Maya Stark

Chapter 17: First Day of School

This was going to be hell. I stood outside Midtown high with my dad. The kids, I was sure I wasn't going to like, whispered, and stared as they walked past.

    'Do I really have to?' I ask.

    Dad sighed. 'For the fiftieth time, yes, you do.'

    I huff and cross my arms. 'I don't think this is necessary.'

    'Look at it this way,' dad said as we start walking into the building. 'A prison cell or school.'     

    I roll my eyes as I reposition my bad on my shoulder. He had been threatening that for days and kept making fun of me for my bruised jaw. It's not like I could really argue, and I know that something bad happened when he went to help Steve, but he refused to talk. The teens in the school got out of our way as we walked, just at the sight of my dad. Whispers followed us.

    'Everyone is staring,' I mumble, keeping my eyes straight ahead.

    'Did you expect something less?' dad asked, glancing at me. 'I told Peter to meet us outside the office. You need to know what he looks like.'

    I sigh. That's another annoying thing. I was the one that beat him up and now he wants him to watch me? I don't need some guy with webs to tell me what I should do. I definitely don't need a babysitter. I've never liked having a babysitter. Unless, of course, it was Nat, who was mostly less responsible than me in most situations. The worst part though, is that my dad was doing it because he didn't trust me to be alone at the tower. He was always suspicious of me now and if he didn't have other things he needed to do, dad would never take his eyes off me. To be fair, I did have a phone hidden in my room with criminal's numbers, but still. I bite the inside of my lip to calm my nerves.

    As we near the office, there was a guy leaning against the wall, looking obviously nervous. I was guessing Parker. He was different than what I was picturing. I push that thought aside really fast though. I didn't need a distraction or a babysitter. Or school for that matter.

    'Peter,' my dad said as we got to him. 'Good to see you, Underoos. You remember Maya?'

    'Uhm, yeah, yeah I do,' Parker stammers.

    'Go get your schedule and stuff, Maya. I need to talk to the kid,' dad said, pointing to the office.

    I nod and walk into the office. I walk up to the front desk, a lady sat behind it, typing something on the computer. Without even looking up she asks, 'What can I do for you?'

    'Uhm, I'm new. I need my schedule and all that,' I say, tapping the desk to relieve some nervousness.

    She looks up and instant recognition wipes across her face. 'Of course, Miss Stark. The principal is just through that door.' She points to a door and I nod before walking towards it. I knock and there was an instant "come in." I walk in and glance at the office quickly. It was plain and simple.

    'Ahh, Miss Stark,' Principal Morita says. 'Please, have a seat.'

    I sit down and fiddle my thumbs. He hands me my schedule, a map of the school, and a sheet of clubs. He says that even though most club sign up's have passed, that he would make an acceptance for me. There are some pros to being a Stark, I guess. He asks me if I needed a tour and I said I could manage myself. When I finally get out of the office my dad was still talking to a very nervous Parker.

    'I figured you would already be gone,' I say to my dad.

    He rolls his eyes at me. 'That would just be mean. I do have to go though. You are going to behave yourself. Sorry bout this, kid, but it was your fault.'