Remembering
If Michelle thought that Peter was jumpy before, she clearly had not seen his true spaz-tic potential. She genuinely was questioning if he needed to be alone for a bit to calm down, but she didn’t want to push it. It was rare she associated so closely with people, with Liz and a few others being the only exceptions. She didn’t think most people would take kindly to knowing that someone who just got the friend status was so intimately aware of their behavior. She still sometimes hid it from Liz.
“I’m ordering the pizza, so if anyone has any requests they should speak now or forever hold their peace,” Michelle yelled, walking into the living room with her eyes staring at the screen in her hands.
When she looked up she saw everyone else wore a mixture of sweatpants or what they had worn to school earlier. Liz had her pink bunny socks probed up on the table as she reclined on the couch with Betty and Cindy beside her, trying to subtly hold hands behind a pillow. Abe had already started pulling bean bags out of the storage closet, tossing them to the side of the couch for him and the members on their way. Ned and Peter had for some reason decided to sit to the side, though still close enough to see the TV. They were sitting on the carpeted ground one of the bowels of popcorn between them. Huh.
“Is it against loser code to use a beanbag? Or a cushion? Or even a chair?” She questioned them, raising an eyebrow. Peter didn’t look her in the eye, but Michelle noticed he tensed.
Abe rolled he eyes with a chuckle. “They probably think they’re in the doghouse for missing so many bonding nights.” He paused, looking as though he were considering his options. “I mean… Are they really wrong?”
She rolled her eyes and sighed over dramatically before plucking some of the pillows for the couch and tossing them at both of the boys. “Here. Abe’s just joking around. He makes lame jokes.”
“Hey!”
They both mumbled a thanks, Ned sending her a weary smile. What the hell was wrong with them? They were fine at lunch.
“If you refuse to order pineapple on pizza, I swear-.” Liz started, mock anger on her face.
“Relax, your slice of herbivore heaven is on its way. Anyone else?”
Michelle completed the online order, asking Cindy to verify the address before completing the transaction and flopping down on the couch. Betty let out a small giggle. “Too much work for you, MJ?”
Michelle threw an arm over her eyes. “So much. You have to type out the add-ons and everything.”
She moved her arm at the sound of laughter from the other girls and the eye-roll from Abe, before glancing over at the dorky duo. Peter was looking at her oddly like she had somehow spouted an extra head. Maybe Sam was right. Peter clearly wasn’t just an average smarty-pants kid and he didn’t stand out just because of the Stark internship.
“How’s your mom’s research, MJ?” Cindy asked, lazily tossing a piece of popcorn for Betty to try to catch in her mouth.
“Same old, same old. Most of it is classified, but she still works with powered individuals and deals with effects radiation. After the Accords, they basically put her on lockdown mode so no more looking into the logistics unless I get clearance. So,” She paused to do some quick mental math. “Six or seven years?”
“You can work in that field with a master’s?”
“Nah. I’ll probably breeze through my doctorate’s in four to five years. I’m just not willing to bypass high school.” Michelle smiled a little as she went over her plan.
“Wait, your mom was affected by the Accords?” Ned questioned, only to get Peter elbowing him in the ribs.
Michelle nodded looking at him oddly. “It wasn’t just the Avenger’s affected, y’know that right? My mom is pretty involved in research of enhanced or powered individuals when it comes to medical understanding and advance treatment since most of our medication doesn’t work on them. I haven’t been able to talk to her about it lately because of the Accords but she used to work pretty closely with Charles Xavier, she also worked with the Avengers through Stark Industries. Now I’m not sure who she works for, but she can’t say legally speaking so-,” Michelle gave a small shrug.
Abe laughed loudly at Peter and Ned’s expressions. “Why are you surprised? Most of the students have parents in high-level positions. That’s why most of us can afford to go to Midtown.”
Peter looked awkward before gripping some popcorn as though eating would save him from the situation.
Michelle threw a couple kernels at Abe, a glare on her face. Did he not know Peter was a scholarship kid? There was no malice in his words, so she didn’t think he meant it as a jab, but really? The admissions testing for Midtown already was difficult for kids who could afford it and the tutors to help them. Parker managed to not only get in but get in with a free ride. He may be the biggest dork she ever met, but he was still smart.
Abe sent her a confused expression. “What’d I say?”
“None of us got in on money alone, numbskull. We’re a slightly more racially diverse group of Sherlocks and Einsteins.” Michelle moved to lean her head on her hand. “Besides, all the money in the world couldn’t help Flash so-.”
There were a few laughs before the doorbell rang, she stood while stretching as though preparing for a race. “Alright, Parker. Help me carry them in.”
Peter looked surprised but followed the taller girl towards the door.
Once they were out of earshot, she started. “Hey, Pe-!”
“Open the door! Our hands are full!” Charles’ voice could be heard through the thick door. Peter seemed relieved and somehow scooted past Michelle, so he could let them in.
Both Flash and Charles had about three pizzas in their hands, Flash whooping loudly as he made his way to the living room.
“The food and the Flash are here; the party can now start!”
Michelle sighed loudly, looking at Charles.
“I’ll get him to calm down, he’s probably just still on caffeine overload from our cram session. He took a five-hour energy like three hours ago so hopefully, he’ll knock out by the time Annie is playing.” Charles gave a small smile, before walking after Flash. “Well, you guys get the plates?”
Peter nodded, though he seemed skittish again. He mumbled a few words before taking off to the kitchen. Huh. Michelle seemed to have somehow made him nervous at the thought of being alone with her… maybe she overstepped her boundaries.
She followed slowly, moving to lean against the doorframe as Peter scurried across the kitchen look for plates. “Top shelf, right cabinet.”
Peter nodded, before trying to reach for them. He seemed to be a few inches too short.
Michelle swallowed a giggle as she moved to his side, politely taking them down for him and handing them to him. He blushed, but she wasn’t sure if it was because he was nervous or because he was embarrassed.
“Hey, Abe didn’t mean anything by what he said. He can be an idiot sometimes. No one cares.” She tried to soothe him, but he came out more nonchalant. She leaned against the counter as she spoke.
She heard him stop fidgeting with the plates, but he didn’t turn around. “Wh-What?”
“No one cares that you’re a scholarship kid. It’s fine. You still passed the entrance exam, and you deserve to be here as much as any of us.”
He turned to look at her now, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. “How did you-?”
“You opt out of some of the expensive field trips the school offers, you take the subways and buses to get to school instead of being dropped off. Your phone is at least three years behind everyone else’s.” When she looked at him she felt herself getting nervous. “I’m observant, loser. Like I said, no one cares.”
“I, um, thanks.” He managed to say, looking down at the plates in his hand.
Michelle didn’t know if this would work, but honestly, it had to be worth a shot. Peter’s reaction would gauge if he was actually worth looking into deeper. If he was… she didn’t know how to describe it. Just more.
“Also, I know something is up with you.” She said evenly, looking at Peter from the corner of her eye. He tensed. “I can tell when people lie and you lie all the time. No one calls you out on it though. I’m going to find out what it is.”
And just like that, she knew something very bad must be going on with Peter. Not only did he tense up more, but he wiped his hands on his jeans. He bit his lip and started glancing to his left. Red flag after red flag.
“Mi-Michelle, I thought you said we were friends. Why are you so suspicious of me?” He asked. He was avoiding her initial response by trying to make her question herself with a side of guilt. Another red flag.
“You are my friend, but that doesn’t mean-.”
And just like that, Michelle felt like an idiot. She should have seen this before, why was she so absent-minded with Peter when her proof was right in front of her in that detention?
“I mean, you call the team your friends and you helped everyone after the Washington Monument but… it doesn’t seem fair?” Peter had reasoned, as she sketched. She hadn’t thought about it then but-.
Peter should not have heard her say that, because Peter wasn't at the Monument. Hell, no one should have heard her besides the faceless tourists and- Shit.
It started to add up. His newfound balance, how he just walked into school one day without his glasses when the day before he was blind as a bat, how he seemed to breeze through gym classes that usually left him needed an inhaler, even the... the Stark internship! Wow. She really was an idiot.
Peter Parker. The same boy who played with legos was the same boy that saved their entire class in D.C.
Peter Parker was Spider-Man.
God, I'm gonna need therapy after dealing with all these people in tights with zero self-preservation.