Peter sighed tiredly as he gazed at the front doors of his new school.
Well, not that new since it was still Midtown, a school that works both as middle school and high school. It just has different buildings for each one.
Plus, he knows for a fact that almost everyone of his old classmates also enrolled here, so maybe things won't be so bad as having to be the new kid.
Peter entered the school alone this time since MJ hitched a ride with Flash and Gwen with Harry and Liz.
The teen was a little saddened that MJ chose Flash over him to arrive at school in the morning, but he guesses it's karma for all the times he's 'abandoned' her when Spider-Man business calls.
And maybe it was also due to him being busy the previous day with Emma, making him unable to even see her after his little trip up north.
So walking alone, he did his standard procedure for freshmen where he goes to the administration office and to grab his schedule and locker; then he immediately went to his locker before the first class.
He could easily carry all of his books in his backpack and he wouldn't even notice them, but to everyone in school, Peter is still a shy nerdy and most importantly, weak kid.
So he can't just be carrying a bag full of books for the whole day while pretending to be tired from it, it's too much unnecessary work.
Just to his luck, in front of his locker - right on the other side of the hallway is Sally Avrill, the blonde who loved bullying him and next to her is Flash Thompson, talking to some of his friends about trying out for football or something.
*Ugh* "You have to be kidding me, the nerd is in front of me? I'm going to catch something!" Complained Sally as she slammed her locker close when Peter stood in front of her.
*Sigh* "Hey Sally, nice to see you too. You too Flash, Kenny, Randy" Peter said tiredly as he nodded at all the popular kids. He had a long crime fighting night, and wasn't looking forward to these guys.
"Don't get chummy with me, Penis" said Flash with a smirk as Kenny laughed. Randy simply smiled kindly and nodded at Peter. He was by far Peter's favorite of the popular group, and it helped that his father, Robbie, who works in the Bugle is also a kind man that Peter likes.
"How was everyone's summer?" Asked Peter towards the group as he opened his locker, not really looking for a real answer.
Peter was tired, and these guys aren't his friends, but he still needed to make some small talk to keep appearances.
"As if we would tell you, and y'know what? After you left Liz like you did I hope yours was shitty!" Exclaimed Sally as she folded her arms, indignant at the audacity of Peter for acting so calmly around her when he did what he did to her best friend.
'Riiight, they must still be hung up on that' Peter thought with frustration. Of course he hadn't forgotten that his date's dad became a super villain he's already fought on two different occasions.
The state prison really needs to up their game because god damn does it seem useless.
"O-oh well, yes that happened, didn't it?" Peter answered lamely as he had nothing else he could've said at that reminder.
"Yeah dude, that was really shitty" laughed Kenny, finding the interaction between the feisty Sally and the wallflower Peter funny.
"Common guys, leave him alone. I don't care anymore" Liz said as she approached the group next to Harry, Gwen and MJ.
"H-hey guys, how are you-" Peter tried greeting everyone who approached, but was quickly interrupted.
"That wasn't an invitation to talk to me, Parker" Said Liz with scorn. She doesn't care anymore what Peter did to her, but that's because she and her family now had to deal with her step-father's new role as villain
But that doesn't mean that she forgave the asshole. Liz, her mother and little sister cannot afford to be distracted by worthless men like Peter, or so she thinks.
Which is a shame, since Liz actually did used to like Peter.
Harry, Flash and Kong could barely keep themselves from laughing out loud at Liz's responder and Peter's face.
"R-right" answered Peter ashamedly. He did what he had to do and doesn't regret it, but he does wish that Liz's dad would have taken another role in life.
"You can talk to me, Peter!" Said Chat, now approaching the group that formed. Peter and Chat had been texting each other for the whole summer, asking each other how they are doing and everything.
Chat more so since she would call him every time she saw a new fight between Spider-Man and the many villains he has on the TV. This is because she's the only one that knows Peter is Spider-Man and she worries heavily about him.
"Chat! It's so good to see you!" Peter says excitedly as he turned towards Chat who's behind him.
"Same here, Pete. I've missed you" answered Chat as she stood in front of Peter with a warm smile, sending a winning smirk to MJ and Gwen who frowned at that.
"Hello? Aren't you forgetting someone? " MJ asked Peter with humor in her voice but really feeling offended.
She hitched a ride with the 16 year old Flash on his new car today because she wanted Peter to feel like he always makes her feel.
Abandoned.
Lately Peter is always busy with his internship, his job as a photographer and always leaves them when a villain or any other thing happens, and she hates it.
She hates not being Peter's focus, she hates that he leaves her and she hates that he's not looking her way all the time like he used to.
She understands though; she understands that Peter is struggling, that he's doubling his efforts in everything he does to repay his aunt and that Peter is most probably exhausted by everything.
But she can't help but feel the way that she does.
But now it seems to be backfiring. What was at first a trick to get Peter to look her way more,
making him realize that he needs to fight for her attention as well - is now only making more distance between them.
And MJ hates feeling Peter drift away from her.
"S-sorry MJ, it's really nice to see you! You guys too!" Said Peter, trying to sound as excitedly as he normally would while also talking to Gwen and Harry.
Which was not as brightly as usual because everyone could see just how tired Peter is.
No, tired is an understatement; Peter looks exhausted.
Disheveled and uncombed hair, bags under his eyes, slumped shoulders, droopy eyelids, paler-than-usual skin and slightly redness all over his scleras.
Even those who dislike Peter couldn't help but worry slightly for the brown haired boy, who ever since his uncle passed away has changed.
A lot.
And he seems to be changing for the worse.
Harry and Gwen also greeted Peter, Gwen more enthusiastically than Harry which gained a roll of eyes from Liz and Sally and a small frown from MJ.
Eventually everyone moved to their lockers and did their business, when Betty and Glory also showed up.
They also disliked what Peter did to Liz, but since he was such a good friend to two bandmates they just greeted him normally.
Peter and MJ talked like they've always done once the tension flew past them. MJ is like that, one second she could be feeling insecure - which is pretty rare for her and the next she's the life of the party anywhere.
MJ's locker is the second next to Peter's, next to someone who hasn't shown up yet.
"So MJ, any clubs you're going to join?" Asks Peter as he closes his locker.
"Of course! I'm going to join the theatre kids!" Answered MJ enthusiastically.
"Wow, really? You're still shooting for Broadway, huh?" Asks Peter with a smile, knowing that before her band or anything, MJ's dream has always been becoming a famous actress.
"You know it, Tiger! They won't know what hit 'em!" Exclaimed MJ confidently with a bright and beautiful smile.
"Well, I'm sure if anyone has what is needed to make it big, it would be Mary Jane Watson" Peter said, believing 100% on his own words.
MJ looked softly at him with a soft and shaky grin forming on her now slightly-flushed face.
This.
This is one of the many reasons why MJ likes Peter. He's such a nice, dorky and honest boy that makes her feel on top of the world with anything he says.
If Peter is watching MJ, she's sure she can become the greatest model, actress, singer or anything she wants in the world. With Peter at her side, MJ feels untouchable.
"Thanks, Tiger. It means a lot, especially coming from you!" MJ thanked Peter from the bottom of her heart while anyone within earshot rolled their eyes at the blatant PDA.
"Well, your number one fan needs to reaffirm your potential, doesn't he?" Quipped Peter with a playful tone.
Perhaps too corny for some listeners.
"Can you shut up already? Honestly, your voice is like someone's killing a cat" Said Sally exasperated as she waited for Randy, her boyfriend, to finish.
"That wasn't nice" Randy tells Sally in his usual cool voice.
"She's right, you know, Parker? Maybe if you talked less you would have more friends, ones that didn't ditch you for a sweet ride" Flash guffawed a laugh as he was referring to this morning where he took MJ to school.
MJ glared at Flash for using her to hurt Peter. Sure, she wanted to do the same, but her plan is to eventually make Peter realize that he should be making more of an effort for her.
But now the big jerk is making it seem like she doesn't care about Peter enough to even be called a good friend to him.
She felt her heart sink a little when Peter avoided looking at her. He was actually somewhat hurt that she didn't even text him or anything, instead he saw from his porch as MJ got in Flash's car and forgot about him.
Peter didn't notice how everyone who was laughing suddenly got quiet and looked dumbly behind him.
Flash and his friends stared dumbly as one of the hottest girls he's seen rounds a corner with a cold and penetrating haze in her impressive blue eyes.
Taller and more fashionable than most girls, this bombshell of a young woman suddenly gains a bright expression in her wide eyes the moment she looks in the direction of the jocks, making their heart skip a beat.
Even Kenny and Randy are suddenly hypnotized by this girl, who doubles her step in their direction with a playful smirk suddenly adorning her already stunning face.
Which caused Sally and Glory to glare at their respective boyfriends and then turn to glare at the approaching girl.
When suddenly everyone's eyes widen once they follow this new girl's eyesight, surprising themselves almost beyond belief when they see that this girl is looking at the dejected looking Peter.
Curious about everyone's sudden reactions, MJ turned and felt her indignation rising to levels she's never dealt with before as she also looked at the person quickly approaching Peter.
"MJ? What's wro-?" Peter, seeing MJ's sudden scowl, started asking her. But he was quickly interrupted by two incredibly soft hands that covered his eyes.
Guess who~?" An incredibly melodious voice asked him, making him turn around as he recognized her immediately.
"Emmy?!" Peter asked, flabbergasted as he turned around and met his crush's piercing blue eyes adorning her beautiful face with a big grin on her face.
"Surprise!" Said Emma with a cheeky smile, focusing entirely on Peter's blushing face rather than whoever was gawking at her in the hallway and the nobodies that surrounded Peter and Chat.
————
Moments Earlier
Emma didn't like the idea of not spending much time with Peter, and much less the idea of him being in a building with two girls that clearly liked him. So mid-summer she made a choice.
She's going back to school.
But not that high society, girl only school her dad had her enrolled. Instead she chose Peter's school. And as a bonus she had Chat there too!
The fun teenage years of her life could be spent together with the people she's most comfortable with!
And sure, her father and family can never know that she's in a school like that, so she will still have to do her whole 'go to the old school and mind control everyone into believing you do attend there' shtick.
But she would do that either way, so who cares.
It also helps her by honing and practicing her abilities, so it's really a win-win.
So she enrolled in… or more like, mind controlled her way in. She made sure to be in all of Peter's classes and have Chat in most of them.
She even got Peter to choose some of the clothes she will be wearing at school this first semester! It's a perfect plan.
And finally it is showtime.
She's all dressed up, looking like any other kid that attends this school, albeit more beautiful and with crazy expensive clothes, but still blending in as she nears Midtown High.
Her chauffeur was mind controlled into delivering Emma wherever she wanted with her dad none the wiser and she is now ready to start this new stage of her life.
She stepped out of the luxurious car a block away from the school because she wants to experience the whole high school life by walking, even if it's not much, to school on the first day.
Once inside she made a nervous middle school kid tell her where she can get her stuff with the cold and harsh glare she usually gives everyone. The nervous kid guided her to the administration office where she received her locker, which she already planned to be next to Peter's - same with her schedule.
The kid was unfortunate since he was tasked to give the weirdly menacing older girl a tour around the school, where the first stop was her locker so she could drop her stuff.
Emma was walking, eyes sharp and with her usual cold gaze on them that would make anyone think twice before talking to her, when she rounded a corner and saw Peter. Her face instantly shifted into that of a happy teen instead of the mean poker face she had on.
He was basically surrounded by some unimportant students, except for Chat, who is also amongst that group.
'It's gonna be fun!' Reassured Emma to herself.
In reality she was slightly nervous since there were a thousand things that could go wrong with this little plan of hers. But Emma Grace Frost is no coward, she's a cunning go-getter, and she wants to get Peter and live a fun school life with him, so she will!
Seeing Peter in front of her with her back turned gave her a fun idea on how to show Emma the surprise of her being there, so she went for it.
————
Now
"Holy Sh-! W-what are you doing here?!" Asked Peter as he looked at Emma, still with wide eyes. Now ignoring everyone else.
Liz, Sally and the jocks looked like they just discovered an alien at the sight of Peter knowing very closely a girl so beautiful as this 'Emmy', who he looks very obviously close to.
Peter's friends only looked irritated.
Harry because he dislikes Emma; his only saving grace is that he's the richest around, and now a beautiful and rich girl who clearly hates him is now here too?! What a mess.
MJ and Gwen also dislike Emma because of her rich, bratty and haughty attitude towards them, like they are beneath her, while acting like a sweet and caring girl with Peter.
That blatant display of favoritism could only mean bad things for the two friends.
Chat meanwhile was a little hurt because Emma never told her she would be attending Midtown.
"I was tired of my old school and decided it was time for something new! Do you… do you not want me here? I thought you'd be happy" muttered Emma as she now looked at Peter with puppy dog eyes, showing herself to be shy which only made her look cuter in Peter's, and every boys', eyes.
"Wha-? Of-of course I'm happy that you're here Emmy! How could you even think otherwise? I was just… very surprised" fearing hurting Emma, Peter closed the distance between them and hugged the blonde, almost making everyone around them gasp.
Emma took Peter's hug gratefully.
*Giggle* "That's the point of a surprise, silly~" said Emma in Peter's crook of the neck.
Emma, noticing Chat, let go of Peter somewhat begrudgingly and hugged Chat as well.
"Surprised?" Asked an excited Emma to Chat.
"Y-yeah" said Chat, slightly uncomfortable. She loves Emma, she's her best friend. And yet she couldn't help but think that she's not in school because of her, or even for Emma herself and her future, but for Peter.
Boy that Chat really likes, and is secretly Spider-Man on top of it all. Secret only she knows. Secret she wants only herself to know.
Emma was somewhat disappointed by Chat's reaction, but shrugged it off thinking it was maybe due to the shock of her being in school.
"Hello beautiful, name's Flash Thompson, I don't think we've met before~" Flash introduces himself to the beautiful girl as he closes the distance between them, pushing Peter away slightly.
Emma didn't like the way the brute treated Peter, so she sent a death glare to Flash that made him nervous.
"Why did you do that?" Asked Emma Sternly.
She, being a bullied victim herself, absolutely abhors bullies. More so if they affect her or the people she cares about and at this moment it's Peter.
"I, well- *pfft* I'm just messing with the nerd here, all in good fun" Flash justified himself as he knows not many chicks are into his macho man act, initially at least.
"Uh-huh, whatever. Hey, Pete? I was wondering if you could give me a tour of the school before classes. Pretty please~?" turning her attention to Peter again, Emma fluttered her eyelashes cutely at the boy.
"Uhm, I thought I was going to-" the small middle school boy started saying somewhat nervously, feeling shy at being next to all these high schoolers.
"Scram" said Emma in a haughty way as she barely looked at the kid, but then she immediately wanted to apologize to him.
She was rude because the little boy would have ruined her chance at being alone with Peter, not because she disliked him or anything.
Her attitude towards the boy made all the girls frown, even Sally, who was famous around the school for being rude. But she was only with nerds or guys who 'deserved it', not kids two or three years younger than her trying to do a favor.
"Oh uhm, thanks for bringing Emmy here, buddy. I'll show her around if that's alright with you" Peter with a mind smile right before Emma could apologize, knowing how the boy probably felt.
"M-hm!" The boy nodded, thankful towards the kind guy who freed him from being there and ran away from the high school area.
"You're very kind Mr. Parker *giggle*. Let me just leave my stuff in the locker and we can go" said Emma, happy to see that Peter agreed to show her around.
She tries to be nicer for Peter and herself, but sometimes it is hard for her to do it subconsciously. She was not raised to treat people like Peter does, and while she wants to change that, some habits are hard to kill.
"Uhm, we'll be on our way now, if you want to come?" Betty asked hesitantly together with Glory at her bandmates as they were fuming at Emma's blatant display.
"Yeah, let's go" said an angry MJ as she walked past everyone. All three band mates followed after her with Gwen doing so reluctantly, giving brief glances to Peter who didn't reprocicated them because he is too busy talking with Emma.
Chat also felt awkward, so she muttered an excuse and left. She hated how seeing her best friend and crush getting along so well made her feel.
"Hey, how about you ditch the nerd and you let a real man show you around" Flash asked as he placed his arm on Emma's locker, bending slightly to be eye level with her and shooting her his most charming smile.
Smile that was met with a face filled with contempt and disgust. Expression matched by her voice "Get your hand off my locker and never get close to me again".
Her way of talking to Flash made his entire clique stifle their laughs at the way she rejected the proud boy, only to be silenced as well when she turned her glare from Flash to the rest of the boys.
"Let's go" said Emma as she grabbed Peter by the arm and started dragging him around. It looked more like Emma was showing Peter the school rather than the other way around.
"What the hell was that?! Nerds are not supposed to be with girls like that! I-I mean, like us!" Said Sally indignantly.
"Whatever" said a shamed Flash Thompson as he walked away while his friends once again laughed at the way he was rejected, pretending not to be intimidated by the girl as well.
————
"And finally this is our first class" said Peter as he opened the door for Emma to step in as she was
thanking him for showing her around the school.
"And it's almost time for it to begin Mr. Parker, so hurry up" Said the teacher with a little humor in his voice.
"Dr. Connors?! W-what are you doing here, sir?!" Asked a baffled Peter as he shook the good hand of one of the men he respected most.
Even after the whole 'Lizard incident' Curt Connors had at the ESU, Peter still looked up to the man for the brilliant mind he has.
"Well as you may know Peter, I was told to leave ESU because of my… reckless behavior. Luckily for me the principal is a friend of mine, so when he heard about what happened he offered me a place here. I know it's a step down from the university, but after what happened, I'm just glad to be here" Said Connors with a soft smile. He knows he's lucky to even be out of jail, and he likes teaching youngsters about his passion.
Most of all if it's people like Gwen Stacy and Peter Parker, who he knows are brilliant and capable enough to understand this subject without much problem.
"T-that's great, sir! I mean, I'm sorry for your job in ESU, but I'm really glad to have you here with us!" Said Peter excitedly, much to the amusement of Emma "how are Billy and Ms. Connors?"
"Oh they are great. Billy even asked about you and Ms. Stacy when he heard I was going to be teaching here" replied Curt, grateful to see that Peter also remembered his son.
Son who seemed to like him very much in the short amount of time they spent together.
"Aww that's sweet of him. Please tell him I say hello as well" Peter requested happily.
*Chuckle* "Of course, Peter. Now, why don't you and your friend here go and sit down so that we can get started" Connors said as Peter let go of his left hand that he was shaking all this time.
"A-ah right, sorry" Peter said embarrassed.
….
After that classes continued normally, with Peter being stuck with Emma who didn't let Peter out of her sight for a moment. They spent every class, lunch and everywhere they walked they did so together.
Everyone who watched them were in awe of how Peter managed to get a girl so pretty as her to be so friendly with him.
All but Chat, Gwen, MJ and Jessica Jones; who also greeted Peter with a bit of difficulty since she was too embarrassed to do so, but when Peter was the first to greet her she excitedly did so too.
At least until she saw the glare she got from the blonde next to him that made her somewhat uneasy.
Emma meanwhile frowned at all the girls that seemed to flock around Peter with no so innocent thoughts, but the way he seemed pleased with her presence next to him was all the reassurance she needed to know this was a good idea.
Yeah, she was going to have a good time in this new school.
Two months and a week later
Emma never thought school could be this much fun!
The weeks of school she has spent next to Peter and Chat inside the building were so different from when they hung out outside of it, it's almost unbelievable.
She got to see many other sides of Peter she'd never seen before, mainly one she likes and other she dislikes.
The side she likes is seeing how smart Peter is so effortlessly and in Emma's eyes that is really cool; he could be daydreaming, staring out the window with a serious gaze when out of nowhere he's called to answer a math problem that he does so correctly with a single glance.
Emma honestly found those times hot.
What she didn't find hot however, was Peter's unwillingness to do anything against his bullies. This was Peter's second side of him, and Emma was baffled by it. She didn't understand how Peter was okay with everyone treating him like garbage because she knows Peter's worth, and he definitely deserves better than this people give him.
And Emma has the suspicion that Peter also knows he can defend himself, but he lets it happen. Why? She has no idea, but sometimes they could be talking in class or something, and Peter would be his charming self while he talks only to her and suddenly someone else comes and he becomes this meek, pathetic little guy.
Emma does not like that.
She defends Peter whenever she could, and she would even give headaches to whoever dared mock him or treat him like shit.
And while doing so, she was doing a fantastic job in keeping Peter away from MJ and Gwen.
Both girls are baffled with Peter having to do whatever he could to keep his family afloat. And Emma resents how Gwen and MJ, knowing how much they matter to Peter, choose to punish him by giving him the cold shoulder whenever they pleased.
Like the time when Peter told Gwen he would be quitting the Academic Decathlon team because he claimed to be too busy every day and she ignored him for a week straight.
There is no doubt in anyone's mind that Gwen was genuinely hurt by that, but so was Peter when she started ignoring him.
Luckily she was there to ease his heart.
Peter still spends his afternoons in his internship with doctor Octavius, and whenever there was a villain or a problem with some thugs wanting to make it big, he would run head first towards the problem so that he could get some pictures of it.
And almost every single time Emma was near MJ and Gwen she could hear how angry they got when Peter had to go. Emma, even though this was 'good' for her, still found that to be very inconsiderate for someone they consider a friend.
She trusted Peter and she may have not met the boy before his sudden change after his uncle's death that apparently everyone else who knows him claims he underwent.
Until she read Mary Jane's mind after Peter left both girls during an attack on their school.
After that, her opinions on Peter Parker shifted.
The unfortunate accident
The day was going smoothly for Peter. Last night he had his usual patrol but there was nothing too big to do. Just some purse snatchers and a few robberies, nothing big for him so he had the chance to get a good night's sleep.
He walked to school with MJ, who was happily telling him how she's the best at her theatre club when it comes to acting. Once in the school he was greeted by all his friends as usual and no bullies to be seen, they were all suspended for a day for sneaking alcohol last night after practice.
Emma, as usual, was next to him in every class and they talked and laughed while paying no mind to whatever teacher they had since they are both smart enough to not have to do so.
It was all going great, until Peter's spider-sense fired up and before he could even warn anyone, the wall that lead to the faculty's bathroom exploded, revealing The Lizard writhing around like a wild animal on the floor as his transformation almost finished in the middle of the school's hallway were everyone was on their lockers.
Then chaos ensued in the hallway.
"Connors?!" Peter asked out loud to no one in particular while he placed himself in front of Emma and MJ, whose lockers are beside his. Everyone else started running away. Screams and shouts filled the corridor as the teacher was still transforming.
It was something grotesque to see.
The no-longer man could be seen agonizing as his muscles bulged up and a tail sprung out from his pants in a horrible ripping sound that Peter was sure was his skin.
He found little comfort at the fact that he could be the only one hearing that, as well as the man's howls of pain coming out from his now snout-looking mouth as his teeth are being replaced for newer, sharper ones; leaving his mouth all bloody, as if he just taken a bite out of somebody.
Peter took in his surroundings and saw Emma and MJ were still behind him, MJ looking around as everyone ran and Emma had her eyes closed tightly, probably in fear.
At least that's what Peter thought.
Because in reality, Emma was trying to get into her teacher's mind and try to knock him out or something.
She may not like very much the other students besides Peter and Chat, but that doesn't mean she would just sit idly and let something happen to them while she could do something.
It was something that she actually learned from Peter.
That if you had the power to do something, then you had the moral responsibility to do so. It's what he told Emma when she asked him about that time where he risked his life to save her and Chat from that falling sign, knowing that at the time they were total strangers.
However, she couldn't do anything with Connors.
Emma tried to get into his mind, but the sheer agony of his transformation clouded anything that Emma was trying to do.
She couldn't even access his mind fully; it seemed that his transformation was not only changing his body, but also breaking his mind.
Perhaps she could stop Connors if she really tried her hardest, but she didn't know what would happen to him afterwards. Will she leave his mind broken forever? Would he be left in a vegetative state? Could he die?
Emma knows she's no saint, but she's also far from a murderer.
So not knowing what to do, she locked eyes with Peter, who was looking at her as if deciding what to do.
And he was doing just that.
'Okay Spidey, it's showtime! But first, gotta take them to safety' Peter thought to himself as he quickly grabbed both girls by their wrists, and before they could process what he did, he started running.
If anyone would have had half a mind anywhere else apart from the monster in the hallway, they would have seen as the weak and nerdish Peter Parker ran at an impressive speed between other frightened students with two girls barely keeping up with him in each hand.
But thankfully for Peter, everyone was so worried about themselves that they didn't notice as he reached the school gates before the majority of the students did. Even if he was one of, if not the, last to run.
'Sorry girls' Peter apologized mentally as he released his hold from the two at the doors and stepped back.
"Peter!" MJ, watching him go back yelled for him with her voice full of worry and dismay. She was about to run after him but Emma stopped her.
"Wait, look!" Emma, trusting a little bit more on what Peter was doing, saw what he was after and stopped the redhead from going after Peter with a hand on her shoulder.
*RRRIIIINGGG*
What Peter had done was run back in between the panicking students and activated the fire alarm. That way the entire school could be let know that something was happening so the students and staff could exit the building.
It also helped to alert the authorities so that they could be on their way.
After he did he looked back and saw Emma and MJ waiting for him in between the running students. It warmed his heart that they were doing so with so much worry in their faces, but he couldn't go to them.
No matter how much he wanted to or how much he knows he's going to regret not being with them now.
Maybe they need Peter.
But there's a whole building full of people that needs Spider-Man, as well as the monster himself and his family.
He wishes he could do both things though.
Or, as sometimes happens to him in his most private moments, he wishes someone else would be Spider-Man.
Oh how he wishes to stay behind while someone else deals with this, at least for today. He doesn't want to fight Connors, he doesn't want to suit up in the middle of school, and he most definitely does not want to leave Emma and MJ behind.
But all the lives that are at stake are his responsibility now.
So with a final glance towards the two girls, he gives them an apologetic look and starts running the opposite direction of everyone else. Leaving the two girls behind with a baffled expression on their faces.
He did it again… whenever there's a problem, Peter always disappears. Whether it be because he has to take photos of whatever is happening for The Bugle, because there's someone who needs help and Peter is there to offer it without his safety in mind or he just runs away like…like a coward.
And neither MJ or Emma could believe he did it again, to them, in this particular situation. .
MJ, she loves Peter, she knows it. She can feel it in her body with some ethereal certainty - a feeling that they are meant to be together. That they are quite literally made for the other.
Even before she met the boy, she would hear stories about how much of a gentleman the kid living at the Parker's household is whenever she talked with her aunt Anna to escape the situation in her own home.
And the older woman would tell MJ about how the boy always goes out of his way to help her and anyone else who needed him for anything; whether it be carrying groceries which he could barely hold, to help set up a Tv or the internet for any of her aunt's friends in the neighborhood.
To then go back to his loving home with his own aunt and uncle.
She knows what happened to his parents, and basically, she knows Peter Parker better than she knows most of her own classmates without even meeting him or knowing what he looks like.
And honestly, she had a small crush on the boy even at such a young age.
MJ would be lying if she said that she didn't imagine once or twice what it would be like if she and someone as nice as he sounded had a family of their own. How different would it be from the family she has now? Would they love each other? Could they build a family of their own that is not broken like hers is?
How great would it be if she was in New York, living with her aunt and spending her days next to Peter Parker?
And eventually she did!
She moved in with her aunt Anna and for a long while, everything was just so perfect for Mary Jane Watson.
She was finally in a home with someone that seemed to love her as much as she did her aunt, she had so many friends it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say she was popular and she even has a band of her own with said friends!
But most importantly, she's finally with Peter!
Well not with 'with' like she wants to be, but she can safely say that they are each other's best friends! From the moment she met him she knew that her crush in him was justified, and it grew when his kindness was directed to her.
After years of living with an abusive family, someone like Peter Parker is just what she needs.
So why is it that he changed so much? Why since before summer started has he started seeing her and his friends less and less?
Almost like he is purposely avoiding them.
He bailed on Liz at prom, which is something he'd never do. He started making all kinds of excuses as to why he's always late to their hangouts, if he even goes. He ditches them in a very weird way whenever some crazy guy attacks who knows what, and worst of all, he's been getting injured.
She's seen the way Peter limps sometimes when taking out the trash from his house, she notices how he winces in class as if his ribs hurts and she has even questioned him on some bruises awhile back and all she gets are lies.
She's an aspiring actress and she knows Peter Parker, whatever excuse he tells to explain the story behind his absences and bruises… everything he's told her has been a lie.
And MJ hates to think that.
She wants to trust Peter, she wants to believe in that dorky, gentle, noble and funny kid her aunt talked about.
She wants to look beside her and see that big-glasses-wearing boy smiling dumbly at her while he said some cheesy pun.
Because she can't stand this dodgy and lying person that he has become ever since his uncle died.
She knew Peter would change ever since that day at the funeral. But why did it have to be such a drastic and horrible change?
She hates that. MJ doesn't want any lies, any changes from him or too feel the way he makes her feel when he turns his back to her and goes to do who knows what, only to revive lies when confronted about it.
Lies, lies, lies.
MJ doesn't want that.
She wants her best friend - her crush back.
So why is it that he's once again leaving her behind as he does to do who knows what? Doesn't he trust his friends? Doesn't he trust her?
But most importantly, what is it that he is lying about?
MJ's mind was running through a ton of questions as she saw the back of Peter disappear in the crowd, small tears forming in her eyes at the doubts she's having.
Without knowing that she wasn't the only one hearing her private thoughts. Because beside her, a blond telepath is listening carefully to her inside rambling while seeing two different people using the same name.
Because 'Peter Parker' before Ben's Parker death was definitely someone else.
Emma has heard that a million times in the minds of Peter's 'friends', acquaintances and whoever might have known him before she did.
And she always wanted to deny that.
But seeing Mary Jane's thoughts and feelings made Emma's heart ache as she couldn't help but agree with her love rival, successfully planting the seed of doubt in her own mind.
"Come on girls, move it! Move it!" Yelled Mr. Dell, one of the most liked teachers as he made sure that everyone was leaving the premises.
"What's happening?!" Yelled a student between all the shouting.
"There's a giant ass sewer croc in the school!" He exclaimed as he moved them and went to other students who were also trying to see what was happening.
Both MJ and Emma are left with their thoughts on the boy who left them behind.
————
Spider-Man enters the scene. Full costume on and a backpack on his person to complement the look.
"Connors, stop this!" Spider-Man yells as The Lizard lays eyes on him.
"Oh man…" he mutters as he sees the monster now completely transformed, looking differently than he did last time.
When they last fought at ESU, Connors had grown only slightly bigger, covered in green scales from head to toe while sporting a brand new arm and tail.
With his most dangerous attribute being those massive claws from his hands and feet that Spider-Man was unfortunate enough to test out personally with his back.
But overall he still looked pretty human, even with the capability of talking; although what he was saying was not something Connors would ever say usually.
But now.. now he looks more like a reptile, making good on his nickname.
He has a full snout with razor sharp teeth, small dorsal plates can be seen to have sprouted from his back. His eyes look more savage than they did before and he has an ongoing snarl that tells Peter he is not in a friendly mood. He's also several inches taller and wider than he was back then.
"You uh, you look good doc" Spider-Man quips nervously as The Lizard analyzes him like a predator does his prey "Now, why don't you let me reach into my backp-"
Peter was talking softly as to not startle his teacher, but when he moved his hand behind his back, Connors let out an impressively loud an menacing-
"RRRRROOOAAAAAWWWRRR"
Interrupting Peter from whatever he was saying as he leapt towards the Arachnid themed hero, initiating a fight that Peter was trying to avoid.
First The Lizard tried swiping at Spider-Man with his claws, but when that proved to be useless he turned around with an impressive speed and used his tail to send the hero flying to the nearest wall, destroying it completely with a loud *CRSH*.
*NGH* 'Definitely faster and stronger than before' Peter groaned in his head at the impact he sustained directly on his chest.
'So am I' with new-found confidence in himself, Peter got up with a backflip using his arms to avoid being pinned down by the green monster.
*CRSH* Spider-Man turned the tables as this time he was the one that sent his opponent through a wall with a mighty kick.
"Shit!" He examined when he saw the mess he made of his chemistry classroom and of the school as a whole "gotta finish this fast!"
Then a dance started between the two, that even when Peter thought he should be making the least amount of damage possible, it seemed like he was trashing it on purpose.
The fight first led to the hallway once again, where The Lizard, in his attempt to swipe at the hero with his claws, destroyed every locker and light that was around them.
Peter tried to avoid the green beast by crawling on the ceiling, only to be followed in the same manner.
"Hey! Wall crawling is my thing, if you start shooting webs too, I'll sue!" He yelled with indignation as he got off the ceiling, catching the creature off guard with a punch to the stomach when it tried to follow him.
Unfortunately the creature managed to take a hold of Peter's arm and attempted to bite it with his huge mouth.
Peter, feeling how close it was to being bitten, threw himself and Connors completely to the ground with a leg sweep while keeping the monster's mouth away from him with his free hand.
They rolled around for a while on the floor in what Peter supposed was Connors version of a death roll until he managed to free himself and stand up. He felt his adrenaline rushing in because of the many times he was way too close to the creature's jaws.
So much so that when Connors leapt yet again, Peter punched him.
Hard.
Maybe a little-tiny bit harder than intended. Perhaps because the creature looked and felt so intimidating to Peter that he couldn't help but try and defend himself a little better.
The Spider-sense doesn't talk to Peter, but in this moment it definitely felt like it did. Peter felt it in his subconscious. Connors doesn't want to beat Spider-Man, or even kill him.
It wants to eat him.
*CRRK* Peter faltered slightly when he felt bone crush against his knuckles, but The Lizard used the momentum to swipe at him with his tail again.
"Nuh uh, you tried that already!" The hero yelled as he grabbed the tail with both his hands, relieved that his teacher was not too affected by his punch, even if he couldn't see his face now.
Only to be lifted up by it and he slammed again and again against the walls, ceiling anf floor repeatedly.
"Don't *UMF* make me *NGH* have to hurt *ARGH* you!" Spider-Man exclaimed as he was slammed time and time again.
When it was about to happen again, Peter maneuvered himself to land feet first.
Using his strength and stickiness, he adhered himself to the wall and used it to instead throw Connors away from him as he yelled "Enough!"
Spider-Man saw as the creature flew to some doors, knocking them over. Suddenly he felt something was wrong. The Lizard looked smaller and he had something struggling in his hands, so looking down he saw he was still grabbing the still-moving tail while its owner laid on the ground in pain.
"Ew Ew Ew, gross!" He let go of the tail in disgust "Wait. Holy shit, are you okay?!"
His question and worry went unanswered verbally as Connors stood up and looked at Spider-Man, gaining a gasp out of Peter.
Apparently he did put too much force into the punch he delivered to the snout earlier, because what he saw made his stomach churn.
The Lizard's snout was almost completely caved in, with blood profusely gushing out of his nose and mangled mouth.
It looked like Peter tried to forcefully push his mouth back to his place, but ended up with what looked like a fatal car accident. It didn't help that he also took his tail now.
Peter felt his heart hammering in his chest at what he just did and how someone Peter would even like to call a friend ended up due to him "D-Doc! Are you ok-!?"
Peter's question was once again interrupted by the disgusting sounds of a new tail sprouting out, while his head started trembling slightly. Once the tail was done growing, Connors face started to twitch and move around, once again displaying the grotesque show it did when he was first transforming.
*Squelch* *Snarl* *Pfsht* amidst all the sounds of moving bone and flesh, Peter could hear how the creature started snarling again and his spider-sense buzzed more dangerously.
"…" Peter was relieved and a little bit scared at the same time. He didn't know what to think about what he just saw.
What he does know is that he needs to finish this fight quickly, no more time for jokes. He doesn't want any more reasons that may make him throw another punch like that again.
Imitating the start of their fight, Connors launched himself towards Peter, who was now prepared to finish this.
The fight led the duo towards some more classes and the library, where old man Stan was still there with headphones on.
Weird guy.
Finally, Spider-Man managed to trap The Lizard in a cocoon of webs in the middle of the library after Stan exited it nonchalantly, leaving Connors unable to move.
All of him was covered in thick webbing, except for his mouth and eyes. Eyes that were watching Peter with a predatory intensity.
"Dr. Connors, can you hear me?" Asked Spider-Man with his hands raised to show that the hostility was over, hoping to hear from the man behind the monster.
*ROARGH* However the only answer he got was a snarl coming from the animal, followed by a roar.
'Seems like each time Connors transforms, a piece of his sanity goes away with him. He's much more feral than the last time we fought…' He concluded as he watched as The Lizard attempted to break free of the webs to no avail.
*Sigh* "Damn it, Connors" Peter muttered as he stood still, watching as his mentor and once idol was now lost in his mind due to the formula he helped improve.
He then reaches into his backpack he had during the entire fight, where he takes out a stainless steel water bottle, which actually contains the cure for Connors.
Ever since the older man became a teacher at the school, Peter had the fear that this might happen one day. So using his intellect and a night in the chemistry classroom right there in Midtown High, Peter replicated the cure that Gwen and Martha Connors did while he fought The Lizard for the first time, and he has been carrying it everyday to school as a contingency plan.
He hoped he didn't have to use it, but now he's thankful he did make it.
"Time to take your meds, doc" Peter muttered as he threw the bottle at The Lizard, in a way that resembles someone throwing a treat to a pet.
*PHSSHD* Connors bit down the bottle, tearing the metal easily with his powerful jaw, releasing the contents inside in the form of a green cloud that covered the man completely.
"…" Peter stood quietly as he saw the grotesque way the scales, tail and arm started to fall from him, together with some blood of the new human skin that was replacing the old scaly one.
The whole process is disgusting, unnerving and Peter is sure it has to hurt to have your body twisted, torn and rebuilt like that.
Once the process finished, Peter quietly and carefully took out one of the little vials he had on his utility belt to dissolve his webbing and proceeded to drop a few drops on key places to free the man.
Connors was trembling and twitching as he regained his consciousness; his eyes darting all over the place while they changed from having slit pupils, to the round ones of a man.
"PleEstTAaapPiItTt" The older man pleads for his transformation to stop, but it just came out as an incoherent and painful mumble that is lost in the grotesque sounds of his flesh turning and reforming around himself.
Connors seemingly gets knocked unconscious once he finally becomes completely human, and Spider-Man catches the man before he could fall from his imprisonment, leaving him carefully on the ground.
"You with me, doc?" Spider-Man asked with concern clear in his voice as he gently taps Connor's on his cheek; sighing with relief once the doctors eyes opened.
"Y-yeah I'm *Huff* I'm fine. W-what happened?" Still trying to compose himself, Connors asked as he took in his surroundings and the state of his torn up clothes.
He luckily still had his lab coat and pants on - they were fairly all right, even with all the cuts and the torn state of these. His shirt and shoes however were completely ruined.
His heart and stomach sank when memories of what happened flooded his mind.
….
He remembers the nights where he couldn't sleep, making him work on the Lizard formula to forget whatever nightmares he had. The absence of his arm and now tail too made him feel as a growing itch he could never scratch again becoming larger and larger with no possibility of him to scratch it.
How he yearned for his body to return to how he changed it - to be as beautifully and powerful as he had made himself be. How he yearned to be complete.
But he knew he couldn't possibly go back to being that…that monster.
He has responsibilities. He has his lovely wife and his precious son who matter infinitely more than how his life suddenly feels devoid of something vital to him; he couldn't let Martha go through the whole justice system process again to try and keep him out of jail.
But… perhaps he could compromise with himself.
He doesn't need to become The Lizard again, perhaps he could finally perfect the formula without taking it! He could finish the best project of his entire life!
He's already trying to do so behind his wife's back whenever his night terrors happen, so why not dedicate more time to it?
He can feel he is close, oh so close to perfecting it, and it would surely be a crime against humanity not to continue now.
Connors then started using his office as a lab, robbing the school of its chemical supplies between weeks to create a better version of the formula.
And he eventually did it…
On a normal day in school, Connors had managed to improve his formula and immediately after - he made it real.
Once ready, Connors stared at it. The vial filled with the serum calling to him, whispering for him to inject it in himself. He started sweating, his legs faltering slightly and he felt as if his skin felt wrong on his body.
It felt so, so wrong on him.
That was not his skin, those were not his teeth, these are not his limbs... He's incorrect, broken, incomplete! And he needs to fix himself just like only he ever could!
His thoughts started running so wild that he started showing physical symptoms - similar to those of withdrawal, so he ran to the faculty's bathroom so he could hear himself think properly.
'I-I shouldn't… I really shouldn't be doing this' Connors thought to himself in fear as he still had the syringe filled with his creation at hand. Creation that he craved like a drug addict yearns for another hit. He was trembling, shaking as he used all his willpower to not take it.
Until…
'Just…just a little taste' he eventually gave in, injecting himself.
….
"O-oh god!" Connors exclaimed with his voice full of grief as he finally finished remembering the events that led to that point.
"Why did you do it, doc?" Spider-Man asks as he crouches in front of his teacher.
"…I wanted to be myself again" he admitted with a broken and quiet voice, his face hidden by his only hand.
That answer was not something that Peter was hoping or expecting to hear.
And honestly? It was disturbing for Peter to hear. Maybe because he too, has changed into a 'new self' thanks to an animal.
"…That's not you, that's-that's a mistake. And I'll make sure you can get the help you need" Spider-Man tried to comfort the man after the disturbing answer, trying not to get any 'funny' thoughts about his own nature.
Spider-Man also knows already that Connors will have no choice but to be imprisoned, so he plans to use his contacts to try and make sure he gets a fair trial.
It's the least Peter can do.
Connors finally noticed the blood that was covering his entire person, so he freaked out "W-what is this?! S-Spider-Man! Did I… did I hurt-"
"Calm down, doc. You didn't hurt anyone, I promise you. That blood is…well it's mostly yours. I'm-I'm sorry, things got a bit carried away" Spider-Man told the truth with a sheepish voice while rubbing his neck.
The profesor only sighed in relief at that and allowed his body to relax, laying completely flat on the ground.
Just then, police and firemen sirens made themselves known to the pair still in the library.
"Well, that's my queue" Spider-Man said as he turned his back to the teacher with the intent of walking away to the nearest window.
"Spider-Man, wait!" Yelled Connors as he sat up again, reaching for him with his hand. Spider-Man did stop in his tracks to look at him over his shoulder "Thank you."
Peter didn't know what to expect after being suddenly called by Connors, but it surely wasn't that. He stood quietly, looking at the broken and bloodied man and simply nodded, before jumping at the window just before the cops, led by George Stacy, walked in the library with their guns out.
"I knew having you as a teacher at my daughter's school was a bad idea" George growled after he made sure that the man was no longer a threat, taking note of the webbing all over the place "Curt Connors, you're under arrest".
Connors remained quiet, there was nothing he could say or do at that declaration after all. He signed his own fate with that little stunt he did.
————
Peter changed to his civilian clothes once again in the bathroom, making sure he didn't have any visible injuries on his face or any part visible lf his body.
He walked to the front of the school, where Connors was being escorted by Gwen's dad while many news crews were recording the whole thing.
Peter could see that one of them was part of the Bugle's team.
'God, I hope Jonah is not-" Peter's thought was interrupted by a shout he knows very well.
"PARKER!" yelled JJJ in his usual booming voice, startling some of the already nervous students.
*Sigh* 'Of course' Peter sighed mentally as he heard his boss from behind him as he cursed his Parker Luck "Oh, Jonah! I didn't expect you to be-!"
Peter was silenced when Jonah suddenly grabbed him by the shoulders and started looking all over him with his usual frown almost turning into an expression of worry.
"Are you okay, son? Anything hurt? If you need a ride to the hospital we can take you there with a small reduction of your next check" Jonah talked with his usual speed as he looked carefully at Peter in sign of any injuries.
"Uh no sir, I-I'm perfectly fine" Peter answered, a little weirded out by the older man's sudden care for him.
"That's wonderful news! Now, I hear that the arachnid menace was here" Jonah screams happily, but then he mutters the last part down low, as if it was a secret.
'Aaand there it is' Peter groaned mentally.
"Yes, I believe he was the one who stopped The Lizard" Peter emphasized.
"Bah, don't believe son, know. Just like I know that he is in some way responsible for putting you and all the other students here in danger!" Jonah shouted as he motioned to everyone around him
"…" Peter remained quiet as he looked around at the students, mentally sighing in relief to not see anyone hurt or anything.
"Now, let's take a look at those pictures" Jonah said as he neared Peter again with his hands rubbing each other in a greedy manner.
"Pictures, what pictures?" Peter asks dumbly.
"What pictures?! Of the menace and his accomplice of course! Don't tell me you were here before the incident even started and you couldn't take one single picture of them tearing the school apart!" Jonah demanded to know.
"Oh! Uh, no sir, sorry. I don't usually bring my camera to school" Peter said apologetically as he rubbed the back of his head lying since he does indeed have his camera with him.
It was just the easiest excuse he could think of that would hopefully keep Jonah from chewing him out.
But the funny mustached man just groaned out loud.
"Listen Parker! News don't wait for anyone, not you, not me, no one! You have to be always ready for the next big story to come out from anywhere, prepared to scoop out the next big story and willing to leave what you're doing to do what you need to do so that these people know the truth! You get what I'm saying?" Jonah finished his speech with a question.
Question that Peter actually knew how to answer.
Even though Jonah was talking about him and his camera, the speech could also be translated to his role as Spider-Man.
He was prepared now for Connors, but was he ready for his other villains? He left MJ and Emma, but would he be willing to leave their side to fight next time? Did he truly grasp the responsibility that is being Spider-Man?
"… yes sir, I understand" Peter said with conviction, more to himself than actually answering the man. He did good today, and every time he leaves his friends to fight. No matter how he or they feel about it.
The safety of the people came before their feelings.
He can just wish that they understand him somehow.
"Great! Because next time something like this happens and you don't have the pictures you're FIRED!" Jonah yelled suddenly with a vein threatening to pop out from his forehead.
"Easy there Jonah, Peter just went through something" groaned Robbie Robertson as he neared the duo "Glad to see you're doing fine, Peter"
"Thank you, sir. Oh, if you're looking for Randy I'm sure he's going to be out in the back with the rest of the football team" Peter said, remembering how Robbie is Randy's dad.
"Thanks Peter, I've already talked with him on my way here. You too should be with your friends" Robbie said with a kind smile "Come on Jonah, we have to start the broadcast"
"Right! Go make sure your friends are okay too Parker, I'll see you later and hopefully with some pictures of the menace!" Jonah yells as he turns his back to Peter and starts walking away together with Robbie.
Peter stood there thinking about the interaction, still a little weirder out by the initial worry displayed by the loud director of The Daily Bugle, when his eyes noticed a very familiar redhead in the crowd.
'Oh, MJ!' Peter thought as he saw the redhead together with Gwen and her other bandmates.
"Girls!" Peter called out, making all the girls except MJ herself to look his way. First they all looked at him with relief, only for Gwen to look at him with some sort of sympathy on her face while Betty and Glory scowled heavily at him.
"What do you want, Parker?!" Glory growled as she questioned him.
"I uh, I came to see if you girls are okay of course" Peter said, slightly shocked - not fully understanding the sudden animosity.
"Oh? So now you care? How about when you left MJ and that Frost girl and went to do god knows what?!" Betty demanded to know as MJ finally looked at him.
Her beautiful face is slightly red with unshed tears.
She didn't question anything herself, but her eyes displayed everything she wanted to convey. She was hurt, she was scared for him, and she feels like she doesn't matter enough to Peter to warrant him staying by her side even when a monster is attacking them.
Making her feel almost worthless to the eye of her best friend and crush.
"Peter, why did you go back? It was something really dangerous and inconsiderate to MJ" Gwen interjected with a soft voice. Instead of scolding him, it sounded like she too was genuinely scared for him as well.
"I uh…" Peter tried to say, but found no words at the sight of MJ's glistening eyes and trembling lips painting a devastated look on her face.
"Yes Peter, I would also love to know why on earth would you abandon me like that" interjected Emma as she made herself known, emphasizing 'me' to show that she doesn't care how Peter's actions may have affected the redhead, gaining nasty looks on three girls.
MJ however never stopped looking at Peter, for once not falling for Emma's words that usually got under her skin.
Meanwhile, Emma's face was one of calm anger, where everyone knows she is furious by her demeanor but her features don't show it; except maybe for her crossed arms and raised eyebrow.
In reality Emma was more scared than angry. It scared her how deep Mary Jane's feelings for the boy are, it was scary to feel helpless against that monster and it was terrifying to see Peter run back to where The Lizard was.
He could have gotten hurt, or worse!
And it scared Emma to see how true it was that Peter Parker had a drastic change after the death of his uncle. Seeing Peter through MJ's mind, she couldn't help but agree with her and conclude that he is indeed lying about something.
But what? Why?
She can think all the questions she wants, but first she needs to make sure that Peter is indeed lying about something before she lets her thoughts run wild.
"Well?" Asks Emma as she makes up her mind. She was going to read Peter's to see if he was indeed lying by reading his mind.
'What can I say?! It's not like I can tell them the truth. God! They're all looking at me… come on Parker think of something! You're great at lying!'' Peter panicked in his mind before opening his mouth, unaware of someone else also hearing his thoughts 'something… anything! I just need an excuse to… Harry!'
"I *Sigh* I know it was a stupid thing to do girls, and I'm sorry you two for leaving you like that. It's just… I didn't see Harry during all the commotion and I wanted to make sure he was fine.
I knew you three were already at the cafeteria, but I thought he was behind me so I panicked when I didn't see him. I'm… I'm sorry. To you all" Peter lied impressively.
The emotion he carried on his voice full of concern for his best friend and the face of regret he placed on himself made all the girls falter in their reproach.
Especially in one.
"…Harry?" Asked MJ in a shy voice and hopeful voice, unable to distinguish this time between lie and truth because her eyes were still watery.
"Yeah. I mean, I knew you girls were safe at the door. And I want you both to know that I would have never - Never - leave you like that unless I was a hundred percent sure you were safe. I just… I wanted to make sure my friend was safe" Peter said first with a voice full of conviction, to then gain a shy tone while rubbing his neck.
"…I see" Emma murmured, her face betraying no emotion. Inside however she was a heartbroken mess because Watson is right, Peter Parker is a deceitful liar. But why? She doesn't know, and right now? She doesn't want to know.
She only knows that Peter has been actively lying to her and she can't bear being in front of him any longer. So waiting for no one, Emma turns her back to the group and starts walking away "If you'll excuse me, my ride's here".
"Oh, uh. Goodbye Emmy, see you later?" Peter called out to his crush, but went unanswered 'Huh, guess she didn't hear me' he thought.
"Still, that was a very stupid thing you did, Peter" Betty scolded once the other girl was gone. She may not like him as much as Gwen or MJ, but she still thought of him as a friend of some sorts.
"Yeah, do you think you're Thor or something?" Scolded Glory, who because of her position in Flash's clique, also thought less of the boy. Not in the level of Flash or Sally though.
"N-No, nothing like that, I just. I don't really know what to say girls. Just… I'm truly sorry MJ" Peter apologized again.
MJ wiped her eyes discreetly with her hands and sniffed slightly "it's… it's fine Peter, you'd do the same for me after all, right?" She asked hopefully.
Peter felt his stomach sink slightly at the lack of her usual nickname for him, which he knows she drops whenever she's mad at him.
"Of course I would MJ, you know how important you are to me" still, he answered truthfully from the bottom of his heart.
MJ smiled at that, a beautiful and sincere smile.
"Thanks Peter, just please be more careful next time. You worried us all. Now if you'll excuse us, Gwen's dad will be giving us rides home" she explained as she stepped away from him together with her friends.
Peter was about to call out to MJ. Her lack of 'Tiger' means she's still somewhat mad at him, but unfortunately just then his cellphone started ringing from his backpack.
'May… she must have heard by now' Peter figured as he let his friends leave, prioritizing his aunt's state of mind.
True to his speculation, he had to spend several minutes trying to ease a very worried May while promising he would go straight home that day.
Emma meanwhile felt her heart heavy, her lips tremble and her eyes water ever so slightly as she walked towards her chauffeur in haste. Forcing herself to not show a sign of weakness in front of anybody that may look her way.
Once in her fancy car she allowed her mind to wander.
What else could be a lie? His internship? All of the excuses he's given her and his friends? Everything he's told her about himself? Everything she thinks he feels about her?
No, no that couldn't be it, she's seen his thoughts before and never has he had even a bad thought.
Then why lie? Why now? About what?
Emma has been inside of Peter's mind before, but the times could be counted with the fingers she has and it has always been whenever she wants to know something in specific.
But there is no doubt in her mind that Watson is correct in her worry of him changing drastically. More so because she got confirmation that he even used Harry to cover for him in his lie.
But why? Why?! Why would he lie?!
For once, Emma Frost didn't understand someone.
————
"I'm telling you Chat, he lied to me!" Emma yelled through her phone, now in her home, at the girl who was fortunately away from the hallway when Connors attacked.
So when the fire alarm rang she easily exited through the back of the school.
"Perhaps he has a good reason?" Chat asked, knowing perfectly that Peter is Spider-man, the one who stopped their teacher from doing more damage than he would have otherwise. No matter what the news said.
"But-but… why wouldn't he trust me?" Emma said sadly as she buried her face on her knees.
"Well… he hasn't trusted anyone, right? You're telling me he's been lying to us all, why would you be different?" Chat asked Emma, hoping to finally know if Emma truly likes the boy she also likes.
"Because I'm supposed to be different for him! I-I *sigh* look Chat, I really like Peter. Like 'like'. And I was hoping that he felt the same way with me. Maybe I should read his mind once and for all and see-" Emma admitted her feeling for the boy, even if she felt that it was pretty obvious.
"How could you do that to me?" Interrupted Chat with a shaky voice.
"W-what?" Asked Emma, not understanding what Chat meant.
"You know I like him, and yet you started liking him too? Is that why you're with us in Midtown high? So you can rob him from me?!" Chat shouted from her phone, trying and failing to not sound like she was about to cry.
"…!" Emma then and there felt her brain freeze. Chat also liked Peter? Her first friend, her best friend, has been crushing on the same guy she has?
"You know what Emma? I don't care anymore, just…if you really care for Peter dont read his mind, his secret is not one anyone should know" Chat kept saying in the same tone as before.
Emma felt her entire focus shift from the fact that Chat also liked Peter, to the fact that Chat insinuated she knew Peter's reasonings.
"You-you know it?! You know why he's been lying to me?! W-what is-" Emma demanded to know in a commanding voice, forgetting the shame she felt previously.
"It's not for me to say Emma, goodbye" Chat interrupted seriously as she hung up.
Emma felt jealous of Chat for being closer than her to Peter, and she also felt extremely angry at Peter.
He has made her fight with her best friend with his weird attractiveness; he's been playing her, Chat and those other two girls with lies and deceptions and she feels like a fool for falling head over heels for Peter like she did.
Emma made up her mind, she's going to read Peter's mind. She will know everything about him and she will see for herself if Peter Parker is really the kind man she fell in love with, or just some conniving bastard.
But she'll do it later.
She doesn't want to see him or anyone right now, classes be damned as well.
She's been holding herself back with Peter on not using her powers on him, but no more, she will scour his mind when she feels like seeing him again. Until then she's staying home, away from everyone.
'I'll see who you really are, Peter' said Emma with a heavy heart and tears threatening to come out of her eyes with her mind already made up.