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S C H R O D I N G E R ' S   C A T
❝ I don't want to wake up ❞

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❝ It's just like that paradox. The cat either lives or dies, you don't know beforehand and there is no leaving the box unopened, because sooner or later the cat is going to die and all you're left with is knowing that if you opened the box, the cat might have been alive. You are the cat. ❞

Barbie Delmar is trapped. Trapped in a coma, trapped in her life, trapped in her father's sandwich shop for the summer, being forced to listen as perfect Peter Parker from perfect Midtown High tutored her as he helped her shelve items onto the racks. Barbie is trapped in the dull summer until she wakes up.

She is lost. She doesn't know where she is, what time it is, where she is heading, and why there is a boy lying in the middle of road and why he seems so familiar, yet so different from memory. She is lost until he finds her and takes her on a journey to a place she does not know where.

Barbie hates Peter Parker. Hates how he's closer to her father than she could ever be, how he's effortlessly good at school and thinks he can just teach her everything so long as he's paid, how he comes in with his pretty aunt that makes her father forget all about her mother's grave.

She loves Peter Parker. She loves how he talks, how he laughs, how he looks at her like there's no one else around because there truly isn't, and how he always seems to know exactly what is going on when she doesn't have a single clue.

Two universes, two boys, one girl, one choice. Both are real until the choice is made, then one remains, while the other fades.

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C A S T

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becky g as barbara delmar

❝ I don't know what I'm running from or where I'm even going ❞

tom holland as peter parker

❝ whatever the universe, just run to me ❞

[ + additional cast ]
cierra ramirez as regina marino
victoria moroles as lucia marino

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Someone please stop me, I've gone so far as to write a Peter Parker fic based around a scientific paradox. Please stop me.

Basically, this story centers around Mr. Delmar's daughter—the unnamed one mentioned during the deli scene in Homecoming—and takes place in two universes; in a sense. It's all based around the idea of Schrodinger's cat and is inspired by a fic (which I won't link for specific reasons, but if you want to read it, ask me and I'll send it to you). You will be able to tell which chapter is written in which universe, it will be incredibly easy, believe me. I won't explain it, however, because it would give too much away and I want this to be a little more ambiguous. As much as I can be, at least.

I am very excited to write this story, though it will be slightly confusing, I will be the first to admit, but not too confusing that it's unreadable. If you need any clarification, please just comment and ask and I will gladly explain it; I just ask that if you do, please be polite about it.

That's all I have to say, so I hope you stick around and read, because I'm excited to be sharing this with all of you!

DEDICATION

This is dedicated to a few people because this story was a spontaneous idea, however it was spurred into creation by:

latte-to-go because she is one of the sweetest people, she always has such nice, encouraging words to say and her stories are phenomenal and she has just the nicest presence, it's inspiring

Iydiamartin because she let me use her layout and also because she is honestly an icon, I lowkey (highkey) aspire to be her. Her stories are incredible and she inspired me to write something more poetic, something that uses words to paint rather than to write, if that makes any sense. She is also really aesthetic, like, seriously.

hazosterfield because she is just so sweet (I need to find more adjectives, I'm being repetitive, but it's the truth) and I need to read more of her stories, but the ones I have are amazing and it's just hilarious talking with her

@SinnofKnowledge because he's just the best and lets me talk to him about my fics to no end and sent me that really funny drunk thoughts video that gets me through the day. He actually helped me out with choosing which version of the trailer I should use.

enchanteIIa because she is just so super sweet and amazing and it's always fun talking to her about TV shows and Peter Parker and just fun stuff like that! (like texting during class because #rebel)

AND FINALLY

peggyscarter because God bless her soul, she puts up with so much in talking to me. She has brilliant ideas, is one of the funniest people I've talked to, and her Peter Parker stories (as well as all her others) make me want to throw myself into a wall in the best way possible. She listened to me and helped me plan out this story (as well as all the other 50 I have because I'm trash) (seriously, she was there when I first started planning it all out after seeing the movie) and just puts up with so much and has a really cute doggo.