Chapter 3
The bell rang through the classroom. Me and a few other students quickly packed up, ignoring all protests from the teacher. To be honest, I had only been in school a week and was already getting sick of the,”the bell doesn’t dismiss you I do, thing. And by the looks of it, so did everybody else. I briskly made my way through the crowded hallways, before stopping at my locker to put my books away, and heading to the lunchroom. I found the trio sitting in their normal spots on the outskirts of the lunchroom.
“Hey guys, which we talking about”
“Oh, we’re talking about squad night, Ned said enthosticly.
“Oh my gosh, for the last time we are not calling it that. It’s such a basic mainstream name,” M.J commented, not looking up from her The Starless Sea book.
I chuckled, of course that’s what M.J what would say,”Ok, but what’s squad night.”
“Oh my goodness, Peter we have failed as friends. Squad night is where one Friday of every month we’ll meet up at someone’s house and play games and watch movies and stuff.”
“That sounds fun.” I say, a twinge of jealousy in my voice. I usually spend my Friday nights sitting at home, drawing or watching reruns of some old show.
“Hey, Gwen, how bout you join us,” Peter spoke up.
“Yeah, I mean that would be fun.”
“Good, I'll have someone to talk to when they go on their rants on Star Wars,” M.J added from her seat.
I chuckled, “Well I’m happy to be your Star Wars rant escape buddy. I’ll have to ask my dad if I can go, when is it?”
“We usually head over right after Decathlon practice, so around five. It's at Peter’s house tonight so we’re just walk over after practice.You can wait here for practice to be over, or meet us at Peter’s
“Ok, I’ll probably just meet you at Peter’s just let me send my dad a quick text.”
I dug my phone out of my pocket and opened the Superfamily group chat. I sent a quick text asking about Peter’s and turned back to the table. Steve was one of those “mom’s” that always needed to know everything about the person before letting me go over to their house. So I wasn’t surprised by his text
Me:Hey can I go over to a friend’s house after school.
Super dad(aka Steve):I don’t know. Who will be there and where will it be?
Me:Its at my friend Peter’s house, it’s near the school, Ned, MJ, and Peter will be there
Super dad: I don’t know. Will his parents be home?
“Hey Peter, will your Aunt be home?” I asked him.
“Not right away, she’s working a late shift at the hospital then she’s going to pick us up dinner. Probably get there around six.
Me:His aunt is working a later shift, but she’ll be there about an hour after us. Please dad. I never got to do things when I was younger.
I know what you're thinking. The guilt card really. But come on I couldn’t help myself. As soon as the little read receipt popped up I could almost hear him sigh.
Super dad:Let me talk to your dad about it first. Then we will give you the final decision.
Broken white dad:I think you should let he go
Super dad:Buck have you been reading these texts this whole time and not said anything
Broken White dad: Maybe, but you said you wanted to talk to me, let her go and have fun, don’t be a party pooper
Super dad:Ok, fine, I’ll let you go, but I want hourly check ins, and I want you home by nine
Broken White dad: I come on Steve, she's a teenager now, let her go have fun with her friends.”
Super dad: Who’s side are you on?”
Broken White dad: What can I say, I'm playing devil's advocate.
Me:Thank you
Me: Hey, wait a minute
Super dad: What is wrong with you guys
Me: We’re children of the internet Hahahaha
I sent my final text and slipped my phone into my back pocket.
“My parents said yes,” I announced to the group.
“Yes!” the boys cheered high-fiving another.
“Hey Gwen can I have your number?” Peter asked, as lunch neared its end.
“What?”
“Oh, I um, mean for the group chat. Me, Ned, and M.J have a group chat, I thought you might want to be in it,” he stuttered out, blushing profusely.
“Way to go loser,” M.J added.
“Yeah sure,” I grabbed my notebook out of my bag and wrote my number on a blank sheet,”Yeah here you go.”
“Thanks.”
He pulled out his phone and did some typing. Seconds later I got a text. My screen light up.
Spidy-Boi: Welcome to the group chat
I opened up my phone. Clicking the group chat, two other names appeared. Two other names popped up. The guy in the chair and boss bitch.
“Got it,” I confirmed, holding up my phone.
“Great.” the bell rang, and the quartette started packing up their lunches.
“Ok, but one qustion. Why Spider-Boi and the guy in the chair. Mj I'm assuming is boss bitch, which I get. But, not the others.”
“Um.. well,” Peter stuttered.
“Peter’s afraid of spiders and we like to make fun of him, and Ned, I don’t really know.”
“Hmm, interesting.”
“Ok, well I gotta get to class. See yah guys tonight.”
I slid the key into the lock of the door and turned it right. The door creaked under my weight as it slid open. Stepping out of the hot August air and into the cold air conditioned house.
“I’m home!” I called out.
“In the kitchen!” pop(Steve) called back.
I wandered towards the voices into the kitchen. I found both of them sitting at the table sipping coffee.
“Your back early. I thought you were going to a friends house.”
“Yeah, I am. But they have practice first and I’m going to meet them there. Thought I would drop in first to say hi and stuff.”
I dropped my backpack in a chair and wandered over to the cabinets.
“Well how about you tell us about your day?” Pop asked.
“It was fine,” I said, throwing a few chips in my mouth
“Fine. That’s all we get to know about your day.”
“I aced my pop quiz.”
“Well, that's good sweetie.”
“I’m going to go hang out in my room a little bit and then head out.”
“Ok, you need a ride over there?” Steve asked.
“Nah, I’m good, just gonna grab a taxi.”
“You sure? It's not that big of a deal.”
“I’m fine.”
“Oh, ok.”
“Aww. Stevie, you sad your baby bird’s leaving the nest?” Bucky snickered.
“You know what Buck,” Steve said, jokingly punching his husband on the shoulder.
“Ok, well I’m just gonna go now,” I said, leaving the kitchen and heading into my upstairs bedroom.
My backpack dropped beside my desk leaving it for Sunday when I’ll pull out this weekend's homework. I clicked the play button on my speaker, the first notes of Yesterday began floating through the room. I hummed aloud as I cracked open the window, letting the cool afternoon breeze hit my face. I smiled to myself as I watched people go about their day. Across the street children played in the park as parents watched on, some teenagers played basketball in the cul-de-sac, it was peaceful. I muttered the words of the song to myself as I abandoned my spot by the window and headed towards my closet. I pulled out a pair of black athletic shorts and a white tee shirt. I grabbed an empty backpack from my closet, and threw a deck of cards and some snacks I had stacked under my bed inside. I reached for my green and white varsity jacket that was hanging on the back of my chair. I ran my fingers over the compass patch on my chest. Pop’s words echoed in my ears.
“The compass is a sign of direction. It will always point to the right way no matter how lost you are. It can help guide your decision, put you on the right path again. That’s how I found Bucky.”
I smiled to myself. I checked my watch again. It was half an hour till 5, so I decided to get going. I threw my jacket and backpack on and walked downstairs. Once wishing my dad’s goodbye I wandered out into the street.
I raised my fist to the door and knocked on the oak wood. Voices floated into the hallway from the apartment,
a few seconds later the familiar brown curls appeared on the other side.
"Hey, Gwen.glad you could make it. Perfect timing actually we were about to start a game."
"Oh, fun."
I followed him into the apartment. It was small, but quiante. He led me into a small living area where a small living set up was centered around a tv.
Ned and Mj sat on said couch bickering about something.
"Hey guys, look who I found," Peter announced, alerting them of our presence.
"Sup," Ned greated.
"Hey, come sit next to me. We were just deciding on what game to play."
I smiled at them and plopped down next to Mj. I plopped my bag in front of me and pulled out the deck of cars and a few of the snacks.
Ned gasped,"Gwen, you brought mini MnM's, you are my new best friend."
"Hey," Peter protested.
"Peter. She brought me mini MnM's."
"Fairpoint."
"Ok, getting over Ned's weird obsessions with mini M&Ms. We need to decide what game to play. We've narrowed it down to Sorry or Life," My said.
"Oh Sorry differently."
"Ha, told you Sorry was better."
I high-fived Mj why the boys just rolled their eyes.
"Whatever, let's just set the board up," Peter chuckled.
"Peter I swear to God if you use one my Sorry card on my piece I'm going to kill you.!" I yelled. Peter had just sent my 3rd
and last piece on the board back to start. Behind us light footsteps approached and I whirled my head around.
"Well it seems you four seem to be having fun. You must be Gwen, Peter's told me a lot about you. I'm Peter's Aunt by the way." The young brunette greated me.
"It's nice to meet you Mrs. Parker."
"Oh, please, call me May."
"Ok, this is sweet and all, but I'm really hungry and I can smell that pepperoni pizza in your hand May and I really need it right now," Peter added in.
The rest of the group erupted into a fit of laughter at Peter. May chuckled as she put the three pizza's down on the coffee table. I noted that was a lot
for only five people, but I shrugged it off. Me and Petter both reached for the three meat pizzas May had plopped down in front of us and our hands bombed.
"Your favorite three meats too?" I asked Peter.
"Yeah, it's more filling and I'm kinda constantly hungry."
I chuckled,"Me too though."
I reached for the pizza again, and this time grabbed two slices, and handed one to Peter. The four of us ate and talked for a good hour. Peter
must have been as hungry as he said he was because I noticed he ate an entire pizza. After we were done we me and Mj convicted the boys of making mug cakes with us.
His Aunt picked out certain ingredients and we made a small one round version of chopped. Mj ended up winning, no one seemed surprised by that. I mean, that girl
can do anything. After a few more games we all ended up crashing on the couch and chairs and watching Mean Girls, which the original trio was shocked I had never seen.
I somehow then convinced my dads to let me stay the night with the rest of the group. But, we didn't stay up that long. Me and Mj had claimed the couch for the night
and we had both fallen asleep sometime about half way through the original Jumanji.
MONDAY MORNING
Me and the rest of the squad sat in the commons of Midtown High waiting for the bell to start. Peter and ned were talking about their newest lego project and
me and Mj talked about the latest book she's been reading, (to be filled in later).
"Hey do you guys wanna meet at Delmar's after school today," Peter asked.
"Dude," Ned responded, putting his hand on Peter's shoulder,"You know I'm always down for food."
"Sure, I'll go," Mj added.
"Um, what's Delmar's?" I questioned.
"It's this small little sandwich shop on twelfth owned by this local Italian man. Oh Gwen you'll love it, you
haven't lived till you've tried Mr. Delmar's sandwiches," Peter told me
"Ok, well I'm always down to try new things."
TIME SKIP TO AFTER SCHOOL
"Ok, I'm not really familiar with Queens, is this close enough to walk to or will we take the Subway."
"I mean unless you wanna walk for half an hour we can, but I think we might wanna just drive."
"Well I'm sorry Peter that I don't know Queens as well as you."
"Oh, I'm really sorry, I didn't, I didn't mean to offend you."
"Peter, I'm joking, I don’t really care. I just haven't spent a lot of time in Queens."
"Oh, yeah. Where are you from anyway?"
"Brooklyn born and raised baby." Yes I know, that was a tad lie, I wasn't even born in America nevertheless New York, but born and raised sounds so much cooler
than just Brooklyn.
"Nice, Ned's cousin lives in Brooklyn."
"That's cool. I would ask her if they were, but Brooklyn's big and I'm anti social."
Peter schukled,"Well, you always seem pretty chipper around us."
"Yeah, that's because you guys are my friends."
"Oh nata nata nata. Will you lovebirds stop already? If you hadn't noticed Ned already pulled his car around and we've been waiting for five minutes."
Me and Peter both blushed at the mention of lovebirds and quickly climbed into the back seat. I shut the door behind me and Ned pulled out into the
light afternoon traffic. He quickly made his way onto twelfth street. Finding no parking, he moved two blocks over into a garage.
"This place better be as good as you say it is after a fifteen minute drive and making me walk two blocks."
"It's better than the half hour you wanted me to walk. Besides once you take the first bite your know its worth it."
"Well we see how well your sandwich god actually is."
"I never called him a sandwich god.'
"Oh, Peter, you didn't have to, we all just know," Mj butted in.
Peter rolled his eyes, and sped up his feet to talk to Ned. I fell back in my steps to talk to Mj.
"So, how are you and Peter going?" Mj asked.
"Fine? Why do you ask."
"Oh my god. I know you like him."
"I have no idea what you are talking about. We're just friends."
"For now," she scoffed.
"Ok, well even if I did like him, which I don't. It's not like he likes me back."
"Oh sweetie, I swear you guys were made for each other."
"You don't seem like the one who would be all lovey dovey, why do you say that?"
"Because you guys are both too dense to realize you both like each other."
"There's the Mj I know. But, do you really think he likes me?"
She rolled her eyes.
"Well ok then. If we're talking about crushes why don't we talk about Cindy Moon?" I countered
"What are you talking about."
"Oh come on, I see the way you look at her. Besides its perfect, your both sarcastic and can bond over rolling your eyes and making fun of people/
you're the sarcastic bad-ass part of the relationship, she's the sweet funny side. Yah know, good cop bad cop.``
She shakes her head,"The way your mind works."
"Hey, look ahead mi ladies, we here," Ned said.
"You are such a dork," Mj told him, reaching for the front door of the corner shop.
The four of us walked into the small air conditioned shop. It wasn't much, looked liked a small convenience store, all the basic stuff a
the corner store grocer ould have. Near the front of the store there was a check-out counter and a small open kitchen. Behind the counter sat a pot bellied
middle aged man.
"Hola Mr. Delmar," Peter greeted the man.
"Hola, Peter. And ah, I see you brought your friends. I assume the usual."
"Yeah, and whatever Gwen wants."
He looked up at me and smiled,"So, what'll it be, young lady."
"Oh, I have no idea what's good."
"I recommend the number five with pickles with it a little squished down."
"Um, sure."
"Ok, two number five's Peter stye, and number nine and a number twelve right."
"And four drinks."
"O---k. That'll be 22.99."
Peter stuck his hand into his jeans pocket and pulled out a few crumpled green bills.
"Here, I can pay," I offered.
"No, it's fine."
"You sure"
"Yeah, you can always pay me back later."
"Ok."
Peter dug some change out of his pocket and handed it over to Mr. Delmar.
"So, who's your lady friend there Pete," I heard the man ask Peter in Spanish.
"Uh, um that's Gwen," Peter responded, also in Spanish.
"Just Gwen. Gwen. She is a friend, a girlfriend?"
"A friend, a friend."
"Hmmm. She's very pretty and would make a good girlfriend."
"You know, maybe before trying to be all secretive and talk in a different language right in front of someone. Make sure they don't speak that
language," I said to them in Spanish, smirking.
"See, smart too."
I chuckled,"Thank you, I think."
"Here you go," the chief said, handing Peter a bag.
"Thanks. Bye, Mrrf,” he said to the chief and then to the tabby colored cat lying next to him
They wished good-bye to Mr. Delmar and headed outside. The four of them started walking down the street, not a destination in mind. They carried on
conversation talking about homework and what's going on in our lives. We soon enough came to a park where we found a little section of tables and sat down.
Peter then passed out everyone's sandwiches. We ate and made light conversation. Soon we finished our sandwiches and threw the trash away.
"Hey I'm gonna head home now, see you losers tomorrow," Mj announced.
"Ok, bye," I told her
"Yeah, I'm gonna leave too, bye duded," Ned told us, and I swear I could see him wink, but I brushed it off.
"Hey, you leave nearby, I can walk you home if you want."
"Um, well I live alway over in Brooklyn Heights. But thanks for the offer."
"Oh, that's fine. You don't know your way around Queens and I don't mind, besides it's nice outside and I like walking around New York."
"You sure."
"Positive."
"Well, ok then."
"Here, we wanna go this way, it's the faster and more scenic way. Not a lot of people know about it."
"Well, ok then."
"Ok, it's a long walk. Whicha wanna talk about."
"I don't know,"
"Ok, well let's get to know each other. I'll start. So, what do you do in your free time."
"Well, I like to draw and paint. My dad always really liked that stuff, even almost went on the become an artist, but choose the military insead and
He taught me. I also like anything active. You?"
"Huh, then why aren't you in any sports with the school. I've seen you during P.E, you could easily join the Volleyball or Basketball team."
"Eh, not super into the competitive team sports, I do it more for fun in my freetime.I like to go out with the neighborhood kids and play sometimes."
"Huh, interesting. Personally I've always liked building things, whether that be legos or computers."
"Well that's a broad spectrum, what stuck that outlet."
"Well, my family didn't have a lot of money growing up, so I decided to learn how to fix things so they didn't have to worry about it."
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to strike a nerve. But I think that's really cool that you did that."
"Your good. We're better off now."
"Well I'm happy to hear that. Now, my turn to ask a question."
Wwe carried on like that for the rest of the walk, talking about interests, hobbies, favorite movies. He found out I had only seen a couple of
Star Wars and vowed that we would binge watch them all one day.
"Hey this is my street," I tell Peter.
"Ok, wait, before you go, let me guess which is yours."
"Ok, loser."
He gives me a side glance,"You've been hanging out with Mj too much."
"Ok, if I had to guess, it would be the one to the right of the cul-de-sac. Because there's nice open space, close to the basketball hoop, you said you
played with your neighbors, it has a garden, and I feel like what you told me your parents give me typical strict suburban family vibes and that house is
radiating with it."
"Oh, so close, yet so far. See that small house, nice open yard, with the porch swing."
"Yeah"
"That's it, really. Looks like someone's grandparents live there, no offence."
I chuckled,"No, it's fine. My parents are both older. They didn't decide to have a child till they were much older and I was adopted."
"Ahhh."
"I can tell you why they bought that house," I said, starting to walk down the street,"Both of them had both been into older style houses, 1920s, 1940s
style houses. They liked the architecture of the cape cod houses. And it provided the perfect view for sketching for my pops. And to tie it all in the little bow it was
nestled in their hometown of Brooklyn."
"Hmm. Well, now I know a little more about you Gwen. And I gotta say, not exactly what I would expect."
"Well, I hope that's a good thing."
I waved hi goodbye and turned the doorknob to the front door. I stepped inside.