Goodbye Summer Hello Trouble!

Chapter X

Peter's eyes widened slightly. He clenched his fist. He could not understand how people could just find out that you were a superhero. After all, he had been living with Aunt May all these years and she had yet to find out that he was Spiderman. However, perhaps he was too quick to judge Nova. There was always the possibility that the circumstances of the whole Carrie-and-whoever-was-behind-the-mask-of-Nova situation had been unique.

"I hear you judging me, webs." Nova suddenly said.

Peter was startled back to reality. He closed his eyes as he let Nova's accusing voice wash over him. It was uncharacteristically cold. No matter how many times they had argued Nova's voice always held some sort of emotion or mixture of feelings. It had never been gelid.

"I'm sorry." He sighed.

"No worries. No harm done." Peter supplied as answer. That was all he could manage to say because deep down it still hurt, even though Spiderman did not know why.

"I should go. I'm sorry, but I cannot tell you more. This whole story with Carrie is something I do not like discussing with everyone." Sam replied.

Peter nodded. He stepped back slightly when Nova stepped on the railing. Before Sam left, he uttered:

"I'm going to offer you some advice – no matter which type of relationship you have with this girl, do not let your alter ego prevent you from spending time with her. Always try to put her first, if you are certain she really needs you. As for keeping your secret, if I were you, I would carry it with me in my grave."

Then he disappeared, leaving Spiderman stunned and speechless.

Sam rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He growled when the offending sun hit his eyes which had yet to adjust to the morning light. Once the pain had subsided, Sam looked at his phone. He groaned when he realized that he had around an hour until school started. As he got dressed and walked towards the kitchen to make breakfast, he could not help but replay the conversation he had had with Spiderman.

With a sigh Sam realized that it had been long since he had probably discussed his relationship with Carrie with anyone. In these situations he wished his mom were here. She always found a way to make his issues seem insignificant. However, that did not mean that they disappeared. Sam just did not see them as threateningly as he had before.

His mother was now in Arizona, happily married to Sam's stepfather. He could not blame her for seeking love again. However, a part of him would never accept the new man in her life completely because in that part of his heart, in that part of his mind his father had never passed away, he was still there, right beside her. In that perfect reality his sister was still here and his parents were happily married. Also he was just a normal child, not Nova, the human rocket.

"What are you making today?" Danny suddenly asked.

Sam's breath hitched. "Dude, don't just sneak up on people like that."

Danny frowned. "All right, I will try not to."

Sam nodded his thanks and answered Danny's question, "I'm making pancakes."

"That sounds delicious to me. It smells that way as well." Danny commented.

"Thanks." Sam replied.

Danny watched Sam's unnaturally cautious movements and sighed. Usually Sam was not as aloof either. Something was definitely bothering him Danny deduced.

"Is something wrong?" Danny enquired.

Sam was taken aback by the unexpected questioned. Internally he cursed his luck to be left alone with Danny this early in the morning. Usually Sam was not very well guarded during the morning. His expressions and behaviour were enough to showcase his mood.

"Y-yeah." He answered shakily. As he flipped the pancake he asked, "Why would you ask that?"

Danny observed his movement for a while before responding, "No reason in particular. I merely had a hunch. It seems I was wrong, right?"

"I guess." Sam replied before flipping another pancake. He felt a cold trail of sweat trace the heated skin on his neck. He hated it when Danny was testing him.

Danny did not mention anything else. Instead he was engaged in a conversation with Ava the minute she walked in. Luke joined them soon after. Both Luke and Ava commented on Sam's cooking and even asked him to make more, but he told them that there was no time left. Luke was disappointed, but brightened when Sam promised he would make more tomorrow morning especially for Luke. Ava chuckled and compared Luke's stomach to a bottomless pit. Luke retaliated by uttering that no one could survive on milk alone like most little obedient kitties.

In the end Luke won himself a hiss and a scratch from Ava. However, he did not feel it, of course, because of his impenetrable skin. Ava growled. Luke chuckled and put himself forward, motioning for her to try again. She hissed. Naturally, Ava had grown quite angry because of Luke's taunting. However, soon Danny intervened and reminded them that they were going to be late for school. Ava spluttered something incoherent before she rushed towards her room. Luke chuckled yet again at her antics and thanked Danny for saving him. After all, even though he could not get hurt physically, Ava had a tendency to make his ears bleed with her complaints about not being able to scratch him after the two had had an argument.

"You really should stop riling her up so early in the morning." Danny commented.

Luke chuckled before he replied, "I can't help it. She is way too funny when she tries to scratch me after I have landed a good verbal hit on her pride."

"This is quite interesting." Danny suddenly said.

Luke froze. He could not believe he had given himself out like that.

"Normally you are the one to intervene when unnecessary fights occur. Plus, usually Sam is the one to anger Ava and either you or I or, God forbid, both of us will have to deal with one of their dampened moods. On top of it all, their tempers can be formidable. So then why do you enjoy taunting her even? And on early mornings at that?" Danny enquired.

Luke did not say anything. He simply stared ahead and iterated, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh, I think you do." Danny replied, smirking when sweat trailed down Luke's forehead.

Luke wiped it and sighed, "Fine, maybe I have changed my view of her."

"To what exactly?"

Luke was saved from answering Danny's question when Ava urged them to hurry. Sam grumbled something about her being a goody two shoes and how he hated being unnecessarily rushed in the morning. Luke followed them out, while Danny smirked. Something was definitely going on with his teammates and he was going to find out exactly what it was. Right after he caught up to them, of course.

Peter sighed. He had forgotten to return MJ her chemistry notes yet again. She was going to be angry at him no doubt, but this time he did have an adequate reason – not only had he been talking to Nova until midnight, but he had also run into a few thugs on his way back home. Sometimes he hated the need to be Spiderman every damn night. Perhaps if he had a team, he would not feel the pressure as much.

"Hey there, Pete." Harry chirped, putting a successful, abrupt end to Peter's musings.

"Hi, Harry." Peter replied.

"Morning guys." MJ said.

Peter's eyes widened when he met her gaze. Her look turned into an accusatory one once she noticed his guilty expression.

"Peter Parker!" She admonished, "Don't tell me you've forgotten to bring my notes for a third time this week!"

Peter cringed. She was definitely pissed, but he could not blame her. After all, they had a test coming up and MJ was adamant about keeping her grades up. However, she could not do that without revising some of the material once and again.

"I'll bring them tomorrow, I promise." Peter supplied guiltily.

She huffed. However, Harry proposed a wonderful idea.

"Why don't you just drop by at Peter's and grab your notes." He suggested.

MJ sighed, "I would, but I have a tutoring session today."

Peter was internally grateful. After all, he had promised Nova he would visit Nick Fury today. Plus, he was not entirely certain where exactly he had put her notes. Also no matter how much he adored both of his friends, having either or both of them snooping around his room was not the best idea. After all, there was always a chance they might run into something that was theoretically not supposed to be there.

"Peter, who is that?" MJ asked as she gestured with her head toward someone.

Peter turned around and his expression brightened. Sam was talking to Luke, but once he noticed that Peter was looking at him, Sam locked eyes with Peter's, smiled and waved. Luke did the same. Peter waved back.

"Friends of yours?" Harry asked.

Peter cringed slightly at the gelid tone. He sighed internally. Lately he had not been spending that much time with Harry or MJ. He knew he had to make up for the seemingly cold shoulder he had been giving them the past week.

"Yeah, sort of. Listen, guys, I have a proposition – how about we have a movie night this Friday?"

"I'd love to, Pete, but I have a lot of reports to read. The CFO of my dad's company is adamant on assisting me with them because I am still not qualified enough and Friday night is the only time he can spare to help me." Harry apologized.

"I can't as well. Because of someone's forgetfulness," MJ half bit back, half apologized, making Peter cringe yet again, "I have a lot of catching up to do."

"All right then." Peter replied.

He was about to leave when Harry suddenly said, "But who says we can't make Saturday a movie night?"

Peter brightened at the idea. He was certain that one night without being Spiderman would do him good.

"I'm free then." MJ uttered.

"So it's settled then. Where do you want to do it? How about at my place?" Harry enquired.

"Sounds great to me." MJ answered.

"I'm in." Peter replied.

"All right then. I'll make the necessary arrangements. MJ, you're in charge of popcorn, Pete, you can bring the drinks and I'll pick the movies." Harry suggested.

The bell rang. MJ agreed with the way the duties were split as did Peter. With a final wave the three went to their respective classes.

Spiderman swung from one building to the next. He soon found himself on board of the tricarrier after a slightly challenging battle with pesky robots. He was glad he had been escorted directly to where Fury was.

"Spiderman," Fury began, "I'm surprised to see you here."

"I'm surprised to see myself here actually as well." Peter answered nervously. He then added, "Listen, I know that I declined your offer to join the team years ago and I know that you rarely give second chances, but I was hoping that maybe you could make an exception and give me the chance to prove myself worthy again."

Fury seemed flabbergasted and Peter could hardly blame him. After all, he had been rather adamant about not joining the team or any team in particular all those years ago.

"I will. However, I must ask you whether you are completely certain about this because if you are not serious, I do not think these kids will take it lightly if you join only to leave suddenly." Fury uttered.

Peter sighed partially in relief, partially to calm his nerves. He was glad Nick Fury was in such a good mood and so open about the whole ordeal.

"I promise you. I am not the person I was back then. I realized that even though I have grown, I need people to guide me on the way."

Fury smiled. "It is settled then. Before you start you will have to run a series of tests. However, I will ask you to do them along with your team. I will give you guys a week to figure each other's skills out and find the best way to work with each other. However, if one of does not cooperate, I am sorry, but I will be forced to assign you to a different team."

Peter nodded. He was about to leave, when Fury asked him, "Would you like to meet a different team or,"

Peter surprised both himself and Nick Fury with his answer, "No, actually I would like to work with White Tiger, Power Man, Iron Fist and Nova, if it is possible. Do not worry. I feel as though even though Nova and I may have our disagreements at times, we have managed to work through our differences. It was actually his patience and perseverance that compelled me to fulfill his request and join the team."

Fury seemed surprised. He had heard about the escapades Spiderman and his previous rookie team had experiences. Fury was certain they could collaborate when the situation called for it, but most of the time they had barely made it out alive because of Nova and Spiderman's tendency to bicker in the worst possible time. That was actually one of the reasons why Spiderman had left – he and Nova had had such a bad argument that they had ended up fighting each other during a battle. Naturally no one had been pleased and, as a result, Spiderman had left not only the team, but S.H.I.E.L.D. as well.

"He has grown during these two years. I am glad you have as well. I had given up on you two ever managing to work well together and function as a team." Fury iterated.

Peter smiled and nodded. He was about to leave when Fury asked, "Would you like to start your training now or should I arrange things for tomorrow? Please bear in mind that you will have training sessions on mornings and nights during school days and you will be requested to train all day or all night during the weekend. It is essential that you develop a stable teamwork because the villains have become stronger and are more adept at saying what is needed in order to turn superheroes that dislike each other against one another."

Peter paled. His expression became somber. It seemed yet again he would have to cancel on MJ and Harry, but he wanted to become a leader of the team as soon as possible. If a few missed movie nights were going to ensure not only that, but also his and the team's safety, then he would be damn, if he missed his chance. With a hardened heart he said, "I understand. If I can meet them officially again right now, it would be great."

Fury smiled and replied, "You can. They're at the training rooms."

After Fury had explained to Peter how he could get there and had specified that Peter did not have to give his identity away unless he felt certain and safe enough to, Spiderman was now on his way to meet his new team.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Ern Estine 13624: Thank you! I am glad you're enjoying this story.

Deejayhearts13: Phew, thank you for answering. Hah, well, I do like making them stupid sometimes or perhaps less observant. You're in luck then, hope you enjoyd the update!

As for my other readers - thank you for sticking with me for so long. I can't believe it's been a whole year since I published the first chapter!

Until next time,

~ QueenofRhymes ~