I whiled away two hours like that, learning more about this world I now found myself in, and soon the clock struck 12. May arrived just in time, dressed in her Sunday best and nodded at me, "I'm glad you decided to dress up Peter, I just know you'll make such a nice impression."
I blushed at the comment and followed her out. We crossed the road and knocked on the door of the house directly across from us. A few moments later, Anna Watson, a kind older lady with grey hair and a warm smile welcomed us.
"Ah Peter! So nice to see you! I heard about your little accident are you sure you're alright to be up and about?"
I smirked, "I'll be fine. I was just a spider bite."
"Oh that's my Peter," May smiled, "when I told him about Mary Jane he was so excited! Practically jumped at the chance!"
A blush grew across my face as I glared at May, "aunt May! Stop!" In response the old lady just giggled, crazy old woman.
"Well come on in then," Anna invited us in, showing us her home. It was homely, pretty pictures hanging up, a TV and fully furnished with antique looking furniture.
Just then a girl with wet hair came rushing down the stairs, two at a time, wearing green shorts and a purple tank top, holding a hair dryer. "Aunt Anna, the damn thing's broken again-"
She stopped as she realised she wasn't alone. I looked at her, and her eyes landed on me, widening in alarm. They were so green, her wet red hair clung to her scalp making her look that much more desirable.
I couldn't help it, it was the perfect timing, I whistled and smiled, "damn, looks like I just hit the jackpot."
Her face turned red as she blushed. May and Anna looked surprised, guess they never thought Peter had it in him. I chuckled at the silence, "so, you're Mary Jane?"
The girl nodded, "y-yeah. Hi.
I nodded and looked down at the hair dryer, "not working?"
"Ahm, yeah, it just kind of stopped," she nodded slowly.
I held out my hand and she passed it over, I took a look at it and using Peter's remarkable knowledge of mechanics realised the problem, "the motor's fried, I can probably fix it for you Ms. Watson, shouldn't be too hard."
"That would be lovely, thank you Peter," Anna nodded before turning to MJ, "Mary Jane, maybe it's time for you to put on something more decent."
"Ah, right," the redhead nodded quickly before turning around and walking upstairs. She looked back at me one last time, and I met her gaze. She was looking for something, I knew it, I just smiled back.
When she finally closed her room door I turned to Anna and May, "I'll go to the hardware store and get the parts to fix it Ms. Watson, I'll be back soon."
"Why don't you wait for Mary Jane to get ready Peter? Maybe you two could go together," May oh so subtly suggested.
I shrugged, "sure. No problem."
"Oh look at you, acting so innocent," Anna giggled, "didn't I tell you they would hit it off May?" I tuned the two old women out as they proceed to gossip about me and MJ.
It took a while but soon the redhead returned, this time she wore a pair of jeans, a hoodie and sneakers. I looked her over and smiled, "I liked the other outfit better."
"Peter!" May gasped scandalously, "that is no way to treat a lady! I taught you better than that!"
I looked into his memories, she was right, she did. I turned to MJ and bowed, "I am so sorry my lady, my actions have been so uncouth! I beg thee for a thousand pardons for my rash behaviour!"
Mary Jane chuckled, "you're Shakespear needs a little work there Tiger."
"Shakespeare? I was doing my best fancy pants impression."
"That's Shakespeare."
"Ah, so the voice has a name." She laughed, yay, she likes me!
Anna gave us some cash and quickly sent us out, she told us to buy lunch outside after getting the dryer fixed and just like that MJ and I were talking side by side.
"So what do I call you?" I asked her as soon as we stepped out.
"Hmm?"
"Mary Jane, seems like a mouthful," I shrugged, "do you have a nickname?" Which I knew she did, but I needed to make small talk.
Mary Jane shrugged, "most people call me MJ."
"Hmm, cool, but not creative. How about Red?"
"Red? Really? And you complied MJ wasn't creative enough."
I shrugged, "I'm sure we'll figure something out. I'm Peter by the way, Peter Parker."
"Oh I know, my aunt won't stop going on and on about you. I figured she must have some sort of crush on you" she teased.
"Hm...tempting, she is a MILF, totally my type," I teased back.
MJ's eyes went wide, "what?"
"Kidding," I chuckled, "I actually like redheads." Mary Jane blushed. "So, where are you from MJ?" We talked all the way to the hardware store a few streets away. She told me how she was joining my school on Monday, I gave her a few tips but generally avoided topics like friends, since Peter didn't really have any.
We had to talk a little further away to reach a restaurant to get lunch, though I didn't mind, and neither did MJ. We sat and ate, I threw about a few jokes, she laughed, she teased me, I blushed, it was a great first date. Well...maybe not a date….
We came back to her home and found our aunts still chattering in the sofa. I sat down in the dining room table with the broken hair dryer and began to open it up with a screwdriver Anna had lying around.
As I fixed the machine MJ watched, whistling as my hands glided over it, "you're pretty good at this huh?"
I smiled, "very good. I'm sort of a nerd, in case you don't know."
"Believe me, I know," I looked confused, she clarified, "no one can talk about Star Wars that much and not be a nerd." I blushed, she was right, I did talk about that movie quite a bit.
"So is this what you want to be when you grow up?" MJ asked as I replaced the motor.
"A handy man? No, my ambitions are a little higher," I smiled.
"Like what?"