That morning, sunlight streamed through the gaps in William's bedroom curtains. After a long night filled with a secret meeting with S.H.I.E.L.D., he was hoping for a calmer, quieter morning.
Just as he stepped outside and started walking toward the nearest convenience store, a cheerful voice called out from the side.
"Hey, William!"
He turned and saw a girl with wavy red hair, wearing an oversized hoodie and casual shorts. Mary Jane Watson.
"Oh, hey MJ," William replied with a small smile.
MJ walked closer, leaning casually against her front yard fence. "You're the one who helped fix my faucet yesterday, right?"
"Yep, that was me," William replied casually. "You ask like you don't know it's me."
MJ giggled. "Seriously, thank you so much. If you hadn't helped, my kitchen might've turned into a swimming pool."
"No big deal," William said, crossing his arms. "I used to handle stuff like that a lot… sort of a parallel universe leaky faucet specialist."
MJ raised an eyebrow. "Parallel universe? You say the weirdest things."
"Maybe. But you still listen," William replied with a mischievous grin.
They shared a small laugh, and the conversation flowed more naturally from there.
"So," MJ began, "besides being a part-time plumber, what do you usually do on weekends?"
William thought for a moment. "Usually… sleep in. Or sometimes I sneak up to the rooftop to watch the city from above. It's pretty peaceful up there."
MJ looked at him for a moment. "You… have a different vibe."
"Different how?" he asked, leaning slightly toward her.
MJ nodded, squinting her eyes playfully. " You sound like an anime main character."
William chuckled. "Don't tell me you're into anime too."
"Only the good ones. But hey, I still owe you something, Mr. Plumber."
"Oh?" William raised an eyebrow.
"Lunch. You helped me out yesterday, and it's the weekend. What do you say?"
William gave a relaxed smile. "Tempting offer. Alright, I'm in. But promise me you won't order 10 stacks of pancakes."
MJ laughed. "Relax. I only need… seven."
"Give me 10 minutes. I'll change. Just wait here," MJ said as she headed back into her house.
William stood outside MJ's house, leaning against the fence as he played with his phone. The sunny morning greeted the city with warmth. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the pavement. In the distance, children played on their bikes while a soft breeze tousled William's messy hair.
Not long after, MJ came out. She wore a casual white T-shirt with a light pink jacket and short jeans. Her red hair was tied up in a high ponytail, and she wore a bright smile.
"I didn't keep you waiting too long, did I?" she asked as she approached.
William shrugged. "Not at all. Consider it patience training."
MJ laughed. "You're funnier than I thought."
They started walking side by side, heading to the bus stop that would take them downtown. Along the way, their conversation remained light and playful.
"I still can't believe we're neighbors," MJ said. "If I'd known earlier, I'd have asked you to help lift those heavy water gallons more often."
"Don't overdo it," William replied in a teasing tone. "Or I'll end up as your full-time technician."
"Well, maybe. Payment's lunch, coffee, and… a sweet smile from me." MJ winked, making William fall silent for a moment.
"In that case, I might as well start a side hustle," he said with a chuckle.
Once in the city center, they chose a retro-themed café—exposed brick walls, warm hanging lights, and soft classic tunes playing in the background. Their table faced a large window, offering a view of the bustling street that still felt calm from inside.
After ordering, MJ rested her chin on her hand and looked at William. "So, how long have you been living in this city?"
"Just a few year. But honestly… it already feels like it's been longer. Maybe because I keep seeing weird stuff," William replied.
MJ raised her eyebrows. "Weird stuff like… Shadow?"
William smiled faintly, trying to hide his tension. "Yeah. He's cool, but super mysterious. You like that kind of thing?"
MJ looked at him for a moment, then laughed softly. "If it's mysterious but dependable… why not?"
"I better be careful, then," William muttered while sipping his milkshake.
Their conversation flowed effortlessly—from favorite movies, weird foods they'd tried, to bizarre school experiences. MJ even told a funny story about panicking when her kitchen faucet exploded and sprayed her in the face.
"I was soaked like I'd just walked through a mini tsunami," MJ laughed. "And when you showed up, I was still in my house clothes, my face covered in hand soap. So embarrassing."
William laughed hard. "That was the best part. I could barely hold my laugh when I saw you jumping around trying to close the valve like you were playing a rhythm game."
"Oh my God, don't remind me!" MJ covered her face with her hands, but her smile peeked through her fingers.
After lunch, they left the café and strolled through the city park. To their right, couples sat on benches, children played ball, and the sound of the fountain added a soothing soundtrack to the afternoon.
MJ glanced at William. "By the way… you seem pretty close to Gwen."
William paused for a moment. "Yeah, kind of. She's the one who pushed me to take school seriously. So I… try not to slack off, for her."
MJ narrowed her eyes, playfully suspicious. "So your motivation is Gwen, not your grades?"
"I didn't say that…" William raised both hands. "But yeah, you could say… Gwen's like a best friend for me"
MJ laughed. "Poor Gwen, if she ever hears this."
After circling the park, they decided to head back home. On the way, MJ seemed calmer, more relaxed. Once they reached her house, she turned to William.
"Thanks for today. It's been a while since I laughed this much."
William smiled. "Same here. I thought you'd pick some fancy restaurant, but turns out you're not too high maintenance."
MJ pretended to be offended. "Hey! That's only because you actually helped me. Next time, I'm treating you to cheeseburgers—after you help me clean the storage room."
"Deal. As long as there aren't any cat-sized rats in there," William replied with a small laugh.
They looked at each other for a moment. The silence felt warm, not awkward.
"See you, William."
"See you, MJ."
MJ waved as she entered her house, and William walked back to his own with a small smile on his face.
That morning, the school buzzed as usual. Students roamed the hallways with laughter, chatter, and the occasional textbook falling to the floor in a rush. William had just placed his bag in his locker when a very familiar voice greeted him from the side.
"Wiiillll…"
The voice came out in a soft, teasing tone. Gwen, with her flowing blonde hair and that signature bright morning look, leaned toward William like a cat ready to purr.
William glanced at her without much reaction. "Morning to you too, Gwen. That's unusual—no wrist grabbing today?"
"Just felt like being sweet for once," she replied with a smile, then gently nudged his arm. "Sooo… you went out with MJ yesterday, huh?"
William raised an eyebrow. "Straight to the point, I see."
Gwen shrugged casually, though her eyes gleamed with sharp curiosity. "Just wondering."
William chuckled. "No. She was just returning a favor. Nothing more. Good ol' neighborly kindness."
Gwen squinted suspiciously. "Neighborly? You took a walk around the park. That's not 'just neighborly' by normal standards, Will."
William returned her gaze with a sly grin. "Where'd you get all this info, secret agent?"
Gwen rolled her eyes. "I saw you. At the bus stop. I was about to call you but you guys were already walking away. And…" She bit her lip briefly, then looked down, her tone suddenly softer, "I kinda wanted to hang out with you too."
William turned, a little surprised. He stared at Gwen, who was now looking at the floor, her cheeks gradually turning red.
"Oh?" he said, leaning casually against the locker, the teasing grin returning. "Is that an invitation to a date?"
Gwen snapped her head up, eyes wide. "N-no! I didn't mean it like that… Not a date date… Gosh, Will, you always twist things!"
"But you did say 'hang out'," William pointed out, still calm. "That could mean a date. Especially if we walk around, eat, sit together…"
"William!" Gwen hissed, giving his shoulder a light smack. "Stop using the D-word! It sounds so scary!"
William chuckled, then said with an innocent look, "Okay, okay. But still… this weekend, let's hang out."
"Hang out. Not… that," Gwen corrected quickly.
William nodded, barely hiding his smile. "Yeah, yeah. Not that. Just two people… spending time together… maybe grab lunch, talk, laugh a little…"
"William!"
"Hey, you said it first," William replied quickly, pretending to be innocent. "Wasn't me who brought up the D-word."
Gwen spun around, her face now red as a ripe tomato. "I'm going to class!"
As she rushed off, she threw a glance over her shoulder and saw William still leaning against the locker, wearing that annoyingly satisfied smile.
"Tomorrow we… hang out," William murmured to himself, watching Gwen walk away.