Spider-Man reached the roof where his clothes were. It would've been hard to miss. Now that the chickens were out of their coop. He quickly got dressed in his dress clothes, but he didn't put his jacket back on.

His clothes were very rumpled due to being packed away in a hurry. With his spider suit safely stored inside the hidden pocket of his messenger bag, he walked to the ledge planning to climb down the narrow gap between the two buildings. There was only enough room for the gutter runoff and a limber Spider-Man.

"Hey, you!"

Peter jumped and turned to face a woman. She was in her late fifties. The woman appeared to be of Korean descent. The language she spoke sounded Korean. She yelled at him in her native language. She pointed at the chickens and him and all around the roof. Peter got the gist of it. He held up his hands and tried to explain that they were already loose.

"You, put back!"

"Yes, ma'am!" Peter said, feeling berated. He just talked back to an older woman. Aunt May would be so disappointed in him. He put down his messenger bag and then flicked his jacket. He stared the chickens down. All the chickens quieted and turned to stare at him in unison. "Toro, toro!"

One of the chickens stretched out its neck and clucked. Peter took that as his cue. He had two in his jacket and inside the coop before the other chickens could react. Then they all began clucking and running at him to peck him.

"Ow, ow! Cut it out!" He couldn't avoid all the beaks or the claws. His spider-sense warned him, but there were too many. And if he webbed some chicken beaks being careful not to clog the nostrils, no one was the wiser. The webbing would dissolve on its own. So it didn't count as animal cruelty. It was self-defense of sharp beaks and claws. He believed that the chickens would not suffer any trauma from it. If anything, they might steer clear of him next time he ended up on their roof. Maybe. Hopefully.

Peter finished putting the chickens away in record time. The woman was laughing. The chickens were quiet in their coop. Peter's pants and shirt had a few holes, but that was fine. Hardly noticeable. The woman gestured for him to follow her downstairs. She offered to feed him, but Peter said he had to go. He apologized for all the trouble. However, the woman wouldn't let him leave empty-handed.

Peter fished his phone out of the messenger bag when he felt it vibrating. He saw he had almost a dozen missed calls and plenty of text messages from faculty, but most were from Todd.

While Peter looked through his messages and answered a few texts, the woman quickly put together a dosirak and handed it to him. He smiled and thanked her. She waved him off, and Peter left in a hurry.

Peter had let Mr. Acosta know that he'd walked a student to the bus stop and was off campus grounds when the chaos started. He explained that in his haste to find cover following others to safety, he hadn't paid attention to his surroundings and got lost. Peter forgot that his phone was in his messenger bag on silent like it always was during class. He apologized and said he was heading back.

Five minutes later, he was back at the school. He entered through a side entrance since the school was on lockdown. Security was waiting for him since they received word from Mr. Acosta to allow him entry.

All the students were in the auditorium with faculty overseeing them. There was a movie playing from a projector while the students ate pizza. Peter slowly walked in and was noticed right away by the faculty. He smiled and waved at them, mouthing that he was okay. He stood in the back of the auditorium. None of the students had seen him.

You look like shit, Peter.

Thxs Traci. I aim to please.

Your aim needs sorting.

Are you volunteering?

Not tonight.

Another night?

Maybe.

Peter looked up from his phone to look at her from across the auditorium. She smiled at him and then looked down and away before looking back. Peter grinned at her. Is she flirting with me? He winked at her, and she rolled her eyes. Her attention was taken away by a few students that were getting rowdy. Maybe I misread that?

"Hey."

Peter turned to see Todd looking him over. He saw him frown and reach out to pinch the fabric of his clothes.

"Why are there holes in your shirt? And pants?" He was frowning as if trying to figure out what made them.

"Chickens," Peter said and chuckled. I didn't think they were that noticeable.

Todd gave him a strange look and mouthed the word chickens.

"A whole coop. I don't think the chickens liked me."

"Are you telling me that chickens did this?"

"Yes?" Peter said and shrugged. "They didn't want to go back into their coop."

"And why did you have to put them in their coop?" Todd was smirking at him. He plucked a feather out of Peter's hair. He held it up and snorted.

"Uh, that's a story for another time." Peter started to get embarrassed. He pulled at his clothes and realized he really did look like shit. Peter hadn't even realized that there were feathers in his hair. He ran a hand through it and pulled out a few more. "I should probably get cleaned up?"

Mr. Acosta was staring at them. He had his phone out. Todd had sent him a message. He made a shooing motion and turned his attention back to his secretary.

"Come on," Todd said and nudged Peter on the shoulder to get him walking.

"Where are we going? We just passed the faculty room with a perfectly working bathroom," Peter said as he followed Todd down the empty and quiet hallways.

"The gym. There is a closet full of clean, wrinkle-free, less holey gym clothes. And you desperately need to change. It's bad enough you're a science geek. You don't also want to be that weird teacher who looks like the crazy guy who lives down the street."

"But I am the crazy guy who lives down the street," Peter told him casually.

"Yeah, but the children don't need to know that."

"Aw, you want to protect the children. You big softie, you."

"Shut it."

Peter laughed.

Peter got cleaned up and dressed in the clothes provided to him; straight, cardinal red track pants, a long sleeve, white tee with the school name on the front in green letters and the school mascot on the back. The school mascot was the Italian wolf. The design was line art; an abstract wolf head in black.

Peter couldn't do much about the pants, but he did dress a size higher in the tee. He drew the line on accentuating his body in front of hormonal teens. Peter didn't mind wearing a skin-tight suit while being Spider-Man. He needed mobility when he fought, swung, and did anything else as Spider-Man. He needed people to see him as occasionally clumsy, weak, and a science geek while in his Peter persona.

To thank Todd for the change of clothing and for helping him remove the feathers from his hair, he shared his dosirak. And it was delicious. Peter would have to track the woman down to return the container and compliment her on the tasty dish.

The principal announced the lockdown once they received word from authorities that the danger had passed. If any students wanted to contact their parents or guardians to pick them up, they could. He mentioned that unless their parents or guardians came to the school, they would stay on campus until the last bell.

Students were allowed to use the library or the courtyards to relax. The auditorium and a few classrooms would be open as study halls or reading rooms. The gym would also be available for light workouts. And the cafeteria would be open for anyone who would like to speak to a counselor alone or in a group.

Peter opened up his classroom as a study hall. A few students came by to do homework. A few read quietly to themselves. And two fell asleep after spending some time in a group session with the counselor. No one was in the mood to talk. So Peter graded papers and readied his lesson plans for the next day until the last bell.

After school, Todd took him to a Pub. They sat down at the bar to order burgers and fries. Todd asked for bottled water. Peter ordered a Coke but got weird looks. Especially from Todd.

"You don't sell Coca-Cola? Or any Soda?"

"Oh, you meant Soder Cola."

"Uh, Soder. Yeah. Sorry I've been out of town for a bit. Where they called it Coca-Cola, tourists called it Coke for short."

"Yeah, sure, buddy. I'll get your soder," the bartender said with a roll of his eyes.

"Where abouts do they call it Coke?" Todd asked, obviously humoring Peter.

"Uh, you know, in some of the more colorful neighborhoods of New York."

"Colorful," Todd said and snorted. "Sure."

"Hey! I'm not making this up. Unless I am? My memory is a little spotty sometimes." Peter rubbed the back of his neck. Todd's eyes softened, and he dropped the sarcasm.

As soon as they paid their tab, someone came up to them. Peter heard them walking up and turned towards them casually as if he were about to stand up. Peter did a double take. It was a tall, muscled, blond male. Peter mistook him for his childhood bully before the guy started to chuckle.

"Look who we got here, guys?" he said to the two guys following him.

"Uh, do I know you?" Peter said and tilted his head slightly. Todd had turned towards them but stayed seated.

"Aw, you break my heart, Sissy Ritchie."

Sissy? This guy is just like the idiot who bullied me throughout high school.

"Sorry, guy. I don't know you, but you reminded me of Johnny Bravo for a moment."

Jason snapped his fingers. "I see it."

"I look like that idiot to you?"

Peter side-eyed Jason, who gave a so-so motion with his hand. "The cartoon version was at the very least handsome even if he was a tool."

Peter chuckled. The sound of amusement had cut short when his spider-sense went off. Everything was moving in slow motion for him. He saw the moment the Johnny lookalike pulled his fist back. He was staring at Todd, who was chuckling.

Peter stood up and pretended to slip. Todd reached out and grabbed his left arm to steady him. Peter windmilled his right arm as if to catch his balance. Then he used his flailing limb to sock Johnny in the gut. Peter got a lucky hit to his chin when Johnny folded in on himself.

Peter let his feet slide in place for a few more seconds. He grabbed onto Todd's hand, which was still gripping his left bicep, and stopped all movement. He looked at Johnny in fake surprise.

"Sorry, guy," Peter said and chuckled deprecatingly. "But if you truly know me, you'd know how clumsy I am."

"You're dead."

Todd helped Peter to stand upright. Then he stood and took a step forward. He cracked his knuckles and smirked.

"I'm down to kick some ass."

His height and muscle mass were intimidating. The two guys with Johnny helped him up and began to mumble excuses. They pulled their friend away and left the pub.

Peter began to laugh. Todd looked at him with a smug smile.

"Out!" said the bartender as he pointed to the door.

Peter sighed as Todd ushered him outside.

"Just be grateful he didn't say, 'and don't come back!'"

When Peter didn't answer, Todd turned back to see him frozen.

"Peter, what's wrong?" Todd looked around but didn't see anything.

Peter took a step forward and said weakly, "Jess—?"

Todd followed his line of sight to see a woman standing in front of a shop. She was a tall, pretty brunette. The woman wore a leather motorcycle jacket paired with low-rise skinny jeans and combat boots. She turned to look at them and then focused on Peter. Her mouth opened slightly in surprise.

"Jessica? Is that really you?" Peter said softly. Todd doubted the woman heard him.

"Ritchie! Oh, my god!" she said with a huge grin.

"Jessica?" Peter said again. This time the woman heard him.

She pouted for a second, then grinned. "Jenny."

"I'm Peter, actually," Peter said. His mouth felt dry. She said, Ritchie. Ritchie, not Peter. She isn't Jessica.

"I'm Jenny, silly," the woman said and giggled. "Though I didn't think you knew my name. Not even back then. Do you actually remember me? I mean, I heard about the…" she gestured to her head.

"I'm sorry," Peter said and rubbed the back of his neck. "I…you looked like someone that went to school with me. I thought you were Jessica."

"Jennifer. Davis," she said and smiled sweetly. "We went to high school together. We were in the same science class. I sat right behind you." She waved her hands down by her hips as if to say, 'That was me.'

"Oh. Geez. You are Jessica," Peter said and grinned. Todd elbowed him. Peter grunted and then shook his head. "I mean. The Jessica I thought you were. So, your name is Jennifer? Jenny?"

She nodded.

"Wow," Peter said and ran a hand through his hair. "I…" had a dream about you the other night. I hope I didn't say that out loud. "How are you?"

"Is that Ritchie?" A man said. He walked up to them and stood next to Jenny. He was tall and built like a tank. There was a toddler, a little girl, in his arms.

"He prefers Peter now," Jenny stage whispered.

Peter's eyes widened. "Luke?"

"It's Mark," he said coldly, then mumbled, "Never did get my name right."

"He called me Jessica," Jenny said with a giggle. "I can't believe you actually remember me."

"Oh, here we go," Mark mumbled under his breath.

"Who's this beautiful creature?" Peter said, walking up to Mark but looking at the little girl, who was smiling at him. She reached out to him. And with a questioning glance at Mark, she was handed over. "Hey there, baby girl?"

"This is Dani. She just turned two," Jenny said.

"Two and cute as a button," Peter said, smiling down at the little girl, who was trying to pull his cheeks apart. Peter chuckled and then nuzzled his nose with Dani's. He handed her back to Mark, who was looking at him in awe.

"You're—" Mark said and cleared his throat. "You're surprisingly good with her. She usually screams at strangers."

"Oh, I'm not sure I believe you," Peter said and looked at Dani, who was babbling nonsense. "She's an angel."

Jenny and Mark looked at one another and laughed.

"I don't get the joke. But if you ever need a baby—"

"Yes!" Mark and Jenny said in unison.

Todd raised his eyebrows. Peter hadn't even finished his offer.

"Oh, well, I didn't think you'd actually say yes. But sure. Just say when."

"Friday night!" Jenny said. Mark nodded. "We desperately need a date night."

"And all our babysitters quit before we even leave the house," Mark said, sounding desperate."

"Don't get us wrong. We love Dani," she said and turned towards her little girl. She smiled then her voice took a high pitch to baby talk to her. "But mommy and daddy need a date night. Yes, we do."

Dani giggled and clapped.

Peter chuckled. "Hey, it's okay. I already volunteered. Friday night. Just need some phone numbers and an address."

Peter pulled out his phone. Jenny grabbed it and quickly added their information. She added babysitting to his calendar with a couple of alarms for Friday before she texted herself.

"Don't forget," she said as she handed him the phone.

"No problem. I'll be there. Scouts honor," Peter said with a two-finger salute. Todd snorted. "Oh, this is Todd. A colleague and friend."

Todd nodded at the couple.

"It's nice to meet you," Jenny said. "And good to see you again, Rit–I mean, Peter. See you on Friday?"

"Friday," Mark reiterated and pointed at Peter before he waved. They walked away and talked animatedly to one another.

"Nice friends," Todd said after a beat. "Couldn't wait to take advantage of your offer."

"It's fine," Peter said with a shrug. "I mean, I'm not looking forward to changing diapers. But I'm happy to reconnect with them. Other than you and Aunt Mila, I don't really know anyone here. It gets a little lonely."

Even if they weren't Jessica and Luke, I'd be happy to get to know them. And to think Ritchie actually knew them. Is it odd that I don't feel like a fraud anymore? That I'm starting to believe I belong here? My place here is solidifying little by little. I can sense it more than feel it.

Peter took a few steps before he turned to see Todd rooted in his spot.

"Uh, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," Todd said and made his way toward him. "I was going to head to the library. Want to join me?"

"Oh, sure," Peter said with a grin. "Can we go to the one at Gotham U? I wanted to get caught up on recent scientific journals."

Todd gave him a funny look and then shook his head as if he veered to another line of thought. "Don't you need to be an alumnus to have access?"

"It's open to the public until nine during the week. Unfortunately, the library closes early on the weekends."

"Huh. Well, okay. I'm game."

Peter grinned. "Let's go!"