Into the Wind // Peter Parker

One

The cold New York City air violently whipped through the open window in Maria's bedroom. It was autumn, her favorite season. Something about settling down, bundling up, and watching the colorful trees sway in the crisp breeze made her heart swell. She was also a sucker for school football games, but she'd never admit that to her best friend Jessica.

Maria's phone buzzed as a text from Jess popped up on her screen.

Jess
My coffee machine broke!!! please make
me a cup. I'll love you forever❤️

Maria sighed and let out a slight laugh, replying right away.

Maria
coming right up. I'll b out in 5 mins

Quietly hurrying out into the kitchen, Maria poured out the coffee into a travel mug and prepared it accordingly. Although Jess only recently began drinking coffee, waking up at 6:30 every morning provided Maria with plenty of time to practice.

Maria grabbed a post-it note and wrote down a reminder for her mom, who was still asleep after just getting in from work at 3 a.m.

Mom -- I have academic decathlon after school and then I'm heading to the library to work on some HW. Text me if you need me. -Maria

With that she grabbed her bag and quickly made her way down to her friend, who was sitting on the steps with her coat hood up. She looked at Maria, grabbing the coffee as soon as she saw it.

"Screw this cold weather. I think it's supposed to be warmer next week, but damn. I don't get how this is your favorite season. I really don't..." Jessica muttered, taking sips of her drink every few steps.

Maria rolled her eyes. "Shut up. It's not that bad."

Jess grabbed her coat zipper and pulled it up to her chin. "Sure, whatever you say."

The two laughed and continued walking, the sound of cars in the distance. Jess looked down at her phone, then broke the silence between them. "I've heard a rumor."

"Mmm, and what might that rumor be?" Maria had little taste for gossip.

"Well you know my cousin Liz?"

"Of course I know Liz, she's the head of the decathlon team, Jess."

"Oh, right. Well, everyone has been saying that Peter has a huge crush on her. Could you imagine her dating a sophomore." Jess shook her head. "Of course I don't think she's interested, but still. Imagine--"

Maria interrupted her friend. "Wait, Peter who?"

"You know, Peter from history and chemistry. What's his name--"

"Parker?"

"Yeah! Peter Parker."

"Oh." Maria wasn't particularly shocked by the news. She hardly knew Peter and had only conversed with him at practice and occasionally in class. From her limited time paying attention to him, the only definite piece of information she knew about him was that he couldn't keep his eyes off of their team captain.

They got to school with about ten minutes to spare. Rather than standing around in the hallway, they decided to get to class early, finding none other than Peter Parker at his desk. He was focused, scrambling to write the answers to last night's homework. Maria sat in her assigned seat to his right, Jessica on the other side of the room.

As Maria took her books out of her bag, an obnoxious voice sounded from beside her. "Penis Parker! I do believe this homework was supposed to be done yesterday." Flash Thompson walked around Maria, knocking her bag over in the process. He ripped Peter's paper out from under his hands, crumbled it up into a ball, and threw it across the room. Maria watched as Peter clenched his jaw and ignored Flash, getting up to pick up his homework. She watched him put up with his abuse everyday and couldn't understand how dealt with it.

"Like you haven't forgotten to do homework before. Leave him alone, you don't have to be a dick about everything." Maria shocked herself as she spoke aloud. Flash turned to her, opening his mouth to reply as Mr. Lane walked in.

"Flash get in your seat. When the bell rings you should be sitting at your desk, waiting for me to come in. If this happens again you're getting detention."

Peter smirked slightly and uncrumbled his paper, attempting to get some of the wrinkles out.

"Did you get to finish?" Maria asked him in a whisper.

"What?" He leaned in closer to hear.

Maria pointed toward the homework. "Did you get to finish? I can show you mine if you need."

"Oh... it's, uh, it's fine. I finished before he threw it. Thank you." He faced the front of the classroom, Mr. Lane writing today's notes on the board. Maria followed, smiling a bit. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Flash staring her down from the desk next to her.

Boy, did he look pissed.