Light of a Thousand Stars

5- Calliope

"My name is Mr. Walters, and I will be instructing you in history for the next year," he started. Theresa snorted, glancing away. Her father had warned me about this Mr. Walters- he always made a big deal of his tests, but once given they were quite easy. Or rather, they seemed easy compared to how hard he drilled them. "And, now, I'll try to get to know your names. Please raise your hand when I call you so I can see your face."

Theresa took a deep breath and glanced around. Now, she'd be able to take stock of her surroundings. She couldn't quite be certain if finding Evan so soon was a good thing or a bad thing, but he wasn't the only person at the school who I had information on. My parents, for one, went to Midtown high when they were young, but what was the chance of meeting them among so many other students? And even if I did happen upon one of them, I would just have to do my best to pretend like I didn't know them. No biggie.

I listened closely to every name, to the point where when I heard the name "Selena Freedman", it took me a second to realize that that was my name now. "Selena?" Mr. Walters' voice came again, and my head shot up.

"Here!" I called nervously.

"Where are you?" The teacher called, glancing around. "Help a man out and raise your hand." Her hand shot up like a bullet as she tried to amend for her mistake. Since the name the school had been given wasn't her real name at all, she had remembered a second too late who she was pretending to be. He smiled and nodded, acknowledging her hand. She relaxed slightly, but kept her ears open as she scanned the room. She didn't recognize anybody in the room for certain, but the boy next to her, Peter, seemed slightly familiar. Just as she tried to study him without seeming suspicious, a name that she knew better than the fake one she now owned rang through the room.

"Peter Parker?" called the teacher. Theresa froze, glancing around. When the boy next to her raised his hand, she nearly fainted in her seat. That was why he had seemed so familiar! Uncle Pete, Spider-man himself, had been sitting next to her without her noticing. Of course, he wasn't her actual uncle, but just a very good family friend. In fact, he was practically her father's brother.

She sighed, raking a hand through her hair. If she had wanted to befriend Peter during her mission, sitting next to him was the perfect opportunity- but did she want to? At some point she would have to return to the future, when the world preferably wasn't run by super villains. Wouldn't he notice her missing and find it suspicious? And, who knows, with his big brain and S.H.I.E.L.D. tech in his hands, maybe he would be able to find out something about her she wished he wouldn't know until he was older. No- it was too risky to make friends with Peter Parker. In fact, it would seem a better decision if she didn't make strong connections with any high schoolers at all.

She sighed, glancing around again at all the people who had no idea how horrible their future could be. It would be a solitary mission for her.