HEARTSTRINGS ▹ P. PARKER [ON HOLD]

three.

The next day, as the students gathered at the bleachers preparing for Coach Andre Wilson's gym class, they have presented a video of Captain America's Fitness Challenge. Whereas Michelle ignored it by reading a book, Gwen struggled not to cringe at it, trying not to think of her uncle Johnny instead of Steve Rogers. Meanwhile, Ned and Peter talked about Peter's encounter with the hero in red and blue spandex.

"Pretty sure he's a war criminal," the coach said, and Gwen rolled her eyes - she's done that a lot since she entered high school. "But I have to show these videos. It's required by the state. Let's do it." His whistled.

The students paired up, and, as always, MJ and Gwen were together. The curly brunette didn't want to do it, of course, so she held Gwen's feet onto the floor so the blonde could do the sit-ups.

"You're pretty good at it," Michelle noted with a frown.

"Yeah, I train a lot. It's a family thing," Gwen said offhandedly. It wasn't exactly a lie. Her family does exercise quite a lot. Her other family, though, also exercise quite a lot. And her job - or former job - required her to exercise a lot. So, yeah, she exercised a lot.

While doing the Captain America's Fitness Challenge, Gwen could hear Liz and her friends talking grossly about the Avengers and was really upset when Liz started fawning Spider-Man and how it didn't matter how he looked because she'd love the person he was inside. I mean, she wasn't wrong, but it made Gwen clench her jaw anyway.

"Don't mind her," MJ advised, trying to calm her friend down, "she's not as cool as you are."

Gwen gave her a grateful smile and thought that, despite not having Peter's affections, she'd still be fine if Michelle was by her side.

"Peter knows Spider-Man!" Ned's exclamation echoed through the entire gym, making everyone stop their things to look at him and Peter. "They're friends!"

Gwen watched them agape. Not because of what he said, she's always known Peter was Spider-Man, but because Ned actually told everyone about them knowing each other. Like, wtf man?!

"Yeah, like Coach Wilson and Captain America are friends," Flash joked.

Peter tried to lessen the damage and pretend they weren't friends, only acquaintances through the Stark Internship. But, of course, Flash just had to be a jerk and tell Peter to invite Spider-Man to Liz's party, who agreed, telling him to show up.

"Idiots. They're all idiots," Gwen huffed.

"Have you just noticed it?" MJ rose an eyebrow at her.

🕷

"Tony, I'm telling you! That stuff is chitauri technology! Peter doesn't know anything about that. They're gonna kill him!" Gwen said for the umpteenth time on their video call, but it just fell on deaf ears.