The engineering that he had put into each of what he called box homes was astounding, the welds were spotless and the seams neatly covered, the wiring was neat and while May had little experience of the work herself she had seen some of Bens and what Peter had done was impressive
As she explored the inside of one of the homes she saw there were still pencil marks on the floor but the main walls had been put into place and they were sturdy. Each box now consisting of a living room, bedroom, a bathroom fully kitted out as a wet room, and a kitchen. Peter had taken the 20m by 20m space and made it cosy and as roomy as possible. The walls were still bare wood but May could see from the neat row of nails, the neat channels cut for not just the wiring and the sockets but the water lines and other pipework that Peter hadn't rushed, he had taken time and care to make sure each home was professionally done.
"Look who I found," Gwen's voice rang out and with Peter in tow, Gwen hoisted bags of food leaving Peter to hold the sodas.
"Gwen dear," May reached forwards and helped her, setting the bags of food down on a table Peter was using. The food was filling, a polite way May had of saying that it was edible but not great, but the atmosphere was warm and comfortable. The three chatted about the future and Gwen hinted about moving in.
"Now you two, I know things will be rosy to start with but you should keep your own space. Ben and I started out in a cramped one-room place and it was a nightmare."
"Aunt May!" Peter exclaimed, he had told her about Gwen and him but he didn't realise that they would be moving in together, "it's the same building, we're not moving in moving in, I'm fixing up the porta offices uh eventually. Plus, Gwen's already called dibs on the first box."
"Oh on that Pete, MJ will come round in a few days, I told her and she's interested." May shook her head,
"I hope you two can start to get along again, it was such a shame you never reconnected." Peter hung his head to avoid May's gaze, he couldn't tell her that Flash was the reason they never spoke in High School.
"Felicia said no though, her dad needs her to stay home and house sit or something, I dunno, she seemed pretty stoked about it but then changed her mind, you guys fight?" and Peter shook his head
"She seemed pretty upset I was leaving the club, well upset for Felicia," and he shrugged, one less tenant was a blow but if MJ moved in it was still better than none. Sliding a thick book out from beneath the camp table he had set up, "paint, uh, try not to pick something too expensive," and Gwen rolled her eyes as she flicked through it,
"I was thinking gold on everything," and May covered her mouth to hide the small laugh as to how gaudy and tacky that would look.
Finishing their meal Peter called Aunt May a taxi, wanting to spend a little time alone with Gwen before she had to head home as well.
After they had hugged and Peter watched Aunt May leave, he turned to find Gwen behind him, leaning on his shoulder and wrapping her hands around his waist.
"So, Petey Pie, whatcha wanna do?" Sadly though, Peter groaned, after finishing off two mega burritos and Mays mini-meal he was stuffed.
"Sleep!" he exclaimed and pulled over some foam cladding he had for insulation and lay down, patting the space next to him. "A bed fit for a princess." Gwen laughed as she lay next to him, feeling nicely stuffed but happy to just lie there. It had only been a week since,
"Hey Pete, are you sure about this? I mean, dropping out just gave Flash another smug face to pull and well, it kinda sucks without you there." She pulled his arm over and cuddled up to it. "Even Felicia seems a bit, off, well, off for Felicia," and Peter chuckled
"Yeah Gwen. May asked me the same and I am, I couldn't stand it anymore, Flash, the teachers, you know Felicia spoke to me."
Gwen scowled, "she did huh?"
"Yeah, she was pretty upset I'd been kicked off the math team but the thing was, everyone blamed me, no one gave Flash any crap, even if it was his fault. It just, it got to me when I don't want to ever be in that situation again, and now I've left, I won't be."
Gwen sighed, she sometimes wished that she could do the same but Peter had the warehouse and plans, he had a supportive Aunt whereas Gwen would be grounded till she was 40 if she dropped out or quit her internship. Her dad already was giving her grief over her relationship with Peter, and as sad as it was this was just more ammunition for him. To be honest, everything that happened with Peter had made her question her own future. She was just passively riding along on what she thought she wanted, but did she, did she really?
Peter noticed the change in atmosphere and kissed Gwen gently on the nose. "Hey, it's okay, things happen, plans change. I'll be okay." He was trying to reassure himself as well as her but
"I was thinking about me doofus." She snorted and began to laugh, the look on his crestfallen face adding more to her laughter. "You seemed to have gotten everything together, all this bad crap and you landed on your feet, I dunno, it's just, my life, my dad and just thinking about moving out is a huge step but you there and I'm worried you be a step ahead all the time Pete, you know?
He hadn't, "but it's fine Gwen, you know like how I started to read at two but you were still putting porridge in your hair," he teased her and she fake scowled at him. Her dad had told that story when they first met as an ice breaker and she'd never lived it down, each time she won something Peter would mention at least you don't have porridge in your hair but it was funny and he did make her feel better.
"Okay okay, so it's fine, I get it, at least I don't have porridge in my hair." They shared a smile and Gwen cuddled closer to Peter, this wasn't exactly what she had planned but she had to admit that it was nice too.
They had fallen asleep next to one another and it wasn't until there was a banging on the front door that they stirred. Peter shrugged as Gwen mouthed "who is it?" at him.
"Hey, is anyone in there?" came a yell from the door."
"One second." Peter yelled back, "Geez, talk about impatient."
"Open up, it's the Police." The voice was accompanied by the door handle rattling, but Peter's deadbolt system would stop anything short of a tank from breaking it down.
Gwen scowled and searched for her phone, there were a half dozen missed messages and three missed calls. "My Dad." She frowned.
"I'll deal with this," and Peter shook his head. "Not this time, I said no more, Gwen, even from your Dad. No. More."
Peter pressed the switch on the intercom, rather than buzzing the door open "Yes Officer, what can I do for you?" Peter asked,
"We have a report of noise disturbance and complaints."
Peter shook his head, "really? So you came to the quiet warehouse with no open door and upon hearing absolutely nothing, decided to try and gain entry?"