The school year for Lila flew by. She excelled in her classes. Maintaining her perfect grades. She was a star athlete on the swim and fencing teams. And the most popular person in school.
She was best friends with MJ, Peter, and Ned. She and her mom made regular trips back to the farm but she enjoyed her time at Midtown high.
And then there was Brad… Nine months later they were still together! He himself was also the star basketball player and 2nd most popular person in school next to her. She really liked him.
Her friends' Peter and MJ did go out at the dance and had been together ever since. And then there was something very exciting that was happening next week that she was greatly looking forward too! It was near the end of the year now and they were in their A.P. Bio class finishing up a group project on the last class on Friday.. She was working with MJ at the table in the back on the anatomy project.
"So, ready for the Science trip with Peter?" she said with a teasing smile. "If by trip you mean the Paris catacombs then yeah, I am." she shrugged nonchalantly. Lila smiled.
"Sure…well I'm looking forward to the Louvre! I don't care about the rest of Paris. I could spend a week in there!" she beamed on her stool. "With Brad?" MJ asked back.
"Eh, he wouldn't be interested." she shrugged. The two finished the project right as the bell rang. "Finally!" Lila sighed.
Grabbing her bag and putting on her black leather jacket, the sleeve resting above five bracelets made from nano particles on her wrist. The two turned in the project before joining Peter and Ned in the hallway.
"What up dorks?" MJ got their attention. "Hey MJ! Lila" Peter hugged them.
"Hey! Excited for the science trip?" Lila asked them. "Yeah, and Peter's plan." Ned added.
"You have a plan?" MJ asked and Lila raised an eyebrow. "I don't… I don't have a plan." he said quickly.
"No, he's, he's just gonna collect tiny spoons when we're traveling to other countries." Ned added. "Since when do you collect spoons?" Lila frowned.
"I'm not collecting tiny spoons. He's collecting tiny spoons." Peter improvised. "Okay…" Lila said confused.
"Well that was a real roller coaster." MJ said sarcastically and she smiled. "By the way, travel tip. You should download a VPN on your phone, so the government can't track you while we're abroad." MJ suggested.
"You can also watch all the British shows on Netflix that we don't get!" Lila added. "Will do." Peter smiled but then Brad walked up to them.
"Hey Lila. "Hi Brad." she said and the couple kissed each other. "Ready to go?" he asked.
"Yeah! I'll see you later tonight at the fundraiser Peter." she looked back at him who nodded. "Great! Aunt May is really looking forward to meeting you." he said and she smiled.
"I'm looking forward to it." she grabbed Brad's hand they began to walk towards her locker. "Fundraiser?" he frowned.
"Yeah, for the charity Peter's Aunt runs. I'm doing an appearance." she sighed at the end. "Want me to come?" he asked. She smiled and shook her head no.
"No, this is just something I've been slowly working back towards. I just hope it won't be too bad."
Later that evening, Lila suited up in her black suit, having "borrowed" her suit from her mom who kept them safely stored at SHIELD for her to practice. And to work on the improvements… Getting her parents' permission to continue with her bow and sword.
But now she was standing in the center of a stage in the convention hall next to Spider-Man where Peter's Aunt was talking to the crowd at the podium. She looked to her mom at one of the tables in the crowd for her mom who smiled back at her. Pushing down her nervousness and glanced over to Peter's Aunt at the podium.
"When, when I blipped back to my apartment, the family that was living there was very confused. The wife thought that I was a mistress. The grandma thought that I was a ghost. It was… it was really a mess. Thank you for coming out to support those who have been displaced by the Blip. And, of course, thanks to "The Hawklet" for making an appearance and support along with our very own Spider-Man!" she clapped for them.
Everyone applauded for them and then they were bombarded by the flashes of cameras and shouts of questions from reporters. Lila clenched her fist nervously, wincing at the flashes with her eyes closed and Peter sensed her distress.
"Thank you, Ms. Parker, for having me. And thank you, you guys, for having me!" he grabbed her hand and quickly led her behind the curtains, removing his mask.
"Thanks for that." she said while taking a few deep breaths. "It did get kinda crazy at the end there." he agreed but Peter's Aunt joined them.
"Hey guys. Lila, thank you so much for this. It's just the publicity I need." she thanked her with a hug. "Oh it's no problem May. I really don't mind…" she said but saw her mom walking towards them from behind Peter and May.
She swatted Peter's shoulder quickly and he put on his mask. "Hey mom!" she greeted with a hug.
"Hi sweetie, you did great out there!" she complimented. "Thank you. It's for a good cause at least. Uh mom this is Peter's Aunt, May Parker." Lila introduced her.
"It's nice to meet you." Laura shook her hand. "Likewise, and this is Spider-Man. I'm sure you've read the news by now about his… outings." she improvised. "Yes, of course." she nodded.
"It's nice to meet you ma'am." Peter said with a darker voice. Lila tried not to smile.
"And where is Peter?" Laura asked May. "Oh, he's around… somewhere. He's been helping me set up this fundraiser. Speaking of, I need to say my goodbyes to our VIP's. It was nice to see you again Lila. Laura." May said her goodbyes and followed Peter behind the curtain.
"You did well out there." Laura complimented her. "Thank you. I'm just glad it's done." she sighed with relief.
"Still don't like the attention?" Laura asked knowingly. "Not really. I'm finally fine with my bow and sword again but… without the cameras." she said and her new nano tech suit, sword and arrow disassembled into her bracelet instantly and her mom raised an eyebrow.
"Don't think you're going to be bringing that with you on your trip to Europe." she joked and Lila smiled. "Believe me, I am not looking for trouble. I actually like being a normal kid for once." she said and hugged her mom.
Leaving her and walking back to where May and Peter was and was surprised to see another person in the room. "Oh Happy Hi." she greeted with a wave.
"Lila Barton! Yeah Hi. Good to see you…" she said but May turned back to Peter and Lila. "I think I'm gonna go change the Sterno under the vegan lasagna. Spider-Man, go shake hands. And thank you once again for coming Lila. It was nice to meet you." May said and giving her a deep hug.
"I'm glad that Peter isn't the only Avenger his age. Watch over him for me please." she whispered in her ear and she nodded. "Let's hope I don't have too." May left her and she walked back to Peter and Happy.
"Hey, actually it's a good thing you're here Lila because Nick Fury is gonna call you two." he warned and she frowned. "Why?" Peter asked nervously.
"Why? Because he probably has hero stuff for you to do. You two are superheroes. He, he calls superheroes." he rambled. "We're teenagers Happy. Not superheroes. And we're going on our class trip to Europe tomorrow so…." Lila said through her clenched teeth struggling to keep her anger down.
"Hey, I'm just a messenger here…" he said but Peter's phone began to ring. He grabbing it and Lila saw "Unknown number" on the screen.
"That's it. No caller ID. That's him." Happy stated. "I don't really wanna talk to Nick Fury." Peter shook his head.
"Answer the phone!" Happy ordered. "Alright…" Lila grabbed it from him and swiped the screen. "Lila…" Peter went wide eyed but she interrupted him.
"I'm sorry but this is the voicemail of Peter's phone. Do not leave a message again because I will not get back to you after the beep. And if you call my phone… Nick! I'll tell mom and dad. Thank you and goodbye!" she ended the call with a dramatic ending and gave the phone back to a bewildered Peter and shocked Happy.
"And that's how it's done!" she crossed her arms smugly with a smile. "What the… you do not ghost Nick Fury!" Happy said nervously.
"Relax, Fury is just a man. You don't need to be afraid of him. Let me know if he calls you again okay Peter? I'll handle him." she asked him with a hug who snapped out of it. "Uh yeah I will. Thanks! I'll see you tomorrow." he said with a hug and she hugged him back.
"Definitely! And don't forget the earbud adapter for the flight for MJ." she alerted and he nodded. "Yeah, they're charging at home. I'll see you tomorrow." she watched him put on his mask and walk back towards the stage to the press.
Grabbing her jacket to put on from the nearby chair it was draped on but she felt her Stark Phone vibrate in her jeans pocket.
Pulling it out to see "Unknown Number" on the large screen… and letting it go to voicemail.
