A year to Remember. Part 3, The Conclusion

Schemes and Shames

Monday Midday.

"Parker!", Flash shouts in the cafeteria, like always teens not caring and teachers turning away. Ned and Peter looking over at the angry and very insecure teenager. "The hell were you Friday?". Ned tries to answer, but half way through the I-word Flash snaps at them. "Don't drag Leeds into your lies Parker. It's already stupid enough to believe you'd have gotten one. You and fattie? How dumb do you think I am?". It's one thing to yell or hit Peter, that he can take silently, but involving his friends? No.

He stands. "Leave Ned out of this". Peter's harsh voice admittedly surprised Flash, he was never this direct or headstrong even when he targeted Ned in the past too. "What do you want Flash?", he asks again just as decisive.

It does little to dissuade him, Flash pulling Peter up by the shirt. "For you to admit to everyone you're lying about your internship!".

Shouting that last part, he gets more people's attention. Mostly just scoffs from — majority senior and old friends of Palmer — students tired of his crap, cheers from his friends, and one very angry growl. "Drop him". It's MJ, which is enough for Flash to do so but out of some weird masochism he decided to confront her instead. "What's your problem Michelle".

The name. That name. He's getting dangerously close to a world of pain, one he for some reason couldn't avoid even after Peter tried talking them down. "You'd almost be cool if you got smart and dropped the fattie and the fa-". She had winded up the punch by the 'fattie' part, it more than enough reason, the attempted slur only adding to her satisfaction as Flash's face whips back with a *crack*, blood dripping down his neck, floor and MJ's hand.

Unfortunately the scene had garnered enough attention to involve teachers; Ms Worley. "MJ, Flash, Peter, To the principal's office". She escorts the trio to Morita's where nothing goes right. "Really?", he sighs looking exhausted, "specially out of you two, I'm really disappointed".

Ms Worley had already given him her rundown of events, him having individually gotten a rundown from all 3 teens as well. Flash's, as expected, was wildly skewed. "Peter. Since you weren't involved in anything physical you'll only have detention for the week", the teen deflates, hoping maybe now there would have been some semblance of justice. It's also gonna make Spider-Manning a lot harder.

"As for you two", he directs to Flash and MJ. "Our school has a no violence policy, so I'll have to suspend you both for the week".

Trash didn't like this, breaking out into whines, rants and threats of how 'do you know who my parents are?'. Eventually the threat and reminder of Flash's parent's donations to the school and connections to the school board broke him. "Alright. Just... head to the nurses' office to make sure you're ok, then you're excused for the day".

Seriously. Peter got a weeks detention, MJ a weeks suspension, and Flash got to skip class on the Principal's order. And he wonders why his grades are shit. Peter couldn't help feel guilty in spite of MJ's reassurance that it was ok, she didn't regret it and "it was so [expletive] worth it".

-

Tony needed some help for his plan, which meant facing her. For the last hour he's been explaining, justifying and advocating for her to let him carry out his plan, Pepper looking over a little resigned. "I know Tony, and I understand why you want to do this but...".

He looks concerned, Pep's 'but's' having a coinflip's chance to shut everything down. "But I think we should at least confirm with May. Your plan is a little... extreme, and this is for Peter at the end of the day. If you want to keep it a surprise for him then at least she should give the go ahead".

It sucks every time, and he hates to admit it but she's right. Again. "Fine, but I hate it how you're always right". Pepper smirks, sliding next to Tony on the lounge in their room, "Can't help it Tones, so, wanna call her now?". Want to? No, gonna anyways cause Pep's there to help? Reluctantly yes.