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A LITTLE PARTY NEVER
KILLED NOBODY, RIGHT?

"I wanna be alone. Alone with you,
does that make sense?" —Billie Eilish
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PARTIES were never Adeline's preference, maybe it was because she just didn't know anyone here. Feeling uncomfortable being surrounded by unfamiliar faces who all seemed to be interested in the free drinks and not Harry. All except Peter Parker, who wasn't much of a talker, but she did appreciate that he would listen. Both mutually agreed it was best to stick together, have some interesting conversations, and discover they have similar interests. This was the first time she went to Harry's and Peter's apartment so it was a pleasant surprise to see that it was a nice spacious area.

Since Adeline was underage, she just got some fruit punch by the snack bar. However, kept the drink close to her, worried it might get spiked. It felt like the whole senior class was staying here, the music blaring throughout the apartment. Teenagers dancing, drinking, or making out which made her feel awkward and out of place. Everything overwhelmed her, seeing the balcony on the other side of the living room. She looked at her surroundings before going through the crowd to unlock the door, enjoying the fresh air that delicately fanned her face.

The weather was chilly but not unbearably cold, the calm atmosphere and the illuminating lights of New York City helped her calm down. Leaning against the balcony rail to observe the cars driving below, she thought to herself while tapping her fingers rhythmically. Humming a tune, Adeline wondered if she could leave early considering it was getting close to midnight. Glancing on her phone to find some missed messages from her friend, Odette who asked for some advice on something.

"Why aren't you inside?" Peter asked her kindly, masking his somewhat worried expression yet startled her momentarily. She nearly dropped her phone before realizing who it was, putting away the device in her skirt pocket. A sheepish smile on her lips as she turned around to glance at the boy.

"I'm just... not a fan of parties. Sorry for leaving you." Adeline apologized, interlacing her fingers together. She looked at the city again while Peter slowly approached her, standing beside her but a few inches apart. They stayed silently for a few minutes, just enjoying each other's company. The girl subconsciously fidgeted with her mother's ring, biting faintly the corner of her bottom lip.

"You alright?" Parker questioned casually, not wanting her to feel unsafe. It's like Peter could read her like an open book, chuckling softly as she blinked away the tears. They both stare at each other, her amber eyes looking at his cerulean ones.

Honestly... I still can't believe I'm back home. I-I haven't seen Harry for the last three years. Of course, I missed him but... I've been away for too long." She admitted, her voice wavering slightly due to her holding back her emotions. Breaking their eye contact so he couldn't see the gradual blush on her cheeks. "But I'm glad that he had you, Peter. At least he wasn't alone."

Peter didn't know how to respond, only nodding his head softly in acknowledgment. Understanding that she felt guilty for not being there for Harry, both siblings struggled on their own throughout their childhood. He didn't know much about Adeline except what his best friend told him and yet... she was telling him everything as if they had known each other for a long time. Maybe it was just a spur-of-the-moment since she had no one else to talk to. Somewhat flattered that Adeline was comfortable around him considering not many girls in school would even glance at him.

"I guess my dad's been tough on him lately with the family business and me with... wait. I don't know why I'm even telling you this. Maybe I should head home... it's getting late." Adeline registered what she was telling him, slightly embarrassed by her boldness. Silently praying that Peter didn't see her heavy blush creeping up, good thing the moonlight was the only light source around.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Peter disagreed, accidentally reaching out for her wrist as they both stood still. The boy quickly let go once he realized what he had done before trying to explain his reasoning, "You don't know what can happen if you go alone. It wouldn't be right to let you leave."

"Peter... I live about eight blocks away, I don't want to be a burden. I'll be fine," The young Osborn tried to reassure him with a soft smile but that only made him worried. She didn't give him the chance to continue as she headed inside to find her brother, hoping to bid him goodnight before leaving. She tried shouting for Harry's attention but the music made it impossible to do so. Eventually, she found him playing some beer pong and gulping down its contents.

"Harry, I have to go!" Adeline called out to him, raising her voice so he could hear her. At first, he couldn't recognize her voice since people around him were encouraging him to chug the drink. Once he did, a wide smile appeared on his face as he got close to her, nearly stumbling from lack of balance.

"What? No, come on and stay a bit longer...." Harry's words were slurred and slow, the girl observed the leftover liquor he was holding in his other hand. He held on to her left arm and gently tugged towards himself as a way to keep her here. She softly chuckled at how drunk he became, taking the drink from his grasp and setting it aside with a small smile.

"You're drunk Harry. I have to, or else dad will come and find me... and then ruin your fun." She insisted and gave him a short embrace before gathering her stuff to leave his apartment. The girl waved goodbye to Peter before heading down in the elevator shaft, noticing it was twenty after midnight.

Adeline thought of calling Bernard to pick her up but that would only raise suspicion if her father knew about this. She felt ashamed for denying Peter's request to come along but she didn't want to bother him. Making her way down the sidewalk, making sure she was under brightly lit street lamps and her phone in her skirt pocket. She was being extra cautious of her surroundings, even purposely taking long strides just so she could hurry back home. All she had to do was head straight past East 34th Street to make a left and then a right on 1st Avenue.

"What's a pretty girl like you doing this time of night?" A deep male voice hollered by the alleyway, strolling right past them trying to ignore their catcalls. There were three men beside the one who tried to gain her attention, letting out a sharp whistle.

"What's the hurry? I asked you a question, sweetheart...." Another male, a bit more aggressive, came over and tried blocking her path. She glanced up before crossing the street in an attempt to get away from the group of men. Unfortunately, they continued to pursue her so Adeline picked up the pace to put some distance between herself and them. She knew better than to respond and tell them where she was heading but they weren't going to give up that easy.

"Don't you want some fun?" The tallest one in the group taunted, purposely dragging out the last word. Immediately comprehending what their intentions were, sent a sudden chill down her spine. Without hesitation, Adeline sprints away hoping to escape, silently thanking herself for not wearing uncomfortable shoes but starting to regret her pleated black skirt. Nearly tripping due to the uneven pavement, she heard some groans and shouts behind her.

"Don't your mother teach you how to treat a lady?" A new voice could be heard followed by a sound that she could only describe as a thwip. She was slightly confused that she didn't hear any loud footsteps following her, turning around to see the men either hanging or sticking along the building wall in large webs.

"I hope you're alright, Ade-uh, ma'am." The masked hero appeared behind her, startling the girl who stumbled backward before landing harshly on the ground. She dropped her saddle bag but the hero calmly picked up her items before helping her back up.

"You're... you're Spider-Man... aren't you?" Adeline murmured, unsure whether to believe it was actually him. One thing for sure is that the newspapers didn't do the hero justice with the photographs, clearly seeing his red and blue suit compared to the blurry images.

"The one and only." He responded with a courteous nod, she couldn't tell him of his expression but his body language suggested that he was being friendly.

"I don't know... what would have happened if... if you weren't here." She glimpsed at the men bound by Spider-Man's webs. Adeline tried to not imagine what could have happened, all she wanted was to get home safely and sleep until the morning. "Thank you..."

"You shouldn't be walking home alone after midnight." Spider-Man pointed out calmly, trying to disguise his voice by intentionally deepening his voice.

"Yeah... so they've told me...." The young Osborn sighed in agreement, realizing her foolish mistake.

"You're not afraid of heights, right?" The masked hero wondered although Peter already knew the answer. If they had gone to the Empire State Building a few weeks ago with Harry, she would have no problem with it.

"What?" The question caught Adeline off-guard, unsure what he was implying. She didn't mean to sound apprehensive but the night was getting weirder by the second. First, she was about to get mugged or worse... then Spider-Man saved her and now he's asking if she's afraid of heights?

"It's not safe if you continue to walk through this part of the neighborhood. It would be easier if I just swing you home." Spider-Man explained once he realized that he was a bit forward with his question.

"Oh... um, but I don't want to be a bother." She shook her head faintly, hesitant to do so while fidgeting with the ring out of habit.

"It's never a bother... you can trust me." He reassured her, extending his hand kindly. Should she do it? Any sane person would think twice before doing so but she would prefer the hero she just met then risk her life again. Besides... it's not every day she meets a superhero. Gently biting the corner of her bottom lip, he hoisted her up as the girl wrapped her legs around his torso and her arms clinging to his shoulders.

"Just hold on tight, alright?" Adeline didn't respond, merely giving a confirmation shake before feeling almost weightless. Closing her eyes tightly instinctively, a million thoughts in her mind telling her that this was reckless and stupid. She wasn't afraid of heights... rather of falling to her death as she was now regretting the decision.

"It's okay. I'm almost there." Spider-Man encouraged the girl thoughtfully, feeling her grip tightening by the minute. The young Osborn eventually had enough courage to open her eyes, mesmerized by the stunning sight. He landed on one of the top floors of the Chrysler building, making sure that she was safe. She felt her knees buckling underneath, taking a moment to catch her breath. The masked hero stood at the edge of the eagle-shaped gargoyles, Adeline glanced around to notice she was near home.

"How do you know this is near where I live?" The girl asked him, seeing him freeze momentarily as if he was thinking of something.

"I-I don't. This is just the tallest building nearby." Peter responded hoping she didn't suspect anything. Thankfully she didn't since her mind was focused on not slipping, slowly getting up again.

"Oh, I guess that makes sense," Adeline muttered softly, slightly embarrassed to assume the superhero knew about her. Thankfully the light breeze masked her reddened cheeks with wisps of her loose hair. "I live there... Tudor Hill...."

Spider-Man wrapped his arm around her waist, waiting for her to give the signal. Once she did, he jumped off the building before shooting his web to start swinging. Adeline couldn't help but let out a shout at first before calming down, embarrassed that she had done that. Within, a few minutes she was safe on her balcony, noticing that the penthouse lights were all off. Glancing back at the hero, a soft smile on her lips as she showed her appreciation, "That... was both terrifying and... thrilling. Thank you."

"It's was no problem, ma'am." Spider-Man insisted before he leaped off, she ran to the balcony rails as Adeline observed him swing away. Well... this certainly was a night she won't forget.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ🧪: *.☽ .* :🕸 ﾟ. ───

"SPIDER MENACE KIDNAPS OSCORP'S PROMISING HEIR!" J. Jonah Jameson declared, seeing that his plan worked on announcing Friday's newspaper about a reward to anyone who could photograph Spider-Man. This was Peter's second time coming back to the Daily Bugle, showing the man new photographs with some of them being from last night's incident. He was a bit sluggish due to the housewarming party that was on until 3 a.m. and the lack of sleep from the last few days.

"Sir, she wasn't kidnapped, there were thieves that wanted to attack her." Peter declared, pointing to the image where the men were entangled in his web. The next photograph was Adeline clinging on to Spider-Man, although her face was blurred there was no doubt that it was her. She was practically a celebrity the last few months with the events she'd been attending throughout the summer. Known to be quiet and reserved like her father, unlike Harry who wants attention.

"Alright, one thousand. But only because there haven't been many reports on Miss Osborn." Jameson caved in, already writing on the check to give to Parker. Handing the photograph of her and Spider-Man to his associate, while Peter was having second thoughts. He didn't mean to do that, yet it did happen not too far away from the apartment. But he needed the money. "Remember I'm not giving you a job, kid."

"I understand, sir," Peter answered, getting up from his chair to cash in the check. Jameson's associate, Robbie Robertson came with a report about the rumor of Spencer Symthe having a press conference today with the possibility of aligning with Norman Osborn. This made the boy stop in his tracks, he didn't want to appear nosy so he calmly asked either one of the men, "A press conference?"

"Didn't you hear? Smythe Industries is merging with Oscorp if all goes well." Robertson responded, handing the file to Jameson who appeared to be unbothered by everything that was happening. "In three days it's the Annual Charity Ball. They struck a deal that Alistair Smythe and Adeline Osborn would be engaged before December. It's one of the biggest stories we have this year."

'So that's why she didn't tell me.' Peter recalled last night when she suddenly changed the topic. He assumed that Harry knew about this as well, not sure why he was feeling uneasy in the pit of his stomach.

"Come on, kid, we don't have time for chit-chat. Get a move on!" The owner of Daily Bugle announced to Peter as he eventually left. Unaware that this was going to create a scandal for the Osborns' once it's going to be released in tomorrow's newspapers. He went back to the apartment after half an hour to find cleaners picking up the mess from last night, spotting Harry on the phone. Parker fixed himself a snack before his best friend ended the call with a relieved expression on his face.

"Just got off the phone from Ada, she made it home safe. Dad would have killed me if anything happened to her." Harry sighed calmly as he got an ice pack for his throbbing headache from all those drinks. Leaning against the counter as he watched Peter, more quiet than usual.

"T-That's good to hear." Peter nodded quickly, averting his eyes as he sat down where today's newspapers were about the upcoming festival and other important events. Taking a bite of his sandwich, Harry drank some fruit smoothie he made for the hangover.

"Hey, bud. Are you feeling alright?" The male Osborn questioned his friend who seemed in a daze. The blue-eyed boy snapped out of his thoughts, attempting to hold back a small smile as his lips twitched faintly.

"Yeah, I'm okay. What about you? You look like you took one too many." Parker humored which earned a dry chuckle from Harry, rolling his eyes discreetly.

"Kinda regretting playing beer pong now," Osborn muttered, pressing the ice pack against his temple to soothe the throbbing. The two friends stayed quiet after the short conversation, occasionally mentioning something. It was already noon when Harry received a text, and immediately got up to head out. Saying a quick farewell before leaving without warning, Peter was curious at the sudden urgency.

However, he didn't question it as he headed to his room where the boy spotted Adeline's housewarming gift by the stairway. Peter pondered if he should take it before picking it up and carrying it to his bed. Carefully unwrapping the present to find a new photo album and a Nikon N55 camera. He wondered if he could replace the old camera he received from Aunt May, a soft smile on his lips. There was no note inside to indicate who the gift belonged to but he assumed that it was for both of them.

But the gift was meant for him.