FOSTER CHILD | PETER PARKER

xi.

FOSTER CHILD | ACT ONE
scene ten : boredom

ISLA'S PRIDE was at an all time low as it took her an embarrassing amount of time to go and talk things through Scott. She wanted to talk to him, she really did but every time she mustered up enough courage she would deflate as she soon as saw him and she would hurdle in the other direction, not caring if she knocked some things as she did so.

She told herself that was okay she couldn't talk to Scott because he was training excessively and he probably didn't want to be bothered to deal with her teenage angst. Besides, based on how the ants were scurrying to clean the house after each session Isla could only assume that the training sessions were not only excessive, they were also very destructive which must've meant it was draining for Scott so she was definitely doing him a favour by avoiding the topic with him.

Hank wasn't really proud of Isla's decision to avoid the man, especially after his talk with her but Isla didn't care, Hank kept her locked in her room until the late hours of night. Not letting her bask in the summer heat like every kid her age was doing.

So, while Isla was cowering away from Scott and dodging pressing stares from Hank, Isla sat on the stairs in peace, reading through books about animals. Hope had given them to her to help her better her zoolingualism after Isla made a ruckus about having nothing to do while being cooped up in her room all day.

The books didn't help much. They just had complex diagrams of skeletal figures, joints and muscles of each animals and how each one functioned. It bored her but it was her only source of entertainment but it was either that or the radio that just loved to play Uptown Funk every two songs and Isla would much rather choose the former.

She looked up from her book, closing it as she turned around to look at the top of the staircase when she felt Hank's presence looming over her.

"I already know the drill." Isla sighed as she stood up from the stairs, picking up a pile of books with her.

She placed her chin on the pile of books as she navigated her way up the stairs, purposefully bumping into Hank's shoulder when they had passed each other to show her discontent with being locked in her room for the second time that day.

Isla rammed into the door, thinking it would be open as it normally would as she usually left it ajar so she could enter it easier but instead the door didn't budge. Isla flinched as the books flew all over the flow. She sighed as she bent down to pick up all the books, counting up to ten in her hand to remain calm. Her anger was mostly at bay until she her hand grazed over a familiar rustic pattern, one that had been taunting her all week.

"Hank." She hissed through gritted teeth.

Snatching the damned box, Isla shot up from the floor and stormed down the hall, getting ready to knock Scott's door down.

"Scott." Isla knocked on the open door causing Scott to whip around. "Um...you busy?"

"No!" Scott exclaimed as he threw his shirt on, "no, training doesn't start for a few more minutes. Y'know for the mission it's kinda—"

"Top secret." Isla smiled shyly, her shoulders slumped as she walked into the room closing the door behind her. "Yeah I know."

"I–I just..." Isla took a deep breath, resting the box on her hip as she avoided direct eye contact with Scott who was boring his eyes onto her for an uncomfortable amount of time. "I just wanted—"

"I'm sorry." Scott interjected. "For not being there and everything."

"I'm not ready to accept your apology."