I awoke to the sounds of my best friend Harry snoring. Groaning, I flipped on my side, and took a quick glance at my phone. It was only 5:00 a.m. I sighed. Today was the big field trip to the new aquarium called Sea Land. Everyone was excited about it. I wasn't much into nature, (mostly because it keeps on trying to kill me), I thought, but Gwen and Harry wanted me to go along with the others. Aunt May let me stay the night with Harry. We stayed up until 11 at night but Harry's dad made us go to bed. We were in the middle of an intense game of Mario kart and harry and I were tied. We were so close to the finish line too! Oh well. I can always chill with Harry over the summer. He's my best friend, and I felt bad for not spending time with him. Lately, he's been pretty stressed since the finals are coming up, and he's been kind of out of it ever since.
My stomach growled, snapping me out of my thoughts. I know it's early in the morning, but I only had 2 hours to sleep left, and plus I'm feeling kind of hungry. (A little midnight snack wouldn't hurt anyone,) I thought to myself, quietly getting out of my sleeping bag. I cracked the door open just a bit, and went out, careful not to wake Harry or Mr. Norman up. I then headed to the kitchen. The fridge was in plain sight. Trying my best not to be loud, I crept over, trying not to alert anyone.
Suddenly, the lights flipped on. "Peter, up so early? I didn't know you were an early bird. My boy, that's a remarkable quality. I only wish Harry had it," Norman said, walking up to me. He wore a blue robe made from Egyptian cotton, and some very expensive silk robes.
"Um… well, I… ugh…." I trailed off, trying not to stutter.
Mr. Osborne just chuckled and pulled up a seat next to the dining table. "Peter, while you're up, why not have some breakfast with me? I'd appreciate it if you did," he said. I tried to refuse, but he insisted.
A tired looking maid-servant served us up some bacon, sausages, and eggs, complete with the most fresh and best tasting orange juice I've ever had. It was nice and cool. I awkwardly stuffed scrambled eggs silently into my mouth while Norman watched me, his eyes a deep piercing blue burning through me like hot coals on a flame. "So I heard you got a four A+ in each of your classes. Absolutely remarkable… You see, Harry, he got only C's in his classes, and Peter, I just can't accept that he's slacking around, just not doing his best. It simply won't do. I can't have a bad influence like my son around you. I feel it's time to let you know that you should be the heir to Oscorp," Norman said, smoothing out his hair.
I suddenly start choking. He quickly patted me on the back. "Mr. Osborne, I can't. He's my best friend, and your son. That's wrong…" Before I could finish, he cut me off. "No that isn't possible. Harry is a failure, an accident waiting to happen, a mistake."
I was shocked. Norman truly didn't care for his son. Suddenly, we heard footsteps upstairs. Harry must have been eavesdropping, and heard everything. The bedroom door slammed shut. "Harry, I'm so sorry! I'm not trying to take your place, I swear!" Getting up, I quickly go after him.
"Leave him be, Peter. He's just throwing a temper tantrum," Norman said, indifferent to his son's suffering. He drank his orange juice, and started reading some paper that was sitting on the table.
I tried to go after Harry, but he'd locked the door. "Harry. Please open up," I muttered. I tried banging on the door, but he ignores my knocking. Looking around, I dug in the drawer nearby, and found some wire. I quickly picked the lock, hearing the satisfying click of the door as it unlocked. Opening the door, my mouth dropped. The window was open, but Harry is missing. "Oh, man. Where did he go?" I muttered to myself. The city is dangerous, and he could get himself killed. I tried to call the team, but no one was answering. I sighed. Things couldn't get any worse than this.
Meanwhile
Harry's p.o.v
The sun started to rise. I didn't care that I was still in my pajamas. (Stupid Peter. If Dad loves him so much, why not just adopt Parker and make him his son, instead? No matter how hard I tried, nothing ever pleased my dad. I wish at times I was never born, then my dad wouldn't be so ashamed of me,) I thought to myself.
A stray dog near the garbage cans noticed me walking, and came up to me. The dog looked to be in horrible shape. He had patches of missing fur on his body, and he was scrawny and dirty. He barked at me in a non-hostile way and whimpered. I actually felt sorry for him. "Sorry, but I don't have any food for you," I said to the stray mutt.
The dog gave off a sad whine. I sighed. Digging in my bag I brought along, I felt something rattling around in the back pocket. Pulling it out, I soon found that it was some beef jerky I had bought yesterday but totally forgot to eat. The dog noticed the snack, got on his hind legs, and begged for it.
"Here you go, boy. It's not much, but eat up," I said, unwrapping the jerky and tossing it on the ground. The dog ate it, greedily savoring the flavor. After that, the dog went on about his business. Luke's apartment was nearby. Maybe he would let me stay for a few hours. I didn't want to go home, especially when Peter and my dad were there. It was only 3 blocks, which wasn't that far. Hopefully, he's not a heavy sleeper.
*30 minutes later*
Arriving at Luke's apartment, I knocked on the door. I heard someone talking inside, but it wasn't Luke. The door suddenly swung open. Some messy haired brunette boy around my age was eating a breakfast sandwich. I didn't know how he could even see with all that hair in his face, but really it wasn't any of my business. It wasn't my face, so I didn't care.
"Ummmmm….. Is Luke Cage here?" I asked, wondering why this guy was even in his house.
The boy didn't even bother to finish chewing his food, nonetheless swallow his freaking food. Yelling at the top of his lungs, he screamed inside, "HEY LUKE! SOME REDHEAD IS HERE TO SEE YOU!" He shouted.
Bits of egg and bacon hit my face. (Great, just great. Just what I needed: a breakfast sandwich facial,) I thought, wiping my face off, disgusted by the other male's table manners, plus his behavior, period.
Luke came to the door. "Hey, Harry, how's it going?" Luke asked cheerfully. He seemed to be in good spirits today. Well, good for him I guess…
"Hey Luke, mind if I stay here until school starts? Something happened back at home," I asked.
Luke nodded his head in understanding. "Sure, man. It's fine. By the way, sorry about my roommate, Alex. He's a bit of a stoner. Please forgive him for earlier. Plus, he tends to chew with his mouth open," Luke replied.
"I see," I said. Alex was busy digging in the fridge. He pulled out a grape soda before tossing the strawberry ones at me and Luke. I was so happy I was paying attention because he almost busted me in the mouth with the soda can. I do not need stitches in the lip area especially on today.
My dad would never let me live it down. I could almost hear the sound of disapproval in his voice… "Harry, you would have never burst your lip if you were just aware of your surroundings! Blah blah blah," the imaginary voice mocked.
I felt a headache coming on. "Dude, warn a brother before you throw a soda. You could injure someone," Luke said a bit agitated.
Alex scratched his nose, opened his soda, and drank down the contents. "Oh yeah, right. Sorry, dudes," he said.
Luke and I both looked at each other. Alex suddenly got quiet. Walking over to the table, he placed his soda on the ground instead of the coffee table. "Um Alex, why'd you put your drink on the floor?" I asked.
Alex cocked his head back as if I had just insulted his great ancestors. "Isn't it obvious?" He asked.
"Um, what's obvious?" Luke asked.
"Because it's a coffee table, not a soda table! Like, duh!" Alex said.
(Are you serious? You have got to be kidding me,) I thought to myself. Luke gave me a "Don't even ask" face, and Alex just walked away like nothing had even happened. (Sometimes I wonder about the people Luke and the others hang out with. I really do,) I thought, placing my bag down. I sat on the couch, trying to comprehend everything that just happened right now and earlier.
Meanwhile
Ava's p.o.v
I was busy trying to make lunches for myself, my roommate Gwen, and my boyfriend Peter. I was trying to decide if it would it be too cheesy to cut the sandwich I made for him into a heart, and I decided why not? Hopefully he wouldn't make fun of me. Piling steak, cheese, mayonnaise, mustard, and some spicy habanero peppers, I finally finished making his sandwich. I hoped he liked it.
Gwen was in the bathroom, busy curling her hair. She was probably getting ready to confess her feelings to the new boy Ricardo that had just moved here from Spain. I had to admit he was pretty attractive. He had a caramel skin complexion and green eyes. He always wore the best smelling cologne too, and his clothes were obviously name brand. The boy had style.
Gwen wouldn't shut up about how awesome he was. Not that I didn't care about my friend being in love or anything. It was just something about Ricardo that wasn't right, but I couldn't put my finger on it. Finishing herself up, Gwen came out, happily swishing her hair around. "So how do I look?" She asked.
"You look gorgeous, and I'm sure Ricardo will think so too," I said. Gwen smiled. I bit my lip after she walked away. (Hopefully he accepts her for who she is,) I thought to myself. Packing the lunches up, I put them in the fridge and went to get dressed for the school field trip.
Meanwhile
Peter's p.o.v
I went out to find Harry. He couldn't be at Danny and Sam's place. They weren't home. They were spending the night on the Hellicarrier because their place was being sprayed for roaches. And Harry rarely spoke to Gwen, who denied his feelings for her. I still remember comforting Harry after school when Gwen had turned him down. I still feel bad for telling him that there were more fish in the sea, because in reality, I'd break down crying too if Ava denied her feelings for me, or if I got dumped. Either one would be horrible. That leaves only Luke and his roommate's place. Walking a few more blocks, Satoshi, a Japanese student from our school, noticed me walking and called out to me. "HEY, PETE! OVER HERE!" He yelled. Turning around, I walked up to him. He was busy fixing his bike.
"Hey, Satoshi. What's up?" I asked.
"Nothing much, my friend. My mom wanted to know if you'd like to get a ride to school," Satoshi said.
"Oh, thanks. Tell Ms. Fuuya I said thank you but I'm looking for someone right now. I'm scared that he's hurt or something," I replied.
Satoshi stood up and dusted his hands off. "Would that someone be Harry Osborne?" He asked.
I blinked. "Um, how did you know?" I asked.
"I saw him walking through here 30 minutes ago. He looked really upset. I was going to go talk to him, but my mom saw the mess I made in the living room and made me clean it up," Satoshi said.
I felt really bad. He'd left because of me. "Thanks, Satoshi. I'll see you at school today. Bye," I said, walking away. Satoshi waved goodbye and walked inside of his garage, taking the bike along. After that I saw his garage door close.
(Harry I'm so sorry I really am,) I thought to myself.
*An hour later*
Principle Coulson guided the students, all 600 of them, onto separate busses. He was very excited about today because of the field trip. He was saying the aquarium would be perfect to teach us about sea-life, and a bunch of stuff we'd probably just forget about after we grow up.
Stepping onto the bus, I saw faces of people I've never seen before staring at me. Their eyes bore into me like a drill into a screw in wood. I tried to ignore their gazes and walked towards the back.
I noticed Luke and harry and Ava and Gwen sitting down. I saw Harry and tried to wave to him, but he ignored me, looking out the window. I frowned. (Stupid Norman this is all his fault!) I thought. Luke scooted over a bit so I could sit down.
Ava smiled at me while Gwen was too busy applying makeup to her face. (I wonder who's she's getting all dolled up for,) I thought to myself. Ava handed me a lunch she had made. I could already tell it was going to be delicious. Whenever Ava made something, she put her whole heart into it.
Suddenly, a pair of grimy hands snatched the bag out my hands. Flash laughed cruelly at me while he dug into my lunch. Ava and everyone was truly shocked.
Flash has never stole my food before. My lunch money, but not my actual lunch. Digging in the bag. Flash took out the heart shaped sandwich that was meant for me. Unwrapping it, he took a huge bite out of it. "Hmmmm, this isn't bad. You can really taste the steak and…" Before Flash could finish, the habanero pepper hit him like a truck.
Flash screamed in agony as tears flooded his eyes. There was no water in sight except for the old water bottle that's been on the ground last field trip. Literally, only God knows how long that thing's been there.
In desperation flash searched around. A wicked smile spread across my face. "Hey flash I got some water for you." I said, kicking the nasty water towards him. The bus got silent.
"Which will it be, Flash: burn for eternity, or drink the old water bottle? Which will it be?" I asked.
Flash's eyes widened. Harry looked over at me, slightly amused, while Luke was unconvinced and concerned.
"I'm waiting!" I said impatiently.
"Water! Water! Water! Water! Water!" A girl started chanting nearby. The chant seemed to spread rapidly across the bus, making Flash sweat even harder.
To be continued…