Chapter 2

*Alarm Bell Ringing*

"I wonder if you'll get to open for them,"

"That'll be pretty cool admittedly," Gwen smiled cheekily at her friend. "Assuming MJ doesn't go crazy & kill us all before that," she continued, half-joking.

"She's just nervous, probably," Liz remarked. "Random question, but if MJ does kill you, can I have your Taylor Swift collection?" Liz pleaded jokingly.

Gwen mulled it over for a moment. "Nah, I'm taking that one to the grave with me,"

As they made their way across the cafeteria, they saw Peter & his friends sitting at one of the tables near the end.

Liz quickly waved at Peter and dragged Gwen along with her to where they sat. "Peter! Hey!"

Peter smiled sheepishly at the pair. "Hey Liz, Gwen," he continued, as he & his friends greeted the girls. Gwen flashed them a weak smile as she approached them.

"Hey boys," Liz gave them a quick wave as she arrived at their table. "So.. uhh, that whole thing with Flash earlier… you guys ok?" Liz added as she turned her attention towards Ned.

Ned gave her a light shrug. "I'm fine, Harry's also fine," Ned tried to assure her. "The Death Star's ruined though…," he added, a bit sadly at the end.

"Hey man, its fine. We can just build it again," Peter assured him. "Right, Harry?" he continued, looking at Harry for assurance.

"Hmm?" Harry looked back at him in genuine surprise. "I dunno man. The Death Star is a lot of work, and I'm kinda busy..," Harry trailed off, before he suddenly yelped out. "Owww! What the heck man?"

Peter frowned at him before continuing. "But we'll obviously 'find the time' to work on it 'together'… Right?" Peter said, a slight edge in his voice.

"Hah! That's rich, coming from you, Mr. No-Show," Harry rolled his eyes in disbelief. "Last time we did this, I got stuck with most of the work!"

"I was uhhh… busy," Peter trailed off weakly at the end. "You know, with homework, and May, and stuff…,"

"It's ok, you take your time man," Ned quickly chimed in to diffuse the situation, while patting Peter on the back. "Oh yeah," Ned said as he turned to Liz & Gwen. "You girls wanna join us for lunch?"

Harry smacked his forehead in frustration. "You can't just ask them for lunch like that," Harry replied, as he berated Ned. "Have some class man, class,"

Liz smiled at them before continuing. "Nah, we'll sit over there, but thanks for the offer though," Liz said as she pointed to the table next to them. "No, I just wanted to say, Congratz to Peter," Liz beamed at Peter. "For the whole Stark Expo thing,"

Peter smiled sheepishly back at her. "Yeah, thanks. I'm pretty sure I just got lucky Mr. Stark liked my project," he said while scratching the back of his head.

"Hey! A wins a win!" Liz beamed at him happily. "Gwen's project got in as well you know," Liz said as she drags Gwen to the front.

Gwen blinked in surprise as she stood directly in front of Peter. "Uhh-Yeah, congratz Pete," she said, offering her hand for a handshake. "PETER, Congratz peter," Gwen caught herself immediately.

"Oh-uhh, yeah yeah, sure," Peter replied as he shook her outstretched hand awkwardly. "I-I mean you too. Congratz! To you. For winning. Congratz to you for the Stark Expo thing,"

"Y-yeah," Gwen smiled back awkwardly. She then dragged her hand back, as the handshake lingered awkwardly.

"Oh, yeah-uhh, sorry about that," Peter took his hand back to his sides.

"No, no, Its fine, you're fine," Gwen assured him. "The handshake, I mean,"

"Oh-Yeah, yeah, sure. Handshake, yeah," Peter said, slightly flustered.

Liz grinned mischievously as she watched the pair. "You two would make a great pair," Liz added, still flashing her grin to Gwen.

Gwen gave Liz a slight glare with the corner of her eyes, as Peter continued to fluster at Liz's words. "Oh, uh, I don-,"

"Scientists," Liz added, while nodding innocently. "You'd make a great pair of scientists, at Stark Industries,"

Peter blinked in surprise before regaining his composure. "O-Oh, Uhh, Yeah! Sure. Haha," Peter laughed nervously. "Scientists, yeap, 100%"

Gwen rolled her eyes at Liz before ending the conversation. "Liz, Lunch, Now," as she gestured for Liz to sit at the table next to them with her eyes.

Liz smiled at her innocently. "Sureeee. Later boys,"

As they head towards their table, Gwen flicked Liz the middle finger, away from the boy's view.

"What? It's you two's fault for being so cute," Liz chuckled.

Gwen rolled her eyes as she took her seat. "Remind me to kick your ass when we're alone next time. Cutely, of course," Gwen flashed her a fake smile.

"Oooh, whatever shall I do," Liz said in mock fear. "I'm gonna go grab some salad, you want anything specific?"

"Ooh, I'm starving," Gwen replied. "Some fries would be nice, thanks,"

"Ugh, you & your insane metabolism," Liz rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"Hey, I burn it off everyday in the band," Gwen retorted while Liz was walking away.

As she took out her phone and started scrolling through it, she can't help but overhear some of the conversation from the next table.

"So how're you & May holding up Pete?" Harry said slightly apprehensively.

"Hmmm? Oh uh, we're fine," Peter said confidently. "Like I said before, we're still kind of getting used to it, but it's getting better,"

"Oh okay," Ned said carefully. "You know you can come to us if you need anything right?"

"Yeah, I know" Peter assured his friends. "You've only said it for about a million times," he joked.

"Hey, we're trying to be 'good' friends here, give us a break man," Harry joked back.

"And also, it's only been nine hundred & ninety thousand times," Ned added. "The next ten thousand times coming up within this week,"

"Nooo, you'll suffocate me with your kindness," Peter said, feigning drowning dramatically at their side.

As they continued their banter, suddenly the cafeteria doors flew open with Flash entering through, leading his group of friends, grumpily stomping his way in.

'Talk about a dramatic entrance,' Gwen thought to herself.

Flash looked around for a moment before his eyes landed on Peter's table. "Hey, Fatso!" As he shoved his way past people, directly heading towards the trio.

Once he reached them, he grabbed a startled Ned by his collar. "I'm gonna miss the next game because of you!" he snarled towards Ned.

A frightened Ned was shaking at the glare Flash was giving him. "F-f-flash?" Ned stammered timidly.

Flash shoved him back to his seat before slamming a piece of paper on their table. "It's a D!" he yelled furiously.

The confused Ned kept staring at Flash, not daring to look at whatever paper Flash handed to them.

Harry took a quick peek at the crunched-up paper. "History? You got a D in history?"

Flash fumed at Ned, by now his friends have crowded the table, echoing his furious look on their faces. "Coz of fatty over here!" Flash stabbed his finger at Ned's chest.

"Oh wow, you actually copied History off of Ned?" Harry smirked mockingly at Flash.

"I-I told you Flash, I'm not that good in History," Ned replied shakily.

"Yeah, Ned's more of a physics nerd," Harry smiled mockingly.

"Y-Yeah," Ned lifted his hand up in fear. "You should've asked Harry for History," he blurted out.

"Hey, What the hell man!" Harry gaped in amazement at Ned's remark.

"Oof, sorry," Ned grimaced. "That totally slipped,"

Flash's eyes darted between the both of them, before slamming his fist at the table and grabbing Ned's collar again. "You nerds think this is funny?" he said menacingly.

"N-No sir!" Ned replied timidly.

Peter quickly stood up & approached Flash warily. "Come on Flash, just let him go," Peter said calmly, trying to diffuse the situation. "Ned did the best he could man,"

"Fuck off Parker," Flash growled at Peter. "This doesn't concern you,"

"Yeah, well, I'm not gonna sit here & let you bully Ned," Peter said defiantly, if rather timidly.

Flash looked at Peter incredulously. "Wow, are you getting a big head now Parker?" Flash said after shoving Ned back to his seat, his attention now shifted towards Peter. "I leave you alone for a few months, and you think you're some kind of hero now? Is that it?" Flash said, challenging Peter.

Gwen decided that things were getting out of hand, so she went to Peter's side & tried to dissuade Flash. "Come on Flash, this is getting out of hand,"

Flash glared at the pair before ignoring Gwen. "Shut up princess, the men are talking," as he shoved Gwen to the side.

Gwen's eyes widened in anger at being dismissed & disrespected, but she calmed herself down, not wanting the situation to escalate further. "Flash, stop it!" Gwen tried to get in between Flash & Peter before one of Flash's friends blocked her.

"Look man, I don't want any trouble," Peter put his hand up warily.

"Is that what this looks like to you Parker? Trouble?" Flash continued, while walking slowly towards Peter. "You know, I've been trying to be nice to you Parker, over the last few months. But maybe the lack of attentions getting to your head. Maybe what you need is a REFRESHER!" Flash growled as he swung his fist towards Peter's face.

Peter (incredibly?) managed to turn his face towards the incoming fist, meeting Flash's fist with his nose.

"Argh!"

Gwen immediately pushed past her blocker, worried. To her surprise, Peter just stood there, blinking, a look of surprise on his face, while Flash was now holding his fist, cursing in pain.

"O-Oww, urgh…," Peter yelled out in pain a few moments later, clutching his face, eyes wide in (surprise?)

As Gwen looked on in confusion, trying to make sense of what's happening, one of Flash's friends grabbed Peter from the back.

"Come on Flash, what're you doing?!" the beefed up jock said while holding Peter from the back. "Stop messing around man!"

Harry quickly came to Peter's side and tried to tackle his captor away, but a couple of Flash's friends grabbed him and shoved him down.

Flash looked up from his hand & looked at Peter confusingly, Peter's look of confusion & panic mirroring his. As he shook away his confusion, and regained his composure, he took a big swing towards the prone Peter, Gwen reacting too late to the scene unfolding before her.

To Gwen's surprise (& panic?) this time Peter flew across the Cafeteria towards the end, as if he has been thrown by the Hulk himself. Peter laid down clutching his stomach, his face hidden from sight.

Harry & Ned quickly went over to Peter, having freed themselves from Flash's friends.

Flash looked at Peter incredulously, his eyes darting from his fist, to Peter, rapidly.

"W-woah dude, you don't have to go full Super Saiyan on him man," one of Flash's friends remarked, eyeing Flash slightly timidly.

"W-wh-," Flash blinked at his friend in confusion. "I-I didn't-I wasn't-"

"EUGENE THOMPSON!" a voice suddenly yelled out from the back. "What the fuck are you doing?!"

A beautiful red-headed girl stomped her way towards the commotion. "Are you trying to kill Peter?!"

Flash stood there, at a lost for words. "I-it was an accident,"

"I don't care. You better hope Peter's okay, or you can bet your sorry ass I'm calling your Mom about this," she threatened Flash.

"Parker started it!" one of Flash's friends yelled back from within the commotion.

"And I'm fucking ending it, right now!" the red-head announced defiantly, staring at the group, daring them to challenge her. "The guy has had it hard enough already for fuck's sake. Can't you use your brain for once & learn to read the situation?!"

Flash looked down in shame for a few moments before glowering at Peter's direction. "I've had enough of this, let's go," he growled before heading out of the cafeteria, his group of friends following him from the back.

Gwen started to go over to where Peter was crunched up in a ball, but the red-headed beauty made her way there first.

"You ok Pete?"

Peter looked up at her, his hands still cupping his nose. "Uh, y-yeah, sure," he winced in pain. "Thanks for the save MJ. Sorry about that,"

MJ pursed her lips in disapproval. "What are you talking about, it's not your fault," MJ said calmly as she kneeled down beside him. "The guy's an oaf,"

"How bad is it?" Gwen winced as she kept her eyes on Peter. "How's the jaw?"

Peter blinked in surprise at the question. "My what?" Peter looked at Gwen quizzically.

"Don't talk!" Ned insisted. "That might dislocate it further!"

"A punch like that, I'd thought your jaw would've come clean off," Harry grimaced. "Flash's insane!"

For a moment, Gwen swore she saw Peter's eyes widened, before he held his jaw in pain.

"Ooh, yeah, that's gonna hurt tomorrow," Peter nodded while wincing in pain. "A-adrenaline, you know? It takes a moment to kick in," Peter smiled sheepishly at his friends who was eyeing him in a mix of worry & confusion.

"You sound fine though," Ned remarked.

"Oh, ah, aye cant muv my jow," Peter continue, still holding his jaw in pain. "Ooh, thet herrts, ooh,"

MJ crossed her arms in worry. "Let's get you to the Nurse's office,"

"NO!" Peter exclaimed. "I-I'm okay," he assured them. "I mean, ay'm shure it'll be faine," Peter smiled awkwardly at the group.

MJ looks at him, slightly perplexed. "Ookaaay…," MJ eyed him apprehensively.

"L-let's just sit down & have lunch first," Peter suggested. "It's fine, I'm fine, we're fine,"

"O-okay," Gwen blinked in surprise.

"Okay then," Peter flashed them a thumbs up before dragging his friends with him & sat back down at his table, his hoodie now raised up & covering his face.

As they stood there, confused about the whole situation, Gwen slowly went back to her seat, before shrugging her shoulder when MJ looked at her, clearly unsure of the whole situation.

Before long, MJ took her seat next to Gwen. "Well… that was weird,"

"With Peter, you get used to it," Gwen smiled weakly at her friend.

MJ shrugged her shoulders off-handedly. "Heard you got into the expo," MJ said as she rested her head on her arms.

"I guess," Gwen brushed it off.

"Sure. Betty couldn't stop yapping about it," MJ smirked.

"Sounds about right," Gwen smirked back at her.

"That's great Stacy," MJ gave her a light nudge on the shoulder. "Look at you, a Science-y Rock Star. That's a first," MJ said as she ruffled Gwen's hair affectionately.

Gwen shoved her away in annoyance, before blowing her fringe back into position. "I got lucky,"

MJ nodded in agreement. "True, true. Would you say, 'this is 10% Luck'?"

Gwen rolled her eyes as she smirked playfully at MJ. "20% skill,"

"50% pain," they chimed in together. "And a 100% reason to remember the name!" as they ended it together, before bursting out in laughter.

"That's so cringe,"

"You started it," Gwen rolled her eyes while shaking her head affectionately.

"So, you nervous about tonight?" MJ changed the topic after they've calmed down

Gwen drummed her fingers lazily on the table. "A bit, yeah sure,"

"Right, no pressure," MJ lets out a deep breath she was holding. "Last minute jam at my place?"

"Sure, sure," Gwen brushed her off.

"Awesome," MJ said as she stood up.

"Where're you going?"

"I'm gonna go give Peter an invitation,"

Gwen eyes widened in surprise. "What? Why?"

MJ raised her eyebrow quizzically. "Didn't take you as one of those 'Jock, Nerd' kind of girl,"

"What? No!" Gwen knitted her brows in annoyance. "I mean why are you suddenly inviting Peter?"

MJ gave her a playful smirk. "Coz, why not, you know?" MJ shrugged her shoulders. "I think he's pretty nice,"

"Oh, okay," Gwen nodded thoughtfully, keeping her cool. "Yeah sure, do what you want,"

MJ suddenly dragged her out of her seat with her. "Come with me, a girl needs a wing-woman when it's crunch time," MJ gave her a slight smirk.

"W-wait, Liz asked me to save that seat," Gwen said as she was dragged along by MJ.

"Hey Peter," MJ said, as she stood at the side of their table. "Listen, our band's playing a gig at the 'Floorboard' tonight," she gestured towards both her and Gwen.

The boys blinked in surprise at the sudden intrusion. "Okaayy," Peter said, slightly confused.

MJ drummed her fingers lazily on their table. "So… u wanna come watch?"

"Huh? O-Oh yeah! Sure! I'd love to!" Peter said enthusiastically, slightly off guard at her invitation. "But, uhh, you sure MJ?"

"Hmm? Definitely sure. Why?"

"Well, it's just that, you know, I'm not exactly one of the 'cool' kids," Peter said, slightly joking. "You sure you don't want to invite someone else?"

MJ rolled her eyes at Peter's remark. "You're literally one of the main reason we can go through with this," MJ scoffed at him. "I've always got a slot for my favorite tutor," MJ beamed at him.

Peter blushed slightly at her remark.

"Besides, I 'know' you're cool," MJ said casually, while eyeing Peter with the corner of her eyes. "I wouldn't mind letting other people know it as well," MJ gave a slight smirk, clearly enjoying the shades of red coloring Peter's cheek.

"So… uhh… is that a one-person invitation thing? Maybe a +2, or a +1," Ned smiled sheepishly, eyeing MJ pleadingly.

Harry quickly smacked Ned at the back of his head. (Oww!) "Stop embarrassing us dude!" Harry hissed at him.

MJ smirked at their antics. "Sure, bring your friends along. The more the merrier," MJ nodded off-handedly. "Besides, it's not like we'll have a full house on our first gig,"

Ned & Harry looked at each other in awe, before letting out a slight squeal in amazement. Peter lets out a small nervous chuckle. "Uhh yeah, I'll be there," he nodded at her, a slight blush still coloring his cheeks.

MJ flashed him her trademark smile, looking proud. "See you later, tiger," she gave him a small wink before strutting away with Gwen.

Barely a few steps away, MJ suddenly stops & turned towards the boys. "Oh, and Pete. Don't flake on me again, like last time," she remarked, a slight edge to her voice.

As the crowds started to murmur after hearing their interaction, MJ flashed Peter a quick smirk before her arms shot up in the air with her flashing the crowd her middle finger. "Show's over everybody! Get a life!" she exclaimed as she walked back to her table with Gwen in tow.