Parker

5

"MJ! Canyou come up here?" Mr. Cobbwell asks as I leave the classroom. "You're not in trouble. I just want to make sure that your old school has covered all the information that we've covered."

It turns out that there are a few areas that I don't know yet. I guess homeschooling isn't as complete in the content area as I had thought. Mr. Cobbwell gives me a few sheets and pages in the book to look over. I'm sure I'll understand it and if I don't then Tony has Peter's information. He seemed to know his chemistry pretty well.

The next class I have is art. I've enjoyed dabbling in all areas of art, exploring the different ways to express one's self in variations of art is beautiful. My favorite form is photography but I enjoy to draw too. Sometimes when I'm drawing I notice little details about my subject that I've never noticed before. It's wonderful to always learn more. 

I thought by getting lost on my way to chemistry that I would at least know my way around the school a little better but I was very wrong. The bell rings once again and I'm late to the second class of my first day. 

I see someone standing next to their locker. I knock on the locker next to them. It's Peter Parker. 

"Hey, sorry to bother you but can you show me where the art room is? I'm a little lost."

"Um sure. No problem."

He looks at the ground as he walks. I can't tell if he's nervous or lacks self-confidence. The latter would compliment Tony's overconfidence. 

"So do you work directly with Tony or are you one of the people who work with Jarvis?" I ask.

Peter looks confused. "What?"

"Do you work directly with Tony Stark?"

"Sometimes."

"You guys must work well together considering how much he talks. Anybody who doesn't talk as much as him he seems to like a little better. Probably because they aren't taking away any attention from him."

Peter stops. "Why do you know so much about Mr. Stark?"

"Oh, he's my biological dad. Or so my..." For the first time, I really realize that Mom is gone. I feel the waterworks start to come on. "I'm sorry. Can you show me where the restroom is?"

"Um yeah. Of course." 

Apparently, the restroom is right next to the art room. Useful. 

"Do you need me to do anything? Like for say emotional support? Any way to keep me out of PE longer..."  

"Do you mind hugs? That's all I really need right now. Tony's not much of a hugger."

Peter nods his head and I'm so thankful. I'm used to always having at least a hug a day. It was a pact that Mom and I had made after a scary day in Wakana where I almost got in the path of one of the rhinos. 

I squeeze his ribcage tightly. At first, Peter doesn't do anything. He just stands there. Then I forcefully move his arms so that they're around me in a correct way to hug. I sigh, feeling much more relaxed now that I have my daily physical contact. Peter's not a terrible hugger once he has correct form. 

A chubby guy passes us and then doubles back. "Peter? Oh hello there..." The chubby guy stares at me until I answer. 

"I'm MJ. I was sad and Peter was showing me the way to art class."

"I'm Ned, Peter's best friend."

"Nice to meet you, Ned. Would you like to join the hug circle?"

Peter begins to protest but then Ned wraps his arms around the both of us. Peter's friend is a bit sweaty so I break the hug. I'm not a fan of smelling like a sweaty teenage boy, it's just something I don't enjoy.