𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐇𝐍𝐈𝐃 𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐒|𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

🄿🅁🄴🄻🅄🄳🄴

A school bell rang, signaling the end of classes at the Midtown School of Science and Technology. The halls instantly filled with the chatter of students eager to head home, meet friends, or prepare for their after-school activities. Among them, one particular teenager dashed out of his classroom, weaving through the crowd until he reached his locker.

This young man is Richard Parker II, known by his friends and classmates simply as (Y/N). And yes, this story is all about you.

You popped open your locker, retrieving your trusty skateboard, the scuffed edges and worn grip tape bearing witness to countless adventures. Before you could close the locker door, a familiar presence loomed behind you.

"What do you want, Ned?" you asked without turning around, your tone laced with playful exasperation.

"Nothing much," Ned Leeds replied, grinning as you spun to face him, holding your skateboard in your right hand. "Just wondering where your brother is."

You gave a half-shrug. "Probably wherever his Ms. Toomes is," you said, barely suppressing a smirk. With that, you began walking toward the school exit, Ned following close behind. The late-afternoon sun streamed through the windows, bathing the hallway in golden light.

Sure enough, as you stepped outside, you spotted your brother, Peter Parker, sitting on a bench. He was doing a poor job of pretending not to gaze longingly at Liz Toomes, who was chatting animatedly with her friends a short distance away.

"Yeah, that guy is totally subtle," you muttered, earning a chuckle from Ned.

Ned, being the loyal best friend that he was, waved enthusiastically. "Peter!" he called out, bounding over to him.

Peter startled, blinking rapidly as if snapped out of a trance. "Ned! What's up?" he said, standing up to greet him. They exchanged their elaborate handshake, a display of camaraderie that had taken years to perfect.

You skated over to join them, your wheels gliding smoothly over the pavement. As you approached, Peter raised his fist for a casual bump. "Bro," he greeted.

"Sup, Pete," you replied, meeting his fist with yours before stepping off your board.

Ned, always the enthusiastic one, clapped his hands together. "So, are you guys excited for Homecoming?" he asked, his voice practically buzzing with energy.

You yawned, stretching lazily as you balanced your skateboard on its edge. "Not really," you replied, your tone indifferent. "Dances aren't really my thing."

Peter, on the other hand, hesitated. "Uh, kinda," he admitted, his eyes flicking—yet again—toward Liz. He quickly looked away, but not before you and Ned caught the movement.

"Dude, you really should stop staring at Liz before it gets weird," Ned said, shaking his head. You nodded in agreement, your lips twitching into a grin.

"Wha—I wasn't staring!" Peter protested, his face turning a shade redder. "I mean, not really."

"Yeah, sure," you and Ned said in unison, exchanging a knowing glance. Your synchronized response made both of you laugh, much to Peter's chagrin.

Peter huffed, crossing his arms. "Let's just go home," he muttered, starting toward the exit. His pace was brisk, as if walking faster would somehow erase the embarrassment.

You hopped back on your skateboard, catching up to him with ease. "Hey, Pete," you said, your tone light but teasing. "You got any plans to ask Liz to Homecoming?"

Peter groaned. "Nope. No plans. Not gonna happen. Liz probably already has a date," he mumbled, his shoulders slumping. "I heard from Tim that she likes someone else."

You frowned at his negativity. Without warning, you reached out and smacked the back of his head—not hard, but enough to make him stop and glare at you.

"Ow! What was that for?" he asked, rubbing the spot where you'd hit him.

"For being a defeatist," you replied matter-of-factly. "Come on, man. Just ask her. If she says no, then that's her loss, not yours."

Peter muttered something under his breath, his face still set in a pout. "Whatever," he grumbled, resuming his march toward the exit.

You sighed, letting him go ahead for a moment. Out of the corner of your eye, you noticed Liz and her friends still standing by the benches. One of the girls—a striking redhead—caught your gaze. She smiled warmly and gave a small wave.

For a moment, you weren't sure if the wave was meant for you. Glancing around, you realized there was no one else in the immediate vicinity. You shrugged and returned her wave with a casual wink, grinning as you saw her cheeks flush slightly. Before her friends could notice the interaction, you pushed off on your skateboard, speeding up to catch Peter.

"Red hair, huh?" you mused to yourself as you weaved through the small crowd of students heading home. "Not to mention she's beautiful..." You trailed off, sliding smoothly down the edge of a staircase. "Yeah, definitely my type."

When you caught up with Peter, he was still sulking, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. You threw an arm around his shoulder, steering him gently toward the crosswalk. "Cheer up, bro," you said. "We've got the whole weekend ahead. Plenty of time for you to figure out how to ask Liz."

Peter rolled his eyes but didn't push your arm away. "You make it sound so easy," he muttered.

"Because it is," you replied with a grin. "Trust me, confidence is key. And if you need help, I'm here for you."

Peter glanced at you, a small smile tugging at his lips despite himself. "Thanks," he said softly.

The two of you continued walking, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows on the pavement. Behind you, the Midtown School of Science and Technology grew smaller, its brick facade fading into the distance as you made your way toward home. Despite Peter's grumbling, you could tell he appreciated your encouragement. And as for you? Well, that redhead's smile lingered in your mind, a tiny spark of intrigue that you couldn't quite shake.

The weekend was just beginning, and who knew what adventures—or misadventures—awaited? One thing was certain: life as a Parker was never boring.

TO BE CONTINUED...