8D Chapter 3! Eee! Poor Gray!

Webs & Curls
Chapter 3: New Friends

That first week, Gray pretty much followed Peter - and by extension, Ned - around like a lost puppy. He didn't talk much but he hung on Peter's every word and laughed at all of Ned's silly jokes. Ned tried to get him to talk. He tried to ask questions but Gray would give one word answers or just shrug his shoulders. It wasn't that he didn't want to talk to them, to open up to them. He just didn't know how to anymore. But he was comfortable around them. He felt like he had friends again. And he liked that feeling. It had been a long time.

Gray picked at his lunch. He'd eaten as much as he wanted. But he really wasn't hungry. He was sitting beside Peter. But his eyes were on the table and he was slouching in his chair. The academic decathlon team was sitting with them. MJ was across from Peter, spouting off questions to the other members. No one was paying attention to him. He was mostly okay with that. He didn't mind being overlooked and ignored. But lunchtime had become his favorite time of day, sitting next to Peter and listening to him and Ned bicker about nonsense.

"That's wrong, Flash." MJ said sternly. "Not even close. Who knows the correct answer?"

No one answered right away. Peter leaned into Gray's space, bumping into his shoulder lightly. "Why don't you ask Gray? He's pretty smart." It was one of the few times Peter had said his real name. It sounded weird in Peter's voice, like it wasn't really Gray's name.

MJ turned to look at him expectantly. "Well?"

Gray blinked for a moment. He honestly hadn't been paying that much attention. "Sorry... can you repeat the question?"

MJ glanced down at the workbook. "One of this author's plays begins with a farmer riding a dung beetle into heaven."

"Aristophanes." Gray answered in a soft voice.

They all looked at MJ. "Correct." She said with a nod.

Flash shook his head and waved his hand. "No. That doesn't count. It's not math or science."

MJ didn't look over at him. "Everyone has to be well rounded." She said.

Flash shook his head again. "Ask him another one."

MJ glanced down at the sample question guide again. "Which philosopher declared 'God is dead'?"

"Friedrich Nietzsche." Gray answered again.

"What county's capital is Wellington?"

"New Zealand."

She flipped to a new page and started at the top. Question after question she asked. Each time, Gray answered, barely taking a moment to think. And each time, he was right. "Name the constellation representing an archer." MJ asked, looking up from the paper.

"Sagittarius." Gray answered once again.

"That one was easy!" Flash snapped, slapping his hand down on the table in an overly dramatic manner. "That's not fair!"

MJ threw a glare Flash's way. "That was the last question." She stated frankly. "He answered every question in the new sample guide. Correctly." She added with a sly smile.

Flash glared at Gray and leaned back in his seat. He crossed his arms. "He cannot have my spot!" Flash said loudly. "I am not being bumped back to an alternate. Give him Penis Parker's spot. He never shows up anyways."

"That's not your decision!" MJ snapped back, her voice rising. "He's smarter than you!"

"He is not!" Flash snapped.

MJ rolled her eyes. "He got them all right."

Flash shook his head. "Doesn't mean anything. You didn't ask me any!"

"Because you got one wrong!"

Gray's eyes widened. What were they talking about? The team? He didn't ask to be on the team. He didn't want to be on the team. And he didn't want to be the cause of a fight. He suddenly flashed back to 4 years ago. He was 12. Right after his dad moved out. It was parent's day at should. And they both showed up. He wasn't sure why or how. He hadn't told either of them because he didn't want them there because he knew what would happen. But they had shown up. And stood in the crowded cafeteria. And screamed at each other. That was the first time he ever had a panic attack. And now, sitting in the cafeteria, surrounded by Peter's friends, he was terrified of another one.

"Excuse me." Gray mumbled as he jumped up. And then he bolted, practically running for the door. He didn't look behind him, didn't stop at his name being called. He didn't stop until he made it outside to the parking lot. He didn't see any of the teachers he ran past. He didn't see anything until he pulled up at the first row of cars. He took a deep breath. In and out. In and out. Everything was okay. He bent over for a moment, taking another deep breath. Everything really was okay. Or... it had been fine. Everything had been going so good! Hanging out with Peter and his friends! Why'd he hand to ruin it by freaking out? Why was he such a fuck up?

He paced back and forth, his feet stomping a little louder on the pavement than necessary. But it felt good. Grounding. That was where Peter found him a few minutes later. Gray stopped immediately when he saw him. He sucked in a breath and held it.

"Hey." Peter said softly, stopping a few feet from Gray. "You... okay?" He asked awkwardly.

Gray breathed out and turned away. He was beyond embarrassed. He was mortified. And he really didn't want Peter to see him then. He felt like he was going to cry.

"Grace?"

That name stopped him. He felt Peter behind him, felt him in the air around him. Gray took a deep breath and breathed it out slowly. "I'm sorry." He said softly.

Peter shrugged and dropped his gaze to the ground. "Nothing to be sorry for. Flash is an ass." He said with a smile. "You got the spot, if you want... on the team."

Gray shook his head. "I don't wanna cause a fight."

Peter let out a laugh. "That's just Flash being Flash. Loud and obnoxious. Everyone voted. You're way smarter and faster with the draw than him."

Gray shook his head again.

"Come on!" Peter said, a slight whine in his voice. "It's fun! We have a meeting tonight after school."

Gray turned away again.

Peter frowned. "Grace..."

Gray tilted his head back, turning his eyes to the sky. Was he really going to start crying? Now? At school, in front of Peter? He'd really thought he was over the crying. "I don't like being the center of a fight... my parents... used me for years during and after their divorce, as the subject of a lot of screaming matches. It made me miserable! And Flash and MJ... I know they didn't mean it... but it sent me back to being 12 and hearing them screaming... and I thought I was gonna have a panic attack... I had to get out of there."

"Grace..." Peter said the nickname softly, barely a whisper. Then he stepped closer and reached out to touch the other boy's shoulder.

Gray snapped back, spinning around to face Peter. The tears stained his face, he could feel them. And he was mortified. And angry. He stepped back and rubbed at his eyes. "Damnit!" He said, his hands shaking. "Fucking crying at school." He mumbled.

Peter ran a hand through his hair and looked away for a moment. "It's okay." He said, his voice barely a whisper. "Everyone has their own stuff. My... parents died when I was younger." Peter said slowly. "I was pretty much raised by my aunt and uncle... and then my uncle died... and it's just me and aunt May now."

Now Gray felt like a real ass. Here he was, whining about his divorced parents. And Peter had lost so much in his short life! At least Gray still had both of his parents. Even if they couldn't be in the same place or talk to each other. They were at least still alive. "Shit." He breathed out. "I'm sorry." He didn't know what else to say.

Peter shrugged and kicked at the ground. "Everyone has their own shit. It's okay to freak out sometimes. It's okay to feel."

Gray bit his lip and dropped his eyes to the pavement. Maybe it was. Maybe he knew that, deep down. But he still hated the idea of breaking down in front of his hero.

"But you should really join the team." Peter continued on. The hope was back in his voice. "It really is fun."

Gray let out a sigh. "Can I think about it?"

"Hey!" Ned called loudly, walking across the lot towards them. Both turned to look at him. "MJ sent me to tell you she's kicking Flash's ass the next time he picks on anyone on the team. And that Gray's on the team."

"Grace." Peter corrected.

Ned shrugged. "Whatever. We're meeting tonight after school and she wanted to know if you can stay."

Gray glanced at Peter. "So that's a no on the thinking about it."

"You say no." Peter said.

Gray sighed and pulled out his phone. He turned it on and was bombarded by notifications of texts and voicemails. All from his brother. Gray turned slightly and took a couple steps away. He really should call his brother. He knew that. He should apologize. Or call Zach an ass. Both seemed like viable options in his head. He quickly hit his mother's number and put the phone to his ear.

Ned checked his watch. "Uh... we'll be late to class if we stand out here much longer."

Gray nodded as his mother answered the phone. "Hey mom."

"Gray?" She sounded worried. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing!" He said quickly. "I uh... I sorta joined the academic decathlon team and there's a meeting after school tonight."

She was silent for a moment. "You... joined a team?"

"Yeah. Can I go?"

She sighed. "I work the late shift tonight. I can't pick you up."

"I forgot you worked..." He honestly had.

Peter stepped closer, not even looking ashamed for listening. "You can come back to my place with me and Ned. Aunt May can give you a ride later. Or we can take you home right after."

"Gray, who's that?" Karen asked over the line.

"My friend Peter." He answered.

"Friend?"

Gray rolled his eyes. Was it really that unbelievable that he made a friend? He let out a sigh turned away from Peter and Ned again. He cupped his hand around the bottom of his phone and whispered into it. "I can make friends!"

"Sweetie, I didn't mean it that way." She said softly. "I just... you haven't said anything."

"Class!" Ned said loudly.

"Class is about to start." Gray said quickly.

"You're friend can take you home?"

"Yes." Gray said.

"Alright." She said lightly. "Just promise me one thing."

Gray let out a sigh. "What?"

"Call your brother."

Gray rolled his eyes again. "Fine. I'll call Zach later. I promise."

"Alright, honey. Have fun with your friends. I love you."

Gray quickly pulled his phone away and shoved it in his pocket. "She said yes."

"Good. Can we go now?" Ned asked, already backing up.

Peter smiled and let out a laugh. "Better get moving Ned." He glanced at Gray and winked. "You're gonna be late." He took off running.

"No fair!" Ned called after him.

Gray smiled as he raced past Ned.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

Author's Notes: This little idea has sorta taken over my mind. I have no clue anymore how long it's gonna be. It keeps adding to itself.