands together enthusiastically, “I’m glad you’re coming, MJ.”
MJ gave a nervous smile back, “It’s been a while since I went to a party.”
“It’ll be fun, MJ, I’m just proud you’re going to attempt it,” Jenny said, her smile she wore gave MJ even more courage to go
It wasn’t that MJ hated parties. They made her a little uneasy, but every time she’d go, once she had a drink or two she could unwind and have fun. It was the initial thought and arrival that she dreaded.
“You’re right, Jenny, I need to be more..out there. I’ve been isolating myself too much,” MJ admitted, while tugging a curl on one side of her head.
“We used to go out all the time, until that one night right after graduation when we snuck out,” Jenny said softly looking down.
MJ flinched.
Jenny looked up carefully at her friend, “I really am sorry about that night, I shouldn’t have encouraged you to sneak out-“
“No,” MJ forced out, “It’s not your fault, please don’t blame yourself on how my asshole of a father reacted, it’s all in the past anyways.”
MJ stared upwards at the darkening sky above them. The two girls had both had Saturday off and decided to go to Jenny’s house for dinner. After dinner they went to sit outside on her patio to enjoy the city lights, and crisp breeze that swept over New York.
Jenny reached over to squeeze MJ’s hand.
“I know it’s in the past, but do you?”
MJ sighed while looking back down to meet Jenny’s spirited blue eyes, “What do you mean? It is in the past.”
“You say it’s in the past, but you haven’t moved on. For things to be in the past you have to move forward.”
“Jenny I’m fine, it really doesn’t affect me anymore.”
Jenny gave a huff, “MJ, you and I both know you haven’t moved on. You’re stuck. What happened when we were younger still affects you. You don’t have that…light in your eyes anymore. You’ve just been trying to ignore it all, and it’s not healthy.”
MJ felt her eyes sting as they welled up slightly. Breathing deeply, she took her hand from Jenny, and brought her thumb to her mouth and bit it slightly. She had always done that to stop the tears, it always worked.
“Have you heard from your dad?” Jenny asked timidly.
MJ gave a shaky laugh, “No, and if he’s smart enough he won’t ever try to reach out to me again.”
Jenny gave a soft nod, before reaching for the wine to refill both their glasses, “I’m sorry, I know it’s hard to talk about, I just worry about you sometimes.”
“I know, and I do appreciate that, I really do,” MJ responded as she took a big gulp of her wine.
Jenny looked over at MJ once more, studying her, and then gave a long sigh before smiling slightly.
“What?” MJ asked.
“Nothing it’s just I’ve been noticing you wearing your hair down more often, it looks nice.”
MJ flushed, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Jenny rolled her eyes, “MJ you’ve literally been wearing your hair up every day for years.”
MJ tugged at her hair, her cheeks burned, “well maybe I’m just trying to listen to you more.”
“Oh yeah?” Jenny laughed, all previous tension had slipped the room with that laugh, “Couldn’t be because of a guy, right?”
MJ’s mouth dropped slightly, “What? No way.”
“And this said guy's name wouldn’t happen to rhyme with Beater Barker, would it?”
MJ tugged at her hair again, heat spread from her ears all the way to her neck, “Peter and I are just friends Jenny, you know that!”
“Aww so that did bring Peter to mind?” Jenny teased.
“Yeah, totally, couldn’t be the awful rhyme you did.”
“MJ you can’t tell me you aren’t attracted to him, he is cute.”
MJ covered her face with her hands, “Yes, he is extremely attractive, anyone with eyes could see that.”
Jenny tilted her head, “Girl, you’ve met him two weeks ago, and since then you’ve meeting up at the library with him-“
“We've only met up four times since then, he’s helping me with math and science,” MJ interjected, while peeking through her fingers.
“Is that why the two times I’ve crashed your “study sessions” you two are all giggly and being cute together?”
MJ threw her hands up, “He’s just my friend!”
“Luke says Peter’s been mentioning you an awful lot,” Jenny said while inspecting one of her hands with a smirk crossing her face.
“What?!?”
“Okay, I admit I exaggerated, but he did mention you twice!”
“Jenny with how much you’ve been mentioning him, maybe you have a confession,” MJ snarked back.
Jenny rolled her eyes, “Hmm he’s cute, but awkward geeky boys aren’t exactly my type.”
“You’re literally dating a geek.”
“You’re saying Luke acts like Peter?”
MJ thought about that, “Okay, no he doesn’t.”
Lucas Burr was extremely smart, but when you looked at him you wouldn’t assume he was a science major. He seemed very much like a stereotypical jock, but once you get to know him you realize he is not. Sure he enjoyed sports, but he somehow balanced it with his deep love of science. Everything about him was balanced. It was one thing that drew Jenny in. Among other things.
He treated Jenny better than anyone. He was her number one supporter, and he would do anything for her. They also looked incredibly good together. When together, based on looks, they gave off Ken and Barbie vibes. But with intellectuality.
“Luke even thinks you two would be great together,” Jenny said while sipping her wine with a wink.
MJ groaned, “Please don’t play matchmaker with me, with Luke. It was bad enough with just you, but adding Luke in makes it somehow even worse.”
“We’re just looking out for you!”
“You better not make things weird,” MJ glared at Jenny, “He’s just my friend.”
“But you’re compatible!”
MJ shook her head laughing, “Please tell me your not talking about horoscopes.”
“He’s a leo, and you’re a Gemini,” Jenny waved her hand, flipping her golden hair behind her.
“Okay?”
“According to what I read, and yes I read up on your compatibility for you, since he’s a fire sign, and you’re an air sign it makes you both passionate. They say your signs together are one of the most romantic signs together,” Jenny explained, a eager smile spread across her face, “Just accept fate, you’re meant to be.”
MJ gave a heavy sigh, and reached for her glass, but to her disdain it was empty.
“Want a refill?” Jenny smirked.
MJ rolled her eyes, “Give me the damn bottle.”
Jenny passed the bottle across the small patio table, “You know it says your signs are so compatible that you have passionate, hot sex.”
MJ’s mouth dropped as she opened the bottle, “Jenny!”
“What?” Jenny asked innocently, “I bet he’s good in bed. You know what they say about tall and skinny boys.”
MJ took a deep breath before taking a big gulp straight from the bottle.
“Mary-Jane Watson!” Jenny threw her head back, her laughter filled the night sky.
MJ blushed, setting the bottle down, “Can you blame me?”
Ding
Both girls looked at MJ’s phone.
MJ shot her hand out to grab her phone, but Jenny was faster.
Jenny squealed, “It’s Peter!”
“Okay? Big deal he texts me sometimes,” MJ tried to reason
Jenny rolled her eyes, before handing MJ her phone back.
Peter Parker
What did the coffee lover name her son?
MJ felt a smile across her face as she read the message. Peter had been making it a point to tell her a cheesy joke every day since the day they exchanged phone numbers, they primarily were coffee jokes, and even though they were extremely cheesy it still didn’t stop a smile from coming to MJ as she read them.
MJ
Hmmm Bru?
“What did he say?”
“He sends me a joke everyday,” MJ replied, while shrugging, “They kinda make my day sometimes.”
Jenny scoffed, “So Peter does make your day better?”
MJ threw her hand up, “There’s no winning with you.”
“Just admit you have a crush.”
“I don’t! He’s just a friend, besides I don’t even really know him. We just met.”
Ding, ding
MJ flashed her eyes down to her phone.
Peter Parker
Joe, obviously 🙄
Peter Parker
But that was a good try ;) better luck next time
MJ
Look Tiger, how do I know you didn’t just change the answer?
“Whatever you say MJ,” Jenny threw her hands in defense, “Do you want me to pour you another glass?”
MJ began to shake her head before she changed her mind, “Actually yes I would like that.”
Jenny looked up in surprise, “You sure?”
“Yeah, I don’t work until late tomorrow, and I think I deserve to unwind for once.”
“Okay, but you’re not getting hammered, not tonight at least, you are not walking home drunk.”
“I’m not going to get drunk,” MJ rolled her eyes, holding her glass out for a refill.
Jenny reached across to MJ’s glass, filling it halfway, “Okay, Miss Lightweight.”
“Lightweight?”
Jenny gave MJ a bewildering look, “Are you being serious? Or is the alcohol already getting to you?”
MJ winced, “Okay, so maybe I am a lightweight.”
Jenny gave a short laugh, “Exactly why I’m cutting you off after this.”
MJ looked up at Jenny with a smile, “What would I do without you?”
Jenny crossed her arms across her chest, “Probably die of loneliness, well maybe, after all you do have Peter now,” Jenny finished her sentence with a wink.
MJ took a small drink ignoring her friend, “How is it nursing at the hospital?”
Jenny gave a shake of her head, her hair flying around her, “Long!!”
Jenny had been working as a LPN at one of the hospitals near their school the last few months. It was nice for her, but kept her working longer hours at night.
MJ gave a look of sympathy at her friend.
“You really should consider coming to work a few shifts, I know you’ve been talking about getting another job to help with money. We do offer some classes to teach on the fly, we have a few more openings.”
It was true, MJ had been considering getting a night job just a few days a week to help bring in extra money. Living in the city could be a bit more expensive, and it would help with school.
“I don’t know if I’d be any good,” MJ admitted sheepishly.
“I think you’d be pretty good, and think of the things you’d learn! It’d help build up tolerance, make you think quicker, and be more flexible.”
“And add stress.”
“Okay there’s that, but you’d only be doing it like what, two or three nights a week?”
“Okay you’ve got me there,” MJ laughed, “I guess I could always just try the classes.”
“Yes!!” Jenny clapped her hands together, and bounced in her seat, “And think of it! We’d probably see each other more.”
MJ doubted that. The hospital was bigger and she’d be training a lot at first. Jenny was more experienced, but who knew, maybe she could help train.
“I could sign you up for the class on Monday,” Jenny offered, “Just come to the first one, if you don’t like it you don’t have to continue.”
MJ gave a thoughtful nod, “Okay yeah, go ahead. I’m off on Monday anyways, so that’d be perfect.”
Jenny gave a shout of excitement, “It’s going to be fun!! And you’ll look so cute in the uniform!”
“Wow that’s a definite compliment, not many can pull off the scrub look, and coming from you is the ultimate compliment,” MJ jokes, taking another sip of wine.
Jenny snorted while taking a sip with MJ, “Consider yourself blessed then.”
Ding
MJ checked her phone, and once again felt a slight blush come across her.
Peter Parker
Again with calling me Tiger? Should I feel flattered?
And for your information that was the punchline, you’ll have to just trust me…RAWR ;)
MJ
I mean if it makes you feel good about yourself go ahead and take it as flattery 🙄
You know when I met you, I thought you were some cute shy boy, I was obviously misinformed
Once MJ hit send she winced, she just told Peter she thought he was cute. Maybe she had drunk too much wine.
Ding
Before MJ could check her phone again Jenny had reached her manicured hand across, “Um you’re not even paying attention!”
MJ winced, “Sorry! I was uh-“
Jenny rolled her eyes, “Texting Peter? Seriously once you admit you like him maybe you’ll feel a bit better.”
MJ grumbled as she got her phone back.
She checked it one more time.
Peter Parker
Cute, huh? My dear lady, are you flirting with me?
Ding
Peter Parker
And actually according to you, if I am indeed a Tiger, I’m not cute, I’m fierce (;
Ding
Peter Parker
Okay that sounded better in my head, ignore that second text :/ and honestly that means a lot coming from you
MJ grinned at her phone as she tapped her finger against the side of the phone thinking of a response.
MJ
Easy there Tiger, didn’t mean to make you feel questioned about your manliness ;)
MJ set her phone down, “So you were saying what?”
“I was saying we should go shopping for the party, I know it’s in a few weeks but, there’s some pretty good deals going on at my moms shop.”
MJ nodded, “Okay, sounds good to me, besides I’m dying to see your mom.”
Jenny’s mom Teresa owned a little clothing shop in the city, and she gave both girls pretty hefty discounts, and sometimes free clothes that were going to be trashed. It really helped MJ out in school after her own mother died. Her father hadn’t been the best with taking MJ shopping, or really anything that required him to be a father.
Honestly Teresa had become a mother figure for her. Teaching her how to use makeup, periods, boy problems, girl issues. Any sort of questions MJ had she could always go to Teresa.
“Ironically, mom has been bugging me about when you would be coming by,” Jenny laughed, while throwing her hair back.
“She’s sweet,” MJ smiled, graciously.
“When you’re not on her bad side,” Jenny joked.
“Like sophomore year?” MJ asked.
Both girls kept quiet for a moment, reflecting on that, before busting up in laughter.
——————————————————————
MJ walked through the quiet street back to her apartment. The evening had gone fairly well for her, she hadn’t realized how much she needed to relax and unwind. Jenny had always been good about helping MJ with that.
MJ paused for a moment and glanced up at the sky. She had always loved looking at the stars, her mother would take her on top of their complex they lived in when she was younger to gaze up at the stars. They would name off constellations, well primarily Madeline, Mary-Jane’s mother, would. MJ would listen to Madeline’s words and bask in the passion that exuded her mother from talking about the stars.
MJ’s mother had always loved science and astrology. She had even studied it in college, but after she got married to Philip Watson she dropped out of school.
From what MJ had learned from other family members over time is that Madeline had met Philip in college. He charmed her instantly, and they fell madly in love. He had a slight drinking problem, but it could be controlled, Madeline helped control it. They had been ecstatic when they found out they were pregnant with Mary-Jane. MJ had actually been a miracle baby.
Right before getting pregnant, Madeline had gotten a job at a research facility. They were testing the limits of radiation. Right before Madeline found out she was pregnant, they had a radiation explosion where not only her, but many of her coworkers were exposed to high doses of radiation. When taken to the hospital, the doctor notified Madeline and Philip that she had been actually pregnant. Medical doctors didn’t expect Madeline to carry full term due to radiation exposure, but somehow she did. It was pure luck.
The radiation exposure was what doctors assumed contributed to the cancer Madeline ended up having. Madeline held on strong for a long time, but eventually her body couldn’t take it anymore.
Madeline’s death affected MJ and Philip greatly.
Philip held it together strongly at first. Prepping the funeral, and the first month or so afterwards. After the funeral he began to look at MJ in a bitter way, and when MJ got older she realized why.
Philip was upset that MJ was born healthy even after radiation exposure, but Madeline had been affected so badly. The realization of that had brought a feeling of guilt, so powerful, that washed over MJ. That guilt still stuck with MJ even now, and she knew it would be there forever.
Without Madeline, Philip relapsed into alcohol harder than ever which strained the already fragile relationship between the father and daughter.
Ding
MJ’s notification shook her out of her thought
Maybe it was the stars, the wine, or the previous discussion of her father that made her reflect on the past. Thinking of her father left a bitter taste in her mouth.
MJ shook her head before looking down to read her notification.
Peter Parker
Hey I noticed you’re not home yet, everything okay?
MJ gave a soft chuckle as she read the message. It was odd having someone other than Jenny concerned about her well-being, but it was also comforting. It caused a feeling of warmth to spread through her chest.
MJ
Keeping tabs on me, Parker? You might give someone the wrong impression
It only took a few seconds for another ding, to ring out in the night. Another ding followed after the first one.
Peter Parker
Now don't let it go to your head bunny
Peter Parker
Seriously tho, is everything okay? You’re not stuck somewhere are you?
“Bunny?” MJ thought aloud, as her eyebrows furrowed.
MJ
Bunny? Do I even want to know what brought that one up?
And yes I’m okay, I’m walking home now, was at Jenny’s hanging out, that is okay right…dad? (;
Ding
Peter Parker
It’s fitting for you. After all, you're so tiny and cute. Besides, you couldn’t even harm a fly…like a bunny (;
Well be careful plz, I don’t need my friend to be mugged or anything
MJ blushed while reading the top of the text. She could never mention that to Jenny, she’d freak out.
MJ
Careful, Tiger, someone might think you’re flirting (;
MJ smirked as she stole what he had said earlier, morphing it slightly to fit her. She clicked send and shoved her phone in her pocket, and continued walking home.
The apartment complex came into eyesight for MJ just as her feet began to feel tired from the walk.
“I’m so ready for a shower, and to lay down,” MJ thought to herself, gleefully.
“Hey sugar!”
MJ jumped at the voice right behind her. She quickly looked over her shoulder and noticed a man walking up briskly towards her. She stiffened slightly but kept walking forward trying to ignore the man coming up behind.
“It’s rude to ignore people,” the man slurred behind her. It was apparent he had, had a few drinks. And it became even more apparent, as he walked up right beside her, from the smell of alcohol that filled her nostril.
MJ continued to ignore him, but her hand began to slowly reach inside her bag to grab her pepper spray.
The man whistled at her, and brought his hand up to grab her shoulder.
She whipped around to face the greasy man, “Don’t touch me,” she cautioned.
The man laughed, “Or what?”
MJ narrowed her eyes, “I don’t think you’ll like the answer, back off.”
The man’s eyes gleamed as he stumbled up towards her, his face in hers.
“You gonna wrestle me? If so, I know some moves you’d like,” he replied in a lewd voice.
The feeling that washed over MJ was instantaneous.
She wouldn’t lie, men made her uneasy, but she had her reasons. Sure she could overreact at times, but then there were times she was completely justified by her actions.
Just as the man started to attempt to back her up to the wall of the building they stood in front of, she whipped her pepper spray out spraying him in the eyes.
The man instantly dropped to the ground yelling, while clutching his eyes.
“Yeah go ahead and try to rub it out, it’s not going to work buddy,” MJ snarked, while putting her pepper spray back in her bag.
Just as MJ began to walk away the man began to reach his arm out to grab one of her ankles, but a web swept by sticking his arm to the building behind him.
MJ jumped at the abrupt movement and sound of the web sticking.
“I may be crazy, but when a woman pepper sprays you, it usually means they’re not interested, man.”
MJ froze as she realized who stood in front of her.
Spider-Man.
The drunk man instantly turned into a blubbery mess of pleading for forgiveness, and trying to come up with a way to get out of all of this.
“Wow chill man, what’s done is done. You’ll be free to go in,” Spider-Man looked at his watchless wrist, “four hours.”
“Four hours?!?”
“That’s what I said,” Spider-Man replied, even with the mask, the smirk was heard from his voice, “That’s when the web will dissolve.”
“I can’t wait here for four hours!”
“Um you can and you will. You kinda deserve it, man.”
MJ stood watching the exchange. She eyed the man in tights closely. She’d never seen him this close before.
“Are you okay, ma’am?” Spider-Man asked, turning to face MJ.
“Uh yeah,” she stuttered, eyes widened.
She tugged at one of her curls, as they studied each other. It felt tense and awkward.
“Thanks Spider-Man,” she added after a moment of silence.
“It’s no problem, anything to help save a pretty girl like you- uh not that I wouldn’t save no one else, I just mean, uh.”
Spider-Man was cut off by a snicker. He whipped his head to the culprit, the man.
“You can’t even talk to a woman? This embarrassing for even m-“ the man was instantly cut off by a web to the mouth.
“Before you ask, oh wait you can’t,” Spider-Man retorted, “That’ll dissolve in four hours as well, at least your arm will dissolve first so you can walk home in silence.”
The man tried to argue back but his voice was muffled.
MJ looked between the two of them, and eyed the web in wonder, before shaking her head.
“Um thanks again Mr. Spider-Man, but I’m going to have to go, once again thanks for everything,” she turned towards the creep, “and I hope you go to hell.”
MJ began to walk towards her building.
“Hey wait, um do you want me to swing you home?”
MJ stopped mid step, “Huh?” She turned to look towards Spider-Man again.
Spider-Man reached a hand up to rub the back of his neck, “I just figured you’d want a ride home, I can get you there quick, you look uh tired.”
MJ scrutinized Spider-Man, “I look tired? Is that your way of saying I look bad?”
Spider-Man guffawed, “what?? No!! I just, you look, I uh-“
MJ snickered, “I’m teasing web-head, thank you for the offer but I’ll have to pass this time. I’ve had a few drinks and I don’t think it’d go over well for both of us if I allowed you to swing me. Besides I just live over here,” she pointed at her complex building.
Spider-Man analyzed her.
“What?” She laughed.
“You know people would die to be in your shoes, or begging me to swing them, you’re calm and-“
MJ cut him off again, “What? I treat you like a person, is that what you’re trying to say?”
Spider-Man cocked his head before giving a loose nod, “Actually yeah.”
“You are a person though, under the mask, is just a man.”
Spider-Man gazed at her through the mask.
MJ stared back, her green eyes cut into him.
“Wow thanks, that’s really nice, and, hold on! Did you call me web head a minute ago?”
MJ mentally face palmed, “Yeah I did.”
Spider-Man stood silently for a moment before responding playfully, “That was a good one.”
MJ smiled before pointing her thumb behind her, “Seriously though, I’m going home, thanks for everything.”
Spider-Man gave a wave before shooting a web and swinging off into the night sky.
MJ smiled following his figure before turning to give the creepy man a hard steel glare, “I better not catch you around here again, understood?”
The man groaned while shaking his head.
MJ gave him a once over again, and threw him the finger before walking off to get to her complex.
——————————————————————-
MJ stumbled up to her door, sparing a glance at Peter’s door. She considered for a moment to go over to his door and knock. To tell him about her evening, to tease him, to talk, but she went against it.
Dragging herself inside she slammed her door shut, and threw her purse on her small loveseat.
“Ugh a shower will make things a lot better,” she said aloud, as she trudged into her bathroom.
She let out a sigh as the warm water hit her back.
“I can’t believe I met Spider-Man tonight.”
He really was out there helping people. With both little and big problems. And the important thing was, that he was just a person under the mask. A man who was human, just like her and everybody else. It was refreshing.
After her shower she threw herself into bed sinking into her mattress. She grabbed her phone off her night stand to shoot Jenny a message to let her know she was home safe. She left out the whole interaction she had on the way back. She’d wait to tell her in person, and not at night. She didn’t need Jenny freaked out.
A smile spread across MJ’s face as she read her last message from Peter.
Peter Parker
What if I am flirting? 😎
Please let me know you’re home safe, plz
MJ blushed before typing her response.
MJ
If you were flirting, I suppose I’d tell you, you need to work on the flirting game. It was poorly executed (;
And yes I’m home safe, and you wouldn’t believe what went down outside this complex
Ding
Peter Parker
Ouch. I’ll remember that bunny….idk if that properly fits you anymore. Maybe kitten is better, matches your claws better…
Good, I’m glad, I was worried.
What happened??
MJ
Kitten?!? 😐
I pepper sprayed this creep and he tried to go for a round two fight, but Spider-Man intervened.. it was definitely interesting
Ding
Peter Parker
You pepper sprayed someone???
Wow you really are like a kitten
And you met Spider-Man??
What did you think?
MJ bit her lip as she typed her response out, laughing slightly.
MJ
I sure did, so watch yourself Parker ;)
Whatever, you think what you want…Tiger
He’s definitely pretty interesting, kind of a smart ass, but in a…good way? I’ll explain better later. I’m going to bed, after today, I’m going to need that sleep. Lol!
It took a few minutes for Peter’s response, and by the time he had, MJ had already fallen asleep.
Ding
Peter Parker
Weird, who knew Spider-Man could be that way??
I’ll talk to you tomorrow bunny, sweet dreams :))