Chemistry

17

Alessa glanced at Peter. "I'll see you later. I promised Ned I'd help him build some spaceship."

Peter nodded. "Okay, see you later."

"Be careful, Peter. Please."

"Yeah, I will."

She walked away and made her way back to her apartment where Ned was waiting. "Shall we get started?"

Ned nodded. "Yeah, let's do it."

Soon, the sound of the news caught their attention and Alessa went to investigate. She saw Spider-Man on the TV trying to save a ferry and then saw Iron Man.

"Oh, Peter," she said softly. "I told you to be careful."

---

Peter walked down the hallway of his apartment wearing pink Hello Kitty pajamas and an oversized NYC tourist T-shirt. He knocked on a door, which May answered.

Peter whispered, "Hey."

May inhaled deeply and stormed inside. "I've been calling you all day. You didn't answer your phone. You can't do that. Then this ferry thing happens. I've called five police stations." Peter walked to May and stood behind her. "Five. I called five of your friends."

"I'm fine."

"I called Ned's mother and Alessa's grandmother."

"May, I'm okay. Honestly. Just relax. I'm fine."

May stood and faced Peter. "You. Cut the bullshit. I know you left detention. I know you and Alessa left the hotel room in Washington. I know you sneak out of this house every night. That's not fine. Peter, you have to tell me what's going on. Just lay it out. It's just me and you."

There was a beat, then Peter's eyes filled up with tears. "I lost the Stark internship."

"What?"

"Yeah."

"What happened?"

"I just thought that I could work really hard and he could, he would, you know. But I screwed it up." He sat down on the sofa next to him.

May hugged him and stroked him. "Oh... It's okay, it's okay. It's okay."

"I'm sorry I made you worry."

"You know I'm not trying to ruin your life."

"Yeah, I know."

"Just... I used to sneak out too."

"Yeah."

May scowled, then leaned in to sniff Peter's hair. "And take a shower. You smell. You smell like garbage. Then go visit Alessa. She's worried sick."

"I know."

After showering, Peter made his way to Alessa's apartment. He knocked on the door and Isla answered.

"Alessa! It's for you!"

Alessa walked up and her eyes widened when she saw Peter. "Are you okay?! I saw the news and then you wouldn't return my texts or calls! What happened? Did you get hurt?" She paused long enough to see his expression. "Hey, are you okay?"

Peter slowly shook his head. "I lost the Stark Internship, Lessa."

"Oh, Peter. I'm so sorry."

Her arms tightened around his shoulders and Peter felt himself relaxing in her embrace.

---

At school, Peter was facing Principal Morita who said, "Peter, you're a good kid and you're a smart kid. So just try to keep your head straight, okay?"