Of course Flash was here. Even in an alternative universe, Peter couldn't escape the pain in the ass that was Flash Thompson.
The boy in question looked over at Peter for a brief moment, looking him up and down before pushing his tinted sunglasses up his nose with his index finger and looking away. Clearly uninterested by Peter's appearance. Which felt a little strange if Peter was being totally honest.
Normally when Flash caught even the faintest look at Peter, he would find some way to humiliate or otherwise annoy him. It had been going on for years so Peter was quite used to it, so that suddenly realisation that his non-existence in this universe meant he would finally escape from his constant criticism was a strange realisation to say the least.
Not that Peter would miss it, he was glad to fly under the radar for a bit even if the change felt a bit uncomfortable.
Peter found a spot on a chair by himself, no one approached him. It seemed like many people had arrived and signed up for the test with friends or people they knew since many people were huddled and talking excitedly in little groups.
Not that it matters, Peter had long since found peace in being alone. Even if he was starting to miss talking to people.
Peter's spider sense caused the hair in the back of his neck to stand up, but he wasn't worried. If it was something bad his head would be ringing. The standing up of his hair alone meant it was a small danger, if any at all.
Despite this, Peter looked in the direction his instincts were calling him to look towards. He caught eyes with Flash again, who made no effort to conceal the fact he was staring at Peter. Feeling self conscious, Peter quickly moved his glance from his bully to the tiled floor. After a few moments he looked up through his hair, which was starting to fall over his eyes a bit, and noticed that Flash's gang was stealing glances at him as well. Their sneering looks at him gave away what they thought.
Every now and then they would look at Peter, then turn back to each other to whisper something and let out a hearty laugh. Peter felt like too much of a coward to use his super hearing to hear what they were saying. He had spent most of his life being called everything under the sun by Flash. He didn't have to hear them all again, especially from other people's mouths.
It was only a few minutes later when a woman started to walk towards all those waiting for the internship test. Calling them all over, she began to speak.
"Welcome everyone, I trust you have all checked in at the reception desk. If you have not please do that quickly now," when no one moved she began speaking again. "Wonderful. My name is Dr. Miller, I am one of the heads of the R&D department at this location for Stark Industries. I will be taking you up to the testing area where I will give you the rundown for how this is going to work. Please follow me."
With that Dr. Miller turned and began walking towards an area that looked like security at an airport. She didn't stop to make sure everyone was following, she simply turned and walked away causing everyone to walk faster to catch up.
When they reached security, everyone was handed a box to put all their valuables in; phones, keys, wallets and the like. They weren't allowing anyone to bring any personal belongings to limit the possibility of cheating.
When the box got to Peter he passed it on, he didn't have anything on him other than his clothes anyway. The security guard walked over and reminded Peter:
"All belongings must go in the box."
It wasn't said in a rude way, they likely had many people think they could keep wallets and such on them everyday.
"I know, sir. I didn't bring anything, I didn't think I would be allowed to bring it in anyway," Peter easily lied with a shrug. The guard seemed to accept his answer and went back over to supervising the metal detector.
One by one, the participants walked through the metal detector and lined up on the other side to wait for the rest. As Peter walked forward for his turn, he was shoved out of the way by Flash who didn't even spare him a glance. Peter quickly stabled himself to stop himself from falling over before walking through the metal detector himself.
He had no intent to start anything with Flash when he didn't have too.
When all the participants had gathered once more, they were directed into a large elevator and then up to their floor. Manoeuvring down many hallways, the group finally arrived at what would be their testing room.
The room itself looked like a huge boardroom, but instead of one large table the room was scattered with small desks for each person. It reminded Peter of all the tests he had to take at school at the end of every year. Which weirdly made him feel more comfortable, he always did well at those tests. So he could do well at the one, right?
"Please take a seat at a desk," Dr. Miller called out.
When Peter sat down on a desk near the back of the room, he noted that there was a pencil and rubber on the desk for each person. Dr. Miller picked up a stack of papers from the front of the room and held them to her chest.
"You will have 1 hour to complete this test, the top 5 scores will receive internships to Stark Industries. Details about the internship will be given to those that get in. You may begin the test once I give it to you. Good luck."
She began to hand out the tests. The first few people to receive them look relieved when looking at the first few questions, however their expressions soon changed to ones of concern when they looked further into the test.
Peter's stomach dropped. If these people, who looked to be in college, were nervous about the test and what was on it, he was so screwed.
When he finally was given a test, he first wrote his name at the top and then flipped over to the first page.
"OK, this is easy," Peter thought as he looked at the first few questions. And it was, easy that is. Peter suspected these questions were only there to weed out those who were only trying to get the internship to meet the Avengers who lived in the building, or Mr. Stark. They were easy if you knew even the smallest thing about science. But if it wasn't your interest you wouldn't know.
Peter sped through the first few questions as about Newton's laws of physics, chemical symbols of different elements of the periodic table and their properties. Basic, well for Peter at least it was. Him, as well as most other people, seemed to get through the first few pages in record time.
The questions slowly got harder, asking about absorption lines and stellar physics, to biochemistry and cellular make-ups. A few pages later the questions changed to robotics and electronics—questions to do with circuits and energy.
Some questions later Peter had to find the fault in a code from a description of the problem and the code itself. Peter silently thanked Ned for getting him into coding when they had met. Other than being a useful skill overall, it was proving to be very valuable in this test.
Those around him seemed to start slowing down and spending longer per page than they had at the start. Which made sense, the questions were getting harder, but Peter kept ploughing through the question—barely stopping to think.
On the second to last page were some questions about renewable power and the best forms to create it. Peter could almost hear MJ ranting about clean energy and how more companies should be getting into it in the back of his head, but he couldn't let it distract him. Even if it made him smile for just a moment.
The last question on the page was about what renewable power source should be used on Mars if it was ever inhabited by earth. Peter smiled as he answered the question and eagerly turned over to the last page, only to be faced with questions he did not expect.
Instead of science, the questions were about… him?
The first question read: "Why do you deserve this internship?"
Huh, Peter thought to himself, do I deserve this internship?
Of course, Peter was smarter than the average person walking around the street. But was he anything compared to anyone else in this building? Does he just think he deserves it because once upon a time he used to work here?
Peter tried to shake the thought from his head, how was this the hardest question? He thought about what others would put. He imagined Flash writing about how smart he was and his family connections. He imagined the college students talking about their college courses, test scores and dependability. But Peter didn't feel like that was why he should be picked.
The only reason he wanted to be an intern and felt like he could maybe deserve it was because he knew that he knew nothing in the grand scheme of things, and wanted to learn more. So, that was what he wrote.
Because I know when it comes down to it, compared to all the information in the universe, I know nothing at all. But I want to learn and I am willing to.
Moving on, there were a few more questions like that; "What would you bring to your role as an intern?", "Why Stark Industries?" and the like. Soon Peter was done with the test. He checked his answers, placing the test and his pencil carefully down in the middle of the desk.
He saw that he still had 10 minutes left to complete the test.
Had he gone too fast? Maybe he messed something up and that was why he finished so early. But he couldn't think like that, he had to trust he had done at least ok.
To fill the time, Peter started drawing on the back of the test. He sketched a little cartoon Spiderman hanging from a lamppost by a web. He smiled to himself as he drew, shading in his old suit. The time flew as Peter sketched and soon it was time to collect the tests.
"Please put your pencils down," Dr Miller called out, standing up from her chair in the front of the room. Some people started to protest that they weren't done yet and begged for some extra time, but the doctor calmly replied, "There will be no extra time, I'm sorry. I'm going to collect the tests now and mark them. While I do so you will be directed to the cafeteria area for some lunch and in an hour you will be brought back here and I will let you know of the results."
Many groaned as they handed in their unfinished tests, sinking into their chairs as they realised they likely weren't getting in. Another person guided them back into the elevators and to the cafeteria. The cafeteria itself was huge, in fact it looked more like a food court than what he had been expecting.
There appeared to be a stall of every type of food he could think of; from basic sandwiches, to ramen, pizza and sushi. Peter knew he had to control himself, he couldn't just start scarfing down food—it would look weird.
As people started to go off with their friends to find food Peter slowly made his way over to a stall that had Thai food. Just like he and May used to have all the time. He got some Pad Thai and coconut rice and sat down by himself to enjoy the food.
Peter missed having hot meals everyday. It seemed nowadays when he did eat, it was cold food that didn't fill his stomach enough. Even though a normal sized meal wouldn't fill his stomach completely, the warm food was more than enough to lift Peter's spirits.
Other's began getting up for seconds, so he could too, right?
Deciding on ramen, Peter went to get some, lining up behind some other participants from the tests.
When an hour had finally passed, Peter was feeling mildly full for the first time in days. His stomach didn't crave food, it no longer had the dull ache of hunger pains. A pleasant change, but one that wouldn't last too long.
He didn't have to worry about food for a few hours, now he just had to worry about the internship.
—
Peter once again found himself sitting at the desk he had completed his test in. His hands couldn't stop fighting as he awaited the news. Dr. Miller finally looked up at the group, standing and walking to the front of her desk.
"First of all congratulations to everyone, this test was designed to be extremely hard and it was not expected that everyone would finish the test or get every answer right. In fact, quite the opposite. I will now read the names of the 5 people who have been accepted into the Stark Internship program. After I read the names, those who were not called will be asked to leave and may collect their belongings from the security desk. Those who are called, please stick around and I will explain the details. Understood?"
The group gave a variety of nods and "yes"s before she began speaking again.
"Good, congratulations to Roy Dunes, Oliver Haver, Rachel Burner, Gwen Stacy and Peter Parker. Those not called may now depart."
He got in?
Peter couldn't hide his excitement at getting in. If he wasn't so tired from the lack of sleep he might have even jumped for joy. Too caught up in his excitement he didn't notice the uproar of people claiming there must have been a mistake in adding up the scores, that they were sure they got more than enough answers correct to get in. Leading the complaints was Flash Thompson, who began bringing up how his parents would not be pleased and other complaints.
Eventually all those who had not got in were escorted out of the building leaving the 5 winners in the testing room.
"First, congratulations once again. I was blown away by your test results and think you will become wonderful SI interns. The internship will take place every Wednesday and Friday—3 to 6pm—and Saturdays 11 to 4pm. Lunch will be provided for you and the cafeteria will always be open to you during internship hours. Tomorrow when you arrive please collect your badge from the reception desk, they will tell you where to go as well. Have a good day, I'll see you all tomorrow. Mr. Parker, could you please hang around for a moment."
The other interns thanked Dr. Miller and left, leaving only her and Peter in the testing room.
Did they figure out I forged my paperwork? Peter worried.
"Is everything okay, Dr. Miller?" Peter cautiously asked.
"Oh yes, I'm sorry that must have sounded like you had done something wrong. Don't misunderstand, everything is fine." she amended, walking around to sit at the desk once more. Moving forward Peter asked:
"Then, why did you ask me to stay?"
She gave Peter a soft smile and answered, "You got every question right Mr. Parker, every single one. I'm sure even our adult employees couldn't get them all right, and yet you did."
Peter's face blushed a bright red at the praise.
"Your file says you go to a public school, I merely kept you behind to advise you to talk to your parents, Ben and May I believe your file said, about moving you to a science focused school, such as Midtown Tech. I can see a bright future for you, and I would hate for your schooling to hold you back from discovering your full potential."
Peter was taken back by the suggestion, he had to beg May and Ben for a chance to even try for a scholarship at Midtown. They were worried he would feel bad if he didn't get in. And yet here was a scientist, with a doctorate, telling him he would get in no problem. In response, Peter stuttered out:
"Thanks, I'll talk to my, ah, parents about it."
"You see to that Mr. Parker, I'll see you tomorrow."
And with that Peter left the SI, with a new internship, and a bit more faith in his intelligence. Maybe he could make a happy life in this world. Just maybe.