I really, really, really hope you read the previous "chapter" because it was filled with the warnings and such for this.

This was not how the day was supposed to go. Peter was supposed to get up, go to school, head home, go out as Spider-man, head home, go to sleep, and then start all over again. He was supposed to be chatting with MJ or Ned. He was supposed to be talking with Tony or Happy, well, having a one-sided conversation really, but still. He was supposed to be doing a lot of things, if the day had gone as planned. Instead, everything went to shit because apparently Peter's life was created based off of Murphy's Law: Anything that can go wrong, will.

In all honesty, he shouldn't have been surprised. He should have know that his day was going to go to shit the second he tripped and smashed his face against a wall upon waking up, giving himself a bloody nose. He was sore and aching from being Spider-man, and he couldn't even tell Ned or MJ because neither of them know. He should have know this day was going to suck because his Spidey Sense was nagging at the back of his skull the entire morning. It was humming and telling him something wasn't right, something was wrong. This Sense came in handy during fights, not so much on a day-to-day basis. Especially when Peter already has enough anxiety as is, and doesn't need another thing in his head telling him that he should flee and hide.

He should have known something was off the second he heard the scream.

It started off normally enough, the day at least. He got up and headed to school, sitting through two classes utterly bored because MJ was on a field trip with her Gov. class and Ned was home sick. So there Peter sat, tapping a pencil, staring at the board while his teacher droned on about symbols within literature, specifically Great Expectations, which they were supposed to be reading (Peter barely started it, getting about a chapter in before falling asleep). He wished Ned was there so he'd actually have someone to talk to, even though they'd always get in trouble for talking. Flash, meanwhile, was whispering something to some of his jock friends, which caused them all to snicker. Peter felt something hit his back, but refused to move.

"Mr. Thompson, if you and your friends would please pay attention, it would be greatly appreciated." The snickering stopped briefly until the teacher continued on with the lecture. The bell rang and Peter was never happier to leave a classroom. Grabbing a book from his locker, he trudged to math, one of his favorite classes, and right as he entered the classroom, close to when the bell would ring, was when the scream was heard. Most of his class was in the room already, including Flash again, but there were still multiple people wandering the halls because who cares right?

Peter, sitting near the door, in the front of the room to make him pay more attention after he continuously zoned out sitting near the back, watched as students began sprinting to their classes, some tripping and falling. That's when the announcement came on. Peter's Spidey Sense was now hammering his head and he was starting to freak out slightly.

"Attention all staff and students. We are currently on lockdown. Please resort to emergency procedures and remain calm. The situation will be resolved. We repeat, we are now on lockdown, please report to the nearest classroom and follow emergency protocol. Thank you."

The classroom was silent. Ms. Elis, the teacher, had covered the window of the door after shutting it and making sure it was locked, shutting off the lights right after. She shuffled the class to the corner farthest from the door, and told them all to hide behind the desks, staying hidden and silent. No one knew what to think. The only sounds heard were some people shuffling and whispering to one another, as well as a couple whimpers of fear. Peter's hairs were standing up and he felt the urge to sprint away and leave. Ever since he had a building dropped on him, being in a tight, enclosed space, with no true way out caused him to panic even more so than normal. His heart was pounding in his chest, and the sense in his head telling him that there was danger wasn't helping at all.

"Where's Allen, anyone seen Allen?" Peter recognized the person who spoke as a kid named Isaac, someone he hadn't actually spoken to before. Allen was another kid in their math class, someone whom Peter had never actually directly spoken to. He was just another one of the many kids in the school. Peter didn't even notice that Allen hadn't been in the classroom. Come to think of it, somehow, of the twenty-some kids in his class, only two were missing, and one was MJ and she was on a field trip. A pounding at the door startled many a person, causing a few to let out small squeaks of fear.

"G-guys please, let me in! Hello? Please, let me in, it's me, Allen, guys please," came a muffled cry along with more frantic pounding. Allen sounded frantic and panicked and Isaac immediately rushed over and unlocked the door before Ms. Elis could stop him. Allen stumbled in and the two shut and locked the door before wandering over to the group.

"What's going on out there?"

"Allen what's happening?"

"Yeah man, why are we locked down?"

Peter's sense was now a jackhammer, giving him a slight headache. Something didn't feel right. Something about the whole situation was off and he knew something bad was going to happen really soon. He just didn't know what. He saw Allen, freaked out as he was, slowly start to calm down, or at least Peter saw his tension slowly melting and his fear in his eyes turn into something different. Just because the lights were off didn't mean that the windows, though blinds closed, weren't still letting light stream in enough to see.

"Someone has a gun," came the simple reply and quite a few girls, and boys, gave slight gasps of shocks and a few more whimpered sobs were heard. Peter heard Allen's voice and there was something in it that made him think of it over and over. That's when it all clicked, but unfortunately it was too late.

Allen stood up and turned to face the group, pulling out a handgun with the safety off and finger near the trigger. Now there were surprised and terrified screams and cries, with a few people sobbing. Peter knew he saw Allen's behavior, and heard his tone before. He had heard it in the voice of a suicide bomber he managed to stop from killing hundreds in a crowded building. Unfortunately, he couldn't save the bomber herself. He'd seen the tension melt away from muggers right before they pulled the trigger, and see that same emotion shine in the eyes of people committing crimes. He should have know. He did know, he just didn't react in time, and now his whole class was hostage.

"Al-Allen, wh-what are you doing man? Come on, th-this isn't funny," Isaac said, fear showing through every word and movement he made. He gave a short screech of fear when Allen pointed the gun at his supposed friend.

"It's not supposed to be funny."

"Allen, this isn't you. Please, let's just talk about this," Ms. Elis tried, her voice wavering slightly, the calm tone she was going for broken by it.

"How do you know this isn't me? How do you know that it isn't," Allen exclaimed, turning the gun on her and walking closer, causing the students to shift away with terror-filled gasps and choked sobs. "This could be who I am for all you know."

"Allen, please don't do this. I have a fiancé, we have a baby boy, a few months old. Please Allen, don't."

"Shut up! Shut up, shut up shut up!" Small screams came from the group as Allen waved the gun at Ms. Elis and then at the group, causing them to whimper more. Peter watched as Ms. Elis pulled out her phone and tried to text someone something secretly, but Allen must have caught the glow of the screen because he stalked over to her and snatched it away violently.

"What were you trying to do?"

"N-nothing I swear."

"Nothing. Didn't look like it." Allen held the gun up to Ms. Elis' head, who started panicking, tears running down her cheeks. She looked at her students, eyes locking with Peter's for a second before a muffled shot rang out, causing everyone in the class to scream. Ms. Elis slumped down, eyes open and unseeing, blood pooling around her head. The gun was smoking and everyone was now freaking out even more than before.

"Wh-what do you, you want?"

"I want Flash. I want him to suffer like he's made me suffer. I want revenge for everything he's put me through since I've been in the same school as him."

"Why'd you kill her," came a soft, broken whisper.

"She was going to ruin my plan."

"They already know you're here."

"Not in this room. They have to search the school, and then rooms."

"But the shot-"

"Silencer, hard to hear if you're not near it." Soft cries were heard from the group. Peter looked to the corner, where Flash was hidden, shaking and crying silently, behind a few of his friends, a few of which looked like they were going to pass out or shit themselves, perhaps both. One of the jocks already passed out from the looks of it. Peter turned his attention back to the shooter.

"Where's Flash? I know he's here. We have the same class, and I know he's in this room." Flash's friends, despite acting tough, shuffled out of the way, shoving the bully forwards, with him ending up next to Peter.

"A-Allen, hey buddy."

"Don't 'hey buddy' me Thompson," Allen said, pointing a gun at him. Flash gave a girlish shriek and scrambled back slightly. Everyone was slowly making their way away from the shooter and towards the door, which was on the other side of the classroom. Allen didn't seem to notice, or care if he did. Peter remained though. He didn't have his suit, but he could at least try to reason with the attacker. Afterall, he'd been bullied by Flash too, maybe he could get through to Allen.

"Stand."

"Wha-what?"

"You heard me. Stand Thompson, or you'll end up like Ms. Elis." Flash slowly got on shaking legs and Peter glanced at the class, most of which were nearing the door and watching the scene play out. Peter saw Allen level the gun at Flash, who winced. The teen sighed before standing up and moving Flash behind him. He saw the class stare at him with wide eyes and Flash put a hand on his arm.

"What the hell are you doing Parker? Are you trying to die," Flash whispered to him, seeming somewhat concerned almost. Peter didn't move out of the way when Allen recovered from the unexpected move and leveled the gun again, this time at Peter. Peter stared down the kid.

"Move Peter, I don't want to hurt you."

"No."

"What did you just say?"

"I said no Allen. I get that Flash hurt you, but violence won't solve anything, trust me."

"Move, or I will shoot you Parker."

"Allen, listen to me, shooting Flash won't make what he's done to you go away. Nothing can take back beatings and harsh words. You can't get rid of the pain Flash has caused by getting rid of Flash."

"What do you know Parker? You're Mr. Perfect, the teacher's love you, you're top of our class, you have that fancy internship with Tony Stark. You have the life that most students here would want."

"Really? Would most students want only two friends? Or perhaps being bullied by Flash, someone who used to be my friend a long time ago? Maybe they want the grief of their parents dying and leaving them with their aunt and uncle, only to watch their uncle bleed out in their arms a few months ago, knowing they could have stopped it? Maybe they want the nightmares and anxiety and depression and all that shit that comes with it? So, I'd say, if someone wants my life, they can have it," Peter said, his voice raw with emotion. He ignored the stares he was getting and gave a small head nod, trying to tell the other classmates to scram while Allen was distracted.

Peter's words seemed to have some effect on Allen, who had partially lowered the gun, meaning it was now pointed at Peter's chest instead of his head. He was staring at the hidden superhero, seemingly trying to figure out if he was lying.

"I didn't know."

"I don't think anyone did. Allen, what do you say you give me the gun and we all walk out of here just fine. Can you do that, for me?" Allen seemed to think about it before steeling himself and putting the gun up to Peter's head level again. The brown-haired teen held his hands out instinctively. He heard Flash muffled a whimper behind him, the jock still holding tightly to Peter's arm for some reason.

"Everyone can go, but Flash stays."

"If Flash stays, I stay right here."

"The hell are you doing Parker? You can go, so go." Peter shook his head.

"I'm not going to."

"You really are an idiot."

"Exactly what you keep telling me everyday as he shove me against, or in, lockers."

"Sorry about that Parker."

"If you are going to go, I'd suggest you leave in the next few moments or else I might change my mind. Tell whoever is out there that if I hear or see one person coming in or near, I will not hesitate to kill both of them." With that, the class shot out of the room, the door slamming shut behind them, leaving only three living people in the room. Peter gulped and was somewhat regretting what the hell he was doing.

"I don't know why you're protecting this piece of shit Peter. He's hurt you too."

"I know, but just because he's an ass doesn't mean I want to see him get hurt or die."

"Move Parker, or I swear I will shoot you and him."

"Allen, listen to me, you have people who care about you."

"Al-Allen, please listen to Peter," came a voice from behind Allen. The shooter spun around and pointed the gun at Isaac who, for some reason, stayed behind. The person was unexpected and Allen reacted violently, shooting without realizing who it was at first. Isaac slumped to the ground, smearing blood on the wall, two holes in his chest. He let out a cough, blood spraying the floor and coating his lips, before he fell silent. The trio stared at the unmoving form with varying degrees of shock and sadness, Peter feeling extremely guilty for not noticing the boy. Allen started shaking and spun back around, pressing the gun to Peter's chest, anger seething from his pores.

"You made me do that Parker, you distracted me, you had me let them all go. I didn't know he was there, if no one left, I would have expected someone else in here. He's dead because of you!" Peter clenched his jaw, tears welling in his eyes as he saw the pain in Allen's.

"I know," Peter whispered, because that's all he could choke out. Allen looked a bit startled at the admission before the anger returned and he moved away from Peter, waving the gun around randomly.

"He was one of the only people who I'd call my friend. He was always nice to me, helped me up whenever Flash put me down." Allen sneered Flash's named with so much disdain that it made Peter flinch.

"I'm sorry Allen, I really am."

"I'm not, you were the one who shot him," Flash said, immediately slapping his hands over his mouth as Allen rounded and stalked back over to the pair. Peter shifted so he was still a barrier between the two and held his ground.

"I swear I will shoot Parker. Please don't make me hurt someone else," Allen said, tiredness seeping into his voice. Peter saw so much hurt behind his eyes, so much pain, and could completely empathize with that ache inside.

"If you want Flash, you'll have to shoot me." Allen looked like he might not, but then his eyes clouded over with that anger again and Peter knew he was screwed. All he could do was brace himself and shove Flash to the side so that if the bullet went through, it wouldn't hit him too.

It all happened fast. Peter heard the bullet leave the chamber and then the gun itself. In this time he spun, throwing Flash to the side, causing the bully to hit his head against a desk and fall unconscious. Turning slightly, Peter felt a pressure on his chest, left side, near his heart. With a grunt, Peter staggered backwards slightly, falling against a desk. The pain didn't hit him immediately, and he watched Allen stare at him in shock.

"Why did you throw him to the side? Why were you still trying to save him? Why would you chance dying?"

"Because no one deserves to lose somebody important to them," Peter replied and Allen looked confused. The pain hit Peter and the teen sank to the ground, holding the wound, which was bleeding profusely. Suddenly, Peter saw Allen's eyes widened and he muttered a string of curses before crouching in front of Peter, looking concerned.

"What, what do you mean? Shit, I'm so sorry, I'm so so sorry Peter, it's just, it all got so out of hand, and I didn't, I just wanted it to stop, I just wanted the pain to stop," Allen said, tears streaming down his face. Peter's world was full of pain, but he tried to push it aside.

"I mean, I mean that Flash, he has family. He has parents who love him. He has people who care about him," Peter said, panting with effort. He was having trouble breathing and was pretty sure the bullet nicked a lung.

"You didn't want another family to feel the pain of losing someone close to them...because you've felt it before." Peter nodded, coughing and nearly blacking out from pain. He heard a groan from Flash as the bully slowly regained consciousness. Allen was still panicking.

"I screwed up Peter, I screwed up big time, I don't know, I don't know what to do, I'm sorry," Allen sobbed, standing and pacing before stopping, looking around at the bodies, alive or not, strewn on the floor. He then locked eyes with Peter and the teen saw exactly what Allen was thinking.

"Allen, don't, whatever you think you're doing, it's not going to solve anything, believe me, suicide isn't the answer," Peter begged, watching Allen hesitate placing a gun under his chin. "Allen please, just, we can talk, please, let's just talk," Peter said, tears falling from physical and emotional pain. He wanted to move, he really did, but when he tried, stars danced in his vision, so he remained sitting against a shelf, holding his chest, which was still bleeding heavily. Flash was now blinking and trying to regain his awareness.

"What do you know about pain Parker? You lost family members, so what? You're bullied, so was I? Do you know what it's like to lie awake at night and wonder why you're alive if your life is so shitty? Do you know what it's like to stare at a blade, trying to convince yourself that there's some good in your life, but failing? Do you know what it's like to cut, to burn, to want to die? Do you Parker?" Allen stared at the bleeding teen, who only stared back, giving a short nod. Allen blinked a few times, lowering the gun slightly. The shooter could see how haunted and old Peter looked, how he seemed to age so many years in just mere seconds.

"I know what it's like to feel like you're not worth it Allen, trust me, I do. I know what it's like to need an escape from the voices, where pain is the only thing that will take it away. I know what it's like to want to die Allen. I stood at the edge of a building, ready to fall, nothing to catch me. Then I thought of my aunt. I thought of Ned and MJ, my friends. I thought about how I might end up doing something good in the world at a later date that, if I jumped, wouldn't happen. I thought about how Tony Stark might think that I was a failure and possibly blame himself. I thought about all the people below who would have to deal with seeing a person splattered against the sidewalk and how that would affect them. I thought about everything good in the world, even the smallest things like puppies and flowers and the stars shining on a clear night when the lights aren't there to hide them away. I thought about how the breeze feels on a warm, spring day, or how the bees buzz, heading back home to their hives. I thought about the good in the world, and realized that things might get better if I give them time to try."

Allen stared at Peter for the longest time, as did Flash, who had regained his consciousness and awareness. Neither realized that Peter Parker felt that way, nor create such a picture with words. For a second, Peter thought he might have gotten through to Allen, but in the blink of an eye, the boy locked eyes with Peter, mouthed "I'm sorry", and brought the gun to under his chin. Flash looked away, but Peter just watched, screaming.

"Allen no!" Peter could only stare as Allen pulled the trigger, his body jerking backwards as he fell, the gun skidding away. There was no movement from the body. Peter just stared, not breathing, not moving at all. Flash was looking between Allen and the other teen before crawling over to the only other living person's side.

"Shit, Parker, shit," Flash said, taking in the wound on the teen's chest. Peter snapped out of his daze to look at Flash. "Why?"

"W-why what," Peter gasped out, the pain returning full force. He felt cold, strangely enough, and he was trembling. He knew he was probably going into shock, but he forced himself to stay somewhat coherent, even though it was probably going to be impossible to remain awake much longer.

"Why did you get shot to save me? Why did you stay? Why did you try to…." Peter rolled his eyes.

"I stayed because no one deserves to die."

"That includes you too Parker."

"I've done good in my life."

"Like what?" Peter wasn't fully aware anymore, in fact, he felt kind of drunk, even though he hadn't ever been drunk. His head lolled slightly, without him realizing it until Flash picked it back up and leaned him back against the shelves.

"I've helped people, people who otherwise wouldn't have been the same."

"How?"

"They were going to be killed or mugged or other….I stopped it." Peter knew he shouldn't be talking about what he does as Spider-man with Flash, but he was so tired and he was really thinking straight.

"Are you trying to get yourself kid Parker?"

"Maybe," he said honestly, not really sure anymore.

"Shit you're bleeding a lot. Help! Anybody out there?! I need some help in here!" Right as Flash shouted the last word, Peter felt his body start giving out and he heard the door burst open as well as people storming in. The last thing he remembers is being placed on a stretcher and blurry people talking.

After that, nothing.