No one had ever really seen MJ cry.

But as the saying goes, when it rains, it pours. And when Michelle finally came in for the night, it was nothing short of a thunderstorm. Peter was up half the night listening to her sobs as she began to drink more and more. He once got up to check on her but the door was locked and the bedroom lights turned off shortly after. He couldn't stand to see her like that.

The next morning around seven, Peter had to leave for class. He couldn't miss another day without failing the quarter so he got up, quickly and quietly checking on MJ, before leaving the house. As much as he wanted to, he couldn't even take the day off from work because bills were due shortly and with Michelle not working, he would need to extra money.

Peter sighed, grabbing his bicycle, knowing damn well he couldn't afford gas right now and began his route down the road.

Michelle slept the entire day, not even waking up for more than five minutes in the middle of the night. Truthfully, MJ has been through a lot of heartbreak throughout her childhood. Her older sister died very young in a car crash. That same year her mother lost her job and they had to move to New York for better business opportunities for her father. But one thing Michelle knew was true:

This heartbreak hurt the most.

Growing up, MJ was a daddy's girl. He would buy her train-sets and cars and barbies and tutus; anything her little heart desired. But when she began to get older, Michelle wanted things that her father could not give to her. She had questions that her father could not answer for her. This caused him to grow very unhappy and impatient with her. When he knew he couldn't give her everything she ever wanted, he began to feel angry with himself and in turn, resent her.

It did not take long for Michelle to decide she was not going to go to the funeral. It was the first thing fresh on her mind when she woke up the next day. Perhaps, she was not in the best state of mind to make such decisions, but she knew well enough that everyone grieved in their own ways, and going to watch some relatives she never met cry over her dad's passing was not the way she wanted to do it.

When Michelle finally decided to get up, she went into the bathroom to start her routine. She washed her face, brushed her teeth and did all that hygiene jazz before beginning to wrestle with the pigeons' nest that was her hair. First wetting it, then combing it with a Wet comb and lastly diffusing, she found herself satisfied. She wet her brush before slicking it back best she could.

When she returned to her room she went for a tank top and pair of Peter's sweatpants that she stole with very little, if any, shame. She sat up on her bed and flicked her TV on and turning the volume down low. She needed the noise in the background to focus while she was studying for one of her classes.

She studied for just under half an hour before there was a knocking at her door.

"Come in," she said, hardly looking up from her books.

Peter crept in slowly, expecting her to be buried in her bed under tissues and pillows. He'd honestly never seen her show so much emotion in his life, you couldn't blame him for being so nervous.

"I just came to... see if you're alright. I brought tea and some avocado toast."

That sounds pretentious.

"Peter, I'm not hungry right now." Michelle's voice showed no emotion. She kept her head down looking at her book and taking color coordinated notes.

"MJ," there's that nickname again, "you haven't left this room in an entire day. At least eat one piece."

"Peter-,"

"Please. I couldn't stand to think you're in here starving. Could you do this for me?For my sanity?" Peter begged, smiling and sliding the plate of toast on her bed next to her before taking his place next to her.

Michelle looked up at Peter for a second. She slid her books of her lap, grabbing the tea from his hand and placing it on her bedside table, doing the same with the toast after.

"No food in my bed." She half smiled, before taking a bite of the toast. "Can I ask you something?" Michelle was surprisingly calm this day. Well, who are they kidding, Michelle never shed a single tear in front of Peter before so it wasn't that surprising. But to see someone in such a hysteria after losing someone so important, it's quite shocking to see them so calm the next day.

"Anything." He knew how important it was to be there for her in this time. He wanted to do anything he could do.

"When Ben passed away, was it— how did you—." Michelle paused, taking a deep breath. "I just don't know how I'm supposed to react." She states quietly. If she was being honest, she was shocked by how calm she felt, too. She almost felt guilty that she wasn't still chaotically kicking and screaming like she had been two nights ago.

"Honestly, I don't remember much of that time period. I mean I had a moment quite like you had that other night, but I honestly only remember this numb feeling for a really long time. And it was hard because I was so young and I just felt the need to be strong for Aunt May, but it was all a front. Everyone's different though, Michelle. And I can honestly say you are one of the strongest people I've ever met."

"Don't you put that on me, Peter Parker." Michelle laughed lightly. She didn't know how she could be one of the strongest people he knew and still not know how to keep it together.

There was a beat of silence.

"Sometimes—," MJ paused, not knowing exactly how to word her thoughts, "I don't know. Sometimes, I just feel cursed. I've felt this way for so long and so many bad things have happened to me in my life and crying has never made me feel better in any of those situations. People tell you that crying is a part of grief and it lifts this big weight off of your shoulder but it always just makes me feel worse. So, naturally, yes, I do cry, sometimes— but when I can be in control, I cope in other ways."

Michelle swallowed, watching Peter's innocent face take in all that she said. She saw a hint of curiosity settle in his eyes. Before he could open his mouth to ask what she meant, she stood.

"I think I'm going to shower." She walked around the bed slowly towards the bathroom. She stopped in front of Peter. Slowly, MJ bent down a placed a gentle kiss on Peter's pale cheek.

He blushed.

"Thank you for listening to me, today. I needed that."

He gulped, glossy eyes filled with something MJ couldn't recognize.

"Anytime," he choked out. Michelle smiled and walked over to the bathroom, leaving Peter Parker to revel in his own thought.