Peter wasn't sure if sitting beside Wade was a good idea anymore, although to be fair the brunette didn't actually choose to sit together. When the older first transferred the only seat available was at the front of the room but through a surprisingly complex string of switching seats, Wade convinced and occasionally bribed his way into sitting beside Peter. He did this in every class they had together.
In some respects this was a good thing. It was nice to always have someone to talk to and what used to be the somewhat humiliating moments when the teacher would ask the class to pair up and Peter would be left alone has now turned into Wade smacking his hand down on the brunettes desk and calling 'dibs!'
However there came moments like these where it was becoming a bit of an issue. When Wade wasn't particularly interested in the lesson he resorted to either napping, something he was uncannily good at not getting caught doing, or attempting to make the younger laugh. He almost got the two of them detention a handful of times by doing this and, despite the complaints Peter gave, Wade always seemed proud of himself when he got the younger to chuckle.
Peter however, was trying his best not to fall for his friends trap in fear of tarnishing his good record. It wasn't that he was a teacher's pet but he was relying on a future scholarship to get him into secondary education due to his family's lack of funds so he couldn't risk getting in trouble. This meant occasionally ignoring or trying to shush the older no matter how much Wade pouted or how many notes he slipped onto the brunette's desk, which was 7 so far. Wait, scratch that, here came the 8th.
Peter risked a quick glance down at the little folded piece of paper being tossed onto his desk before turning his gaze back up to the teacher who's back with currently to them. Quickly he grabbed the note and slid it under the desk before transferring it to his bag so it could sit among its other unread brethren. He would look them all over later, and probably get a good chuckle out of it, but right now wasn't the time.
Once Peter noticed the teacher was still jotting down notes to be copied up on the board he turned to find a deep pout plastered on his friends face. The brunette mouthed a 'no' and gave a disapproving shake of his head which only served to deepen the elders frown. Peter turned back to the front of the room, knowing that he could, and has been, persuaded by Wade's expressive features. Despite his repeated rejection, the younger could see Wade jotting down something on what was left on his piece of paper out of the corner of his eye. Just as the newest message was being folded up for delivery, a voice called out from the back of the class.
"Miss. Juneifer, can you please get Wade to stop passing notes in class, it's distracting me." Though most students turned to look at Wade but Peter instead turned to see who had caught and outed them. Honestly, Peter wasn't sure whether to feel confused, shocked, or hurt when he realized it was Harry. He decided to go for the first however when his former best friend caught him staring and gave not a smarmy expression but one of pity and guilt, almost like he was sorry. That was also the moment Peter realized that Harry didn't point out who the note was being passed to, only that Wade was the writer and sender of them.
"Again?" Juneifer asked in a tone that suggested she wasn't shocked or angry, more simply tired of having to deal with this again. "Well if it's so important that you have to tell someone in the middle of class why not let us all in on this important information." She asked more than suggested as she turned, placing her hands on either hip. Wade shrug and leaned back in his chair as if it wasn't a problem. As he folded the paper, Peter began to worry. Wade let out a needless throat clearing cough before speaking.
"Don't you wish we could pay someone to do our homework like Harry? Guess that's just rich boy privileges." Peter's mouth fell open but quickly closed it to hold down his chuckle.
"Harry!" Miss. Juneifer exclaimed, walking down the row of desks is so she could stand beside the flabbergasted Harry Osborn. "I thought your last essay seemed a little too professional."
"How did this turn into an attack on me?" As the teacher and student bickered, Wade flashed a cheeky grin at Peter as he held up the note to reveal that it had a crudely drawn picture of a sad face and the words 'why you ignore me like this' written on it.
Peter tried, he really did, but he couldn't quite hold it in. A noise similar to scoff and the beginnings of laughter escaped before he was able to cover his mouth.
"Excuse me?" Miss. Juneifer shot back quickly, causing the brunette's whole body to stiffen in fear.
"Sorry, that was me." Wade said unapologetically, a hand waving behind him as he stared forward. "I just think it's funny watching Rich Boy scramble." Peter didn't even dare looking back to see what Harry's expression was.
"Well don't be thinking you're out of the woods yet. You'll be getting detention after school while I speak to Mr. Osborne."
"Aww come on, I helped you out girl." Wade said in a joking tone that showed he pretty much accepted his sentence.
"Never the less you shouldn't be passing notes in class. Besides this will give you time to finish that Future Plans worksheet." Wade's mood was instantly dampen, his shoulders sagging a bit at the mention of a project that should have been completed several weeks ago.
The last 15 minutes of class went by uneventful and soon enough Peter and Wade found themselves walking the halls.
"I can't believe you threw Harry under the bus like that."
"I didn't throw him under the bus. I dragged him under after he threw me." Wade defended as he stuffed his hands in his hoodie pockets.
"Fare point. And thanks for covering me, sorry you got detention for it though."
"Ehh, I knew I was going to get punished anyway. Besides I don't think an innocent bookworm like you could handle detention." Peter scoffed and rolled his eyes.
"Thanks for the protection. Have fun fighting off those rough and tumble teenagers as you finish your homework." Again the elders cheery mood fell a bit. "Why haven't you finished that assignment. It was one of the easiest we ever got."
"For people who know what they want to do maybe. Look, someone like you has a million doors open for them when it comes to a career. I just don't have a lot going for me."
"Oh come on, there's plenty your good at. Besides, don't try and look at it as what you can do. Look at it more as what you would want to do." Peter suggested. Wade hummed and hawed for a bit, hand raising to his scarred chin to stroke it dramatically.
"I always kind of wanted to be a trophy wife."
"Wade." Peter said in a scolding tone that was lost in laughter.
"Come on, tell me it doesn't sound like a sweet gig! Who wouldn't want to sit at home on their butt and spend there partners money?" Wade asked to which Peter answered after a pause to get his chuckles out.
"Feminists."
"Ooooooo." Wade noised dramatically, throwing his hands up in the air. "Shit Petey."
"But seriously Wade, you need to have a legitimate plan, you know, just in case the first one falls out." Peter said, bringing back the original topic and receiving the same, but not quite as sad, expression.
"I don't know. The only thing I've really considered is joining the Army."
"Army..." Peter repeated quietly as he considered what this meant. "That's... scary."
"Scary?" Wade questioned, looking down at his friend who was still a bit lost in his own mind.
"Yeah. I mean you can do whatever you want but, I just don't like the idea if you leaving for months on end and maybe never coming back." The moment then fell quiet with Peter still imagining what it would be like to have his friend overseas.
"Way to be depressing." Wade said eventually. "What, am I going to disappear and come back to find out you've hooked up with my best friend and you're having his kid?" Wade attempted to add humor to his voice but there was the sort of background concern hiding behind it.
"I am your best friend. " Peter reminded.
"You can get it on with yourself, it'd be kinky."
"Eww." Peter gave the older a light shove which, do to their strength difference, Wade had to pretend to be affected by. They shared a bit of laughter, more so on Peters part before the brunette continued with a light, almost sheepish smile. "Really though, I'd miss you." Peter watch as the olders expression went from one of shock, as if he'd never heard such a thing, to turning his head down and away in a way that blocked Peters view of his face. Usually Peter would let Wade do as he wanted but this time the brunette decided not to let it slide so easily. "You know, you may act all tough and full of jokes but you're actually kind of shy."
"W-what?" Wade asked, finally turning his head to reveal a light blush behind those scars.
"You keep getting all embarrassed when someone says something nice."
"Only, you." Wade said with the first words coming out somewhat strong but he seemed to reconsider halfway through and mumble the second.
"Why?" Peter asked, browse knitting together and head tilting slightly.
"Your-"
"Look at me when you say it, don't be embarrassed." Peter interrupted with an encouraging tone when he spotted the others gaze drifting away. With a sigh, Wade turn back with a bit more confidence.
"Your opinion is the only one I care about." Despite the heat rising to the brunette's cheeks and his urge to turn away in embarrassment, he instead faced his friend. Peter wanted the elder to see all the emotion coming through, wanted to show Wade not just through words but through the blush on his face and the twinkle in his eyes how happy he just made Peter.
Oh my god. I don't know whether to cringe or squee at the cheesiness of the last paragraph. Well I have a smile on my face so I'll count it as a win.
Thank you too everyone that has waited patiently for this next chapter, hope it was worth it.
I had originally intended to write another part to stick in here but have decided against it because it would be quite a bit darker than the fluffiness we've had going. It just wouldn't fit. I am however considering writing an epilogue of sorts for after the climax, just for funsies.