The Web Heads

Groaning, she slapped her hand over the device, effectively silencing it. Another few minutes of that blaring, and the neighbors were going to be complaining. They already complained enough about her parents shouting, she didn’t need to add an annoying alarm clock to the ever-growing list. 

She squint against the sun for all of three seconds before shutting her eyes again and pulling the comforter over her shoulders, hugging the fabric close to her chest. 

MJ reached blindly around her bedside table for her phone, but her hands stumbled across a small wooden picture frame, and the corner of her lips turned up. 

Her academic decathlon team took a photo last week, and MJ had immediately went to Rite Aid to develop the photo so she could stuff it into the wooden picture that sat on her nightstand. 

MJ sat up on her bed, tracing her fingers over the frame with the ghost of a smile. This frame once held a photo of her family. An old Christmas one with her mom and dad kissing under the mistletoe, and MJ diving into a pile of presents underneath their feet. 

But that was before her parents started fighting everyday. That was before the insults towards her started to become a regular thing. That was when she went by Michelle instead of MJ. That was when she felt like she actually had a family. Now, the academic decathlon team was the closest thing MJ had to a family, so she found it fitting to replace the photo of her parents with her friends. 

MJ crawled out of bed, feeling like a walking zombie as she went to the bathroom to brush her insanely unruly hair. She had faint memories of her mother doing this for her when she was really little, but in general MJ has been taking care of herself since she was young. She was definitely younger than most girls when she started dressing herself and doing her hair.

When it came to her hair, other than keeping it clean, MJ didn’t care much about how it looked. 

After getting a few brushes stuck in her mop of dark brown hair, she settled for tying it into a messy bun. It was cute. Not perfect like the popular girls at school, but it was still cool. Besides, MJ didn’t want to be like them. She was her own person, sticking to her own values, even if sometimes she felt incredibly lonely for it. 

Before getting dressed, MJ spared a causal glance out her window. 

Somehow her eyes always found Peter Parker in the upstairs apartment across from hers. She smiled while watching him brush his teeth and dance around his bedroom. He was such a dork. 

MJ has known Peter since the fourth grade when he sat beside her in the cafeteria at lunch and no one else did. He’s always been a dork, from collecting Star Wars action figures, to talking about D&D with Ned, to wearing geeky sweaters all year long. But he was also a nice person and that’s what drew MJ to him. 

For a nerd, he was actually very outgoing. He liked to talk, and talk, and talk. Which MJ didn’t mind, because she was actually the opposite. She preferred to be quiet on most days, but that’s why Peter’s non-stop babbling was nice. He made sure there was never an awkward silence, which usually always happened whenever MJ spoke to anyone else. 

But that doesn’t mean their conversations weren’t awkward as hell, because they were. Peter was just an awkward person. He fumbled his words, talked about weird things like fingernails, and he could never tell if something was telling a joke or being serious. But then again, MJ supposed she wasn’t much better. Awkward was her middle name. 

She closed the curtains, afraid she was staring for too long and he might catch her. It’s not like she was interested in him or anything. She didn’t want Peter to get the wrong idea. No, MJ was not crushing. She was just very observant. That’s all. However, she will admit, she was especially observant of the mystery that was Peter Parker. 

The clumsy, awkward, tongue-tied, dork, had a strange knack for disappearing and reappearing like a magician. He was smart as hell, but he was always turning in his assignments late. He blamed it on his Stark Internship and classes, but MJ felt like there was something more... something he wasn’t telling anyone. 

After getting dress and grabbing a quick pop-tart for breakfast, she rushed out the door to make the morning subway. 

Living in Queens, New York, meant she had to take the subway trains to school every morning. 

“Hey,” Peter called, as he dashed out of his apartment, jogging to catch up to her. 

The girl tensed at his footsteps. She started to slow her pacing, allowing him to catch up. 

“What’s up, MJ?” 

“Going to class.” She mumbled. 

“Yeah. Me too. Did you finish reading that book. What was it again? Of Human Bondage?”

MJ chuckled, “No. I’m halfway through it. I have to have something to keep me busy during gym class, you know?”

“True.” Peter agreed. His checkered shirt collar was peeking through his mid-blue sweater. Such a dork outfit. But it looked soft and comfortable and really good on him. Wait, she wasn’t crushing, she wasn’t. 

“So what was the book about?” Peter asked, panting a little from the jog. 

“Oh you don’t want to know. It’s too grown up for you.” 

“Ouch.” He said, all teeth showing. He was one of those kids that had perfectly straight teeth, but there was something about Peter’s teeth that made him look younger. It’s like he had baby teeth. Or maybe it was just his fresh face that made him look small. 

“You know, I’m fifteen. I know a thing or two about bondage.” The boy replied, trying so hard to sound seductive and mature but failing so miserably. It was too hard for MJ to pass up this opportunity to tease him. 

“Really? What makes you think it’s about that?” MJ chaffed. 

“Well... uh...”

She took pride in making him blush. Two pink spots covered his cheeks, and she patted herself on the back, like it was her daily objective to embarrass him. 

“Nah, I’m just playing. It is sorta about that. Well this guy Phillip meets an irresistible waitress and he plunges into this creepy torturous masochistic relationship which nearly ruins him.” MJ explained. 

But Peter stopped smiling. His hands tightened around his backpack straps until they turned white, and MJ immediately felt like she said the wrong thing. She wanted to retract it quickly. 

“It’s not cool or anything, bondage and masochistic relationships. I mean it sort of is. It’s interesting. Like real murders are interesting.” She winced. “But wrong!” She added, feeling like her mouth liked to spite her. 

They approached the bus stop, swiping their MetroCards as they walked through the terminal and waited in the crowded station. 

Peter tried to smile again, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “It’s okay. I know what you mean. Sounds interesting.”

She should ask him if he was okay. She told herself to ask, but now it was quiet for too long. Why was he tense over a conversation about a book? Does he even remember what they were talking about? Maybe it would be weird to say something about it now that the moment had passed. No, she should say something. But what if he started taking? Then it would be really weird. Shit. Okay. She was going to ask him. 

“Do you think Mr. Mortez will assign us another essay?” Peter asked. And the moment was officially lost. Good job, MJ. Oh, wait, he wanted her to respond. What did he ask again? Shit.

“Uh... maybe.” She said, because that was always a good answer. When he nodded, she felt an instant pang relief. Crisis averted. 

“I hope not.” Peter mumbled. “I already have so much homework I need to do this weekend. I think I’m going to die if we get assigned an essay.” 

Why wasn’t he caught up on his homework? All Peter did during study hall and lunch was homework. He shouldn’t have much more to complete. What? Could he not spare an hour at home to type his papers? 

“Man, I hate essays. I still have to complete my history one.” He babbled. 

“Yeah.. sucks for you.” She joked, playfully. That was probably not what she should have said. It’s not what the most popular girl in school would have said. 

Sucking in her breath, MJ tried again. “Well if we do get more homework, I can always help if you want. I’m really good at writing and I know you have a difficult time with forming sentences so yeah...”

MJ held her breath, waiting for his response. When he didn’t say anything, her cheeks burned with humiliation. She knew she was a weirdo. But moments like this, when she offered to do something kind but was rejected for it, displayed her flaws vividly. And MJ didn’t like to be humiliated.

She was about to tell him off, turn around and make fun of his dorky clothes when she noticed he wasn’t standing next to her anymore. Scanning the whole place, MJ couldn’t spot him anywhere. 

Peter pulled another Houdini, disappeared  without warning as if he was never standing next to MJ at all. It was scary how fast he could vanish. Maybe she was crazy? Maybe she was talking to herself the whole time? She must have been because it didn’t make sense for Peter to just run away in the middle of their conversation. Where would he even go? 

But when MJ got to class, and Peter wasn’t sitting in his desk, she was beginning to think that he was the crazy one. He could have caught the bus on time, with MJ, yet he chose to disappear for an unknown reason, only to show up to class late... again. 

                    —————————

“That’s the fifth time this week, Mr. Parker.” Their homeroom teacher scolded after the singing of the national anthem, when Peter had finally peaked his face in the door. 

“I’m sorry. I got... lost.” He replied meekly. 

The teacher was not amused. “Well get a map, Mr. Parker, and find your way to Mr. Davis’ classroom for detention tonight.”

Peter frowned, his lower lip already bleeding from his constant nervous nibbling. Scanning the teacher’s face, he tried desperately to ignore the taunting of his classmates from behind him. 

“Ohhh, Penis Parker has detention. Looks like the kiss-up, screwed up.” Flash Thompson bursted out laughing at his own joke. “Let’s give him a hand.”

Half the jocks in the back of the room started clapping, and though MJ could only see the back of Peter’s head, she could see his ears turn a bright shade of red. 

MJ spun around in her seat and leered at Flash’s friends. She dismissed them, rolling her eyes at their bullying antics. She had become resilient to criticism thanks to her parents. But often times she found her resolve breaking because of Flash’s bullying, and in return, she battled him with cruel words and cheap shots. 

But not Peter. That kid was abnormally stoic. He retained an innocent, childish attitude to persist through the bullying. Essentially, his attitude was to ignore the comments and not retaliate.

It was irritating to MJ how easily Peter let others walk all over him. But she chalked it up to his kind demeanor. MJ has never seen Peter Parker become hostile. He was always stuttering apologies, and opting for polite responses. 

“I’m sorry,” Peter whispered to his teacher as he grabbed the bright blue detention slip and quickly took a seat at his desk. 

“Try to be on time, Peter.” The teacher’s response was gentler now. Maybe she felt guilty for causing a good, sweet kid like Peter such embarrassment. She should. 

“What’s the matter, Parker? Think you’re too good for detention? Well don’t worry, I hear they accept fairy princesses now so you’ll fit right in.” Flash joked, high-fiving this kid called Tiny. He was on the football team, so rest assured his name was a contradiction to his appearance. 

A roar of laughter erupted from some of the other kids, and Peter slumped further in his seat, fidgeting nervously. It hurt MJ to see Peter so small. Something inside her snapped. 

“Hey Flash?” MJ shouted from the front of the room all the way to the back, “What are you doing this weekend other than stealing from babies and abusing the elderly?” 

“Your mom, bitch.” 

“Eugene Thompson,” Mrs. Winterhalter screamed. “Detention.”

“What?” Flash jumped out of his seat. “But that’s not fair! I was making a joke.”

“Your joke goes against school policy.” She waved a blue slip in his face. 

Peter smiled. “Don’t worry, Flash? It’s like you said, they are accepting fairy princesses so...” Peter finished his comment with a thumbs up.

“What did you just say to me?” The veins in Flash’s neck were showing. “I will kick your scrawny -“

“Eugene. Would you like to go to the principals?”

“I don’t freaking care.”

“Then go.”

Flash slouched back in his chair and crossed his arms, a look of ultimate defiance on his face.

“Make me.” 

“Go now or I’ll call security.” 

It was no joke. Security at Midtown high was not afraid pick students up and carry them to the principals, MJ has seen it happen on multiple occasions. Midtown high was an expensive school. They took pride in maintaining a strong reputation for well-behaved students. This meant heavy discipline too, although it was better than that school on 46th street where the principal carried a crossbow. 

Grumbling, Flash bolted out of his seat, sending the chair flying to the ground. “This is ridiculous. You’ll be hearing from my father.” He threatened on his way out the door. 

“I look forward to speaking with him.” Mrs. Winterhalter replied, closing the door behind Flash, and letting it slam. 

                       ____________________

After the eventful morning in homeroom, the rest of the day couldn’t match that excitement, and MJ fell into restless boredom during fifth period Spanish class. 

“Remember students, use your word list to help you answer the question. Ready? Qué hiciste anoche?”

Peter’s hand shot up like a rocket. 

“¿Sí, señor Parker?”

“Escuché música” Peter replied with a grin. He was always smiling which was something MJ admired about him. 

She twirled her pencil between her calloused fingers, the yellow wood scratching her skin. Glancing down at her opened sketchbook, MJ tweaked the eyebrows of her image slightly. Sketching people in crisis was one of her favorite pass-times. She wasn’t sure why. But there was something about human depth and emotion that fascinated her. 

Today, her subject was Flash. He was back from the principals with a pout plastered to his face for the remainder of the day. It was so fascinating. Like author Jeannette Walls said in her book Glass Castle, “Sometimes you need a little crisis to get your adrenaline flowing and to help you realize your potential.” Maybe that’s why MJ loved sketching people so much. It was cathartic for her to try and find potential in people.

“Very nice, Mr. Parker.” Mrs. Montoia praised. “Does anyone know what Peter said?” She glanced around the room and MJ quickly snapped her eyes down to her sketchbook, praying the teacher wouldn’t call on her.

“No one wants to volunteer? Okay, how about you Liz?” 

The most popular girl in the whole school  was sitting two seats in front of MJ, looking at photos of dresses on her laptop. She was so caught up in shopping for clothes that she didn’t even hear Mrs. Montoia.

“Liz!”

The girl snapped her head, like a turtle pulling out of it’s shell. 

“Yeah?”

“What did Peter say?”

Liz glanced sideways at Peter as if silently begging him to help her out. MJ rolled her eyes because it looked like Peter was really trying to mouth it out to her.

“Um... sitting music? Oh, listening. Listening to music.”

“That’s correct. However, seeing as you weren’t paying attention, I don’t think I’ll count that as a point for your team. Put the computer away.”

Liz nodded, closing her laptop, and sitting up straight with her hands crossed in a good girl pose. A few more minutes passed, however, and Liz was back on her laptop, searching that same website. 

Maybe MJ should start sketching her, seeing as how she’s about to be in a crisis when she gets detention.  

Mrs. Montoia walked by and placed a blue slip on Liz’s desk and MJ’s lips curled up in amusement. She knew it, she called it, she’s a genius. 

Liz’s face was priceless. MJ wished she had her phone out to take pictures of this moment and then sketch it later. 

                         ———————

Coach Murch didn’t say one word when MJ walked into Mr. Davis’ classroom for detention. He was used to her coming to the dreary room even if she wasn’t in trouble. She could tell he struggled to understand why she chose to waste her evenings sitting in a classroom, but at least he accepted it. Like a lonely soul, he was grateful for her company. Maybe that’s why MJ liked to spend time in detention too. Deep down, she was grateful for his company as well. 

Although, today, they had more people in detention than usual. Five to be exact, including MJ herself. 

There was Peter Parker: shy, dorky, book-worm Peter who was very mysterious. Then, there was Flash Thompson: asshole, spoiled, rich kid that bullies everyone. Then there was Liz Allan: school diva, voted most popular, on every school board committee and club, perfect smooth skin, beautiful cheek bones, perfect smile. Perfect, perfect, perfect. 

And lastly, there was Ned Leeds. He was Peter’s friend, and it seemed like Peter was happy to see him, going in for one of his crazy long handshakes. 

“Dude, what are you doing here?” Peter asked quietly.

“I skipped class to work on the LEGO Death Star. I didn’t mean too. I just lost track of time, you know. Man, I hope my parents aren’t mad.”

Coach Murch slapped the front desk with a ruler. “Shhh. There will be no talking. Everyone sit down.”

Poor Ned was traumatized, eyes wider than the moon, staring apologetically at coach Murch. Peter gently guided him into a chair, patting his back, giving him reassuring squeeze on the shoulder, then sat in front of Ned. 

While Peter was stringing his backpack behind him, coach Murch played the Captain America lecture tape. 

“So you got detention.” The fugitive superhero stated, “You screwed up.” 

MJ ignored the tape since she’s heard it multiple times before, and started digging in her backpack for her sketch book. 

As Captain America finished his rant, Coach Murch stood and took out the tape. 

“All right boys and girls. I’m going to be in the gym down the hall working on strategies for the basketball game. I don’t want to hear any talking and when I get back you all better have your fannies pressed in those seats, we clear?”

The group of miscreants nodded. Coach Murch exited the room, leaving the door open. 

Then silence. Really awkward silence. MJ made eye contact with just about everyone before Flash decided to speak. 

“So what are we going to do now?” He hissed. “Sit here and talk about our feelings.”

“God no.” Liz scoffed. “Why on earth would we do that?”

“Well we need to pass the time somehow. I can’t sit still for two hours and do nothing.”

“Um guys...” Ned said tentatively. “We’re not supposed to be talking.”

“You are just now, loser.” Flash smirked when Ned covered his own mouth. He glanced helplessly at Peter.

“Leave him alone.” Peter mumbled while placing a gentle, comforting hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Ned, it’s fine. We’re whispering. No one can hear us.”

Flash got out of his seat. “You know. That’s the second time you’ve said something rude to me, Penis. I’m going to kick your ass for it tomorrow. You know that, right?”

Peter glared, shifting in his seat again. “Try doing your homework.” He said quietly. “It helps pass the time.”

Flash huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. “Don’t tell me what to do, Penis.”

“Stop calling him that.” MJ snapped, hating herself for not being as resilient as Peter was when it came to insults. She thought she had thicker skin than this. Maybe she did when the insults were directed towards her; but whenever anyone insulted Peter, she couldn’t sit still. 

“Whatcha got there, Michelle?” 

A second later and her notebook was being yanked off her desk. 

“What’s this, huh?” Flash teased, “Some sort of diary?”

“Give it back,” MJ suddenly stood up, and Ned was looking like he might puke if he got any greener. 

“You guys, we are supposed to stay in our seats. Fannies in seats, remember?” He shouted, tugging Peter’s sleeve and pointing. 

Flash ignored Ned, tossing the notebook to Liz. “Here, see if there’s anything juicy.”

“I don’t want to look in her notebook.” Liz said, so Flash snatched it back. 

“Fine. I’ll read it.”

MJ hooked her hands around Flash’s wrist and started pulling at her notebook, but she was worried it might rip when he wouldn’t let go, so she stopped. Her life and soul was in there. Not only did she sketch people, but she wrote things too. Personal things, and fake things. Things about people in the school, and things about herself. She would die if anyone read it.

Peter stood at this point, and Ned just about lost his mind, tugging at Peter’s blue sleeve repeatedly, urging his friend to sit.

“Ohhh, look everybody. Peter Parker is going to try and put on big boy pants.”

“Give her the notebook.” Peter ordered, all seriousness on his face and in his tone.

“Oh yeah? Or what?” Flash asked getting directly in Peter’s face. 

It was like lightning. Peter’s hand reached out and snatched the notebook out of Flash’s grasp in two seconds before Flash even realized it. Liz seemed equally as impressed as MJ felt, but Flash looked ready to kill.

“Here,” Peter handed MJ the notebook. She fumbled in shock, barely grabbing it, and then clutched it close.

Flash moved dangerously close behind Peter, but before he could throw a punch, Peter ducked out of the way as if he sensed it was coming. 

Flash’s mouth gaped open, but he quickly returned to his boxing stance. 

“You wanna go, Penis?” 

“Guys knock it off!” Liz screamed. 

“Shhh!” Ned scolded. “You’re going to get us in trouble.” 

“Oh whatever. We’re already in trouble and one of these idiots are going to get hurt.”

Peter looked wounded. “You think I’m an idiot?” He whispered sadly.

“We all do.” Flash yelled. “Now come on, Parker. Throw a punch, I dare you.” Flash was egging him to fight. 

“I’m not going to punch you, Flash.”

Peter’s words didn’t stop Flash from pouncing forward and successfully pushing Peter back an inch. 

“Knock it off!” Liz shouted, but Flash lunged at Peter, this time tackling him to the floor. 

Ned and Liz shot out of their chairs, rushing over to help, but Peter had already effectively shoved Flash off of him. Unfortunately, Coach Murch walked in at that moment. 

“What is going on?” Coach shouted. 

MJ searched around, looking at each one of her peers, trying to gauge which one was going to answer, but they were all looking at one another in the same way. No one was saying anything. 

“That’s it. You all just earned yourselves a Saturday detention.” 

Did that even count for MJ since she wasn’t supposed to be in detention in the first place? 

She figured it did.