Growing Up

19 Years Old

It had been nearly two months since Gwen had broken up with him, but Peter wasn't sure he was quite over it. Pushing through the school weeks had been difficult, but they were finally done for the year. With the school year finishing, not only was he able to finally leave and get a little more distance from Gwen, but he was also able to return to New York for the summer and see his friends from high school. His friends from high school who were currently in the lift on their way up the Tower.

"Ned!" Peter yelled, running to hug his best friend as soon as he stepped out.

Ned ran towards Peter, meeting him in the middle and the two hugged tightly.

"How have you been, man?" Peter asked as they separated.

"Better now that school's out," Ned replied, "How about you?"

"Good," Peter said, still grinning widely. He was about to ask Ned more about school when another voice piped up from behind.

"What am I? Brussel sprouts?"

Peter's smile grew bigger and he pushed past Ned to see MJ as she stepped out of the lift.

"MJ!" He jumped forward and hugged her tightly, lifting her up excitedly.

Laughing, MJ hugged him back but told him to put her down rather quickly. When he set her down, they were both still smiling.

"How has your fancy college been?" he asked. MJ shrugged.

"Same old, same old," she told him, "A lot less interesting without you losers."

Peter rolled his eyes and Ned cleared his throat. At the realisation that he still had his arms around MJ and she still had hers around his neck, Peter's face heated up. They both quickly let go and turned to face Ned.

"We only have the summer to catch up, so what should we do first?" he asked. Peter glanced at MJ who shrugged.

"I have an idea," Peter said.

* * * * *

The three of them stepped out of the car and slammed the doors shut. Peter had had the decency to call ahead to make sure it was okay to go upstate and after getting the okay from his dad (as long as none of them told Steve), they had left New York.

Ned and MJ had been to the compound before, but Tony and Bruce had recently upgraded the lab and even Peter was eager to see it. Uncle Bruce—ever the lifesaver—had promised to distract Steve so they could get inside and downstairs. For some reason, Steve didn't like the idea of the three of them messing around in the lab with Banner. Something about causing an explosion the last time ("It wasn't us! It was all Dad!").

"We just have to be quiet," Peter warned as they walked towards the door.

MJ and Ned nodded, following Peter to the back door of the compound. As Peter entered his access code, the door unlocked and they all hurried in quietly. He could hear voices upstairs, but no one was headed in their direction, so he motioned for the others to follow him silently. Tiptoeing into the lab, they waited until Peter had firmly closed the soundproof door to let out a breath of relief.

FRIDAY's voice echoed around them a second later and they all jumped.

"Welcome back, Mr. Leeds and Miss Jones."

"Hey, FRIDAY," they all greeted, walking further into the lab.

While Peter sent Bruce a text to let him know they had made it inside safely, Ned wandered around the room. MJ took a seat in Tony's chair while Peter claimed Bruce's and typed in his login code.