New chapter!

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Kate sat on the top step in front of the school as she waited for Peter and Ned. She had to meet with Principal Morita after her last class and while Peter and Ned were in decathlon practice. It was nice to have a minute to herself after the busy day and it gave her a chance to try to get rid of her headache while she waited.

"Hi!" A cheerful voice said nearby.

Kate looked up to see a pretty girl maybe a year or so older than her walking out the front door. She was tall and willowy with dark hair and olive skin with big doe eyes. "Hi." Kate replied putting on a polite smile, ignoring the pain behind her eyes.

"You're Kate, right?" The girl said. Kate nodded. "I'm Liz. I'm one of the upper-class mentors."

Kate stood and smiled. "Nice to meet you." She said.

"You too." Liz said. "I'm sorry I was supposed to meet you this morning to show you around, but I kept missing you."

Kate shook her head. "Sorry. I didn't know I was supposed to meet anyone." She said.

"No worries." Liz smiled. "I saw you were hanging out with Peter and Ned. I'm sure they gave you the rundown. I just wanted to introduce myself and say if you need anything let me know."

"Thank you." Kate said with a smile.

A minute later Peter and Ned walked out of the doors. Kate smiled brightly at them as they joined her.

"Hey." Peter smiled at her. He looked at Liz and paused slightly. "Hey Liz."

"Hey Peter." Liz said brushing a lock of hair behind her ear.

Kate looked between the two curiously for a second before the double doors opened again and the rest of the decathlon team came outside. Kate was introduced to each. They were all really nice to her, except Flash.

"So, did you and Peter know each other before you transferred here?" Cindy asked.

Kate noticed Peter freeze a little at the question, but she was prepared for it. "Yeah." She replied and saw Peter turn to her in surprise. "I got an Internship at Stark Industries when we moved back to the states. Peter and I met at the Stark Internship Retreat last month."

"No way!" Sally said. "So, do you know Tony Stark?"

I fought Tony Stark. "Yeah, Peter and I both have the privilege of working with Mr. Stark." Kate replied.

This all seemed to really upset Flash, but the kid was containing himself so far.

As kids started to file out of the building, they were all forced to separate. Kate started to walk down the steps with Ned and Peter but before they got too far Liz called Peter back about some decathlon thing.

"So how was the first day?" Ned asked as they stepped out of the way to wait for Peter.

Kate smiled. "Interesting." She replied. "Definitely different from what my daily life used to be." She was watching Peter and Liz interact curiously. "So, what is the story there?"

Ned followed her gaze. "No story really. Peter's had a crush on Liz for a while." He said. "He's never asked her out though."

Kate chewed her lower lip thoughtfully as she turned her eyes back to Peter and Liz.

Peter had to go over a few things with Liz for the decathlon event in DC in two months. However, as he listened, he couldn't help but feel impatient. Before he would have given anything to talk to Liz alone but now, he just wanted to get back to Kate.

"Liz, I'm sorry but I really have to get going." Peter said after a minute. "Can we talk about this tomorrow?"

"Oh, sure." Liz said surprised.

Peter smiled and went back to join Ned and Kate. "Ready?" He asked.

"Waiting on you." Kate said teasingly.

The three walked to the train station together. Peter was gonna walk Kate back to the tower since Ned had to head home but they started making plans to all go see a new movie that was coming out Friday.

Once they split away from Ned, Kate looked at Peter. "So, tell me what they were all gossiping about today." She said making him pause. "Come on, I know you were listening. What were they saying?"

"Well…" Peter said. "Most were just curious. They all think you're really pretty."

She smiled. "And the rest?"

"Flash says we're probably paying you to hang out with us." Kate rolled her eyes. "Most popular theory is saying you're an alien." Peter said. "They said Ned and I found you after your spaceship crashed and that's why you're hanging out with us."

Kate laughed. "Oh my god I think you all watch way too many movies." She said.

Peter grinned. "Though to be fair you know the references so…" He teased back, his stomach doing somersaults as he watched her eyes sparkle.

"Fair enough." She replied as they continued to walk. "So, what does your day normally look like after school?"

Peter shrugged. "Well, I go on patrols. I try to make it home by dinner most nights." He said.

"And your aunt has no idea?" She asked.

Peter shook his head feeling a familiar hollow sensation in his chest. "No, I can't do that to her. She'd worry too much." He said quietly.

Kate startled him by taking his hand for a minute in comfort. Peter smiled his thanks.

After a second, he cleared his throat. "Umm…you hungry?" He asked. "There is this great place I go to after school."

She smiled. "Sure." She replied content to let him change the topic. "Lead the way."

He led her down a very familiar path, under the train tracks, they ran across the street and went to Delmar's Deli on the intersection corner. Peter held the door open for Kate which made her smile, and if his mind wasn't playing tricks on him, he thought he saw a faint blush.

Kate watched as the older man at the counter looked up at the chime from the door.

"Hey Mr. Delmar." Peter greeted as Kate followed him to the counter.

"Hey Mr. Parker." Mr. Delmar replied. "Who's this with you?"

Peter grinned. "This is Kate." He said looking back at her. "She's new to Midtown so I'm showing her all the best places in Queens."

The older man smiled warmly. "Welcome to New York." He said.

Kate smiled back. "Thank you, sir." She instantly liked this man. He had kind eyes.

"You stay close to this one, huh?" Mr. Delmar told her pointing at Peter. "He's a good boy, he won't get you into trouble."

Kate grinned but had to bite her tongue to keep from laughing. One because Peter turned bright red at the man's words and two because he was probably one that she was most likely to follow into trouble because of what they both did on a regular basis. "I'll remember that, sir." She replied, fingers lightly brushing against the back of Peter's hand. She felt Peter turn his eyes to her but didn't speak.

Taking pity on the younger man, Mr. Delmar asked. "You want the usual?"

"Yes, please." Peter said. He turned to look at her. "Kate?"

And just like it was back to light hearted conversation.

"Whatever you're having." Kate said and they resumed talking about the day and planning for the weekend.

The Tower was abuzz with activity when she returned. The Asgardians were being moved to Norway, the process already beginning. Valkyrie, Korg, and Miek we're relocating while Thor and Loki would remain behind to deal with the loose ends. Plus no one trusted Loki yet anyways.

Pepper had said something to her that morning about having a "family dinner" tonight as well so that was getting set up.

Kate said hi to Clint and Natasha when she came back and then went to drop her backpack off in her room and see Lucky for a minute.

Climbing onto her bed, Kate lay down and Lucky cuddled up beside her. She sighed and ran her fingers through his short fur. "Today's been a weird day boy." She said. Lucky turned his head to look at her. "Can you keep a secret?" She asked in a conspiratorial tone. Lucky licked her nose. "I think I like him."

Lucky thumped his tail against her leg in a lazy wag.

"Not that it matters anyways." She said softly. He likes Liz.