EXILE ✸ Peter Parker

Two.

TWO !
( dead man walking )

           I AWOKE IN A HAZY BLUR, my senses spinning wildly.

I was in a dark, narrow alley, the walls enveloping me in pitch blackness. The oppressive stench of stale beer and old urine filled the air and I had zero recollection of how I got here.

In the far corner of the alley, I could make out the distorted shape of a body slumped against the wall, a pool of blood seeping from its head and congealing on the cold concrete. I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly constricted.

Stumbling forward, I tried to make sense of the terrifying scene before me. In the shadows, I saw a heavy metal bat, splattered in fresh blood and lying next to the beaten body on the ground.

I recoiled in horror, my thoughts racing as I tried to comprehend what had happened.

I shouldn't be here. Clearly, this was some sort of setup and I shouldn't be here. Right?

I turned the opposite way, my foot limping with my steps as I clenched my jaw together, trying desperately to stop it from shaking.

Soon I found myself on a wide avenue, a vast contrast to the narrow alleyway I'd just left. Here, the street was alive with people, their conversations and laughter filling the night air.

I quickly lost myself in the crowd, my mind still spinning with questions. I walked aimlessly until I found myself standing in front of a small bar, the neon sign flashing an inviting welcome.

Cautiously, I stepped inside and the noise of the street faded away. I was instantly engulfed in a comforting warmth and a delicate aroma of beer and tobacco smoke. And for a moment, I was almost transfixed, my fear momentarily forgotten. But then a trickle of blood slid from my forehead and I realized with horror that my hands were still covered in the same red hue.

Shit.

I quickly wiped them against the felt of my jacket and tucked them deep into the pockets of my jeans, willing myself to get lost amongst the crowd.

           "ARE YOU SURE YOU'RE OKAY?" Andrea questioned from beside me, tracing me out of my thoughts and back into the classroom we'd been in.

She'd asked me the same question a dozen times now, and I was tired of it.

I hummed, nodding, but kept the palm of my hand over my lips, my elbow propping the top half of my body up on the desk. "Quit asking me that."

And she left me alone. For a second. But I could tell the urge to ask again was just itching at her. "Are you sure?"

"Yes." I reply quickly, my patience running thin.

I could tell she felt the urge to ask me if I was sure again, but I was so silently grateful that she didn't.

The bell rang and I was fast to grab my bag off the ground and toss it over my shoulder as I rose. Thankfully, the next class was without Andrea and the last of the day.

Despite her calling after me, I pushed past the classroom door and joined the flood of teens in the hallway.

I continued down the hallway, squeezing and pushing past the crowds, just trying to make it to my locker.

And I almost did, until my body clashed with another and papers flew into the air.

I blinked and in front of me was a boy just an inch or two shorter than me. His mouth was caught agape and he appeared absolutely mortified. "I--I'm so sorry."

My brows furrowed, attempting to examine him. He didn't move, he just stared at me with an emotion I couldn't quite make out. He didn't go to grab the papers that had left his hands, but instead, he cleared his throat.

"Are--are you okay?"

His voice was shaky for a moment until he swallowed and it was suddenly clear.

I assume the confusion in my face only seemed to deepen because his eyes widened and he quickly went to pick his papers up off the ground.

I'd never seen this boy before, so I'd only assumed he was new. But I hoped I'd never see him again.

Joining me at my side, was Liz. But once she saw the boy struggling to gather his papers, she was quick to aid him in collecting himself.

Once the two finished, and I watched in confusion, Liz entangled her fingers with mine. "Peter, have you met Aiden?"

Peter took a moment to actually get any words out, once again. Until finally, he shook his head. "No. Uh, it's nice to meet you."

Something in the way he hesitated confused me entirely; even more so. I didn't say anything, just nodded. Likewise.

Peter's hand fell to my hand and Liz's and it suddenly seemed clear what he was so afraid of. He had a crush on my girlfriend.

This was going to be fun.

"Peter, are you new?" I felt my lips curl with amusement.

His brown eyes widened with embarrassment and his cheeks almost turned a bright red.

"Aiden!" Liz whisper-shouted, squeezing my hand.

But I couldn't help myself. "I'm just wondering!"

As he shifted nervously from foot to foot, Liz shot me an exasperated look and mouthed the word 'stop'. But I knew what she was really thinking--that my natural charm was about to win over yet another person. "Peter's on the decathlon team with me."

I can tell. I bite my bottom lip, preventing another smirk--or a laugh--from escaping. "We'll see you around, Pete."

"Pete?" He asked innocently but with pure confusion.

The bell rung, preventing me from saying anything else and Liz began walking me away.

With a smile, she waved. "Bye, Peter!"