Infelicity [P. Parker x Reader]

t h i r t y - e i g h t

8 Months Later:

My pencils were scattered everywhere across a mismatched wooden table in the art room. Peter and Ned sat across the way, talking about our upcoming "science" trip to Europe.

I had successfully tuned out most of their conversation. I had music on, playing through my earbuds, and I think they had realized as much when I wasn't contributing.

I've been working on our latest assignment of a memorial for the heroes we lost in battle. It was the last assignment of the year, and most had already turned it in, covering the back wall of the classroom.

I decided to put my use of colored pencils and a bit of water to the test to get smoother tones on Captain America's suit as well as Iron Man's. Even though this method took some time, it worked pretty well to get rid of the graininess colored pencils can leave behind from an untrained hand.

Happy with my results, I waved my hands back and forth, trying to speed up the already short drying process. I moved to clean up the relatively small mess I had made, and I decided to unplug the earbuds and listen in on Ned and Peter's conversation.

"Oh, you forgot about step seven," Ned added.

"Step seven, yeah." Peter prepared to write down the steps in his notebook.

"Don't do any of that."

Peter straightened out into a straight deadpan. "Why?"

"I can't be a bachelor in Europe alone!"

Rolling my eyes, I stood to turn my work in. They were probably just having another stupid conversation, like most days. On my return, though, I saw MJ had joined the conversation, and they were talking more about some plan.

"I agree with Peter, Ned. His plan is much more logical than yours," MJ commented.

"What kind of plans are we talking about?" I asked, coming up from behind.

They all seemed to jump at my presence, eying one another briefly to see who could come up with an answer first. Peter, originator of the plan I presumed, stepped forward with an answer:

"Ned wants to collect tiny spoons in Europe."

"Oh? That's an interesting choice." I patted him on the back while saying, "Good for you, Ned. Though I'm not sure that's a good look if you want to be a 'bachelor in Europe.'"

Everyone let out audible sighs as soon as I started walking away, and I immediately knew something was up, but chose to ignore it. I'm sure they'd tell me what's up soon enough.

Later that night, I was sitting backstage as Peter and May were out talking to a crowd at the local shelter May worked at. Peter asked me to come as support because he wasn't used to public speaking. Even though he gracefully got to hide behind the mask, it didn't seem to stop his awkwardness or a slight stutter.

If only it were a group of robbers or something. Then he'd have no issue coming up with quippy dialogue to make anyone cringe.

After some very awkward talking from Spider-Man, both reappeared from in front of the curtain. High-fiving and celebrating their, well, May's success.

Looking up, I heard May say, "You were a little stiff."

"I- Yeah, I felt that too."

"A little?" I asked, laughing a bit.

"That's fine. You did great," she ended.

I zoned out again as they began discussing minor details about the upcoming trip. Most of it was already stuff I had been through time and again with Ms. Farina.