Lovebug ── PETER PARKER¹

05. Biology

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        "What the hell?"

         When Mr.Warren called Luna out of her spanish class, only after five minutes of confusion seeing as he called her Ms.Moon, he informed her that rehearsals for her would be more often than others. She expected maybe an extra day or two, since last term the same thing happened. But no, she had rehearsals everyday of the week except Wednesday and Sunday. She didn't even know she was allowed to be in school on Saturdays for a school production, but apparently she was.

         Her time with Liz and Mia after school was already limited as it is, Liz writing for the newspaper and Mia having soccer practice, so now that all three girls were busy, the trio wasn't a trio as much anymore. Meaning Luna would no longer attempt to slip in a biology question into the conversation, and stealthily scribble down the answer for her homework.

        She didn't think it would effect her all that much; she wanted to be a lead, she needed to be a lead. So she accepted Mr.Warren's schedule without a single complaint, now leaving school at 5:30 everyday. By the time she got on the train it was 6, and while it wasn't as crowded as it would be around 3, it didn't stop all the creeps from squeezing as close to the girl as possible. By the time she'd get home it was almost 8, and she'd be so tired from her day, her brother would wake up to find her asleep on the couch, surrounded by a mess of papers.

        Now instead of her mornings being spent talking to Liz or Mia about whatever weird thing happened in her house, she'd lean a paper against Liz's back, attempting to do her homework before they reached school. Thankfully, none of her teachers seemed to complain about the messiness of the homework, because at least it was done unlike half of her class.

         It was Wednesday now, one of her only days free of rehearsals. She, Liz, and Mia already made plans for after school; order take-out and hang out at Luna's house. But as she stared down at the 55% written at the top of her test, she wasn't too sure those plans were gonna happen. She could already hear her mother's empty threats, her hands moving wildly with each angry shout. She promised the woman that if she did this show, it wouldn't effect her grades. It really wouldn't help if just two weeks after starting rehearsals she came back home with a failing test grade.

        "Hell yeah." Luna looked up at the sound of the voice, her eyes landing on the test paper of her lab partner. She quickly folded down the paper, ashamed of the 40% difference in their test scores. Slipping the paper into her notebook, she picked up her belongings and went up to the teacher.

        If she didn't find biology ridiculously hard, Luna was sure she would have liked Mrs.Barry. She was a short woman with wide framed glasses, a friendly smile always present on her features. Though when Luna stood in front of her desk, her smile seemed to falter. "Luna," she spoke softly, noticing the defeated look in the teenage girl's eyes. "Is this about your grade?" Luna nodded meekly.

         Mrs.Barry offered a sad smile to the girl, before sliding her grade book over. Luna leaned forward, scanning the list for her name. "Here." Mrs.Barry pointed, dragging her finger across from Luna's name to reveal a stream off 65s and the occasional 70 for this term alone. "Your work, it seems.. unsure? I'm not sure if you've rushed through it, or you don't understand, but it's bringing your grade down a lot." Mrs.Barry sighed just as the bell rang, the sound of chairs squeaking and chatter filling the classroom.

        "But I used to get higher grades," Luna pointed out, her finger gesturing to the 80s and 85s of the previous term.

         Mrs.Barry leaned forward, examining the numbers before nodding in agreement. "Yes, I believe this is when I suggested a tutor, correct?" She could already sense where the conversation was going when Mrs.Barry broke eye contact with her, instead looking past the girl. She squeezed her eyes shut, her hand intertwining with the other as she silently hoped for her assumption to not be true. "Peter, a minute?"

         There it was. Luna turned around, her eyes landing on said boy. He was in the back of the class, still packing up his belongings. His eyes slowly rose when he was addressed, immediately meeting Luna's. She was quick to look away, already embarrassed by what was going to be said. It's one thing to be tutored for science when attending a science school, it's another to be tutored for science twice, by the same guy, while attending a science school.

         Peter shuffled his way over to the front of the room, Mrs.Barry wearing her usual friendly smile once more. "You tutored Luna earlier this year right?" She questioned. Peter nodded, looking over to Luna, who still wouldn't meet his eye. "Luna's grades improved greatly with your help, so would you be willing to do it again?"

        "You don't have to," Luna blurted, finally looking to Peter. Mrs.Barry sent her a pointed look, because he did have to if she wanted her grades to be better. Luna's cheeks instantly flushed, and she looked away. "I mean–if you don't want to, or don't have time, or–you know what, lemme stop talking."

        Peter hesitated, looking back to Mrs.Barry. "Please," she added. Luna's heart dropped, he needed to be convinced to tutor her? Why else would Mrs.Barry add the please? Did he not like her? Was she that unpleasant to be around? She thought they'd formed some sort of friendship during the month and a half he was tutoring her, but that thought was quickly gone.

         "Actually," Luna spoke up, grabbing her book a little tighter. "I have rehearsals basically every day this week, I don't have time for a tutor. I'll just... study more. Thanks Mrs.Barry, thanks Peter." To save herself anymore embarrassment, she turned on her heel and left the classroom.

        "She's embarrassed," Mrs.Barry sighed, shutting her grade book. "Are you guys friends?"

        Were they friends? "I guess," Peter shrugged.

         Mrs.Barry nodded. "Then tutor her, she'll end up thanking you later."