A/N: YOU GUYS

we hit 300 thousand views 🥺

thank you, thank you, thank you!! this year rlly starting off on the right foot 😤

in other good news, i have the next 12 chapters ready to publish so that means for the next 3 months, even though i have school, you guys will still consistently get a new chapter every wednesday!

and as a lil' thank you for 300k, this chapter is super fluffy and a bit longer than usual so enjoy!! xx

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"Whenever I'd vacuum the floor,

he would be scared that I would

accidentally vacuum him up too."
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"May, I love you but please don't embarrass me in front of Ada tonight okay?" Peter asked as soon as he walked into the kitchen. May frowned at him.

"I never embarrass you. I thought we decided I was going to be the cool aunt?" she asked, looking up from her boiling pot and raising an eyebrow at her nephew. Peter shrugged, leaning across the island towards her.

"Yeah, but sometimes you call me that nickname..."

"What? Petey Betey? I haven't called you that since you were five," the woman laughed. Peter already felt his face getting hot from the sound of the extremely embarrassing nickname.

"You said it once in front of Ned. It was not cool," Peter muttered, staring at the countertop. May rolled her eyes.

"Alright, alright, I'll behave," she said, "Now try this." She held out the spoon with a bit of sauce on it for him to taste. Peter tasted it, considering it.

"Needs salt," he said and May nodded, turning back to her pot again.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Immediately, Peter jumped out of his seat and raced towards the door. He hadn't even been this excited to hear his doorbell ring since the UPS guy was supposed to bring his Nintendo switch. He was only this excited because he had been planning on asking Ada out to the Winter Dance tonight after dinner. He still wasn't sure which color to use yet, but he thought he would let the moment decide for him. He hesitated with his hand hovering above the door handle, however. He glanced at May sideways.

"How do I look?" he asked.

He was wearing his only shirt that didn't have a science pun on it and a pair of black sweatpants. (A/N: don't worry ladies, we're saving the gray ones for later ;)) He wanted to look casual as if this was just another night. His hair was its usual mess of brown curls that looked like he had tried to tame it, but then had ultimately given up. And May could even smell the extra strong cologne that she had bought him last Christmas all the way from the kitchen, his way of subtly trying.

"Go for Petey Betey," she nodded, giving him two thumbs up. Peter nodded and then stopped, realizing she'd called him the nickname. He gave her a stern look.

"May," he said.

"Okay, okay, I promise. I just had to get it out of my system, that's all," she chuckled, waving her hands around, "I'm good. I am."

Peter took a deep breath, and opened the door.

Ada was standing there, a bright smile on her face and a small vase filled with flowers in her hands.

Peter smiled as his respiratory system began shutting down suddenly.

"Hey," he breathed, "Come in."

He stepped aside to allow her to come inside and then he closed the door behind her. Peter's stomach was swarmed with butterflies. Ada had been to his house a million times before, but this was different. This was sort of...official. And it was the first time that she had been here since he had confessed his feelings to her (the night of their secret little escapade didn't count). Of course he was a nervous wreck.

"Let me take your jacket," he said and gently helped her shake it off her arms one by one while still holding the vase. He spun around and hung the jacket on the coat rack beside the door.

"Adelaide, it's so good to see you!" May said warmly, walking out of the kitchen to greet her. The woman pulled her into a long embrace. "Aw, I missed having you around here."

Adelaide smiled, hugging the woman back as best she could with one arm.

"I missed being around too," she said into May's shoulder, "I'm glad things are back to normal."

"Oh, me too," May said, pulling away. Adelaide held out the vase of flowers towards the woman with a bright smile.

"I brought these for you," she said, "I remembered you like daisies."

"I do love daisies. And these are beautiful, thank you," May smiled, taking them into her own hands, "I'll go get some water for them."

"Sure. And– is that lasagna?" Adelaide asked, sniffing the scent coming from the kitchen.

The two teenagers followed May into the kitchen. Peter sat down at the island, his eyes following Ada as she traveled to the stove to see everything that was cooking. He propped his head in his palm, sighing quietly to himself. She was only dressed in a baby pink sweater and gray pants, but he still thought she looked so pretty.

"That smells so good," she said, covering the pot back up.

May smiled, "I found the recipe in Ben's old cookbook. He always loved Italian food."

"You can never go wrong with one of his recipes," Adelaide grinned as May pulled out some peppers to chop. Adelaide stepped forward. "Let me."

"No, no don't worry about it," May said, "I'm sure you and Peter have something better to do. I'll call you two once everything is ready."

"I want to help," Adelaide said, glancing at Peter, "You don't mind, right?"

Startled from his train of thoughts about how pretty her brown hair looked when it was falling over her shoulders and how it would feel to run his hands through it, Peter sat up straight and looked between the two.

"Uh, n-no. no, I don't mind," he said. Adelaide smiled.

"Alright, if you want," May said, handing the teenager the chopping board. She began cutting the pepper as May prepared to put the pasta into the boiling water. "So how's school going?"

"As good as it can go," Adelaide shrugged, "It's my math teacher. Every math teacher I ever have has hated me, I swear."

"When I was in high school, I had the absolute worst principal," May said and Peter's ears perked up. He had never heard this story before. "She went out of her way to give me detention. I still have no idea why she hated me so much. Anyway, so when I was in my senior year, I pranked her. The night before graduation, my friends and I bought dozens of packets of instant mashed potatoes. You know those powdered ones that you just add water to?"

"Yeah?" Adelaide said, not quite sure where this was going.

"Well, after the lights turned off in her house that night, the three of us dumped all of those packets into her front lawn and then turned on the sprinklers. The next morning, her entire lawn was covered in mashed potatoes."

"No way," Adelaide breathed, feeling laughter bubbling up in her chest until she couldn't hold it back and it all poured out, "That...is incredible."

"It was. It took her weeks to clean it all out. The woman deserved it. She was a total bitch," May said, shaking her head as she stirred the pot of sauce. Peter and Adelaide both looked at each other and then bursted out into laughter.

"Don't give her ideas, May," Peter teased after the laughter died down. Adelaide threw a slice of the green pepper at him which he caught, to her annoyance. Stupid spidey senses. Grinning, he tossed the pepper slice into his mouth. Adelaide rolled her eyes.

"Oh I am totally giving you ideas," the woman said, oblivious to the pepper throwing, "I have loads more where that came from. If ever need help saran wrapping anyone's car, don't hesitate to call me."

"Oh I will definitely call you," Adelaide said solemnly.

"Hey, how come you never offered to help me with that before?" Peter asked, slightly offended. May glanced at her nephew over her shoulder.

"Uh-uh," she said, shaking her head, "These offers only exist between us girls."

Peter frowned. Not fair. Adelaide grinned at him, throwing a slice of a green pepper into her mouth. The boy rolled his eyes. She stood up with all the chopped vegetables in the bowl and walked over to the stovetop where May was standing. Peter watched them both working as the conversation went on without him. It felt nice to see the two women in his life that he cared the most about laughing and having fun together. For a moment, he felt an overwhelming sense of peace for the first time in months.

Everything felt so comfortable.

The familiar loud noise of their neighbors watching Dancing With the Stars as they did every night and the sound of the water boiling on the stovetop and the aroma of Italian food floating throughout the apartment as May and Ada laughed over a joke between the two of them. The busy noise from the streets as the sun had finally set behind the skyscrapers. And Peter was just there, in the moment, enjoying it. A moment where everything was perfect.

A perfect moment.

Until, the May and Ada continued talking about girls' things that he couldn't really contribute to. The minutes passed and the conversation had gone from pranking teachers to the hottest celebrities in Hollywood to their favorite skincare routine to avoid breaking out.

Peter felt like...like a third wheel?

He had invited Ada over for dinner so that he could spend more time with her, but this was just the opposite. It felt like it was a girls' night and Peter wasn't even supposed to be here. He frowned, trying to find a window to ask Ada if she wanted to watch a movie or something, but the two just never stopped talking. There was no room for him to even get a word in. He felt all his plans for the night sinking.

He had been going ask Ada to pick a movie to watch and after the movie they would eat dinner. Then, he had planned on taking her to the roof of his apartment complex so they could have one those late-night talks that they used to have before she found out that he was Spider-Man. And then he was finally going to ask her to be his date to the Winter Dance.

But, now, it had seemed that she found Aunt May more interesting to talk to. With a sigh, Peter pulled his phone out of his pocket to shoot a quick text to Ned.

May stole Ada

Ned's reply came instantly.

Ned: Um
What?

Ada's over for dinner,
but she's been busy
talking to May this
whole time

Ned: I don't see the

I had the entire evening
planned for us :((

Ned: Dude that sucks

What do I do??

Ned: Um, I don't know?
sorry
It's just
I'm kind of at the library
Studying with Vivian
She's back from the bathroom
I gotta go
Good luck

Peter sighed, turning his phone off. Great. Even Ned was practically on a date with someone. It looked like Peter was the only one without someone to talk to tonight. He looked back up at the two still talking at lightning speed about which shampoo was the best. He held back a groan.

"I'm going to my room," he mumbled.

"That one leaves my hair all— oh okay," may said, sparing him a quick glance, "Dinner's almost ready. Anyway, where was I?"

"You were talking about how dry shampoo makes your hair..." Adelaide said. She was preparing to put the garlic bread in the oven and was intently reading the screen to set the temperature.

"Oh, right. So like I was saying, it makes my hair feel so—"

Peter disappeared down the hall and into his room. He collapsed onto his bed with his face hiding in his pillow. He let out a muffled groan. this was so not how tonight was supposed to go.

"Karen?"

"Yes Peter?"

"I'm bored."

"May I interest you in some jokes?"

"Why not," he mumbled, flipping around onto his back. He stared up at the bunk above his and blew his hair out of his face.

"What do you call a shoe made of a banana?"

"Um...what?" Peter said.

"A slipper. Would you like to hear another one?"

"That was terrible, Karen," Peter mumbled. If Karen could scoff, she would have in that moment.

"I'm trying my best, Peter."

"Sorry," he mumbled, flipping back around onto his stomach and digging his chin into his pillow, "I'm distracted."

"What seems to be the problem?" Karen asked. Peter sighed again.

"I invited Ada over so we could...you know. Hang out. Tonight was supposed to be about us and– I had the whole evening planned and everything. But she's too busy talking to May," he grumbled. There was a pause.

"I don't see the problem. Don't you want your aunt and your best friend to get along?"

"That's just it. They get along too well."

"I'm afraid I'm not good with relationship advice. May I interest you in another joke?"

"No, thanks."

"Alright."

With a heavy sigh, Peter reached over to his backpack on the floor and pulled the three roses out from inside. These roses were haunting him in his sleep. It was all he could think about since he'd bought them.

"Ada, will you go to the Winter Dance with me?" he practiced using the white rose. He tried to imagine her standing in front of him. But something about the white rose didn't feel right. So he tried again with the pink one.

"Ada...I know things are complicated between us— no, no definitely not," he said, tossing the pink one into his backpack again.

And then he was only left with a single red rose.

"Ada...I know things are complicated between us, but I wish I could make them simple so you could see just how much I like you. I would never leave you or hurt you and...I wish I had the guts to say this to your face," he groaned, tossing the red rose back into his backpack again. He buried his face into his pillow, letting out a heavy sigh.

He was never going to figure out which rose to use. It was going to be a disaster. And if he didn't ask her soon, then someone else would and he would miss his chance. He hated the idea of somebody else taking Ada to the dance instead of him. She might not be his yet, but she was still his best friend. It would feel like a slap in the face if someone else like Flash took her to the dance instead of him.

And if he didn't figure out this rose situation soon, that was exactly what was going to happen.

"Peter! Dinner!"

He rubbed his hand over his face, trying to erase the sulk off of it. Not that it mattered. It didn't seem like either woman would stop talking long enough to pay attention to him.

Peter begrudgingly dragged himself out of his room and down the hall to the kitchen. The table was set at the island with a plate on each side. Surprisingly, they had remembered to set a plate for him. He took a seat at the head end of the island, in between May and Ada. The two were deep in conversation about their favorite rom com movie. Peter had seen a handful but he was nowhere nearly as passionate about Chris Pine or Zac Efron or Brad Pitt to contribute to the conversation.

So Peter ate in silence, listening to their conversation to look for an open window where he could butt in. But they never gave him a chance. It was as if he had unknowingly put the two most talkative people together in a room. May and and Ada never had this much to talk about before. Then again, it had been months since Ada had come over to his house.

Soon, dinner was finished and Peter still hadn't had a chance to say a single word.

"Everything was delicious," Adelaide smiled, "I'm surprised the two of us didn't burn the kitchen down entirely. Pepper says I'm a hazard in the kitchen."

"Oh, believe me, it's a miracle I don't burn it down just making my coffee every morning. But I guess two wrongs make a right," May laughed, standing up, "Anyway, I'll take care of the dishes, you two go ahead."

Peter breathed a sigh of relief. Thank god. They might not have time for a movie, but they could still go to the rooftop and hang out there together. Peter hastily stood up and dropped his plate into the sink.

"Hey, what if we went to—"

"I can help you with the dishes, May," Adelaide said, standing up with her own plate, "It wouldn't be fair if you had to do them all by yourself."

"Oh it's not a problem," May laughed, waving her hand around, "I know you didn't come here to spend your entire evening with me."

"I would love to help," Adelaide said before looking at Peter, "I mean...if it's okay with you?"

Peter looked between the two and then the giant pile of dishes in the sink and then sighed.

"Yeah," he mumbled, "You go ahead. I'll be in the living room if you need me."

Which, you probably won't.

"Well, if you really want, I guess I could use help," May smiled warmly.

Peter dragged himself to the living room and dropped into the couch, switching on the tv. He started some random show about crocodiles, but he was hardly paying attention. He was too busy sulking about his spoiled evening. Tonight was supposed to be special. It was supposed to be his night.

But Ada was still in the kitchen, laughing with May instead of him. He threw his head back onto the couch, sighing.

About half an hour later, the two were finished with the dishes and came over to sit down on the couch beside him. Ada sat down beside him, but was facing May who was sitting beside her. May was in the middle of telling Ada about the story of how she had gotten her belly button pierced and her dad had thrown a fit when she came home.

"At least he didn't do what Mr. Cortez did," Ada said and then the two burst into laughter.

"Candy! Get the candy!" May said and then they were both laughing until their sides were aching. Peter rolled his eyes from his side of the couch.

Great. Now they had inside jokes, too?

Just great.

The laughter soon died down and the apartment was quiet for a while. Well, except for the sound of Steve Irwin talking about crocodiles. The two both were absentmindedly listening to the tv. Peter realized this was the first time they had stopped talking since Ada had came here. The apartment felt so much quieter.

Until May spoke up again.

"Peter was always terrified of crocodiles when he was little," she said, "He refused to step foot in any form of water. Even the public swimming pool."

"Really?" Adelaide grinned, glancing at the boy over her shoulder.

"Oh, yeah. He was a scaredy-cat when he was younger. Whenever I'd vacuum the floor, he would be scared that I would accidentally vacuum him up too," May laughed, "Oh! and he called it the room room machine because he couldn't say the v in vroom vroom."

Adelaide was listening intently. This was the first time she was hearing these stories about baby Peter. She thought they were adorable.