By Moonlight (P.P + M.J)

30. Of Bugles and Bullies

Peter went to school the next day, trying to keep Werewolf off his mind. He had let MJ keep his fang, because she wanted to make into a necklace. She and Ned had stayed over all day the other day, and Peter didn't go out again. He had taken the day off, for when did he ever get to really spend time with the people he was close to?

He buried himself in his work during morning classes, hoping to relax his heavy heart. But he couldn't bring himself to focus on the problems and equations, and took to zoning out. He heard Flash make fun of him but his foggy brain couldn't piece the bully's words together.

But something captured his attention that brought him out of his haze. When the class was dismissed for lunch, he passed the teacher's desk and spied a Daily Bugle newspaper. A picture of Spiderman was plastered on the front, and he quickly swiped it before diving into the mass of students heading for the cafeteria. He knew the picture because MJ had taken it. Right under the picture was her name, saying that she had photographed it! One of her photos had actually made it into the paper!

He got to the cafeteria and saw that Ned and MJ were already there. Sneaking up behind her, he laid the newspaper down beside her book. It took her a second to process what she was seeing, and when she did, she picked the paper up and reread the name under the picture a hundred times. Peter looked over her shoulder and relished the huge grin on her face.

"Wow!" She exclaimed, beaming with pride, "this is... amazing! I can't believe it!"

"Wow, Michelle's smiling while still in school? What happened?" Ned asked, and Peter quickly explained while MJ marveled at her good fortune.

"So, are you gonna keep doing it? Being a photographer?" Ned asked.

MJ shrugged, not looking up at him. "I don't know. It was a one-time deal."

"Well, I'm sure Spiderman wouldn't mind," Peter pointed out, and MJ glanced over her shoulder at him, "I think something can be worked out."

She looked back at him and for a split second, he thought she would kiss him. But MJ was adamant about keeping a steely persona while in school. Of course, Peter understood that she preferred to fly beneath the radar, not showing emotion so as to keep people at a distance. But every so often, she'd show a little something when it came to Peter. That alone made him feel proud. Her attention was hard to capture and even harder to maintain.

"Don't think you can just bribe me, Parker," she retorted, looking back at the paper. She then fiddled around in her pocket, "but that reminds me."

She then pulled out a thick black string with Werewolf's silver fang hanging from it. The metal had been polished and it shone like a new quarter. Peter was in awe as MJ handed the necklace to him.

"I made it last night," she informed him as he sat down, turning the fang over in his hand and feeling the string, "pretty cool, huh?"

"It's awesome, MJ," Peter said, looking at her, "it's definitely your style."

"Ya think?" She asked, raising an eyebrow, "it's almost too badass for me."

"You kidding?" He asked back, almost laughing at her remark, "it practically solidifies your status as the resident badass."

"Someone put too much sugar in your tea," MJ commented as Peter put the necklace on around her neck, "because you're too sweet."

"Ugh, I hate you guys," Ned groaned, shaking his head. Peter smirked and leaned over to read the headline of the Bugle.

Web-Slinger's Wild Week

"Mind if I borrow a page?" Peter asked, and MJ gave him the paper with the stories on it.