Chemistry

11

Sitting in Peter's room, Ned held the web-shooter. It projected a hologram model of the city. Peter hopped onto the bed next to Ned while Alessa sat on the floor between them.

"This is so awesome," Ned said.

"I know, right?" Peter agreed while Alessa nodded.

Ned poked it and the model became more defined.

"They're in Brooklyn," Alessa and Peter informed.

Later, Ned was still studying the hologram, Alessa was eating a chocolate bar, and Peter was hanging upside down, eating chips.

"Staten Island," Ned told them.

Night had fallen. Ned laid on the floor and Alessa was on Peter's bed while Peter worked at his desk.

Ned glanced at the hologram. "Leaving Jersey."

With a shooter, Peter projected a characterized image of his mask on the wall.

Later, Ned laid on the bed and Alessa was on the floor. The hologram model started to beep. Startled, he sat up, wearing the Spider-Man mask.

He grabbed the hologram model next to him and said, "They stopped."

Peter, hanging from the ceiling, turned around, a little groggy, and eyed the model. Alessa sat up and rubbed her eyes.

"Maryland?" Peter and Alessa said.

"What's there?" Ned wondered.

"I don't know. Evil lair?" Peter guessed.

"They have a lair?"

Alessa scoffed. "They're bad guys. Of course they have a lair."

Peter glanced at Alessa and back to Ned. "Dude. A gang with alien guns run by a guy with wings? Yeah, they have a lair."

Ned nodded. "Badass. But how are you two gonna get there if it's, like, 300 miles away?"

They simultaneously turned to face the Academic Decathlon poster.

"It's not too far from D.C.," Peter stated.

---

Midtown High students were waiting by a yellow bus, dressed in their yellow uniform jackets. Peter ran towards them.

"Hey, it's Peter," Abe said.

"Guys," Peter greeted.

"Peter?" Liz asked.

"Hey, buddy," a friend stated.

"Yeah, I was hoping maybe I could rejoin the team," Peter told Liz.

Flash, standing in the back, walked forward to face Peter. "No, no way. You can't just quit on us, stroll up, and be welcomed back by everyone."

Alessa rolled her eyes and subtly flipped him off.

The teacher, Mr. Harrington, walked out of the bus. "Hey, welcome back, Peter. Flash, you're back to first alternate."

"What?"

"He's taking your place," Abe explained.

MJ appeared behind them, sans uniform. "Excuse me, can we go already? 'Cause I was hoping to get in some light protesting in front of one of the embassies before dinner, so."

"Protesting is patriotic," Mr. Harrington said. "Let's get on the bus."

Flash shrugged off his jacket and sullenly thrusted it into Peter's arms. Alessa smirked lightly and walked closer to MJ.