Stand Tall

2

"Hey, you're Wanda Maximoff right?" A shorter girl with bleach blonde hair and light brown eyes said as she walked towards Wanda and I.

"Um, yes?" Wanda answered, her accent getting thicker as she went on the defense. I quickly hooked our pinkies together, silently letting her know that I was still there. The girl didn't notice as she started talking.

"Cool. I know you're new here and—"

"I've been here for the whole year. I wouldn't say I'm new," Wanda interrupted, clearly annoyed.

"Y'know it is rude to interrupt people," the girl scoffed, flipping her braid over her shoulder. "Anyways, I came over here to invite you and your brother to join me and my friends for lunch," motioning to a group of students hanging out by the stairs.

Wanda looked at me and mouthed 'Does she know?'

I shrugged, not sure of the situation either.

My sister looked back at the shorter girl who was waiting for her answer. "Oh, um, I'm good," Wanda said, taking a step back.

The girl, who still hadn't given us her name—you know what, screw it. I'm gonna call her Blondie—Blondie clapped her hands in excitement. "Great, we sit at–wait. Did you just say no?" Blondie asked in shock, her delicate features hardening in anger.

Clearly, she was not used to getting told no.

"Yes," my sister nodded, her waterfall of brown curls rippling by the action. "I have no interest in sitting with you."

"But you're foreign!" Blondie exclaimed, desperately trying to get Wanda to say yes. "And a foreign girl like you needs an American best friend like me to show you the ropes. . .and then you'll introduce me to your hot older brother who will fall for me, and then I'll be the talk of the school. . .and I'll get to brag that he is originally from . . ." She trailed off, before looking directly at me, blinking rapidly in a sad form of seduction. "Where are you from again?" Blondie asked, her voice taking on a sickeningly sweet tone. I tried not to scoff.

"Sokovia," I said nonchalantly, playing with the chain around my neck.

"Sokovia!" she exclaimed, a huge smile on her face. It stayed there for few seconds before realization dawned on her. "Wait, Sokovia as in the Sokovian Accords?"

"Yup," I nodded, purposely popping the "p."

"So you're a refugee?"

"She is. Is there a problem with that?" I asked, taking a step forward while I pushed Wanda behind me.

"Ew, yes. Go back to your own country!" Blondie screeched, waving her arms away from her like she was trying to swat a pesky fly.

I opened my mouth to retort, but Wanda slapped my arm, shaking her head. She stepped out in front of me with a tight smile, eyes wide with a concerned expression. "I thought you wanted a foreign best friend though?" Blondie looked at her confused, but my sister kept going. "So you could brag about how great this country is with all its financial, political, and equality problems? Or, is it because I'm not a secret princess or come from a well-off family in France, that I'm not good enough for you?"

"Well, in all honesty, yeah. I thought you were some dignitary's daughter or at least someone rich," the other girl shrugged. "I mean the way you dress should've been an indication that you come from money. But then again, everything you own probably comes from GoodWill or the Salvation Army." Blondie paused as if trying to think of something else. "On the bright side, you and your brother are both super attractive and can pass for American."

Without missing a beat, Wanda shot me a playful smile. "You hear that Peter, she thinks you're cute," she teased.

I smirked, running my hand through my hair. "Just wait 'til Harley here's about this. He's gonna have a field day."

Wanda giggled, shoving me away. She turned to look back at Blondie, who looked confused. Smiling brightly, Wanda stepped closer to the girl, dropping her voice to a level that only the three of us could hear. "Not that it's your business, but my family's financial status is fine. Just because I pass for American, does not mean I like being labeled as one. If it were up to me, I'd be back in Sokovia fighting off HYDRA propaganda than be here in this courtyard with entitled little brats like you," she spat.

The girl looked shocked and offended. It was almost as if she didn't think that other countries had other problems besides a corrupt government and numerous economical problems. How ironic.

"What's your name?" Wanda asked in a much kinder tone.

"Taryn," the girl muttered, looking anywhere but us.

"Alright. Taryn, going back to the original conversation; while your offer was at best, self benefited, I'm going to decline," Wanda said with a shrug of her shoulders.

"Why? Are you faking being from Sokovia like that junior Parker is faking his internship?"

Well, her confidence was back. Great.

I sighed, not wanting to deal with Midtown's rumor mill this early in the morning.

"No. I just won't give you the satisfaction of using me for personal gain. So if you'll excuse us, we need to get going," Wanda said, pulling me towards the entrance doors.

"Where? The library to learn English?" Taryn called out, laughing at her failed attempt at a comeback.

"Nope, we're gonna meet some friends of ours. Y'know, the people who actually care about us and not use us for daddy's money as some people," I said, walking away from her.

"Yeah, well at least I'm not lying about having an internship at Stark Industries like that junior Peter Parker!" Taryn called out, stopping all activity in the courtyard. Wanda turned to look at her, eyes flashing red, but I only smiled.

"Oh my gods, Wanda! Did you hear, she knows my name!" I squealed, jumping up and down, distracting my sister long enough for her green eyes to reappear.

"Wait, you're Penis Parker?" Taryn asked, walking up to us.

"You were right the first time, but yeah, Peter Parker, at your service," I bowed mockingly. "I'd say it's been a pleasure to meet you Taryn, but then I'd be lying." Taryn looked shocked, but I guess that was understandable.

I wasn't dressed in my usual nerd attire. Wanda had dressed me in a pair of black jeans (cuffed of course) and a black t-shirt with one of my jean jackets. I also had a blue and red bandana that looked eerily similar to the mask tied around my left wrist, as well as Harley's ring around my neck. Safe to say, I looked very different from my punny STEM tees and nerdiness.

"Are you from Sokovia too?" She questioned, her eyes widening as if she was seeing me for the first time.

I shook my head and smiled brightly. "Nah. Queens, born and raised baby! Wanda and I have just been friends for a long time."

Taryn still seemed to be in a state of shock. "How are you this hot? Flash always said you were puny and weak!"

"Well yeah, I was once upon a time. But I got a growth spurt over the summer and started working out," I shrugged, used to Flash opening his big mouth and spreading lies.

"He said you always dressed like a nerd."

"Oh, that's about the only true thing he's said about me in years. Anyways, we have some friends to find so, see ya." I shot finger guns and pushed Wanda towards the doors. Once we were far enough away, I groaned. "Fuck, that was stressful."

"But you handled it well," Wanda said, shooting me a grateful smile.

"Nah, that was all, you sis. Now c'mon, Ned said he had something cool to show us."

"Twenty bucks says that it's Star Wars related," she challenged.

"I'm not even gonna take that bet," I grumbled, already knowing that it probably was.

Wanda laughed and followed me into the school.