Sorry for yet another delay; but this time it is a mix of simple time management and a narrowly averted tragedy; a friend of mine is in hospital after an accident, which kind of kills the writing mood/ makes you want to focus on other things. On the bright side, I also saw my favorite grandparents at an impromptu family reunion, so that helps. My friend has also recovered.
Also, just going to clear a few things up: The dripping goop at the end of the last chapter was NOT Venom, and this story will not feature Tommy….at least, not for a while. On the subject of the story, the next chapter is completely unknown at the moment. Suggestions are welcomed.
Read and review, would ye kindly?
Dangerous Detention
It was a rough night for Peter; he didn't get a wink of sleep after the investigation, and his normal 'thnk god it's Saturday' train of thought was destroyed by the realization that he had detention.
Him of all people! Peter 'nose in a book' Parker. In detention. On a Saturday! Out of town. While on assignment from Mr. Stark…
He decided then and there to drop the loading more and more stuff onto his already dismayed mind and that Ned and May would never know. If it was brought up, he would deny, deny and deny some more.
So, when he stumbled in to make himself breakfast looking half dead, it was a surprise to the Scotts.
"Nightmares." He lied, pouring some cereal and feeling a little better afterwards.
No one questioned what his nightmares were, and he was grateful.
"So, um…What's everyone going to get up to today?"
"Jason has to go to school." Pearl announced as if it were the easiest thing in the world
'Detention." Her mother corrected. "Prank gone wrong."
Peter cringed, no wanting to press the matter anymore, something eh got that Jason was grateful for when the boy gave him a thankful nod.
"Well, I'm about to head off to fish. You need a ride anywhere, Peter?" Mr. Scott asked
"Same as Jason." Peter sighed. "Detention."
This shook the Scott family to the core
"..How?"
"Why?"
"All he did was dodge some bullies." Jason explained. "Did a pretty good job too."
All eyes turned to him again.
"New York kid, remember?" Peter smiled.
"Why didn't you hit them back?" Pearl asked.
"Because then he REALLY would've gotten in trouble." Jason smiled, messing with his sister's hair.
"Besides, my uncle always taught me to try and not pick fights." Peter white-lied to the little girl.
It hurt a little less to bring p Uncle Ben, he mused. T still hurt, but he could feel himself not feeling the usual sting that came from bringing up the greatest man he ever knew.
"I'm giving the principal a call." Mrs. Scott heading towards the phone. "If all you did was dodge.."
"Please don't" Peter asked for what little it was worth.
"No stopping mommy." Pearl smiled.
"I'll give you and Jase a lift." Mr. Scott said, shooting his son a look. "Only because he;s a guest."
"Loud and clear." Jason mused.
SMPR
Peter did not question about what had happened to get Jason in detention, but Jason told him as they marched to the detention hall.
"At least your mistake didn't cost a life." Was all the web-slinger had mused as he sat down.
Jason caught Peter's delivery of the words, as did Trini, who had overheard their conversation. However, neither could ask fro more details, as Jason saw the two bullies from before bothering Billy.
"Hey." He demanded, stopping them. "You bother him again, you mess with me. Got it?"
The bullies didn't seem comepletly convicned untol they realized just WHO was standing up for Billy; the former team star, who was still very fit and tall.
"Now, I'm goanna be here, every day for what seems like the rest of my life and I'm sure you are too. So let's make a deal, don't sit near me, or him, or even Pete over there? And we'll be okay."
The two seemed to realize what kind of trouble they were in, before realizing Jason had added the exchange student into his declare. Feeling cocky all of a sudden in some belief that this could give them an advantage, smrked.
"That geek?"
"He didn't even land a punch!"
"And neither did you." Trini pointed out.
"The nerd did kick your butts." Zack pointed out.
"Parker."
Everyone turned to the 'new guy.'
"What?"
"Peter Parker." Our hero announced. "My name. Use it, please."
Just then, the teacher in charge came down and told everyone the rules of detention; you could do homework, but nothing else, and would be free at noon. With that, he sat down and watched the students.
For the first few hours, it wasn't too bad; the bullies adhered to Jason's warning and kept to themselves while Jason and Zack tore up bits of paper and doodled on or folded them like makeshift origami. Trini jotted down something as Billy doodled.
Peter wanted to get something for the project done, but was still coming up empty with ideas. With that, he turned to who had been assigned to work with; the cheerleader Kimberly Heart.
"So…how you doing?"
A dumb question, yes. But it was an icebreaker; that was the point.
"What do you think?" Kimberly asked.
"..Yeah." Peter realized. "So…any ideas?"
"Go wild." She sighed. "I don't care. Just write a for dummies version for me."
"..You have no ideas?" He asked. "Nothing at all?"
"Zip. Now, do your brainac thing and…"
Brainiac. A nickname that Peter hated. Brainiacs were smart for the sake of smart or knowing s=just so that they could say they knew. He EARNED his intelligence, just like everything else. And he actually ahted it when people didn't try to develop it.
So, with his ire provoke, Peter then dropped his pencil and turned to her, not caring what happened next.
"Look, you don't like me. I get that." He told her. "But I WANT to do well at this event, and I DON'T want to have you around if you don't know anything, it wouldn't be fair. So, either you give me something, or I'll just do something crazy and let you suffer the consequences, because I quite frankly got sick of the 'he's just a nerd I'll make him do everything' spiel in junior high."
Kimberly seemed legitimately surprised by Peter's outburst, as were the others. Before anyone else could react, bathroom break came and most of the students left to either wash up or get something from the vending machine. Peter stayed behind to try and figure something out.
It had to be something that could attract the attention of big companies, yet small enough for a high schooler to do if they truly applied themselves. Also, it had to have not been done before, or if it had, at least approached from a new angle.
He was so into his thought proves, he initially didn; noticed Kimberly suddenly sit right next to him and move her notebook to write. When he heard a cleared throat, he saw his science partner sitting at the ready….only, she was different.
Her hair was now shorter and she carried herself with more confidence than she had originally.
"Alright, braini…" She paused. "Peter…any ideas?"
The boy smiled as they got into brainstorming.
SMPR
Finally, detention came to an end and everyone began to pack up and leave for the day. Zack and Trini were out the fastest, Jason lagging behind and Billy following him. Kimberly got a text saying her parents were there to pick her up
"Sit with me at lunch tomorrow." She asked/ ordered, it was kind of hard to tell. "We'll come up with something then."
Peter was honestly looking forward to that. So much so that for once he didn't think of the ramifications of sitting next to a popular girl's table at a far more stereotypical school.
"Mr. Parker?" The principal said, suddenly entering the room. "Might I have a moment of your time before you leave
Peter stopped putting his things away and nodded, waiting for the man to come over to him. For what seemed like a few minutes, not a word was said, until finally, the principal let out a sight.
"It has been brought to my attention that I…may have been overly strict and rushed to conclusions. To my understanding, all you did yesterday was dodge. Rather well, I'm told. Nothing wrong with that."
"Who told you?" Peter asked, already knowing the answer but wanting to hear it from the principal's mouth anyways.
"Um…" The man stumbled. "Well, I'm not liberty to say…."
"Mr. Stark or Mrs. Scott?"
The Principal tensed, either out of fear of Peter knowing who had called, or reliving the memory of the phone call he'd spent two hours trying to get out of to no avail.
"Neither." He confessed. "It was your Aunt…who apparently had heard about it from Mr. Stark."
Peter winced for the poor man. Aunt May was many things; popular with guys, an understanding guardian…but when she got mad, OH BOY DID SHE GET MAD! He did not wish his angry aunt on anyone!
He recalled one time in Elementary, a bully named Carl King had stolen something of his and beaten him up. May had looked furious and given the boy's parents a call, then asked they put Carl on the phone. The words that came out of her mouth, he did not hear, but the next day, Carl apologized profusely and stopped bothering Peter altogether. Whenever Peter had attempted to ask why, Carl had whimpered at the memory of May Parker.
Back to the main event…..
"With all of that brought to my attention, I wish to apologize for my rash and unprofessional behavior, especially considering you're only here temporarily and were sent to us by such a grand branch of schools and individuals. Today will not show up on your record, and any other detention I ordered of you is cancelled. I assure you, nothing like this will happen again."
Peter smiled at not completely nice guy smile.
"Just make sure you get all the facts and don't assume next time, okay?"
The Principal saluted the young hero,
"All the same, try to stay out of trouble, Mr. Parker."
Nodding in understanding, Peer grabbed his bags and walked out of the school's door, where he saw Jason and Billy talking to each other as they made their way to Billy's car.
"You want to grab a bite?" Billy suggested. "Let's go to Denny's, the three of us! It'll be cool!"
Jason, deciding to take advantage of this little bit of freedom, nodded in acceptance. Peter had only one thing to say:
"…..The heck is Denny's?"
Next: Peter begins starting the project as the Rangers make a discovery that will change their lives forever…