Maya Stark

Chapter 24: The Washington Monument

I pick up the pace, my head pounding with my footsteps. As we get closer, Parker webs his backpack to a tree, reminding me how I'm wearing my jacket. As Parker keeps running, I take off my jacket and manage to get it into the backpack. I see the base of the monument crack and start running up to it again. Parker was already climbing up the monument and I stopped at the base, getting a wave of nausea. This wasn't going to be good. I looked up and then thought against it and walked into the monument. I ran up and opened the door to the steps, taking a deep breath before taking them one at a time. Trying to be responsible and not use my powers while I'm dizzy and nauseas, sucked. It felt like it took me ages to run up all the flights of stairs. I thought I was going to throw up when I ran out of the door.

I didn't have much time to relax, because as soon as I opened the door, the roof of the elevator gets ripped off. I use my powers to catch it, it only falling for a minute. I swallow harshly, trying not to throw up. Sadly, a second later, Parker comes crashing through the window, in turn, crashing into me. I lose my grip on the elevator and it starts to fall again. Parker shoots a web and his feet brace on the door shaft, keeping the elevator up.

'I did it!' he said as I walked over, rubbing my head.

'I did it first,' I said, rolling my eyes.

Then the door shafts break, and he goes tumbling down with the elevator. It got caught on a beam and Parker dropped into it, causing it to drop again. I use my powers to keep it in place, but this time it was a lot heavier. I struggle to move it at all and grit my teeth.

'I could use some help, Webs!' I call down at him.

He shoots a web at the top and together we start bringing it up. It reaches a top floor, and the doors are pulled open. I struggle to keep hold on the elevator, my powers being out of use for so long, and the pounding in my head distracting me. The purple surrounding the elevator flickers. Everyone but Liz was off the elevator, when Parker's foot lost grip and I couldn't hold it up anymore. Parker shoots a web at Liz's hand and keeps her from falling. He gets Liz to safety and I lean back on the wall, head pounding.

'Is everyone okay?' Parker asks. Everyone nods.

Then his web snaps and he falls down after the elevator. I roll my eyes and test my powers again. I just need to slow down my fall. I fall backwards, dramatically, and let myself fall for a second, saluting the teenagers. I use my powers to slow down my fall and stop completely before hitting the ground.

Bad news, Parker was completely fine. Though I did get a good laugh at him for falling. I had about a hundred, angry texts from Pepper. She was going to pick me up. I guess she was either going to scold me or be nice to me. It could go either way. I kept the hood of my jacket up on the bus, covering my eyes with it. I just wanted to get home and take some ibuprofen. Maybe some cake too. Do we have cake? Probably not. Would Pepper make me a cake? Definitely not.

'How's your head?' Parker asked, sitting in the seat across from me.

I lift my hood up to look at him and shrug. 'This whole trip kinda failed you know.'

Parker shrugged. 'We saved fellow students from death.'

'Yeah, and now I have to face Pepper, who knows I'm not supposed to have my suit,' I mumble, sliding back in the seat. 'And tell her I have a concussion.'

Pepper was there before I was. I saw her next to the car, tapping her foot. Uh-oh. I walked over to her cautiously. She seemed angry. I gave her my best innocent smile as I got up to her.

'You were supposed to be going to D.C for the decathlon,' she said. 'I thought you didn't have access to the suit?'

'Well, technically, I don't,' I said. 'But it's a good thing I had it. I helped save some kids with Spidey.'

'Maya,' she said with a sigh, shaking her head.

'Is dad furious?' I ask hesitantly.

'I haven't talked to him yet' she said. 'But I'm sure you're on the news.'

'Can you yell at me at home?' I said, going to the passenger side. 'I have a moderate concussion according to the Spidey suit.'

'A moderate concussion?' Pepper asked as we get into the car. I nodded and we drove home in silence. She apparently thought it was better for me to get some rest than to hound on me, because she never did yell at me. At least not about this specific incident. Or at least not yet. She's probably waiting for dad.