hoodie strings 𝜗ৎ
in which peter parker runs into lara jean in new york city during move in day, they collide and fall into each other arms. a love story of happening to meeting each other at the right time.
tags & warnings!: strangers to friends to lovers, characters are of age, MASSIVE yearning, mature language, miscommunication at some point, she falls first but he falls harder, some angst sorrrry, english major lara, engineer major peter, peter isn't spider man in this universe, didn't proofread whoops, slow burn, might missed some typos forgive me <3
chapters ♡ ⑅˚₊ one | incoming (loading)
word count: 1,659 !
Of course of all the things that could happen of course Lara Jean got lost.
She's been there for ten minutes and of course she got lost in New York City. After Lara Jean got off the plane after a very long ride from Portland, Oregon she couldn't contain her excitement. She was finally here. She wasn't sure of where she wanted to go to school, she wanted to follow her boyfriend, Peter Kavinsky to Stanford University but luckily her older sister Margot told her that decision was a bit unwise and she's ever so gracious she listened.
During prom night Lara and Peter got into a heated argument and had ended their relationship. Naturally Lara was devastated. They lasted all of high school and has been through so much together and for all of it to end just like that? Lara didn't even think she could be okay after all of that.
Through it all she was very grateful for her sister and her friends. After so many cries and so many tubs of ice cream she felt okay. Yes she misses Peter but it's just not meant to be. She can't spend her life missing him, he's not doing the same so why should she?
After searching frantically for her phone that was lost in her bag she found it. She needed to call her dad, Margot, and Kitty, but first she needs to figure out where the hell she was going.
Lara began to start walking hoping that the directions on her phone would start to make sense. Excitement began to fuel her in ways she couldn't describe. This is her start to something new. A new chapter in her life, nothing was going to get in her way.
Well something got in her way.
Lara collided with the ground and dropped her belongings everywhere. She's not even sure what happened but the pain that she felt in her head felt a little too intense for her liking. She opened her eyes in anger but unexpectedly the anger drifted away at the sound of a voice.
"I'm so so sorry!"
Lara opened her eyes, her vision blurred due to the massive headache that started to brew. Once it was settled she locked eyes upon by one of the cutest guys she's seen. The features that stood out to her the most was his floppy brown hair and the little twinkle he had in his eyes. Her eyes traveled down and saw he as well as her dropped all of his belongings as well.
"Let me help you!"
Lara pulled herself together to help the stranger with his things but he immediately stopped her, "No let me help you first."
He quickly grabbed her bag and her phone as well as other items, he placed them into his hands and then proceeded to pick up his own things. Lara was in awe with how sweet the guy was.
"Thank you so much, and I'm sorry it's my fault I should have paid attention to where I was going."
The stranger shook his head, "No it's my fault I wasn't looking where I was going as well."
Just as Lara was about to speak, he immediately looked stressed as he checked his phone, "Shit I'm gonna be late, I'm really sorry it was nice meeting you!" And with that he started to run away in the opposite direction.
He was too cute ..
Lara mentally cursed herself for not asking for his name sooner, accepting that they wouldn't meet again. New york was huge the percentage of them meeting again was too low for her liking but what could she do? She didn't even know his name.
Lara's phone began to vibrate and saw her father's contact name light up the screen, "Hi dad!" she beamed. She was happy to hear from her father. "Dad i'm lost. Yes i'm using the gps. And no it's not helping."
Hours after searching through the city and uber finally finding a ride, Lara Jean found herself on the NYC campus and she couldn't have been more happier. She made way to the main room to get her dorm keys. After meeting one of the office ladies, she gave Lara her key and then took her around for a quick tour so that she wouldn't get lost on her first day.
"This is your room! You'll love it here at NYU!"
Lara beamed she couldn't wait that she already started fumbling with her dorm keys. "I got to run but if you have any questions you can find me in the office."
Mrs Carol (Lara found out her name during the tour), waved goodbye, and she was just left by herself. Well by herself and an awesome view of the campus.
Lara Jean's dorm reminded her of an apartment building. Had a shared living room space with two bedrooms on each side. There was a massive window giving her the perfect view of the campus. She couldn't contain her excitement. Pulling out her phone she took pictures to send to her sisters and her father as well as her best friend, Chris. Lara remembered that Chris's cousin, Gwen is also attending NYU and she made a quick mental note to say hi whenever she saw her on campus.
She wanted this fresh start, no she needed this fresh start.
Forgetting everything of the past, she had nothing and no one to derail any plans and goals she made for herself.
Lara glanced at the time in her phone and started to realize how late it was. If I want to be done with this in time for bed I should start now ..
Time flew by as she unpacked all of her belongings, perfectly placing all of her knickknacks and trinkets. She had just finished hanging all of her fairy lights when she heard the door unlock, Must be my new roommate.
Lara walked closer to the living room excited to meet the person she'll be living with for the next couple of months. The door cracks open and she greeted by a face she never though she would be seeing.
"Gen?"
Lara Jean's former high school frenemy, Gen. Gen and Lara have very interesting history to put it simple. And now they would be sharing a dorm together, Yay ..
It's not that Lara has a problem with Gen (Anymore), It's just awkward now. Both ex girlfriends of Peter Kavinsky, and neither of them are truly friends. Maybe that would change?
"Lara? Wow hi! I can't believe we're roommates!" Gen walked over to hug Lara and Lara slightly hesitated hugging the other back.
"Would you mind helping me with my things? I brought a lot."
"Yeah of course!"
Now hours have gone by and any doubt that Lara had about Gen quickly vanished. Without realizing it the two found themselves getting into a groove. After Gen unpacked all of her things, the two decided to put on a movie, 13 going on 30, a classic Lara boosted about. Watching movies, wearing face masks, gossiping about their shared ex, and eating pizza. A perfect way to end her first day in New York.
Lara Jean was starting to feel at home already.
𝜗ৎ
Peter Parker was late.
As he usually was.
Peter promised his Aunt May that he would be on time for an (unpaid) internship interview that she vouched him for. She specifally told Peter to not be late and he swore he wouldn't be.
How was he supposed to know he would run into a cute girl?
There was just something about her, Peter thought. She had such a calm relaxing aura to her. He wanted to know more about her. Learn things about her. If only he had gotten her name.
As Peter walked into the office building he sadly settled for what might as well be written in the stars.
Peter walks up to the front desk informing the man about his interview, After waiting for two mintues the man signals that Peter can follow him.
"Hey May, they said we'll be in touch."
"Okay kiddo I hope you get it, but even if you don't just know that I'm very proud of you."
"Thanks," Peter smiled at hearing his aunt's voice. Ever since he graduated high school he moved out with his best friend, Ned. The two of them bought an apartment together with the money that they saved. Is it the best apartment? No, but it has everything that they need.
The keys jiggled in the lock of the cramped Queens apartment, and Peter pushed the door open with his shoulder, balancing a greasy paper bag of chinese takeout in one hand. The familiar, comforting hum of the refrigerator greeted him, alongside the sight of Ned hunched over his laptop at their mismatched dining table, surrounded by loose wires and empty soda cans.
"Hey dude how was it?"
Peter placed down the food on the dining room table,"It was fine I don't think I'll get it though", he removed his jacket, throwing it on the couch.
"Don't say that you never know." Ned opens up the takeout bag looking at the contents of what's inside. "Nice you got Lo mien awesome! I was craving that."
Peter laughed at his friend as he took out some plates from the kitchen cabinet, "What did you do today? Did you spend it all inside?"
"Yeah I had to. Classes start next week and professors are already uploading the syllabus and on top of that homework. I spent the entire day locking in." Ned and Peter are now plumb down in the living room eating on the couch, not really playing attention so whatever is on the tv.
"Shit that means mine are posted too."
After some shared comfortable silence as they ate their dinner, the duo began to clean up a little bit. Peter washing the dishes as Ned tidied up the living room.
Ned asked, "Besides the interview, what else happened?"
Peter's mine drifted off to the girl he briefly met. He remembered how her eyes just naturally light up without even trying.
"I ran into this girl," As Peter spoke Ned interrupted him.
"A girl? Finally! I thought you would never get over Mj."
Peter had dated one of his closest friends in high school, Mary Jane, but she insisted she was referred to as Mj. Both of them had a mutual crush on each other and decided to give the relationship a shot.
They quickly realized that they were not compatible in the slightest.
They're still friends but it's not what it used to be.
"I am over Mj." Peter shot Ned a playful glare. "There's just something so interesting about this girl. I wish I got her name I'm such an idiot."
"Wait I'm confused tell me everything."
Peter goes into details about everything that happened earlier that day. Them bumping into each other, describing what the unknown girl looks like, and how he'll never know her name.
"Don't say that you'll meet this girl again." Ned comforted his friend.
"I doubt it, you know how big New York is?"
"What if she goes to NYU?"
Peter paused to contemplate that question, "I would have seen her by now. It's fine. I've made peace with it."
"Dude you're such a loser."
𝜗ৎ
The hushed, harmonic sound of Gen’s breathing filled the quiet room, a contrast to the distant, on going sleeping hum of the city outside their window. Lara Jean stared up at the ceiling, where the faint glow of her freshly hung fairy lights cast delicate shadows across the walls. For the first time in a while, the excitement of moving faded into stillness, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
She automatically reached for her phone, her thumb hovering over her messages before she remembered. There was a sweet "goodnight" text from her dad, updates about middle school drama from Kitty, and a link about "Fun Things to do in NYC" from Margot. But no texts from Peter. There was no 'Goodnight, Covey' waiting for her.
No text to look forward to.
She began to feel empty.
Bare.
For the first time in months, that realization didn't leave a heavy, hollow ache in her chest. It just felt like a closed book.
A book that even though Lara knew like the back of her hand, if opened would leave a permeant paper cut.
The credits of 13 Going on 30 were rolling silently on the television screen. Gen was already fast asleep on the other end of the couch, a dried green clay mask tight on her face.
Lara Jean sat quietly, her knees pulled up to her chest, staring out at the city lights. The lingering scent of pepperoni pizza made the unfamiliar room feel a little more like home.
As Lara shut off her phone, her mind started to travel back to the boy she met from the sidewalk. His adorable floppy brown hair. He seemed so sincere and apologetic.
Lara Jean smiled to herself, resting her chin on her knees. She had always been a romantic, a girl who wrote secret love letters to the boys she loved before. And when the feelings became too much for her? She wrote.
Lara quietly walked over to her room, not wanting to wake up her roommate.
The floorboards didn't squeak, which was a relief. She slipped inside and gently closed the door behind her. On her new desk sat a new, leather-bound journal Margot had bought her as a parting gift alongside all of Lara's stationary belongings. “For your New York thoughts,” Margot had told her.
Lara Jean sat down, unscrewing the cap of her favorite pink gel pen. For a long time, writing was how she survived heartbreak. But tonight, as she pressed the pen to the crisp white paper, she realized she hasn't wroten a letter in years. Feeling a bit unfamiliar, her pen began to move as if it was muslve memory. Letting any feelings she had or thoughts take over.
Dear cute Boy from the Sidewalk, I don't know your name, and in a city of over eight million people, I’ll probably never see you again. But thank you for breaking my fall today. Literally. You had the kindest eyes, and even though you were running late, you made sure I was okay first. My sister Margot says everything happens for a reason. Maybe running into you was just New York's way of telling me that there are still sweet, unexpected things waiting out there in the world. I hope you made it to wherever you were rushing to on time.
She smiled, letting the ink dry before closing the journal. She didn't feel bare or empty anymore. She felt expectant. Lara ripped the page from her journal, carefully, she slipped the tip of her fingers along the edge of the paper and neatly ripped the page from the binding. She then placed the letter in the envelope. It remained unnamed and with no address. A secret message meant for the universe, and the boy who she shall never see again.
Lara Jean crawled into her new bed, pulling the duvet up to her chin. As her eyes finally grew heavy, her mind drifted between a past she was finally letting go of, and a future she couldn't wait to meet. She'll make the best of New York.
That is her only promise to herself.
And she meant to keep it.
♪ (- -ᣟ݂ ݄ ⠀ taglist! : @cheshirecat1s , @pinkheartjams
Thank you so so so MUCH for reading! I hope everyone enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing this! I am making this a series so please stayed tuned! Also thank you again from everyone that came from tiktok, the sweet comments encouraged me to keep writing.
I'll see you very soon ♡
