"And I have to go?"

Bruce nods, then takes an enormous bite of his sandwich, leaving me to my silence as all around us, people continue on with their lunch. "Mandatory."

"Says who?" I fire back, then take a bite of my sandwich and fix him with a determined look.

"Nobody, but it's a once in a lifetime sort of thing. Plus it's putting a bow on everything. Why don't you want to go?"

Because I only have a limited summer here and going off for two and a half weeks is going to cut it basically to nothing. Add in prep time and getting back into the swing of things once I'm back, and it's a month.

"I'm working with a limited summer here."

Bruce nods, then sips his drink. "I understand that. But you won't regret this. I know Thor is thinking of taking us all on a detour somewhere."

"Detour?"

"I dunno. He hasn't said anything." He shrugs. "And it definitely doesn't have anything to do with…?"

He's setting me up.

"No." I shake my head, then grab my tea. "Sorry to disappoint."

"Oh I'm not the one you're disappointing."

I roll my eyes then slosh my drink around. "Oh I know you think she likes me."

"Well yeah." Bruce laughs. "It's obvious to us. She clearly cares about you, trying to help. Putting in a major effort. She wouldn't do that unless she had a reason. You said it yourself that she doesn't do that for everyone. So…?" He gestures to me with an inquisitive look on his face.

Fine. I admit that's a fair point. But it doesn't matter anyway.

I don't have time as Spider-Man. No girlfriends. Can't happen. Too much danger.

Feeling self-conscious, I take another bite of my sandwich and take my time chewing, forcing Bruce to keep talking. "What'd her friend have to say?"

"Nothing, invited me to a party."

"Where at?"

"Dunno. Party's tomorrow."

"Ahh." Bruce makes a sympathetic face. "I think you were supposed to come up this weekend. Start prep for the—the trip." He winces, then rubs his arm.

His right arm.

"You okay?"

"Yeah." He waves away my concern. "Slept on it wrong."

"Slept on your arm wrong?"

He laughs, then starts trying to shake feeling into his hand I think. "It happens when you get old. Enjoy being young while it lasts."

"I am." I smile.

"Anyway, yeah, I'll reschedule. And I'll pass along the note about your shortened summer. I agree, you should have a little bit of a break."

No, no no no.

"Not a break. Just maybe…slow everything down a little?" I reword it then smile at him.

"We'll see." He replies, then looks past me and smiles. "Coming in hot, literally and—OW!"

He bends down to grab where I kicked him in the shins as I turn back and see Michelle carrying a basket, bag of chips and a drink towards us.

"Hi."

God that sounded lame.

MJ laughs for a second, then slips past me and sits beside me. "Thanks for coming, my boss switched up our break schedules because you showed up."

"That's nice of him."

A little better.

"Yeah." She shrugs indifferently, then looks to Dr. Banner. "Nice fedora."

"Thanks." He smiles at her. "It's nice to meet you. Peter's said a lot of nice things about you."

Michelle freezes as she's looking down at her sandwich, just about to pick it up before she shoots me a look. "He did?"

"Oh yeah." Bruce smiles. "Don't worry, nothing too bad. Just the basics. Good student, captain of the Decathlon team. It's impressive."

"Not really." Michelle answers. "I got nominated is all."

"Still though, that's a lot of responsibility and you seem to be doing well enough."

"Peter's been helping me a lot with that. It's not all me."

I grab my drink nervously and swirl it around as MJ digs into her lunch before Bruce grabs a chip.

It's true, but it's nice of her to say that.

"I think I'm in the mood for some dessert." Bruce says suddenly, then moves to stand up. "And a refill. Pete, refill?"

"Uhh, sure." I fumble out before he snatches up my drink.

"Be right back." I hear him say as he walks away, leaving Michelle and I.

Sandwich.

Grabbing half of my sandwich, I take a bite just before Michelle says "Dude."

Yeah…

"No warning? Like at all?"

"I didn't know we were coming here. He just said 'oh hey, let's go have lunch.' I had no clue it was the plan to come here."

Michelle looks over quickly. "This was his plan?"

"Yeah, this place is highly rated online or something."

"Yeah." She huffs out a breath. "Are they keeping an eye on me?"

I shrug at her helplessly. "I don't know. If I had to guess? Probably yeah. But you volunteered for that by talking to Hill."

"You swear this isn't a plan?"

"Nope." I reply, then take a bite of my sandwich. After a moment of shared silence, she lets out a quiet breath.

"And you volunteered me for that party."

"I thought it'd be nice."

She frowns and shakes her head before responding "I vote that we say that we're going, then go to your house and watch TV. I'm more down for a Friday night in."

And I want to go to that party. I'm never invited anywhere, especially with a new group of people.

"I want to go." I counter. "You could just ditch me and I'll go alone."

"Maybe I'll do that."

"Go ahead."

She won't.

"Fine."

I nod back at her. "Fine."

"I will."

"Okay."

"Okay."

She gives me an annoyed look before my drink slides back in front of me. "And I'll be right back with dessert."

"Excuse me." The guy by the drinks says as he slides by, four drinks in his hand.

All good.

"—you play along, long long, let her lead you on on on…"

Damn song is stupid catchy.

"Apricot gum kind of crazy, yet kind of tasty, her people say run don't walk away…" I sing along while grabbing a clear cup and filling it up three quarters of the way with some kind of punch, then turn back toward the party.

Where's Michelle?

I briefly glance up, then lean up against the wall and type out a text to Michelle.

"Are you here? Or did you ditch me?"

If she's at home…Well, I don't know what I'm going to do.

May told me to have fun, call if I needed her. Try not to think about being super for a night, just enjoy myself.

"Yeah, I'm here."

Great.

"Cool. I'm by the ping pong table."

As coolly as I can, I slip to the far wall by the ping pong table and lean against it, then sip my drink and watch the two teams trying to toss ping pong balls into red cups, filled partially with I think water.

The next shot misses with a soft 'clink', and a chorus of laughter rings out. "Nice shot dick."

"Sorry." The guy says, then throws back some of his drink.

"I'm gonna be drunk by the end of this game if you keep missing." His girlfriend I assume chides him.

"I'm not trying to miss."

"Then don't!" One of his buddies tells him.

Helpful.

In the background, I hear the song change to a harsher, more techno beat with a lot more base in it. Meanwhile, between drinks, both teams miss again and begin bickering—

Hey.

"Hi." I say.

You're not Michelle.

Instead, a cute, black haired girl with silver highlights sips her drink, then smiles up at me. "Hey tough guy. Why ya standing over here all by yourself?"

"Nothing." I shrug, then sip my drink.

I don't think she could find a tighter shirt if she tried.

"I can tell. I'm Felicia."

"Peter." I smile, then wave awkwardly.

The girl, Felicia sidles up closer, leaning her arm against mine then takes a massive gulp of her drink. "So what's your story? Girlfriend ditched you?"

I need to throw her off the scent. She's got a little crazy eyes.

"No, no girlfriend." I laugh, then keep watching the game as somebody finally makes one.

"Really? You look a little young to be here…"

"Nope." I shake my head then sip my drink again.

"What are you? A junior?"

"Sure, yeah."

The guy in front of us clanks another shot and his friends keep teasing him mercilessly.

"Sure, yeah he says." Felicia says before I feel her nails brush up against my ribcage, causing me to shiver.

I whisper "Stop." As quietly as I can, then shoot her a harsh look.

Seriously.

"I think you liked it." She smiles at me. I break eye contact with her and look back to the pong game, which seems like it's finally winding down.

One side only has two cups left, while the other has like eight.

"Looking for somebody?"

MJ.

"Nope." I shake my head, then turn and smile at Felicia, who returns it.

"I'm bored." She proclaims, then slips her hands inside mine before pulling me towards the garage door. "Let's go inside and—"

There she is.

Off to my right, by the pool I spot Michelle, only for her to already be staring at me.

"No, I think I'm okay." I tell Felicia, then turn back and start freeing my hand from her.

Help.

She instead grabs onto my hand with both of hers. "Let's go inside."

"I'm okay." I turn back and smile at her. "Really."

"Girls like it when you play their game." She smirks at me. "Whoever you're here with will like the chase of it."

"No." I say bluntly. "She won't."

Crap.

"And I'm not here for anyone either." I add on, then look back in time to see her eyes flash.

"Let's go upstairs to the theater room. They're watching a movie, and I think…" Felicia presses up against me, then runs her nails over my ribs again. "—we should go up there. See what's up."

She can't take the hint.

"How about I grab us some drinks, and I'll meet you up there." I volunteer, then glance around.

Crap, she's gone.

"Sure thing Tiger. Meet you there." She beams up at me, before grabbing my hand, squeezing it and sauntering away.

"Name's Peter." I call after her.

That sounded lame.

"I know." She counters, then flips her hair and starts toward the house.

She's…Really, really, really pushy. And super hot.

Why'd she come and basically attack me? I wasn't bothering anybody, just—

Drinks Parker. Drinks.

"Right." I mutter to myself, then walk over to the line for the drinks as my heart is pounding before pulling out my phone and to text Michelle.

"Hey. Where'd you go?"

C'mon.

I flip my phone around in my hand and glance around before I see a familiar brunette wave at me.

Teresa.

I wave back at her before the line moves forward a little, and I check my phone again.

Nothing. Damn it.

"That wasn't what it looked like. She attacked me."

My hearts keep pounding in my chest as I twirl my phone again.

Breathe. Slow your heart down. That won't help anything.

I let out a breath, then try and let go of all my tension before the line moves up again and I notice I've still got a little bit of my drink left.

And Michelle needs to answer. C'mon MJ.

Throwing the rest of my drink back, the line parts for me to grab another red cup and start filling both up. "Excuse me." I apologize to the couple behind me, then duck in front of them and glance around.

Don't see her. Okay. If I wanted to hide here, where would I go?

Easy. A secluded place where I could be alone and nobody would bother me.

The alley on the far side of the house. By the pool.

"Yeah." I smile to myself, then start down the driveway before taking a right.

Makes total sense. Nobody's there, the pool is hiding you. Nobody would notice anyone slipping away—

A loud splash sounds out and I dive to the fence closest to the pool, only to get splashed all down the front of my shirt.

Man…

"Haha." I hear down the alley and glance up. Michelle immediately notices that it's me, and her face changes from laughter, to anger before she turns away pointedly.

"Hey." I call after her, then start towards her.

Michelle totally ignores me, then tosses a red cup aside and turns farther away from me.

Okay…Be nice. It is technically my fault.

"Brought you another drink." I say, then set it beside her, then take a step back.

"Great. Go away now."

"No." I shake my head.

"Why not?" She snaps, turning to look at me furiously. "You've already found some other floozy…"

"No." I shake my head again. "I came here for you. And now I found you. Here I am."

Michelle shoots me anther angry look, then grabs the drink I set beside her and takes a huge gulp of it. "Here you are. Congratulations."

"Yeah." I laugh, then sit across from her.

I don't want to continue standing up. She'll have to look up at me, and I bet that'd be a bad look.

"I don't know who that was. She just kind of attacked me."

"Sure." Michelle rolls her eyes.

"It's the truth." I tell her. "You see her here? No."

"Where is she then?"

"Upstairs, waiting for me in the theater room."

Michelle makes another face, then takes another gulp of the drink. "Then you'd better get going."

"Nah, I'd rather be right here." I smile over at her, only for Michelle to roll her eyes then look around .

There's red cups all around her. At least I know they're not all hers. That'd be impossible.

"How many of these are yours?" I joke, then smile at her encouragingly.

"Three or four…or five." She mutters, then gives an unconvincing shrug before glancing back at me.

"I'm sorry."

"You are." She laughs, causing me to laugh as well.

"I guess I deserved that."

"You did."

"Why'd you immediately come and hide. You could have come and saved me."

Michelle shrugs, then tilts her cup up, finishing it off. "Didn't look like you needed saving."

"Well, I did. She basically came over and tried getting all handsy."

"I thought guys liked that."

Hah.

"I'm not Flash." I joke, causing Michelle to laugh, then dig around in her pocket, pull something out and extend it to me.

"What's this?" Silently, she points it towards me, and I stand up enough to take it from her, then sit back down on my spot across from her against the wall.

"I've been trying to give that to you for like a month now. But I haven't gotten the time or I chickened out or…whatever." I hear her say as I read the small note.

"Together with their families

Paige Kimberly Jones

Joseph Wyatt Murray

Request the pleasure of your company and companionship

As they celebrate the completion and celebration of their marriage

August 8 2018

At 6:00 in the evening

Reception to follow"

Wait…

WHAT?!

"Huh?" I say to myself, then glance up and see MJ looking at me for my reaction. "What is this?"

"My cousin's getting married. And I can't go alone, I need a date." Michelle explains, then laughs. "At least that's what everybody's been telling me."

Yeah, you can't go alone to your own family's wedding. That'd be super lame and sad.

"And you're asking…me?"

Michelle suddenly, out of nowhere, frowns at me. "No, I'm just showing you the invitation."

So yeah. She's inviting me. As her date.

Man…that's close to when I think I'll be getting back from the space trip. I think I can make it though.

"Yeah." I breathe out, then look away from the invitation, back to Michelle, who suddenly smiles.

"Really?" She asks, like she can't believe it. "You can do it?"

"I'll make sure I can. I'll…"

I'll have to tell Hill and everybody. They're gonna go nuts over this—

"I'll…?" Michelle prompts me. "Use your words."

"I'll have to ask off." I say all in one breath, then stop.

Man my heart's pounding again.

I strongly exhale, then smile at MJ. "But I'm sure they'll let me off. It'll be fun."

"Yeah." She smiles back, then laughs. "Whew."

"Glad that's over with?" I assume.

Michelle shakes her head while smiling. "You have no idea. My folks have been—"

Out of nowhere, the hairs on my arms both stand up suddenly, before Michelle's voice gets blocked out by white noise before I strain to hear—

Sirens. Cops.

They're busting this party.

"Peter?" Instinctively, I look down at my wristbands for confirmation, only for them to already be flashing at me.

Great. We've got to go. Now.

"C'mon." I order her as I scramble to my feet, already holding two fingers to my wristband.

I need an earpiece.

On command, the nanotech forms itself into an earpiece, which I snatch up once it's complete and stick it into my ear. "What the hell is—?"

"Sirens, the cops are coming." I tell her, then pull her to her feet and shove her deeper into the alley. "We've got to go."

"But then why are we going this way? The street's—"

"That's where they'll be coming." I cut her off. "C'mon. Let's go."

"Okay." Michelle falls into step beside me. "How'd you know that they're coming?"

"I heard them."

Michelle gives me a skeptical look before countering "I can't hear them."

I know that. That's why I had to tell you about it.

"You will, give them a minute."

"Shouldn't we be running?" Michelle adds helpfully.

"No." I shake my head. "First rule of going on the run is don't run, walk."

"We're not going on the run, I don't even know if—" Michelle argues with me before the sirens audibly starts up, close enough for her to hear them.

"Oh sh—" She yelps, then moves to run before I grab her wrist and pull her to me.

"No!" I tell her, just before somebody shouts.

"COPS! RUN!"

Screams of terrified teens and party goers break out all around us before I pull Michelle farther down our alley, then take a left in between two garages.

Okay. Okay okay. Stay calm. I've got everything I need to get us out of this here with me. I know how to escape people, know how to hide.

I need a way out.

"C'mon." I smile at Michelle, who is looking all around, terrified before finally locking onto me.

"You sure?"

"Sure of what?" I ask, then start farther down this new alley.

Michelle drags her feet ,giving me a worried look. "You sure about this? It could be a trap?"

"Yeah." I laugh away her concern.

My ear should be talking by now.

"Hello?" I reach up and hit the manual 'push to talk' button. "Could really use some help here."

"Hill's already on the horn. Happy should be coming to get you." Romanoff instantly informs me. "Hi, by the way. Sorry about the party."

"Wasn't that fun anyway." I shrug, then look back to Michelle.

"Who are you talking to?"

"Some friends. C'mon." I smile at her. "Ride's already on its way."

"Really? How?"

I smile at Michelle to reassure her as we keep walking. "Called ahead."

"Okay. I'm off the phone with Happy." Hill announces herself authoritatively. "He's coming to get you, but you're going to have to work your way to him a little bit."

"Okay." I nod and Michelle leans closer to me. "Tell me how."

"Stay in the shadows, in the alleys." Romanoff instructs me. "Keep your head down and don't run. Don't act guilty."

I nod, then smile back at Michelle, who is leaning dangerously close to my face. "Okay."

"Maybe have her hold your hand or something. Make it look like you're a couple on a nighttime stroll." Hill volunteers. Michelle instantly darts away from me, looking alarmed.

She heard that.

"Can you hear through my earpiece?"

"Kind of." Michelle confesses before I glance around us.

Kids are still running about fifty feet away, vaulting the fence.

"Don't worry about them." I tell Michelle, then smile. "They're helping."

"But if it—" She starts, sounding panicked.

"No." I cut her off. "Just keep walking. C'mon. Deep breaths."

Michelle instantly shakes her head. "There's no way, I mean, there's bound to be cops all around, looking for us and—"

"No." I stop dead in front of her and grab both of her hands. "Easy. Calm down. Okay? I need you to stay calm with me. Okay?"

Michelle looks down at her hands before I say "Copy me, do what I do okay? Deep breath in…" She inhales, then I exhale. "And out."

"In…And out."

Good.

"Now we're gonna be fine. I've been in way worse spots, and I only got out because I was calm. How else do you think I got away from those stupid aliens down near Union Square?"

Michelle shrugs before I pull her into motion again. "I don't know. You've never said."

"I kept calm. Kept breathing. Kept talking. Kept thinking."

"Nice, holding her hand." Romanoff quips, before I turn around and spot a security camera attached to a garage.

"Shut up." I bark, before Michelle looks past me, spots the camera and immediately gives it the finger.

"I like her attitude." Hill adds.

"Glad somebody does…" I roll my eyes, then tilts my head for us to keep walking.

I need more information.

"Karen, give me locations of all the squad cars around us. And mark Happy's position please." I say, then press my right wristband, causing a 3-D map to appear.

"Holy shit…" I hear Michelle beside me as I decipher the information.

This isn't too bad. Most of the cards are spread out to Michelle and I's right. And we're slowly going left. We can avoid the one or two cars that re over here by us.

"Who is Karen?"

"Who I'm talking to." I lie to MJ, then refocus.

If we go another two blocks, then cut left three blocks, then…I think we'll make it.

I mark a spot on the map, then deactivate it. "You get that?" I ask Hill.

"Yeah."

Romanoff adds "You thinking about cutting across?"

"Yup."

"I'll tell Happy to park down by where you marked." Hill volunteers.

"Thank you."

"Say Karen again. Throw her off." Romanoff orders me.

"Thank you Karen." I smile, then look back to Michelle, who looks stunned.

"Yeah." I laugh. "You can't talk about this."

Michelle blinks at me for an instant, then nods. "Yeah, I figured. Where are we going?"

"Up here for two blocks, then cutting over three, then straight down to our ride." I explain, then smile.

"And you're sure that's safe?"

"Yeah." I nod.

"That's what your fancy map said?" I nod again, only for her to give me a skeptical look. "You'd better be right."

I smile at her reassuringly. "I will be. Now c'mon." Together we start off again, Michelle holding my hand in hers.

"Aww."

Romanoff.

I ignore her and continue walking for a few more steps before I hear somebody coming at a run behind us.

"Behind you, to your left." Hill barks out. Easily, I sidestep, bringing MJ with me, allowing the kid to sprint right past us at a dead run before he careens into some garbage cans.

"Idiot." I mutter, then pull her across the way.

Anybody that's around us had to have heard that.

"Why?"

"We're improvising." I explain, turning left just a little early.

I was going to keep going, but now I'm sure—

"I heard one this way, he must have hit some garbage cans or something!" An authoritative voice calls out, before I see terror flash across MJ's face.

"We're good. We're—" I keep reassuring her, taking the turn blindly and—

Oh shit. Brick wall. It's a dead end.

"O…kay." I finish my sentence lamely.

Think.

Vault over it?

I can easily, but not MJ.

This wall is like ten feet tall. With some recycling bins in front of it.

Great.

"Peter?" MJ looks to me for an answer.

I got it.

"You got a plan?" Hill asks sarcastically. "Or do I need to come up with one?"

"Peter, just vault the damn wall!" Romanoff barks out. "We can explain that shit later!"

"Nope!" I tell both of them, stepping forward and pushing the bins back.

Laser.

"Karen."

"Ready! Right hand." She tells me instantly.

"Thank you…step back." I step in front of Michelle.

"What are you doing?"

Forcibly, I stick my wrist out, and a small laser pointer pops out of my wrist, then fires right where I'm pointing.

C'mon.

The brick sizzles ominously, but cuts through it like butter as I quickly make an escape for us about five feet off the ground, then step forward and tentatively push the cut brick back, only for it to comply easily.

Empty alley. PERFECT!

"C'mon…" I tell Michelle, who is rooted where she's standing, mouth agape. "Michelle!" Calling her name stirs her into action and she darts past me, giving me enough time to reset the brick just before—

"This way!" The same voice calls out as their footsteps approach us on the other side of the wall, then race right past us.

"Oh my god." I hear MJ say, sounding awed, then glance back to see her clinging to my shirt.

"We're okay." I give her another reassuring smile. "I told you."

She lets out another shallow breath, then glances up at me. "What the hell is that?"

"Nanotech. Mr. Stark and I worked on it together. He gave me these as a reward. Can do almost anything I need them to." I explain, then shoot MJ a smile before starting off again.

"You worked on the Iron Man suit? The one he used with all those gadgets?"

"I never said that." I laugh, then pull her into an empty opening.

Now we can just walk down this hill.

"But you just used a freaking laser! That cut through that brick like it was nothing!" Michelle hisses loudly, clearly in disbelief. "And it somehow became an earpiece for you to talk to people. How in the—"

TOO LOUD!

"Hey." I pull her close to me, which instantly shuts her up. "Breathe. Okay. In…" Michelle immediately obeys, inhaling, then letting out the breath. "Out. In…Out…" I encourage her, then squeeze her hand reassuringly. "We're almost there, then we'll get you home. C'mon."

"I…" She starts, then stops herself and nods at me strongly. "How much further?"

"Not very far." I answer, then peek out to the empty side street. "Foot of this hill."

Happy should be in a black car like he always is.

Double checking one more time, I wave for MJ to follow me, then keep to the shadowy side of the street and start descending the hill. A few steps in, she decides to grab my wrist unprompted, but doesn't actually say anything while we keep walking down.

"Karen, give me that map again."

While Karen loads up the map, Hill adds "Happy is within a mile Peter. It looks like there is a large storage building just before the street that you can use for cover until he pulls up."

"Copy." I nod, then look at my map again.

Everything to the right. Not to tell them how to do their job, but they're doing a lousy job of covering a perimeter on this side.

"Is it me, or are they not covering one side of things?" Michelle pipes up behind me just as I deactivate the map.

Her face falls as I nod. "No, you're right."

"Why though?"

"Dunno." I shrug, then pull her along behind me. "I think they're betting they got the drop on most of the people."

Even though a lot of people ran.

Together, we make it down the hill, and I spot the storage shed Hill is talking about just as an unmarked black car pulls up to the curb just ahead to the right.

"That's him. C'mon."

As I glance back to her, she gives me an insecure look before asking "You sure?"

"Yeah. It's all part of the plan."

"You first."

Okay.

I nod, then smile and lead the way, first to the sidewalk, then pull open the backdoor and hold it open for her.

"Oh wow, Hill said you might—" Happy starts just before he spots Michelle, then quickly stops talking.

"Hi. Thank you." MJ says earnestly before smiling at Happy.

"No problem. I wasn't doing anything. Just binging Cake Wars." He answers, then turns and gives me a significant look while I hop in and Michelle slides directly behind him.

Cake Wars?

"Cake Wars? Sounds fun."

"Pepper loves HGTV." He explains as I shut the door and he pulls away from the curb. "Nice little escape plan you hatched. How'd you get out?"

"Heard them coming. Ducked behind some recycling bins to avoid a rent-a-cop. Wasn't bad." Happy makes a face in the mirror as he pulls a U-turn to avoid to police blockade that's surely waiting for us up ahead.

If he goes down a few blocks, I bet he can avoid all of it.

"Rent-A-Cop?"

"Yeah. He just ran right past us."

"Hmm. You didn't have to use any of Tony's tech?"

Tony.

Michelle's head instantly snaps to me as I reply "The map. And earpiece. Nothing too fancy."

"Yeah." He says as I reach up and pull out my earpiece. "Good story though."

"And it's always good to know that when you're all alone, and your friends are in trouble, what you're going to do. A lot of people freeze up." Happy's expression suddenly turns serious before he fixes me with a glance in the mirror.

Why's he keep looking at me like that? Stop it Happy. You're making it super awkward.

I shift in my seat and answer "I've seen worse. Just a rent-a-cop."

"True. Tony'd be proud of you. Probably make some comment about being a teenage delinquent, like he wasn't one himself…"

"Yeah, probably." I laugh.

At least it's not a one way ticket or raising puppies.

The three of us fall into an awkward silence, broken up by Happy strumming the steering wheel and Michelle's sporadic texting.

Probably talking to Betty or her Mom and Dad—

Speaking of texting.

"Her parents aren't home. Both are working. Home is deserted." – Hill

That's…weird. Explains why she came out tonight, or at least why she wanted to leave the house and watch TV.

But it's a Friday.

"Thanks. I'll tell Happy to take her home, then drop me. Thanks for all your help."

Setting my phone in my lap, I glance out and see off in the distance, red and blue lights flash off the sides of the buildings, just before Happy takes the entrance onto the highway. "Okay. Where am I going?"

"New—"

OH JEEZ.

Michelle fixes me with a death glare and starts violently shaking her head. "—There's a new roadway construction this way Happy. I think. Going to my place."

Oh that sounded stupid.

"Really?" Happy fires back. "I came over this bridge on the way down. You sure?"

"Kind of, my ride took a weird route. So I assumed so."

Happy frowns for an instant. "So Queens?"

"Yeah." I smile, then glance at Michelle and see her smile and nod subtly just before my phone lights up. "Thanks Happy."

"No problem. Like I said I—"

"What part of 'I'll tell Happy to take her home, then drop me.' Just changed?!"

"I got a lethal look and improvised."

I need to text May.

Before I can swipe over, Hill's already replied.

"Already on with May. She says it's fine. Already told her about Michelle's house being empty. She volunteered as you blabbed on."

"I kind of blabbed."

He bought it.

"You totally blabbed. If Happy was smarter he wouldn't have fallen for it. Lucky."

Yeah, well…lucky me I guess.

"How's your aunt?" I hear Happy say, and I glance up from my phone, into the mirror, only for Happy to already be waiting for me.

"She's fine." I shrug. "Same as always."

"Still trying to find a place to volunteer?"

How'd he…?

"Yeah? How'd you know that?"

Happy replies "She told me."

"When?"

"When I've talked to her."

"When's that been?"

He hasn't seen May since Happy dropped me off a few weeks ago. When May hid from him.

"I'm not detailing my whereabouts to a couple of teenagers." Happy defies me.

"I think I should know who my Aunt's talking to."

"I don't." Happy snaps back, then blindly flips on the radio.

AHHH!

The radio comes to life, blaring some heavy rock music, causing MJ and I to clap our hands over our ears before Happy scrambles to turn it down. "My bad my bad…"

Michelle quickly retorts "Yeah, I know your ears are bad."

"Hey." Happy snaps back. "Metallica is meant to be played loud."

"Not loud enough for the dead to hear."

I laugh, and Happy quickly turns back to me. "Don't laugh at me."

"Why not?"

"You'll understand one day. Good cover music."

Cover music?

I glance at Michelle, who gives me a confused look before Happy settles in on a classic rock station on satellite radio.

"I think he likes your Aunt." – Michelle

Not you too…

I flip my phone over and glance at the window, watching as we cross the bridge, then navigate side streets all the way home, where Happy pulls into the visitor's parking spot on the curb before following us as we hop out of the car. "I think he knows where we're going." Michelle tells Happy, who turns and glances down at Michelle.

"I know."

Michelle replies "Then why are you following us?"

"It's my job to make sure you two get home safe. Missy."

"It's Michelle."

Happy rolls his eyes as the elevator arrives and we all pile in. "Yeah, I know that."

Okay you two, that's enough.

I squeeze in between the two of them just before Michelle presses '7' and for the door to close.

"You know which floor?" Happy gives her a surprised look.

Michelle turns around to retort, looking frustrated before I cut her off. "Okay, okay. Enough."

"Yeah." Happy says behind me. "Enough."

"No." I whip around and frown at him. "Both of you. C'mon…"

It's been a long night. Don't make this worse.

"You can't 'c'mon' me, I'm the adult here. It's my job to—"

"Your job? You mean flirting with Peter's aunt?"

Oh jeez.

The instant the elevator door opens, I shove MJ in front, then hold Happy behind me for three steps, then follow behind her as MJ leads the three of us to my door. "Thanks Happy." I say, trying to make peace before reaching out and knocking twice on the door while making sure Happy and Michelle can't try and kill each other.

"Oh good, you made it." May says, throwing open the door. "C'mon in dear."

Michelle slides past May and I quickly follow. "I think I picked up my room…"

I know I made my bed at least. New-ish sheets too.

"Don't worry about it." Michelle laughs. "You should see my room right now. It's a mess."

She lightly pushes my door open, revealing my mostly clean room, except with a couple of shirts, along with a stray sock and my pajama pants near the bathroom door. "My bad, sorry…"

Again, Michelle laughs at me, then tosses her purse at my bed. "At least it smells decent. You do laundry enough to prevent the boy smell."

"Boy smell?" I repeat her.

What's that mean?

Michelle laughs, then points me toward the door. "You might wanna…"

"Right." I nod quickly. "You hungry?"

"Nah. I'll make popcorn."

Looks like she's getting what she wants after all.

"Right." I nod, then grab the edge of my door and peer out at where May and Happy are talking, just before May bends over, giggling.

Oh no.

I leap out into the living room in time to hear "—well let me know, I'd love to show you the place. Prices aren't bad either."

"I'd love to." May says, her voice a slightly higher pitch than normal.

"Jut text me and let me know when. I love where you threw up the new painting by the way." Happy says flirtatiously before smiling at May.

May returns the smile just before Happy sees me over her shoulder, and his smile disappears, causing May to turn back to me. "Thanks Happy."

"No problem." He answers, not even giving me a second of his time before looking back to May. "I—"

"Bye." I grab the front door and start to close it on Happy.

"No, no bye—HEY!" He protests before I shut the door, then lock the deadbolt and turn back to May.

"What just happened?"

May gives me an offended look. "Nothing. None of your business Mr. 'I just brought my girlfriend over at midnight giving your Aunt no warning or time to change her clothes'!"

"I don't think he minded all that much." I counter to May, who crosses her arms, still wearing a strapped shirt and baggy pants. "And she's not my girlfriend."

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. You can't tell me who to talk to Peter Parker." May stalks away from me. "I was just saying thank you to the man who bailed your ass out!"

"I bet!" I call after May, just before she slams her bedroom door shut angrily, causing Michelle to laugh behind me in the kitchen.

"She totally likes him." I can't stop a groan before I glance up at the ceiling helplessly.

Why? Why does it have to be me?

I'd better go grab the stuff for my bed from the office.

Before I really give May a reason to kill me.