Chapter Twelve

. "I don't-" Peter stuttered as he put his shirt down. Shit. This is what he gets for being nosy and trying to look at his injuries. He should have just waited until he got home. He didn't know if it was good or bad that Flash had found out. At least he wouldn't be overly concern like MJ and Ned would be. Hell, Flash would probably laugh at him. "I'm just-" his voice trailed off, unsure of what to say.

Flash raised an eyebrow. "Who the hell beat you, Parker? It certainly wasn't me."

"I got into a fight outside of school." Peter blurted out. It took him a second to realize that Flash probably wouldn't have believed him. Being in the Academic Decathlon didn't exactly make him gang material.

Flash looked dumbfounded. "You got into a fight?" he looked incredulous. "With who? An angry Teletubby? The marks on your back they look like it came from a belt. Does May-" he hesitated and Peter couldn't believe that Flash was actually showing him pity for once. "Does May hurt you?"

"No!" Peter said a little more loud that necessary. "May would never hurt me. It's not her, I told you I got into a fight Flash. As it turns out I'm not that popular outside of school either." The bell rang and both boys stared at each other. For a second, Peter wished that he could erase memories. He wondered if Flash would deemed him important enough to squeal.

"Here, Parker," much to his surprise Flash threw him a tiny white pill in his direction. When he saw Peter's confused face he elaborated. "It's an Oxaydo pill. It's a oxycodone pill, it will help reduce the pain you are feeling." Flash shrugged. "My dad is a doctor. I can get you more if you get into another fight." He air quoted the last words. He looked like he wanted to say something more, but he stopped. "I'll see you in class, Parker."

The second bell rang and Peter was officially late to Spanish class. He knew that he better hurry, the last thing that he needed was to get another beating. Peter continued looking at the little pill in his hand. He decided he would take it in the evening once everyone had gone to bed. It might give him a good nigh sleep which is something that he desperately needed.

Peter stuffed the pill in his pocket carefully so it was not crushed. This was surprisingly nice of Flash. He couldn't remember the last time he had been kind to him, maybe kindergarten.


"Here."

Peter perked up when MJ dropped something on his tray and he saw that it was a double chocolate chip muffin. Peter looked up surprised as MJ started eating her banana slowly. "Uh, thanks?"

MJ shrugged. "I thought you might want it, since it seems you didn't pick up anything." She pointed towards his empty lunch tray. "Are you trying to keep you trim figure?"

"Not exactly," Peter smiled, he bit off a bit of the chocolate muffin and enjoyed how the chocolate melted off in his tongue. "Thanks!" Ned came running in at that second with this tray full of food. He gave Peter one of his extra sandwiches. "Here, I noticed that you didn't get a chance to get anything."

"Thanks, buddy." His heart warmed up at the thought of MJ and Ned fussing over him. It was a nice feeling especially since everything in his life had not been so nice lately.

"Ok, now that Peter has been fed, we need to talk about important business." MJ said with a raised eyebrow as she pulled out a nicely drawn schedule. "We are competing against Trinity High School next Friday and we need to be on top of our game. You're actually going to attend practice today, aren't you Parker?"

Peter nodded. "I moved my shifts around." They spend the rest of the lunch period talking about strategies and hearing MJ rant about how they were going to crush them. By the time decathlon practice ended after school Peter started feeling like his normal, happy self.

He was just about to grab the bus when he noticed a sleep black car and a red face man waiting for him. Happy. Peter stopped in his tracks and for a second he looked confused. He expected for Tony to be in the back seat of the sleek, black car but he wasn't. "Happy, what are you doing here?"

The man looked uncomfortable and he looked like he regretted coming here in the first place. "I was just in the neighborhood and Tony mentioned that you didn't feel that well yesterday, and I thought. . ." he cleared his throat and finished awkwardly. "Do you want a ride?"

Peter couldn't remember the last time that Happy had offered him a ride if ever, usually Tony had to force him to and even then the older man would do it grumbling all the way which made Peter feel guilty. Happy caught the surprised look on his face and reassured him. "I told you I was in the neighborhood, but if you're going to act all weird about it-"

"No," Peter interrupter as he slipped inside the passenger seat. "I would love a ride."

They spend the rest of the 20 minute ride towards May's apartment talking about which burrow had the best hot dogs. Peter said Queens, but Happy was convince that it was Brooklyn.

By the time that Happy dropped Peter off at his house May was coming in their direction trying to carry a bag of groceries. "May!" Peter jumped out of the car, trying to help her out. Happy stomped on the breaks. "Jesus, kid at least let me stop a moving vehicle first will you?"

"Sorry." Peter flushed as he took the grocery bag from May. May kissed him appreciatively on the forehead. "May, you should have waited I didn't have a shift today-"

May rolled her eyes appreciatively. "Oh, Peter you are such a worry wart, just like Ben. I'm fine, besides I needed to get out of the house, if I watch one more episode of House Hunters I am going to lose it," she looked at Happy. "Thank you for giving Peter a ride. Would you like to join us for dinner?"

"Wow, that's really nice," Happy stumbled with his answer as if May had asked him to marry him. "I haven't had someone cook for me in ages, but the boss man wants me back at HQ."

"Rain Check then." She gave Peter a kiss on the side of his forehead as Peter waved goodbye to Happy. "It's just going to be me and you for dinner, kiddo. I'm making chicken enchiladas." They went towards the apartment as Peter bounced with every step. "Scott is actually going to be staying with one of his buddies tonight watching a football game or something, so it's just going to be us two, just like old times."

Peter relaxed as he felt a wave of relief pass through him. "I'm cool with that."

May nodded as she stared at him. "I've been meaning to tell you, Peter you've been looking a little pale. Are you getting sick?"

"I'm getting a cold, but I should be fine after tonight. Flash gave me some Tylenol."

"Wow, Flash gave you something with no malice attached? Someone call the local press."

-End of Chapter Twelve-

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