Chapter Thirteen

May's chicken enchiladas turned out to be surprisingly edible for the most part. After dinner, May took a shower and then went to her bedroom to watch Dirty Dancing for the 50th time. Peter on the other hand used this opportunity for some much-needed rest since Scott was not here for the night.

Peter had forgotten how nice it was not to be in constant defense mode and Peter planned to use the opportunity to catch up on his homework that had been piling on. Peter took off his clothes and stared at his back in the mirror.

It was slowly healing, and Peter guessed that his healing powers were finally kicking in. He was just a little sore. Peter pulled out the tiny white pill that Flash had given him in the school bathroom while he was being uncharacteristically generous.

He knew that it was a pain pill that could only been given by a prescription which meant that it had to be strong. His eyes started to doze off, he really needed to do homework, but he was just so tired at this was the first time that he had time to relax in weeks. Homework could always wait.

He went to the kitchen and grabbed some water, he paused for a bit before he swallowed the pill. Peter went to bed afterwards feeling his muscles slowly relax as he covered his body with the blanket. It almost felt like an ordinary night when it was just him and May after a long day of school, but the bruises on his back that were slowly healing told him another story.

The next morning Peter woke up to the smell of coffee and an upset stomach. Peter slowly sat up trying to ignore his upset stomach. His back no longer hurt though so it seemed that the pill had slowly done its effect and he had slept well for the first time in weeks, though he could do without the upset stomach.

Peter quickly dressed and he was glad that the belt marks had all but faded and he didn't wince every time he walked. His healing abilities and the pill that Flash had given him seemed to be a miracle worker. Peter quickly dressed and stuffed his work apron inside his backpack since he had a shift after school.

Peter flinched when he entered the kitchen and saw May and Scott laughing over coffee. May turned around and smiled. "Good morning, honey."

"Good morning," Peter said staring at his feet. He hadn't expected Scott to be here, which was probably stupid of him. Where else was he going to go?

"Hi, Pete." Scott said casually as he squeezed May's shoulder. "How was it last night? Did you take care of my best girl? Otherwise there will be consequences."

"Don't tease him." May said as she casually gave his wrist a little slap. "Peter and I ate chicken enchiladas and they were surprisingly edible weren't they Peter? And then we went to bed early."

Peter nodded quickly collaboration on May's story and Scott visibly relaxed. Peter continued looking at the floor. "I'm heading out, I don't want to be late for school. I have a shift today so I'll be late."

"Ok, be careful are you sure that you don't want breakfast-"

"No, I'm fine." Peter said curtly as he left the apartment building. He could feel his body tense up as he went to catch the local bus. He knew that it was too good to be true. He knew that Scott would always come back. Peter closed his eyes, he just wished that May's arm would just heal already.

When he arrived at Midtown he found MJ and Ned already waiting for him. They barely acknowledge him because they were arguing which animal would survive in the unlikely event of an apocalypse. "I'm telling you cockroaches will outlive us all. They will probably eat our corpses."

"Well, gophers would be able to survive first," Ned argued stubbornly. "Or squirrels. They can bury themselves underground and hide until everything is over. Isn't that right, Peter?" When Peter didn't answer MJ and Ned stopped in their tracks. "Peter? Are you listening?"

Peter looked up, feeling half confused and dazed. He wondered if it was some sort of weird side effect of the pain pill that Flash had given him yesterday, but he had taken it hours ago. It must have been some strong muscle relaxer, it made him feel woozy, but in a good way. He was only half listening to MJ and Ned's conversation. He looked up and saw Flash's wavy dark hair, he was showing off his new Gucci bag to his friends. "Hey, Flash wait up!"

Flash flinched slightly when Peter managed to run towards him in order ten seconds. Flash seemed annoyed that Peter was trying to speak to him in public. "What do you want, Penis Parker?"

Flash's friend started giggling, but Peter ignored him. This was too important. "Can I talk to you, in private." Flash looked at his friend and he shrugged as he followed Peter to the boy's bathroom near the basketball courts which was currently empty at the time. "What do you want, Parker? Don't waste my time."

Peter shifted from foot to foot nervously, he didn't know how to ask this exactly and he hated asking Flash for favors. "Well?" Flash asked impatiently. "Hurry up, Parker I don't have all day. What the hell do you want?"

"What I want-" Peter flushed pink. "I was-I was wondering do you think I could have another one of the pills that you gave me yesterday? I only need one. Last night I took the one that you gave me and it really helped. I just need another one for tonight please."

Flash stared at him for a few mind-numbing seconds before he nodded. He pulled out a small orange pill jar from his backpack and handed him another one of the little pills. "Here you go, Parker. Last one, now don't bother me again."

Peter nodded as he shoved the pill in his pocket. "Thank you, Flash."


Peter felt mushy, like he didn't have much energy as he moved boxes of cereal. He desperately wanted to take a nap, but he knew that he had to finish his Spanish homework first and study for his pre-calc exam.

"Peter!" Reggie his manager called after him. "Can you give these to Pablo? He's storing them in the freezer and he forgot about this." Reggie pointed to the containers of vanilla ice cream that were on the floor. Peter nodded as he grabbed the ice cream containers and headed towards the freezer.

Peter shivered as he entered the freezer carrying the ice cream containers. "Pablo?" Pablo was towards the back dabbling with an orange container. He flinched when he heard Peter and nearly dropped it. "Oh, Peter it's just you. I thought it was Reggie." He fumbled with the pill case before he placed it a hidden compartment between the milk crates.

Peter admired Pablo, he was in his 2nd year of law school, he had an internship at a prestigious law firm, and worked part time at the grocery store. Peter wondered how he had so much energy, Peter could barely handle school and work. "You forgot this," Peter said pointing towards the ice cream containers that he was carrying.

Pablo nodded. "Sorry about that, Pete. I'll take them off your hands." He grabbed the containers and headed towards another part of the freezer. Peter shivered as he rubbed his cold shoulders. He cautiously grabbed the pill container that Pablo had hidden and read the tag-PABLO MERCEDES-ADDERALL. It was Pablo's ADHD medication.

Peter briefly remembered when they went over the medication and the condition in health class in middle school. He also remembered that if you didn't have ADHD, the medication worked in the opposite way and gave you more energy and helped you concentrate more.

Peter bit his lip. He was just so tired lately and it was worth the shot, wasn't it? He just needed a little pill to give himself a taste. He just needed more time. More energy. He quickly opened the pill jar and took two pill and put them in his work apron and put it back. Pablo would never notice they were missing.

"Parker!" Reggie grumbled. "What's taking so long? Did you find him?"

Peter looked over his shoulder. "Coming!"

-End of Chapter Thirteen-

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