Author's Note: Spoilers! I've seen the 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' trailer and it seems kind of interesting. But not that much to me. Though it is bit of a stretch to accept Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards.
Anyway, a quick warning to all of you readers! If you get messages from users claiming that they're interested in your stories and want to make art of it, they're scammers in disguise! So watch out!
I don't own Avengers or its characters. I only own Riley Stark and other OCs that appear in the story.
Take on the World
Chapter 39: Liz's Party
Holding one foot down with one hand and a book in the other, MJ sat down while simply reading and listening to Riley talk about various things whilst doing sit-ups.
That seemed to be how their friendship worked.
Riley did the talking while MJ did the listening.
Though, sometimes, MJ would always chime in with a comment or two that would keep the conversation smoothly sailing.
MJ furrowed her eyebrows together as she continued to watch Riley do sit-ups.
The two girls as well as their other classmates were attending their Gym Class.
"So are you going to Liz's party tonight, MJ?"Riley asked curiously.
"Do I look like someone who goes to parties?"MJ questioned.
"Well, not really."Riley remarked while propping herself up on her elbows."But isn't that what you do? You know, do things for the irony of it? Come on. It'll be fun."
MJ lowered her book while a thoughtful expression was on her face.
"The fact that you know me so well is a little alarming."MJ retorted.
"I'm just very observant, MJ."Riley assured with a smirk."Honestly, the fact that you're more afraid of other students than the party is concerning."
"I'm not afraid of anything."MJ declared sternly before letting out a sigh in defeat."Fine, Riley. I'll go. Just for you."
Riley grinned in delight.
"Yes. I'm telling you, it'll be fun."Riley chuckled brightly."Plus, there's always free food at parties. You have nothing to worry about."
"Peter knows Spider-Man!"
An anxious yet shocked look appeared on Riley's face as everyone inside the gym all turned their gazes on Peter and Ned.
"No, I don't!"Peter remarked nervously."I-I mean-"
"They're friends!"Ned added.
Flash dropped from where he had been climbing the rope.
"Yeah, like Coach Wilson and Captain America are friends."Flash joked.
Gwen smirked while rolling her eyes at the school bully.
"Sure!"Gwen sneered with a smug look."Just like you and all the girls who have friend-zoned you this past year!"
In the midst of the laughs from their classmates, Flash just scowled at Gwen, who innocently waved back at him.
"I've met him, yeah. A couple times."Peter remarked."But...it's through the Stark Internship."
Sally gave Riley a smirk.
"Do you know about this, Riley?"Sally asked with a fake innocent look.
Despite her dislike on the snobbish cheerleader and everyone's gazed at her, Riley gave a small smile in respond.
"Of course, I do."Riley complemented.
Peter cleared his throat while giving Ned a death glare.
"Yeah, I'm not really supposed to talk about it."Peter complemented.
Riley gave Peter a suspicious glance.
"Or gossip about it."Riley retorted with a disapproval look.
"Hey, you know what?"Flash remarked."Maybe you should invite him to Liz's party!"
"Yeah, I'm having people over tonight."Liz admitted kindly."You're more than welcome to come."
"Having a party?"Peter murmured nervously.
"Yeah, it's gonna be dope."Flash encouraged."You should totally invite your personal friend Spider-Man."
Liz shook her head.
"It's okay."Liza assured kindly."I know Peter's way too busy for parties anyway, so..."
"Come on. He'll be there."Flash argued."Right, Parker?"
Riley looked at Peter.
"Come on, Peter."Riley thought desperately."You don't have to do it because Flash is harassing you."
Peter then gave Riley and all other students a small smile.
"Right."Peter agreed.
Riley simply covered her face in disappointment while Gwen frowned at Peter for taking Flash's encouragement.
"Idiot."Gwen muttered lightly.
After Happy picked them from Midtown High, Riley was hanging out with Gwen in her bedroom at the Avengers Tower.
The two girls laid down on the floor, looking at old magazines that showed the top movies in the 1980s.
"My mum was a crazy fan of the Breakfast Club and Dirty Dancing."Riley exclaimed."Though Grease was her favourite musical. The costumes, the songs..."
Gwen smirked. "The male chauvinism."
"What?"Riley chuckled.
"That movie musical was completely sexist, Riles."Gwen retorted."The men treated the women like doormats. It's like it takes place in the 1950s."
Riley gave Gwen a smirk.
"It does take place in the 1950s."Riley admitted.
Gwen bit her lip at her awkwardness.
"Oh."Gwen mumbled and then simply shrugged."Carry on."
Riley lightly laughed before she turned the pages of the magazine that showed Brooke Shields when she was young.
"Brooke Shields became a fashion icon the moment she told the world that nothing came between her and her Calvins for Calvin Klein Jeans' 1980s television ad."Riley exclaimed with a hint of admiration."Today, she is most known for her advocacy and support for women's rights and the arts."
"Is it true that her Calvin Klein Jeans were sold for $68,750?"Gwen questioned.
"Yes. But in 1980, Brooke Shields starred in a famous Calvin Klein jeans ad campaign when she was just 15 years old."Riley admitted."She delivered the iconic tagline: 'You want to know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing'. The campaign became one of the most famous and controversial fashion."
"Wow."Gwen murmured casually.
Riley then got an article called 'Just Seventeen'; a magazine for teenage girls published from Oct 1983 to 2004.
The Stark heiress turned to the page that had the title '80s prom', only for her and her best friend to be awestruck on how chic the girls in the magazine looked in their prom dresses.
"My gosh these girls' dresses are awesome."Riley murmured.
"Yeah."Gwen agreed."They almost makes up feel like downers on the dresses we would wear on Homecoming."
Then Tony came into the bedroom, earning Riley and Gwen's attention.
"Hey, dad."Riley greeted with a wave.
"You know there's something called knocking, Mr Stark."Gwen informed with a small frown.
Tony frowned back at Gwen.
"I am well aware of that."Tony stated before changing the subject."Alright, you two can go to this school party. But you'll need to follow these rules. No alcohol drinking, no smoking and no hanging out with boys. Also, don't come home late."
Riley simply smiled at Tony.
"Yes, dad."Riley assured."I promise."
"Don't worry, Mr Stark. I'll keep an eye out on, Riles."Gwen remarked smugly."As you know, my dad is a police captain."
"Right."Tony answered."Just don't attend to break the rules either way, Gwen."
Liz's house was filled with teenagers dancing to the pounding music and flashing coloured lights.
Each teen held a red solo cup filled with punch that had been mysteriously spiked yet filled their thirst.
Flash was in the living room dj-ing for the party keeping the music going, bobbing his head to the music he played.
All teenagers were dancing and enjoying themselves, relaxing in the social environment.
The music being played seemed to shake the entire home.
The bass was so loud and intense that Riley felt as though her heart was beating in sync with it.
Drinks were spilling and the aroma of pizza was intermingling with sweat.
This was a perfect stereotypical high school party that Riley used to dream about going to when she was a kid and still believed she had time to attend a normal high school when she grew up.
Riley looked around Liz Allan's house with interest in her eyes due to her natural curiosity getting the best of her once again.
The Stark heiress chuckled lightly to herself at the baby pictures of Liz that were scattered around the general area.
She continued to look at them until she noticed one in particular that stood out to her.
Narrowing her eyes, she stared at an image of who she assumed was Liz's father that seemed anything but friendly.
Riley snapped her attention away from the photos as Gwen came up to her holding two plastic cups.
"There's no alcohol in these drinks, right?"Riley assumed with a hint of suspicion.
"Relax, Riles."Gwen sneered with a smirk."It's just an ordinary Dr Pepper cherry soda for me and an ordinary Fanta orange for you."
Riley smiled in approval before she and Gwen began to drink their beverages.
"I don't think Liz would find it comfortable at you staring at her family photos."Gwen commented.
"Sorry."Riley apologised."I thought for a moment that I had a funny feeling."
"Don't worry about that."Gwen assured simply."I would actually know if danger would actually come by if my spider sense started tingling."
"But doesn't that hurt your head?"Riley chuckled.
Gwen shrugged. "Not really."
While the others were enjoying themselves, Peter and Ned stood in front of the front door.
Ned stood beside him gazing around Liz's house in awe of the interior.
His eyes widened at the interior, always forgetting how rich Liz's parents were.
"Dude, this was a bad idea."Peter retorted.
Ned glanced at Peter, shaking his head.
"Dude, this is a great idea."Ned assured confidently, revising the plan."Spider-Man will swing in, say you two are tight and I'll get a fist bump or one of those half-bro hugs."
MJ held a piece of toast as she looked at Ned and Peter.
"I can't believe you guys are at this lame party."MJ complemented.
"But you're here too."Ned reminded.
MJ narrowed her eyes.
"Am I?"MJ questioned.
MJ took a bite out of her toast and walked away, a book clad under her arm.
Upon seeing Riley talking to Gwen nearby, Ned glanced at Peter.
"Dude, what are you doing? She's here."Ned informed."Spider it up."
"No, no, no. I can't-I cannot do this."Peter stammered."Spider-Man is not a party trick, okay? Look, I'm just gonna be myself."
"Peter, no one wants that."Ned informed.
"Dude."Peter retorted.
With that being said, Peter took only one step forward before Flash started to blare airhorn effects which were followed by numerous roasts toward him.
"Penis Parker! What's up?"Flash yelled out."So where's your pal Spider-Man? Let me guess. In Canada with your imaginary girlfriend? That's not Spider-Man! That's just Ned in a red shirt!"
Peter sighed, but Ned just gave him two thumbs up and walked away.
"I'm gonna go tell everyone you're calling Spider-Man."Ned remarked.
Once Ned left, Peter started to make his way out of the party.
Gwen glared at Flash as she drank her cherry soda before removing the plastic cup from her mouth revealing a mischievous smile on her face.
"Riles, I am going to the restroom."Gwen instructed."Just be sure not to freak out on what you're going to see."
This caused Riley to become alarmed.
"No, Gwen, no."Riley begged in a soft yet stern tone."Remember what my dad said."
"I won't break any of his rules."Gwen responded casually as she began to walk away."I am just going to give Flash a taste of his own medicine."
Gwen threw her plastic cup in the bin as she went up to Liz.
"Hey, Liz."Gwen greeted."Where's the bathroom?"
"Upstairs on the left side."Liz answered.
"Thanks."Gwen thanked with a grin.
Riley nervously drank her Fanta beverage as Gwen went up the stairs, silently hoping her best friend won't do anything utterly crazy.
It was already bad enough that Peter told Ned that he was Spider-Man.
She didn't want her best friend to dress up as Ghost Spider to cause more excitement and havoc in Liz's party than it was now.
The Stark heiress made her way to the buffet table to eat some pretzels, only for Tristan to walk over to her.
"Hey, Riley."Tristan greeted.
"H-Hi, Tristan."Riley responded with an anxious smile."Are you enjoying the party?"
"Yeah. It's cool."Tristan replied and rubbed the back of his neck."I wanted to ask you the other day if you have a date for the Homecoming Dance?"
A small chuckle escaped from Riley's face.
"Surprisingly not."Riley responded.
"Then…would you like to go with me?"Tristan suggested.
A mixed feeling of surprise and joy grew inside Riley.
Tristan was asking her to be his homecoming date?
"Y-Yeah. Sure."Riley remarked simply with a nod."No problem."
"Cool."Tristan answered with an approved smile."I'll see you then."
Tristan went away to hang out with the other students as Riley's happy expression suddenly became a troubled one.
Not long after the Battle at Leipzig-Halle Airport, Riley learned an utterly horrible revelation from her father which could actually ruin her friendship with Tristan as well as ever having a romantic relationship with him.
What was worse this horrible secret was something that Steve knew and actually hid it from both of them.
Though now that Tristan asked her to be his date to the dance, it would only complicate the situation.
Riley went to sit where MJ was, only for her friend to place her book down to glance at her.
"Hey."MJ spoke up, earning the Stark heiress' attention."Why so gloomy?"
"Tristan asked me out for the homecoming dance."Riley declared.
"Hey. That's great."MJ praised and became confused."Then why don't you look happy? You were so head over heels for that guy from the moment you saw him step into our school."
Riley let out a sigh.
"It's not that, MJ."Riley admitted, trying to look for a better answer."It's just that…I don't feel right going to the dance with him."
"Let me guess."MJ responded with a small smirk."Your dad is scared that Tristan is only interested getting into your-"
Riley blushed furiously and shook her head.
"Oh, no. It-It's not that at all."Riley interrupted quickly, not wanting her friend to finish her sentence."I was expecting someone else to ask me for the homecoming dance."
MJ smiled. "Does that someone's name start with a P?"
Riley smirked and gave MJ a playful punch on the arm.
"No."Riley lied.
Flash then unleashed another airborn effect, earning everyone's attention.
"Alright, everyone!"Flash laughed, ready to insult Peter even more with the other students help."When I say 'Penis'! You say-"
Suddenly, light blue web fluid from nowhere hit Flash's mouth which caused some of the students to laugh while others were left surprised.
MJ became surprised at what she saw while Riley became nervous.
"Oh no."Riley thought worriedly.
Flash groaned in annoyance as he removed the web fluid from his mouth.
"Okay!"Flash snapped while holding the microphone."Who the hell did that?!"
A microphone tapping was heard in the background causing everyone to look around.
"Me, Eugene~"A deep yet disguised female cooed creepily.
Then Flash's trousers went down, revealing his Spider-Man trunks causing everyone to burst out laughing loudly.
Flash shouted in terror as he lifted his trousers back up before running out of Liz's house.
Riley and MJ shared a glance with each other before they ended up laughing as well at Flash's misfortune.
However, the Stark heiress was relieved that Gwen's prank didn't include her making an appearance as Ghost Spider.
Then Gwen carefully came down the stairs as she noticed Ned coming back inside the house.
Ned became confused at seeing Liz and other students laughing a bit before they went back to enjoy the party.
"Hey, Gwen."Ned replied and glanced around the living room."What was all that howling laughter about?"
"I was upstairs. But somebody must've pulled some harmless prank at Flash."Gwen exclaimed with a smirk, acting confused at what just occurred."But he seriously needs to learn to keep his pants on."
"What?"Ned chuckled.
Gwen noticed Peter was not with Ned anymore.
"Where did Peter go?"Gwen questioned.
"Oh, uh, he, he called his Aunt May to pick him up."Ned declared firmly."The party atmosphere was making him feel left out."
Gwen raised an eyebrow and folded her arms, not buying Ned's excuse.
Peter left Liz's party without telling her?
That was so unlike him.
He usually would tell her if something was actually bothering him.
"Really?"Gwen asked.
"Yep."Ned said simply."You know Peter never liked big parties."
"Of course."Gwen responded and mumbled under her breath while walking away from Ned."Guess it didn't occur to him that he could've hanged out with me in this party."