Beautiful Ruins

Chapter 7

I walk silently next to Peter as we get out of the car. When Tony said high school, I didn't think he meant starting straight away but he did. Tony got his driver, Happy, to drive the two of us, probably to make sure I arrived here.

I glance up at the school, wondering for at least the tenth time today if I should've said no – I can't tell what's worse, being coped up in a room all day or going to high school.

"You ready?" Peter asks me, Peter's aunt had the idea to come up with the story that I'm Peter's cousin and I'm staying with them for a while, Tony agreed to the story so I'm officially Storm Parker. I know the x-men could easily put this together and figure out it's me, but I don't imagine they'll be checking high schools for me. If someone told me a week ago I would be enrolling and attending high school, I would've laughed at them.

"Yep" I say, glancing down at my outfit, a white dress with a jean jacket. Natasha went out and brought me a bag of clothes so that I'd have something appropriate for school, I had no idea whether to wear a dress or jeans but decided on a dress.

"Yo, Parker, who's this?" a boy walks over to us. He looks me up and down, causing my cheeks to flush slightly. Peter visibly stiffens and he sighs quietly, almost too quietly for me to hear.

"This is my cousin, Storm. Storm, this is Flash" Peter says, glancing quickly at me. I haven't heard anything about Flash, I can tell from Peter's body language that they aren't friends or friendly at all. Flash is still looking at me, I look away.

"Do you want me to show you the office?" Flash asks. I hesitate, I'm not sure if I'm supposed to leave Peter's side unless necessary and I don't know if I should be making friends considering I have powers, I can control them for the most part but it's still always a risk.

"I'll show her, thanks" Peter dismisses Flash and begins to quicken his footsteps. I speed up falling in line next to Peter. "Don't get involved with Flash, it's not a good idea." For me or for Flash? My heart sinks slightly as I wonder if Peter is referring to my past, not that I could blame him, I just thought we were friends now.

I notice a couple of students glancing at me with questioning expressions, I guess they're all wondering about the new girl. Peter avoids the glances and just keeps moving forward so I do the same.

"The stares will stop soon" Peter assures me. "We haven't had a new student in a while." The stares don't bother me, it's just different to my normal.

"New people are always interesting" I reply, the x-men also didn't have new people showing up on a regular basis, so it was interesting when someone turned up, especially in Peter's case as people knew he'd be powerful from the moment he showed off his powers. I still can't believe he successfully tricked the x-men.

My mind wanders to Scarlett and I find my heart sinking down in my chest, is she under the impression that I'm dead? I went on a mission and didn't return, it's the explanation that makes the most sense. I've left her alone; it wasn't by choice but she's still alone regardless.

"It'll be okay" Peter says, interrupting my thoughts. "Sit with us at lunch, MJ and Ned will be cool with it." I smile at Peter; it's only been a couple of days since we became friends, but I already have no idea how I'd be surviving my current situation without him.

"Thank you" I say, meaning it wholeheartedly. My life would be a lot worse if I didn't have Peter here right now, I'm glad he gave me a chance despite my past actions.

We continue walking in silence. "When I said Flash wasn't a good idea, I didn't mean you specifically, he's just not really the best person to get involved with" Peter says after a few minutes of comfortable silence.