"Mr. Alexander?" Someone called, Sam's mind registered. He, however, did not answer. He was far too busy thinking about the kiss he had shared with Spiderman a few hours ago. Sam rubbed his forehead. The images were swirling in front of his eyes like hurricanes dancing with a tidal wave. He still could not comprehend exactly what had happened. He was not even certain whether there was going to be a repeat. He did not even know if he wanted to do it again. After all, Nova and Spiderman were both known for their tempers especially Sam. As a result their personalities had often clashed. However, the past few weeks they had managed to establish some sort of dare he call it friendship which was as wobbly as a person who was intoxicated. The basis of their friendship could hardly be called that. It was more like honey – it was sticky, but it could not glue them together.

"Sam Alexander, go to the principle's office." The teacher half-yelled.

A few seconds flew by before the words registered in Sam's mind. Once they did, his eyes widened. He shot up from his seat and asked:

"W-what? Why?"

The teacher simply glared at him behind her glasses and put her hands on her hips. She scowled, making more wrinkles appear. Naturally, Sam was both scared and a little unsettled. The sight before him made him wish he had not escaped the safe confines of his bed this morning.

"I have called on you multiple times already and you failed to answer. You already know that if I receive silence from you more than three times your actions will be regarded as a violation of my classroom's rules. Therefore, you will be asked to leave in favour of seeing the headmaster."

It was Sam's turn to glare and scowl. He had been distracted. That was true. However, he had not heard her utter his name not even once. Something was definitely out of line here, but no matter how fervently he tried to defend himself, the result would be either the same or worse. Seeing as he was already in deep trouble, Sam clenched his fists, nodded, collected his belongings and exited the classroom.

As he was walking toward Coulson's office Sam could not help but ponder further on the subject at hand. He resisted the urge to touch his lips. He had already embarrassed himself by doing it numerous times this morning. With a deep sigh Nova tried to calm down. He needed to be collected once he faced Coulson. After all, he had already violated a few rules at S.H.I.E.L.D. and he was now doing the same only this time it was the school regulations.

Sam pinched the bridge of his nose. Once this was taken care of, he was going to shoot a few blasts of cosmic energy Spiderman's way. With a stroke of luck the idiot might be freed of the web he called a brain.

"Hey, Sam, wait up." Someone called.

Of course, this time Sam heard them. However, he pretended he had not for he did not want to converse with anyone, let alone Peter Parker right now. He did not need a lecture. He just needed his bed and a cup of Danny's strange smelling yet awfully effective at calming his nerves herbal tea.

"Sam!" Peter grabbed the boy's shoulders and jerked him around.

It took Sam a few seconds to refocus his vision. However, once his eyes landed on one Peter Parker he fumed.

"What is it with you and showing up at the worst possible time?!" Sam whispered viciously as he poked Peter's chest for good measure.

Peter was bemused at first. However, soon his confused expression melted into an amused grin. He chuckled as he shrugged his shoulders and soon shook his head. He was laughing by the time Sam screeched:

"What's so funny?"

"You are." Peter said and chuckled before he added, "You know, you are kind of adorable right now."

Sam's anger froze. The boy blinked before he opened his mouth to whisper:

"What did you just say?"

Peter then smirked and seemed to be walking closer and closer to the cowering toward the wall Sam. Spiderman's smirk grew as did Sam's blush. Soon Sam's back was pressed against the wall; his chest was just a few inches away from Spiderman's and his nose brushed against Peter's. Needless to say, Sam's heart thumped louder. The sensations that attacked his nerve endings were even stronger than those of the night before.

"Sam," Peter whispered as his hand came up and caressed Sam's cheek.

"Y-yeah?" Sam stuttered out as his eyes flickered from Peter's eyes to his mouth. Back and forth. Back and forth. Back and forth. I want it. I need it. This can't be happening. This should not be happening. Under no circumstances should Sam complicate his life even further by kissing his close friend Peter Parker who was currently leaning in.

Sam's heart jumped. It wanted to escape the boy's chest, break through the wall of skin that separated it from Peter's heart and merge with it. Sam's hands were shaking, but soon one of them froze when it felt Peter's fingers gently running from the tips of the fingers all the way to the wrist. Slowly. Sensuously. Torturously.

Sam's breath hitched. Peter's lips were just a feather away. He could feel the other's hot and slightly ragged breathing merge with his own. He could see the sweat pouring from every exit it could find. The drops turned out to be torturous as well. Just when Sam was about to have a case of déjà vu Peter whispered:

"Sam,"

"Hmmm?" Sam mumbled as he closed his eyes.

"I can't believe you fell for it." Peter whispered before he pulled back.

Once the heat was gone Sam's eyes shot open. He clenched and unclenched his fists, trying to calm down his breathing and heart rate. It was not working especially not when Peter Parker was laughing merrily before him as though he had just watched Bugs Bunny be beaten by a turtle in a race.

Sam saw red. He rushed forward, eyes glassy and yelled:

"And I can't believe you just did that!"

After that he ran away. Naturally, Peter froze, then panicked and decided to follow Sam and apologize. The chase did not last long. Peter found Sam sitting on a bench at the park near their school. Spiderman did not ask for permission to sit down. He waited for Sam to react, but the boy simply sat there motionlessly. It took Peter some time to even hear a soft sigh escape Nova's lips.

Peter was drowning in guilt. He felt tears bite viciously on the corners of his eyes and made no move to stop them from overflowing. He hoped they did, but in the end they simply burned his eyes. They did not relieve him of his ache. On the contrary, they increased it.

"Sam," Peter called out. He received no answer.

"Sam!" Peter yelled this time. He reached his hand out and shook Sam's shoulder. "Sam, talk to me, please."

He wished he had sobbed it out. He wished he had choked on his words. He wished he had shown his vulnerability in the most pathetic way possible. In reality, his voice had been sounded hoarse and broken, but still retained some ounce of dignity much to Peter's dismay.

"Why did you do it?" Sam whispered, not bothering to look Peter in the eye.

"It was… I don't know. I thought I'd do something extremely stupid so that you would laugh and stop moping. I did not mean for this to happen."

"You know what, Parker?" Sam uttered viciously as he turned his head around sharply. His eyes were bloodshot, but the worst part was that for the first time Peter was scared of the disdain he was assaulted with when he met Sam's gaze. "You never think before you act. You always mean well, but in the end you mess up royally and do you know what the worst part is? There are always casualties, but the victim will never be you!"

Sam then shot up from his seat. He turned his back to Peter and remained rooted to the spot. Peter extended his hand to touch Sam's and try to pacify the boy when Sam turned his head to the side. Those icy blue eyes sent gelid shivers through Peter's entire body.

"Never talk or look at me again."

He then walked off, missing the lone tear that escaped the confines of Peter's right eye.