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"Aunt May doesn't think Peter and MJ are a good match?"
"What else could it be?"
Hawk shrugged.
That was also why, after meeting with Aunt May, he hadn't seemed particularly concerned about Peter's disappearance in the first place.
MJ's panic had been genuine.
But Aunt May's worry?
Not so much.
Well, it wasn't completely fake. But compared to MJ—who had been completely in the dark—Aunt May's concern hadn't felt all that urgent.
The moment Hawk saw Aunt May, he'd suspected she knew more than MJ did.
And like he'd said before—
Other people's business was generally none of his concern.
What if Peter's disappearance was part of some elaborate surprise for MJ?
Stranger things had happened.
So Hawk had chosen to stay silent.
Now, knowing the truth, the reason why Aunt May hadn't told MJ was probably exactly what MJ had said earlier.
This was Parker family business. And Mary Jane Watson was an outsider.
"But MJ is Peter's girlfriend."
"Yeah, she is."
Hawk nodded, watching as Gwen defended her best friend. "I can guarantee that MJ was Peter's first girlfriend and will be his last. But can you guarantee the same for MJ?"
Gwen turned to meet Hawk's gaze.
Her mouth opened instinctively. She had the urge to vouch for her best friend MJ the same way Hawk had just vouched for Peter without a second thought.
But—
The words wouldn't come out.
Because she honestly couldn't make that promise. She couldn't guarantee that MJ would stay with Peter until the end the way Hawk had just guaranteed it for Peter.
Peter was a great guy.
MJ was a great girl.
That was the truth. No question about it. But compared to Peter's reserved, introverted personality, MJ's was bold, expressive, extravagant.
MJ studied dance. She'd always dreamed of performing on Broadway, standing on that spotlight stage and showing the world what she could do.
And she was actively working toward that goal.
But Peter was a quiet kid. The kind of guy who wore a mask even when doing good deeds.
Gwen's mind raced through the analysis, then she made a quick decision and gave up. She shook her head. "You know what? You're right. This is their private business. We shouldn't get involved."
Hawk smiled faintly. "You figured it out?"
"What else am I supposed to do?"
Gwen rolled her eyes, then noticed the expression on Hawk's face—somewhere between a smile and a smirk. "Wait. You said 'also' just now. Does that mean you don't think Peter and MJ are a good match either?"
Hawk shrugged. "A guy's first love usually ends in failure."
Gwen raised an eyebrow.
"I'm your first love."
"Uh..." Hawk froze for a second, meeting his fiancée's increasingly dangerous emerald-green gaze. He immediately scrambled to recover. "We're different."
Gwen hummed skeptically, continuing to stare at him with those dangerous eyes.
Hawk's mind raced.
The next second, he made a sharp U-turn on the spot.
Gwen blinked in confusion.
"We're not going home? Where are we going?"
"Las Vegas."
"...What for?"
"You can legally get married at eighteen there."
Hawk's expression was completely serious, his tone solemn.
He couldn't help it.
This was the only solution he could come up with to dig himself out of this hole.
See?
This was exactly why he tried not to get involved in other people's business. One wrong move, and the fire spread straight to him.
Just like right now.
In the end, they didn't make it to Las Vegas.
Not because Hawk changed his mind.
But because Gwen was worried about the chain reaction that would follow if they came back with a marriage certificate.
For example, an enraged father-in-law showing up at their door with a shotgun.
After all, running off without telling anyone was called eloping.
George had already grudgingly accepted that the two of them were engaged. If they eloped to Las Vegas without a word and came back married, George would lose his mind.
And Helen probably wouldn't be too happy either.
Plus college starts tomorrow. If they drove to Las Vegas now, they'd never make it back to New York in time.
Most importantly, Gwen had only been testing him.
She couldn't make promises for MJ, but she was absolutely certain she'd walk with Hawk to the end. Because Hawk was the future she'd chosen with her own hands.
Still, seeing Hawk ready to drive straight to Las Vegas and get married without a second's hesitation made her incredibly happy.
Because Hawk hadn't hesitated.
That was enough.
She would be Mrs. Phoenix.
The one and only. Just... not quite yet.
...
The next day.
Hawk and Gwen woke up early. After finishing breakfast, they left the house just like any other school day. Gwen drove her Toyota Corolla in front, Hawk followed in the Audi A8, and the two cars pulled out of the garage one after the other, heading toward New York University and Empire State University, which sat right next to each other.
After the first class of the new semester ended, Hawk slung his messenger bag over his shoulder and walked out of the lecture hall while answering a call from his fiancée, who was attending class at the neighboring university.
"Hey, Gwen."
"This morning, Felicia's assistant came to the school and filed a leave of absence for Peter. She said Peter's helping them with a research project."
"How long?"
"One semester."
"Damn."
Hawk drew in a sharp breath, genuinely curious. "Does MJ know?"
Gwen sighed on the other end of the line. "That's what I really wanted to tell you. MJ said she and Peter broke up over the phone last night."
Hawk's eyebrows shot up.
"They actually broke up?"
"Yeah."
Gwen nodded, then added, "Don't come over at lunch today. I'm worried seeing the two of us together will just make MJ feel worse. I'm hanging up now."
Hawk listened to the dial tone and fell into silence.
Great.
Collateral damage.
MJ and Peter broke up, and somehow he and Gwen were catching the fallout too.
Wait—no, scratch that thought. He and Gwen weren't breaking—
Nope. Stop right there.
Hawk immediately shook his head, cutting off that train of thought before it could fully form. He put his phone back in his pocket and headed toward the lecture hall for his second class of the morning.
...
That evening.
Gwen set down her textbook, tied her blonde hair back into a ponytail, and started preparing dinner in the bright, well-lit kitchen.
Just like usual.
Hawk had initially tried to help, but in Gwen's eyes, he was more of a hindrance than anything. So once again, she banished him to the table, where he sat perched on a high stool.
Hawk idly toyed with a smooth onion in his hands, watching his future wife bustling around in front of him while asking about MJ and Peter.
"They really broke up? No chance of getting back together?"
"Peter said the reason he didn't tell MJ the truth was because he didn't want her to worry. And he did tell her he was leaving New York."
"He did tell her."
Hawk spoke up in defense of his best friend Peter. "MJ said it herself, didn't she? She said Peter told her he had something to take care of for a few days, and she didn't want to bother him, so she didn't call."
Gwen pulled the roasted beef out of the oven, grabbed a carving knife, and turned to face Hawk. "MJ said the main reason for the breakup wasn't that. It was Aunt May."
Hawk's eyes lit up. He pulled the knife and the roasted beef toward himself, slicing the meat while looking at Gwen intently.
He didn't say anything, but his expression spelled out two words loud and clear.
Tell me everything.
Gwen laughed, wiped her hands, grabbed a plate, and poured a bag of pre-washed salad greens onto it. She squeezed some salad dressing over the top and began tossing it while recounting her lunchtime conversation with MJ.
"Who do you think is more important to Peter? Aunt May or MJ?"
"Aunt May."
"So if the two of them actually got married and Aunt May and MJ got into a fight, who would Peter side with?"
"Aunt May."
Hawk answered without hesitation.
Ever since Uncle Ben had died—partly, in some ways, because of him—Aunt May had become the most important person in Peter's life.
So in Peter's heart, without question, no matter what happened, Aunt May would always come first.
Not just for their Spider-Man either. In every version—Amazing Spider-Man, Spectacular Spider-Man, whatever—Aunt May or Aunt May-equivalent was always the number one priority.
Gwen continued, "That's exactly what MJ said. She said that Aunt May hiding the truth from her showed that Aunt May didn't see her as part of the family. MJ said it's better to end things now while they're still on good terms than wait until later when things get messy. It's better for everyone this way."
Hawk thought about it, then looked at Gwen. "MJ's really clear-headed about this."
Gwen shrugged.
"MJ's always known what she wants."
"What about Peter? Did he just agree to it?"
"MJ didn't say."
Gwen set the finished salad bowl to the side. "Peter probably agreed. Even if he didn't, it wouldn't matter. MJ already pulled herself together this afternoon and went to the school's welcome-back dance."
Hawk nodded, genuinely impressed.
"That's impressive."
"That's just how she is."
Gwen glanced at the neatly sliced beef on the cutting board, then noticed Hawk was about to start slicing it even thinner. She quickly stopped him. "Wash your hands. Let's eat."
Hawk hummed in acknowledgment, set down the carving knife, and headed toward the sink. As he walked, he asked with amusement, "Want to make a bet? How long before MJ starts dating someone new?"
Gwen gave him a flat look. "That's my best friend. Why don't you bet on your best friend instead?"
"Fine by me." Hawk shrugged, completely unbothered.
Gwen let out a dry laugh. "Peter's lucky to have a friend like you."
Hawk turned to look at Gwen, his expression dead serious.
"I think so too."
"..."
Gwen stared at Hawk's completely earnest face, utterly speechless.
Still—
Even though the two of them never officially bet on when Mary Jane would start a new relationship, when she actually did start dating someone new two months later, they were both completely stunned.
Especially after finding out who MJ's new boyfriend was.
"Flash Thompson?"
"Flash?"
"Are you serious?!"
"..."
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