Chapter 3 – Friends
Peter was struggling even more with his spider sense. It would not stop going off. Sometimes it felt like a shearing burning pain others it was better. He knew he was being watched but he didn't see anyone. Everyday it kept getting worse but he still didn't tell anyone. Logically he knew he should, but they had a baby on the way. The Avengers were busy looking for Hydra, and taking down bases. Until he got a call.
"Ned wake up man" Peter said walking into his friends room. It was almost 8 and classes started in less than 20 minutes. He did not feel like being that kid.
"I'm up, I'm up" Ned said drowsy. To be honest it was their fault. They had binged five too many star wars movies. It was originally going to be half of one but…they may have gotten carried away.
Peter left and came back in a few minutes later with an cup of ice water that he abruptly poured on his friends head successfully waking him up. Ned groaned, and Peter crossed his arms.
"get up" he said. Is this what I'm like when Tony wakes me up he thought. He shook the thought away. Thinking about Tony hurt, he missed his dad a lot. Missed his newly acquired family. He wanted to go back but he knew he couldn't.
Peter dished Ned up some eggs that he had made that morning. Unlike May he considered himself an excellent cook. He usually made the dinners while Ned helped clean up. Peter wanted to keep the place looking nice because it was Tony's.
"Ready for your first day of college" Peter said enthusiastically. Laughing at Ned's glare.
"Are you for real dude" Ned said mockingly. "I am in no way excited to be an independent free young adult about to get the best education"
"rude" Peter mumbled playfully, rolling his eyes.
"Are you and MJ still a thing?" Ned asked.
"Yeah, I think we're going to last for a long time" Peter says hopefully.
"me too man" Ned replies.
He finished up breakfast after a few more minutes. They both grab their bookbags and start making their way to campus. They have most of the same classes together courtesy of Stark. Tony insists its just because their both smart.
Even though Peter was excited he was still incredibly nervous for his first day. This was supposed to be the next new exciting chapter in his life but he couldn't help thinking about his family at home. He's lost in thought when Ned snaps him out of his trance.
"Did you hear anything I just said" Ned asks, amusement written all of his face. Now its Peters turn to roll his eyes.
"No. I-" Peter's spider sense goes off. "Duck" he almost yells to his friend and then they bend down. Peters squeezes his eyes shut waiting for impact but nothing happens. When he stands up straight there's just a lot of people giving the two a strange look.
Peter laughs nervously. "Sorry. Continue" he says motioning towards where they were heading. Ned glares at him.
"Dude! You're going to make us freaks" he says. Peter sighs.
"Yeah, yeah. My spider sense has just been acting wonky" He explains.
"did you tell your dad" Ned asks clearly not as angry. More concerned actually.
"No he has a kid on the way" Peter says eyes downcast. He still couldn't believe that he could be was getting a sibling. He already felt like an outsider. Now the couple are going to have a real kid. A kid they can watch grow up, a kid they can love in a way they could never love Peter. They weren't family he was just an orphan trying to force himself into one.
"Hey, are you ok" Ned asked as Peter felt his eyes heat up. Blinking the tears away he nodded.
"Yeah why wouldn't I be" He replied with a laugh. Ned glanced at him questioning one last time. Seemingly satisfied with what he saw he let it go. For now.
Peter nodded to himself mostly. They walked into their first class. Immediately the smell strawberry perfume hit his nose and he fought the urge to run out of the room and barf. He sat down in his seat and prepared his notebook for the lecture. He chose the back of the room, with his super hearing he could hear even back here and gave the students without it the privilege of sitting at the bottom. Suddenly a girl tapped his shoulder.
"hello" she said. He knew immediately this was strawberry perfume girl.
"Hey…" He said slowly turning around awkwardly. She had strawberry blonde hair. Pretty, no doubt about it but something about her was off. She wasn't dangerous, because his spider sense didn't go off but just something about her.
"You're Peter Parker right?" She asked melodically.
"Move it Popz" A girl said from behind her. Perfume girl fumed up at the other before moving out of the way.
"Hey I'm Mary Jane" She said smiling. She reminded Peter of MJ. She sat down next to him the opposite side of Ned.
"That's my seat" Popz..was that her name? Said.
"Not anymore. Go away Gwen" Mary said annoyed. Gwen huffed and sat a in front of Mary. Mary didn't seem to care, as she guided them towards the other end just before the professor began.
"Who was that" Peter asked when the class let out.
"Who?" Mary asked gathering her books.
"popz" Peter replied. Mary laughed.
"Gwen. She went to my high school she thinks she's popular. She's really stinky" Mary said smirking. "Tries to get all the cool guys."
Peter made a face. "cause I'm spiderman?"
"Yep" Mary said popping the P. "When is your lunch?"
"one o'clock" He replied. He memorized his schedule.
"Same. Come find me" She said and they split off. Ned was dumbstruck.
"Dude, you just met another girl" Ned said astounded.
"Yeah man, girls go to school" Peter said sarcastically.
"I mean you have MJ dude" Ned protested.
"What? Do you think I'm going to cheat or something" peter asked giving his friend a questioning look.
"no. Not really" Ned said quietly. Peter laughed.
"I'm not going to cheat." He reassured.
"Good. She's pretty" Ned crooned.
"Oh my gosh" Peter said going into his next class.
The first days classes so far were pretty successful. Peter was excited for his lunch. Mary seemed nice and like she would protect his nose from Gwen. That sounded weird.
"Over here boys" Gwen shouted in the café motioning them over to her table. Peter wrinkled his nose glancing for Mary. She rolled her eyes and flagged them over. Silently.
"Hey Mary" Peter said sitting down. Next to her were a few other girls and boys.
"Hi I'm Greg" One of them said.
"I'm Lincoln" Another added.
"And I'm Lucy" the other girl replied brushing her auburn hair out of her face.
"And I'm Gwen" Gwen said loudly walking over to their table. She squished herself in between Mary and Peter wrapping them both up in her disgusting perfume.
"Excuse me" Mary said annoyed poking at Gwens shoulder. Gwen didn't even twitch too engrossed in her questions she had for Peter. Peter sat their awkwardly torn between shoving the girl away and just answering the questions. He decided on the latter, not wanting to be rude.
"Are you single"
"nope"
"why"
"Why do you care"
"Who is it"
"I don't know who is it?"
"Serious answers please"
"Why"
"Please for me?"
"what did you do for me"
"I sat with you"
"no"
"why"
"ok I'm done" Peter said waving his hand in Gwens face before standing up and moving out. The other people he just met followed him.
"Gosh she's so annoying" Ned commented.
"I know right" Peter replied.
They sat through their next few lectures. It was nice. The boys both believed they would like it here. Besides Gwen harassing them and all that good stuff.
That night when they got back to their dorm house Peter got a call. It scared both of them when they were sitting down for dinner with their newfound friends.
"Hey dad" Peter said happily. Ned laughed at the groups astounded faces when they realized it was the Tony Stark on the phone.
"Peter. I have some news. Wanda disappeared last night" Tony said calmly.
"Wait what?" The laughing stopped immediately as Peter's face fell. "no! Where is she" he asked worriedly.
"We don't know but we're keeping our systems out for her. We wanted to let you know in case you found her."
"Should I come home" Peter asked already blinking away tears.
"No we'll get her soon enough. Just stay safe ok?" Tony said. Peter reluctantly agreed.
"Ok bye dad"
"Bye kiddo"
Peter was crestfallen. Not Wanda! Not his sister1
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"What did you do" William shouted at his brother. Kyle smirked.
"I did it" He announced. Dave came running out.
"You got her?" He asked cautiously.
"Yes" Kyle said pointing to the bag he carried.
"Ok come with me" Dave said leading a smirking Kyle away form a glaring William. They put the witch into her own cubicle.
"Perfect! We got the bait" Dave said smiling.
"Time for you to go to MIT" Dave said to William.
"But I'm the one of who got the girl" Kyle protested.
"Shut it boy" Dave snapped as he led William away to plan. "And don't go out" he added over his shoulder.
"ugh" Kyle groaned.
"Time to get em" William said over the coms. A small group of armed men came out "Lets go" they chanted.