Realizing
Peter and she were in detention until lunch which seemed excessive but given the fact it got her out of having to listen to Flash in her next couple of classes she didn’t complain. The teacher in charge of detention was too busy playing something on his phone (Michelle swore she heard the Candy Crush sound effects) to care that the two had been talking the entire time. MJ started speaking normally after the video ended, but Peter persisted in whispering as if everyone would hear him if he let his voice ring any louder than a new high score on the teacher’s game. The sound of the bell and the teacher telling them they were free to go seemed to activate his non-silent mode.
“How long have you been drawing?”
“Since middle school. I paint too.”
“Why aren’t you in art class?”
“Eh, don’t like the idea of grading something that up to interpretation.”
“Art club?”
“Tried. They only go to fancy art galleries and talk about why things that look like a four-year-old drew them are masterpieces common folks like us wouldn’t get.” Peter nodded in acceptance, angling his body so he was more towards her while weaving through the students with her.
She glanced at him, an eyebrow shooting up as she watches his posture. Huh. He was flexible. She could tell by the way he moved himself through the students, he seemed to catch himself before leaning too far but his body never tensed when he moved at odd angles. She didn’t take him for a gymnastics guy.
“How long have you done gymnastics?” She bumped her shoulder against his.
He paused. “Wha-What makes you think I do gymnastics?”
Michelle stopped herself from launching into a talk about average flexibility and how at ease his body seemed with weird movements. “I’m observant, remember?”
He let out a nervous chuckle. “I-uh, wait MJ, we passed your locker.”
She turned, seeing her locker behind them to the side, she quickly moved to it with the boy following behind. She looked at him in surprise as she dialed her combination. “Don’t you need to stop at your locker?”
He pointed to his backpack. “Nah, I’m good. Besides, you need to tell me about this movie night thing.”
She let herself smile, pulling out the book she had picked for the day and the lunch Liz’s mom made. “Oh, decathlon team is having a movie night at Cindy’s. Most likely it’ll be musicals and maybe, if we’re lucky, some old foreign film we have to read subtitles to understand.”
“Musicals?”
Michelle laughed. “Liz has a problem and Cindy is apparently feeding her addiction.”
Peter sounded conflicted. “Right after school or-?”
“At five, I can send you Cindy’s address if you have to do your intern stuff first.” She closed her locker, seeing Peter’s expression she had a feeling what was coming.
“MJ, I-.”
“Look, Peter,” the girl started, shifting her book and bag as she brushed some hair behind her ear. “You saw how shaken up everyone was. Hell, we were the only ones not on the elevator and we were still a wreck. I’m not exactly thrilled with the idea of sharing a couch with Betty and Cindy holding hands in the popcorn bowl, but… I think some team bonding would do us all some good.”
Peter looked down before looking over her face. Michelle had a feeling he was checking for sincerity.
“Besides,” she crossed her arms, well attempted to. The books and bag made it look like she was carrying them against her chest. “You and Ned owe use for missing the night swim at D.C.”
“I’ll be there.”
“Can I get that in writing?” She asked, only partially joking.
Peter seemed like he was about to reply but a voice pierced the halls that reminded Michelle she really should have texted Betty when she got to the school.
“Michelle Elizabeth Jones!”
“Ah, fuck.” Michelle turned, tying to hid herself against Peter without touching him. It really wasn’t working.
“MJ,” the voice clipped in slight irritation. “You know I can see you, right?”
Peter fought a laugh as MJ looked at him in annoyance before standing so she was at her full height.
“Hey, Betty,” she started slowly while smiling. “Lovely day in New York, isn’t it?”
Betty’s arms were crossed and she looked at Michelle in a way that made her squirm.
“I’m sorry?”
“And…”
“I will text you next time something major happens and not let you hear only from Liz?”
“And…”
“And I love you?”
Betty rolled her eyes. “Good enough, I guess. Damn, MJ. You really need to work on communicating.” She turned to Peter. “Cindy wants me to tell you to make sure you and Ned actually show up tonight. She said if you behave tonight she might let you pick the next movie night.”
Peter looked between them. “The next… is this becoming like, a thing?”
MJ looked at Betty, she seemed just as surprised as she was. “Peter, movie nights have been a thing for the past three months. You just never show.”
Peter shook his head, eyebrows knitting together as he tried to reason with that information. “No, I would remember-.”
“We stopped sending them after you mentioned the internship, but they’ve always been on the decathlon calendar.” Betty added, looking rather irritated.
“And we fight over which movie to watch in the Twitter group chat.” Michelle threw in.
Peter seemed more confused than before. “I-I’m sorry. I didn’t realize I missed so much stuff.”
Michelle shrugged, patting him roughly on the shoulder before pushing him to get him to walk toward the cafeteria. “I mean, we get it. Your internship is important. You need to be ready for the future.”
“Still, I thought I was just missing a meet here and there, but if I was missing some tradition thing-. God, no wonder Flash wants me off the team.”
“Flash is an idiot who needs to work on his insecurities before he graduates.” Betty answers stiffly, walking next to MJ. “You’re still part of the team. We just need you to act like it.”
Ouch. Michelle knew that voice. That was Betty’s sweet “I like you but you need a wake up call” voice. Paired with the sweet smile she wore, Michelle could practically feel the guilt radiating off of Peter as Betty pushed MJ a little faster down the hall.
“Noted.” He answered thoughtfully.
“You can start by sitting with the team at lunch.” Betty turned towards MJ. “You too, missy. You had an excuse when Liz and I were first working on the Homecoming decorations but you will socialize this time.”
MJ muffled a groan. “I do socialize.”
“Insults don’t count, hon.”
MJ allowed herself to be practically dragged through the halls, the boy looking at the pair while he walked slowly behind them. MJ noted that when she looked back to see him he appeared more sullen, as if he was atoning for some great sin. It contradicted the happy boy she says talking happily to Ned about The Force Awakens.
She didn’t like it. Not at all.