Ned glared as he watched Flash crumble up another sheet of notebook paper into a ball.
He glanced next to him at Peter, who hasn't looked up from his notes. Peter must have heard the crinkle of paper, but he doesn't react. Ned has to give him props for remaining nonchalant for so long.
Today, the Decathlon team had all gathered in the Library to discuss future tournaments and practice hours. After everything was all sorted, Mr. Harrington allowed the students to hang out in the Library for the rest of the period, as long as they were doing something productive. Ned quickly seized the opportunity to work on his Social Studies Homework. If he finished the worksheet in time, he'd be homework free for the rest of the day!
Peter, however, had a lot to work on, both homework and make-up homework. Thanks to his Spider-manning, Peter wasn't exactly as on time with his assignments like he used to be. But Peter didn't seem to mind so much.
Being Spiderman was important, as Peter often told Ned. And if Spiderman wasn't there to look out the little guy, who would?
And Ned understands, really, he does. But he'd be lying if he didn't admit that he often worried for Peter's education. He's smart…like, super smart. If Peter wasn't constantly skipping out of stuff, he'd be the top student at Midtown Tech. And what about Graduation? Would fighting bad guys affect that too?
It was a good thing that teachers liked Peter. Somehow, they always seemed to give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe that's one of the reasons Flash always picks on Peter, and no one else. Maybe. He didn't really know the reason. All he knew was that it bugged him.
Flash grinned a little as he aimed his ball of paper and chucked it across the table. It bounces off of Peter's head, and Flash snickers. Peter looks up with a flat expression, but says nothing as he moves the ball of paper to the side with his pencil and resumes working. This had been happening on a loop for the last fifteen minutes or so.
If it didn't go unnoticed, it wouldn't matter, because Flash bullying Peter was pretty much common knowledge. Most of the Decathlon members were talking and murmuring quietly amongst themselves while Mr. Harrington was busy chatting up another teacher across the room, oblivious as ever.
Flash flings another ball of paper, but this time his aim is way off, and hits Abraham instead, who sits at Peter's right. Abraham lifts his eyebrows, but the twinkle in his eyes is unmistakable. Before anyone can do anything, Abraham picks up the ball of paper and chucks it right back at Flash, who squeals and flinches as it nabs him right in the ear.
Ned snorted and Peter made a sort of wheezing sound before covering it up with a cough.
MJ finally glances up her book and shoots Flash a disapproving look. Or, what Ned assumed to be a disapproving look. It was hard to tell with her. "Hey, mind keeping it down? This is a library."
"B-But..he.." Flash stammered, pointing at Abraham's smirking expression.
MJ sighs and returns her focus to her book, twirling a single strand of curly hair around her finger. "Don't make me have to discipline you or something. It'd be embarrassing for both of us."
"But-but...oh, forget it." Flash pushes back in his chair and leaves the table, muttering to himself.
Ned smiled as he refocused on his homework. A moment or two later though, he felt Peter stiffen next to him. He looked up to see Peter staring hard at something across the room. Fear and excitement fluttered around in Ned's stomach. Something big always went down whenever Peter had THAT look.
But when Ned followed Peter's gaze, all he saw was Flash standing near one of the bookshelves, apparently looking for something to check out. A smallish man stood on a ladder a few inches away, reaching for an overhead projector that sat on top of the shelf.
Ned frowned in confusion, his eyes sweeping around the room for any other possible dangers. Was Peter seeing something he didn't? "Peter," he began to whisper. "What-"
It happened so fast.
The man on the ladder let out a sharp cry as the projector began to slip from his hands. Quick as lightning, Peter jumped up and slid across the table, sending papers and notes flying in all directions. Shouts and groans filled the air, but Peter ignored them all as he slid off the other side, ran a few steps, and shoved Flash, hard.
Ned's mouth opened, but no sound escaped. As Flash went crashing down to the floor, the projector dropped like a stone, hitting Peter right on the head. Then Peter dropped.
At first, no one said a word, or moved an inch. The room was dead silent. And then it wasn't.
"Mr. Harrington!" Cindy shrieked as the room exploded with movement. She stumbled and tripped out of her chair as she scrambled to get the teacher. "Mr. Harrington!"
At some point in his life, Ned figured he must have been bitten by a cheetah or something, because one moment he was sitting, and in the next, he's kneeling down next to Peter. How did that happen?
"Oh, dude. Oh man, oh man…" There's blood. There'sbloodther'sbloodthere'sblood. "Peter…Peter!"
Someone rolls Peter over, and he groans. Oh, shit, he's alive. He's alive, and he's awake! Oh, wait, he's awake…crap, that's gotta hurt. Oh, man, Peter!
MJ props up Peter's head with one hand and reaches out with the other. "Someone give me a something for his head! Some kind of cloth, hurry!" Everyone's talking at once, so she has to shout. It's scary listening to her shout. Someone frantically rips off their flannel and thrusts it in MJ's hand.
"Stay still, okay?" MJ says to Peter as she presses the flannel to his wound to stop the bleeding. "Stay still."
Peter blinks several times and blinks up toward the ceiling. Or, he would have if it weren't for the many faces crowded around him.
"Peter, oh my gosh!"
"Peter! Are you okay!" Abraham shouts. "How many fingers am I holding up?"
Peter blinks a few more times, then looks over at Ned and squints. "Hey," he says in a weak voice, his eyebrows knitting together. "What's wrong, buddy?"
Ned wheezes, tears springing into his eyes. He didn't know if he was laughing or crying. "Dude, you just got clobbered!"
Peter is quiet for a moment. "Oh, yeah."
"Parker?" says a quiet voice. Ned is vaguely aware of Flash standing over his shoulder.
Peter squints at him next. "Dude, there's so many of you."
More footsteps thunder towards them. "It was an accident, I swear!" a frantic voice says.
"Peter!" Mr. Harrington pushes his way through the circle of students and kneels. "Oh my Lord. What happened?"
"It was so sick!" Charles says, his voice loud and excited as always. "We were just talking, y'know, and then Peter just slid across the table like James Bond and saved Flash's life!"
"I swear it was an accident!" the smallish man repeated, a sheen of sweat glistening on his forehead. "I-It just slipped, a-and the kid came out of nowhere, and-"
"You could have killed him!" Sally said.
"Hey, no, no, no it's okay," Peter said, struggling to sit up. Everyone jumps on him.
"Hey, no no, lay back down!"
"Peter, stop!"
"You just hit your head, genius," MJ said, still keeping the flannel to Peter's head. She places her other hand on his shoulder in attempt to push him back down. Her voice is almost back to its usual neutrality, but Ned doesn't miss the slight worry buried within. "Running off won't help this time."
"No, I'm okay, seriously," Peter says, waving a hand. Despite everyone's protests, he manages to sit up fully. MJ mutters something and shifts her position behind Peter. She re positions her hand on his shoulder to steady him while still putting pressure on his head.
For taking such a wicked blow to the head, Peter seemed to be really chill about it. Dazed, but chill. And then Ned realized…oh. Super healing. His best friend was a superhero. A head injury is still a head injury, but…yeah, he was going to be okay! Right!
But nobody else knew that, so Ned should pretty much stop smiling now.
Peter twitches a smile, then blinks a few more times. He stares at a spot in the ceiling, and his eyelids flutter. "Oh, man," he sighs, slumping backwards into MJ.
Crap. Still, a head injury's a head injury. "Peter!"
"Someone should get the nurse!" Cindy said fretfully.
Mr. Harrington is a wreck. He had been fidgeting and fussing over Peter the whole time. Ned's never seen him look so pale…and sweaty. "Mr. Parker," he tried. "Peter! Yeah, okay, right. MJ, give him to me!"
Ned's eyes widen as Mr. Harrington stands, hooks his arm under Peter's legs, and actually LIFTS Peter into his arms.
The Decathlon team is stunned for a moment, including Peter. "Uh, Mister Harrington…Mr. Harrington, you don't have to-"
Mr. Harrington hurriedly shushes him. "It's gonna be alright, Peter, just hang on!"
"Uh, I wouldn't do that," MJ said, standing up. Her voice was urgent, but she too looked taken aback by the sight before her. "We can get the Nurse, her office is a few halls down-"
But Mr. Harrington is near hysterical. He holds Peter close to his chest, as if he were holding a baby. Ned glances sideways at Flash. Normally, he would have a cracked a humiliating joke by now. But Flash only stares silently at Peter, his eyes clouded with…guilt?
Nah, it couldn't be.
"Mr. Harrington," Peter repeats, more insistent, but the man had already carried him out the door.
Ned and the rest of the Decathlon team are at his heels.
And, as luck would have it (Or Parker Luck as Peter and his Aunt would call it), the moment they moved out into the hall, the bell rung, piercing their ears.
Students who filed out of their classrooms were welcomed with a bizarre sight of a frantic Mr. Harrington cradling a student in his arms. The pale-faced man huffed and puffed as he jogged down the halls, squawking, "Nurse! NURSE!"
Peter squirmed a little in Mr. Harrington's grip, but there was little he could do at the moment. Ned truly felt sorry for him.
The Decathlon team members followed closely, exchanging various glances. They finally reach the Nurse's office, but to everyone's dismay, the lights were out, and a sign hung on the door. "Crap, she's out to lunch!" Charles exclaims.
"What now?" Abraham said.
Ned looks over at Peter. Peter glances back and shoots a look that practically said Putting me down would be a great start. Ned huffs a small laugh and Peter wrinkles his nose in his direction.
"Roger?" a voice called. Ned turns to see Principal Morita walking toward them. Peter moans, either from the pain or embarrassment. Ned thinks both. "What's going on here?"
Mr. Harrington has yet to catch his breath. "Peter," he pants. "Projector…"
"A projector hit Peter's head," MJ supplied helpfully. "We could use a Nurse if you've got one."
Principal Morita's eyes widen at the sight of the gash on the side of Peter's head. The blood had long since reached his dark green sweater. "Right. Judy. I know where she is, I'll get her."
He takes off running, but not before pointing at Peter. "Hang in there Peter, help's on the way!"
Peter in turn gave a tight-lipped smile, and his eyebrows arched downward. It was his 'Yeah, man, sure,' face, and it always made Ned laugh. Not today though.
All the while, Mr. Harrington nods to himself, muttering "Help's on the way" a few times under his breath.
Peter looks up at him. "Mr. Harrington." His voice is a little muffled due to his cheek being squished against his teacher's collared shirt. "You, uh…you can put me down now."
A small crowd had gathered by now. Some are giggling. Peter kicks his legs a little.
"Seriously."
Mr. Harrington does not.
