Maya Stark

Chapter 127: Senior year

It was insane. The crowd was huge, split between supporters and protestors. Cops were everywhere and barricades blocked the crowd from getting to us. Ned, MJ, and sadly Flash was right behind Peter and me. I gripped my bag with one hand, keeping my head down, and Peter's hand slips into my free one. Knowing he was next to me provided only a little bit of comfort as people screamed blatantly rude comments at us. Saw that coming.

We have to be searched before we can enter the actual school, cops everywhere you turn. It felt more like a prison than a school, and for the first time since I came back to school, I wish I was simply at Sam's house looking at the water. There's a metal detector before the door and everything. I hang back as Peter goes, waiting my turn. Once he's done, he looks back at me, giving me a reassuring nod as he's shoved into the school.

'Just go,' I say, waving him inside. 'I'll be fine, go.'

He hesitates, but didn't have much of a choice for he was being pushed towards the door.

'I'll see you inside, okay?' he says, before turning and walking into the school.

Without him by my side, my body goes stiff, and I walk forward quickly, just wanting to get inside. I walk through the metal detector, though by the looks on the cops faces I knew they knew it was pointless. I'm a full-blow weapon no matter what and they can't take that away. No one can. That thought made me nauseous. I glance back at MJ and Ned before I go into the school. Ned gave me a thumbs up and MJ motioned for me to go, so I turn and walk into the building.

The crowd inside was worse than the one outside. People filming everywhere you look. I guess I had to be glad I wasn't the brunt of their entertainment, but they definitely didn't ignore me either. The flash on some of their phones was blinding. I was booking it to my first class, Peter would be there, and I had to make sure he was okay. I walk into the class quickly – English class to be specific – and Peter is already there. He was sitting in the back, something you don't see from him often, but I make a beeline for the seat next to him.

'Are you okay?' I ask as I sit down.

'I'm fine,' he says, trying to smile. 'Promise. Are you?'

I shrug. 'If you are then I am. Just... everyone makes me so mad. They have no right to gather outside a high school. How is that even allowed?'

'It's fine, Maya,' Peter says. 'I just... don't love being stared at. I'll get used to it.'

'You shouldn't have to,' I whisper.

People were already glancing and recording us, and half the class wasn't even here yet. Peter moved his desk closer to mine, grabbing my hand. He wouldn't admit it, but I knew he was nervous about all the attention. I squeeze his hand to tell him I'm still here. A small smile worked its way onto his face, making a similar one pull at mine.