Chemistry

16

At night, the students' families met them by the school bus. Liz's mother hugged Liz who said, "Mom."

"It's okay," Doris reassured. "All right."

"Peter?" May called as she ran to him and embraced him.

"Alessandra!" Alessa's grandmother called.

"Abuela!" Alessa exclaimed as she hugged her grandmother tightly. "Te amo."

(I love you.)

"Te amo, mija."

(I love you, daughter.)

"Come here, come here," various families said. "Oh, my god."

---

At school, the student news played on a TV in the hall.

"This past weekend, Midtown's Academic Decathlon team defeated the country's best to win the national championship," Jason said. "Later that day, they also defeated death."

Abe yelled, "Explosion. Sally scream. Flash scream. Everybody screamin'."

Charles was excited as he added, "There were purple lasers and smoke everywhere, It was..." a cat emoji appeared over Charles' mouth and a beep was inserted as he swore, "...just like a Bon Jovi concert."

"As you know, we made it out alive, and that's the important thing," Mr. Harrington stated. "I couldn't bear to lose a student on a school trip. Not again."

The camera amateurishly zoomed in on Mr. Harrington's face.

"Thankfully, no one was seriously injured, thanks to the Spider-Man," Jason said.

Jason and Betty awkwardly commented, "Thank you, Spider-Man."

"Up next: The Spider-Man mania is sweeping the school. How can you show your spider spirit? And who is Spider-Man's fellow crime fighting bird Shadow Raven?"

Peter grinned as he walked past the TV showing the student news. A few students were standing around the TV to watch the news. As Peter cheerfully entered another hall, Ned and Alessa joined him.

"Dude, dude, dude, dude. What is it like being famous when nobody knows it's you?" Ned asked.

"Crazy, dude," Peter replied.

"It's crazy. Should we tell everyone?"

"No."

Alessa shook her head. "That's a bad idea."

"Should I tell everyone?" Ned questioned.

"No, dude, no, that's not a good idea," Peter told him.

Alessa frowned. "That's an even worse idea."

"Okay, come on, we'll be late to class," Ned said.

"I'm not going to class," Peter admitted.

"You're already in so much trouble for ditching the Decathlon. Alessa is in a little trouble, but less so because she actually showed up."

"Dude, listen, Lessa and I figured it out, right? The wing suit guy is stealing from Damage Control. And what he takes from Damage Control, that's how he builds the weapons. So all I gotta do is catch him."

"But we have a Spanish quiz."

Alessa scoffed. "I could easily ace that. Peter, can I come with?"

"Sure, Lessa. Ned, I'm probably never gonna come back here," Peter said. "She might not either. Mr. Stark is moving the Avengers upstate, so when Lessa and I bring this guy in-"