Chapter 3
Thankfully, Peter was able to avoid the stubborn captain. He saw him briefly as he hid behind students as he made his way to third. Wade was talking to a girl with long brown hair with purple streaks in it. Peter saw that they were very…friendly with each other. The girl pressed tightly against his side. Staring at him like he hung the moon. It made is stomach drop and burn. Wade caught his gaze just as he turned the corner, but Peter looked away and walked faster, managing to leave the other boy behind.
Third passed by quickly and soon enough it was fourth, which passed by in a blur of science questions. Directions from both Ned and MJ helped him not get completely lost like he had that morning when he was trying to find the library so he could eat lunch and talk with MJ and Ned. They were nice. Peter liked talking with them. Ned reminded Peter of a dog and MJ reminded him of a cat. He wondered how they even became friends because they were so different from one another.
He let out a sigh of relief when the library doors came into view. He picked up his pace, not hearing the footsteps behind him. He let out a small yelp as he was pushed against the wall to the side of the library’s door, not hard but not gentle either. He made an ‘umpf’ sound as his back collided with the stone wall. Wide eyed and breathless, he stared up at Wade. He felt much like a rabbit cornered by a fox. He didn’t like the feeling at all. Wade was frowning displeased. Peter scowled and tried to wriggle free.
He was getting tired of this.
“Do you make it a habit of cornering new students?” He snarked, crossing his arms and glaring up at the taller boy. “Because that’s a bad habit to have, Wade.”
“You’ve been avoiding me,” Wade muttered, petulant.
“Yeah,” Peter nodded, pursing his lips. “Usually that’s the signal for ‘leave me alone’.” He used air quotes. “Now, please back up so I can go into the library.”
Wade just pressed closer in retaliation. Peter held in a gasp as the captain brought his hands up to the side of his head. His hands rested against the wall and caged in the smaller boy in even more. Resolutely, Peter looked at column of the captain’s neck. Warm breath gusted over the shell of his ear. Peter fought back a shiver.
“Why have you been avoiding me, baby boy?” he asked, lips nearly touching Peter’s ear.
Bristling, Peter jerked back as far as he could to glare harder at the captain. He swore he heard him take a sharp breath. “Why have you been following me?” He snarked back. “I’m sure there’s plenty of people you can chase. Me not included. Now, let me go.” He shoved at the other’s chest. Wow, he’s really muscular…
“I told you to stop calling me that!” He hissed out.
Wade chuckled, amused and stepped back a bit. Enough for Peter to scoot away. He fixed his clothes once again, a scowl on his face.
“God, you’re adorable when you’re mad,” Wade breathed out, hazel eyes wide in awe.
“Are you like this with everyone?” Peter spat out, mad at how Wade was reacting.
“Nah,” Wade answered, smirk in place, “just the beautiful and angry people.”
Flustered, Peter let out a harsh sigh, running a hand through his hair. “Hahaha,” he joked. “Stop following me, man. You’ve had your fun now let me be.” He wrenched open the door and walked in before the other boy could respond.
He didn’t see the spark of hurt in the captain’s hazel eyes as he watched him walk away.
Peter saw Ned and MJ as they waved him over. Once he reached their table, he sank down into a plush chair and laid his hand down on the table. The coolness of the wood felt great against his heated forehead. Ned and MJ were looking at him, concerned, when he rested his chin in his palm.
“Wade?” Ned asked.
“Wade,” Peter nodded, rolling his eyes.
“Wade?” MJ butted in, face marred with confusion as she squinted between Ned and Peter. “What about Wade?”
Ned gestured to Peter. “He just happened to catch the interest of our lovely captain. Been following him around all morning,” Ned said, filling his friend in. “Told him he’ll lose interest soon enough,” he shrugged and went back to his bag of chips.
“Why can’t it be sooner?” Peter whined, causing the other two to laugh. “I don’t need to be made a joke of because of some cool person’s weird infatuation with the new kid.” He took a chip when Ned offered the bag to him in sympathy.
“Wade is an okay dude,” MJ shrugged, munching a chip. “Easily distracted and stuff but he isn’t a bully. He stands up to the bullies, though. So, everyone’s scared of him except his friends.” Laughing, she added, “he was a new kid here once, too.”
“Really?” Peter asked, intrigued.
“Yep,” MJ nodded, grabbing another chip, “Him and his dad moved from Canada when he was…12? I think. Dad’s a police officer. Been arrested by him a few times,” she said, “he’s nice.”
“Arrested?” Peter gasped. “You’ve been arrested?” She’s so badass.
“Multiple times,” Ned said, nodding. “She’s a rebel.”
“And I only break stupid laws!” MJ defended, fluffing up her brown hair. “Only been caught three times by Wade’s dad. He let me go. So, my record is still squeaky clean.” She smiled wide as she bit into another chip.
At Peter’s stunned look, Ned smiled wide. “Yeah, she’s a real badass.” He nudged her with his shoulder. MJ pushed him back, blushing a bit at the praise.
“Dude,” Peter said, gaining her attention. “You’re such a badass.”
“I know,” She shrugged casually.
“But back to topic of your lovestruck captain,” Ned interrupted, “He’s really not a bad guy, man. His old man won’t allow him to be one cuz he’s not a bad guy. You get me?” He asked.
At Peter’s blank look, MJ snorted.
“What Ned’s trying, and failing,’ she shot him an unimpressed look, “to say is that Logan is a good man. So, he’s going to make sure that his son is, too.” Shrugging, MJ stated, “maybe he just likes you and is flustered about it and show casing his interest as aggressive flirting?”
“Likes me? He just met me this morning!” Peter exclaimed loudly, causing the librarian to shush him. He blushed and looked down at the table. “He can’t like me. We don’t even know each other!”
Unbothered, MJ shrugged. “Attraction at first sight is a real thing, Peter.”
Ned nodded in agreement.
Peter whined, covering his face. Ned and MJ looked at him in sympathy. Why did he have to run into Wade of all people? Why did Wade have to be equal parts attractive and insufferable? It just wasn’t fair to Peter.
“It’ll be okay, Peter,” Ned told him, pushing the chips towards him. “Munch some chips and relax. It’s not like Wade’s going to keep at it since you’ve been dodging him and turning him down so hard.”
Sullenly, Peter nibbled on a chip.
“Or Wade’s up for the challenge,” MJ stated, off handedly. “He does like challenges.”
Groaning, Peter thunked his head on the table.
MJ and Ned patted his head in sympathy.
He really hoped Wade wasn’t as interested as he seemed. That would make everything so much easier.