How You Get The Girl ── Peter Parker [TASM] (On Hold)

𝟎𝟎𝟓 ⎯⎯ Losing Someone You Love

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     "You didn't have to come," Peter said as Mary Anne trailed behind him in between the isles at the corner store.  "I'm sure you could've spent your evening doing literally anything else."

     Mary bit her lip as she listened to Peter, watching his legs move in front of her as she did.  She nodded, Peter turning to see her, so she raised her gaze to meet his eyes.  She removed one of the hands tucked from the pockets of her jean jacket and tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear.  Peter's lips turned upward at the sight of her.  It was the most he'd smiled since leaving the house.  "Yeah, well, I would be a pretty terrible friend if I left you alone tonight."

     Peter tilted.  "Sure.  It's 'cause you can't get enough of me, but sure.  You want anything?"

     Mary Anne licked her lips, trying to hide a smile.  She couldn't explain it, but being around Peter just made it easy to smile more often than not.  "No, I'm quite alright."

     "Alright," Peter said, walking up to the counter with a small jug of milk in hand.  The cashier rang it up as Peter pulled some money from his back pocket.  Mary Anne stepped to the side, noticing the guy standing behind her was a little shady looking.

     "It's $2.07," the cashier said.  "It's $2.07," he deadpanned, seeing Peter only place two dollars and five cents of change in front of him.

     "Yeah.  No, I know."

     "Yeah, you're holding up the line," the cashier said.  Peter reached into a small pan near the cash register and took out two pennies, tossing them onto the counter.  "No.  You can leave a penny, you can't take a penny."

     "What?"

     "But... it's just two cents?" Mary asked, her hands still tucked into the pocket of her jacket.

     "You can leave... a penny anytime, you have to spend 10 dollars... to take a penny.  It's store policy.  You're holding up my line."

     "I don't have 2 cents," Peter shook his head.

     "You can't afford milk, step aside," the cashier said, then raising his voice.  "Daddy didn't give you enough milk money today?"

     Mary Anne was about to step closer to the counter, when Peter put a hand on her stomach, gently pushing her back.  "We're talking about 2 cents."

     "Just step aside, kid," he insisted.

     "Really?" Peter asked, clearly annoyed, yet he still stepped aside.  He looked at Mary, huffing, and she nodded towards the door, leading them outside.

     "Yo, not cool, bro," she could hear the cashier saying as she placed her hand on the cool glass, the outside breeze striking her in the face.