Imagines By Hufflepuffholland

Have You Ever Been In Love?

"Truth!"

"Have you ever been in love?" He tried to ignore the painful beating in his chest and how clammy his hands had gotten as he waited for you to answer.

"Hm, I don't think so. What is love anyway?"

"Whatever you want it to be, I guess." He tried to hide his disappointment, his heartrate slowing as his heard the girl he was in love with didn't love him back – and never had.

"No, yeah I get that. But, what does that mean? I don't know, love has always just been some so – what's the word? Manufactured?"

"What does that mean?"

"I don't know, it seems materialistic – like it was created to sell what you're supposed to feel. Love feels marketed to me." You shrugged and looked at him.

"Have you ever been in love?"

"No!" He answered too quickly. Your eyebrows raised as your eyes widened a bit at his loud answer. "I mean – no, I don't think I have either. I should get home, it's getting late."

"But... you live right next door. and it's only eight fifteen." You looked at him as he hurriedly collected his things.

"I have a lot of homework to catch up on, then I'm going to go patrol for an hour or so. I'll see you tomorrow. Night!" Before you could even finish your 'goodnight', he was already out the door and shutting it behind him.

Weird, that was the only word that came to your mind.

"So, want to hang out today after school?" You and Peter were standing in front of his locker the next day, you had sensed a bit of tension when you walked to school today and couldn't help but feel it was your fault – having totally dismantled the idea of love for him.

He smiled brightly before a quick look of sadness flashed his features. "I can't," he looked down, kicking his feet against the dirt. "I've got to meet Mr. Stark at the tower. He wanted to look at my suit."

"Again? Didn't he just upgrade it three days ago?"

"Um – yeah, but the upgrade has some defaults. Just a few touch ups, and he doesn't want me to get hurt. So..."

"Right, I got it. Safety first." You smiled as he returned it. "How about tomorrow? Pizza and studying?"

"I promised Bruce I'd help him with some lab work." He still failed to look up at you, causing you to frown – not that he'd see it.

"Oh, okay... well, you just let me know when you're free." The bell rang, causing him to finally look up at you. He nodded before darting his way through the halls to his first class.

This happened the following week, Peter blowing you off and you accepting it, trying not to overthink it and you were doing well at it – until the day where Peter usually gave you your flower came and he walked into school empty handed.

You couldn't put your finger on it, but this week sucked for some reason. You didn't realize how much you relied on Peter's company. You missed him. Everything about him. You just really fucking missed him – his laugh after you'd tell a joke only he'd like, his smile whenever he attentively listened to you talk about your favorite book, the way his hand was always warm when you'd walk home together after school, the way his hair looked after waking up from a nap at either of your houses – you really fucking missed him.

"Peter?" You hadn't realized you walked to his locker until you saw him standing in front of it and gathering his books to take home with him. He turned to look at you, a little surprised considering he'd been avoiding you for a good week.

"(Y/N)! Hey, what's up?" His hands began to feel sweaty already, his heart beating faster than it's been this week – just you standing there did things to him. This was the hardest week of his life. If you didn't believe in love, how were you ever going to love him? He distanced himself from you in a pathetic attempt in trying to get over you. But, you know what they say, distance makes the heart grow fonder. I mean, that's a thing, right? Like, that's a saying? His thoughts were cut off when he felt his body being slammed against the lockers next to him. Your arms wrapped around his shoulders as you threw yourself at him – literally. His arms wrapped around your waist as he lifted you up a little, missing the warmth you gave him in every hug. "Hey, are you okay?"

"Peter," you could hear your voice wavering slightly, not caring that you might cry in front of him, "I miss you, so much. I'm sorry – for whatever I did. Please forgive me."

His grip on you tightened as he mentally scolded himself for making you feel like you both not talking was your fault. "You didn't do anything. I was just – I was feeling," his throat closed up as he squeezed his eyes shut, already the feeling of passing out overwhelming him as the thought of telling you he loved you crossed his mind.

"Peter, please tell me, you could tell me anything."

"I don't think I could tell you this." He pulled away from you, drying your tears as your hands played with the ends of his hair, his cheeks flaring as you tugged at the ends a little bit.

But, it was weird. As Peter looked at you he saw you looking so vulnerable. Your eyes were wide and glassy, your lips were in a pout and he could have sworn that your eyes were drifting to every feature on his face and, god, he loved you – I mean, he really fucking loved you – and he couldn't help but think I love her I love her I love her I love her until he wasn't thinking it anymore and he just –

"I love you," he felt you tense a little bit under his touch, "I love you and I have for the past two and a half years. I'm so sorry that this is how I'm telling you but holy shit I love you and I-."

The next thing he felt was the rush of wind across his face as he was being pulled flush against you – your lips meeting and spreading a warmth through you that was warmer than his hands and his eyes and everything else about him, it felt safe and your mind went back to the week before when you and Peter were in your house playing truth or dare and you realized that if Peter were to ask you if you'd ever been in love, you would have honestly answered that you had been in love every moment you'd ever spent with your best friend – and, evidently, the love of your life.