SECOND LIFE, peter parker

03

[A/N]: quick recap!
ch 1 (peter's pov): 26 aug 2016
ch2 (stephen's pov): sept 2016

this chapter is a continuation of ch 1 events.

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26 AUGUST 2016

Loud, excited chatters filled the air. The cafeteria was bustling with students; catching up with each other in the short free time that they have between classes. The food remained secondary to the conversation exchanged out here between friends.

Peter's eyes scanned through the crowd, trying to find Ned in the large masses of students.

"Peter! Over here!" Ned called out across the cafeteria, standing up and waving his hands.

Peter grins when his eyes meet Ned's. He avoided the students, holding his tray of food close to his chest. He would rather not cause any troubles by spilling food onto someone's clothes.

The only reason he does that is because dropping your tray to the floor in front of the whole cafeteria is embarrassing. He had tripped over someone's shoe lace once and fell on top of the spilled food on the floor. It was a humbling and humiliating experience that he does not want to go through ever again.

"Hey." Peter greets, placing the metal tray on the table before doing his secret handshake with Ned.

Ned nodded his head in a certain direction. Peter's eyes trailed to where Ned was looking. He noticed Liz — as pretty as the moment he last saw her. Liz was hanging up the homecoming banner.

'Homecoming is almost here! Are you ready?'

Peter cringed at how messy homecoming was. He was a terrible date and he ditched homecoming to take down the Vulture which is also his date's dad. That sucks. Hopefully, this time, he gets to finally attend homecoming with Ned and ask MJ to be his homecoming date. But first, he needs to take down the Vulture as soon as possible and not on the day of homecoming.

"We should probably stop staring before it gets creepy, though." Peter pointed out, averting his gaze to the meal in front of him. Just by looking at the food on his plate made him lose all the appetite.

The food's not bad. But it's not that good either. It's mediocre. It does not matter whether it tastes good or not when you're starving. Also, Peter has a fast metabolism so he needs to eat as much as he can to at least fill his stomach.

"Too late."

Peter's breath hitched in his throat at the familiar voice. He turns to see Michelle sitting at the other end of their table.

"You guys are losers." Michelle said in a dry tone.

Ned looks confused.

"But then why do you sit with us?" Ned wondered.

"Because I don't have any friends." Michelle admitted, returning her focus back to her book. Her hair was covering her face once again — hidden from any curious or judgemental eyes on her.

It was a shame that Peter could not see Michelle's face clearly from here. He loved watching Michelle's little frown whenever she was focused on something. It was cute.

Michelle puts down her book, her eyes trailing off to Peter as she grabs her drink. Peter was startled the moment their eyes connected, immediately looking away. Peter fumbled with the carton of milk on his tray and gulped it down, feeling his cheeks heating up at being caught staring. He hoped Michelle did not think that he was being weird or creepy.

Peter inwardly thanks Ned for being oblivious as he silently listens to Ned rambling about their after school plan to build the lego death star.

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