Ms. Stark [Peter Parker]

Chapter 3| 'Miranda'

MARIA
3:18 pm; Monday- Stark Mansion

"They're looking for me?!" I repeat loudly out, as my dad winces at my reaction he knew was coming.

"Yes-"

"What do they want? What are you going to do? What-"

"Maria! Calm down!" he yells, cutting me off like I did to him.

I started breathing heavily, there are people out there searching for me. Why would they want me? I've never had that happen before, it's always been my dad or someone else. It didn't make sense.

My dad rushes over to me as he puts a hand on my back, and another on my forearm as I try to calm down. I keep hyperventilating, I could be dead any second.

"Look at me," he says now softly as my breathing finally gets more into my control. I slowly stand back up to face him, he even seemed more worried than me.

"It's going to be okay. We are having a meeting tomorrow at the Avengers facility over it, and you're coming with."

I was going to be a part of an actual meeting. I always have gone to the meetings, to see the other Avengers and such, but this time is different. I'm actually a part of it.

"Why don't you go up and clean your room? Pepper told me she wants your room clean before she comes back tomorrow," he continued, trying to ease me. It seemed he was more trying to ease himself, if anything.

I could see the worry in his big, brown eyes which kept me wondering what was going to happen. But all I did was smile. I nod simply deciding it would be better not to talk too much about it.

As I walked out silently, I could feel my dad's eyes still following me from where he stood.

"Maria?" I stopped, right as I was about to grab the handle.

"Yes?"

"I love you, you know that right?" I smiled to myself, knowing he couldn't see anyway.

"Yes, I do."

·····

"Michelle, turn on YouTube and search 'Spider-Man'."

"Right away Maria," my AI, otherwise known as Michelle, said back to me.

I continued to throw out old trash, or any other useless items I would find under my bed away. My room hasn't been cleaned since we moved here I have been so busy. You would be surprise what you would find when you cleaned your room.

"I found a recent video and loaded it up for you. It's ready for whenever you are," Michelle informed me right away, like she always did.

"Thank you," I said, as I threw an old torn up shirt into the over piling laundry basket. I also found three nickels, seven pennies, two quarters, and three dollars. By the time I was done cleaning my room, heck, I could be rich!

Even though I already am...

I go back under my bed to feel something that was unfamiliar compared to all the other objects. It didn't feel like clothes, money, trash, or anything I recognized.

I squinted my eyes at it while I reached deep to grasp onto whatever it might be. As I brought it closer to me, I got a better look at it to see it was a picture frame.

Why don't I recognize this?

I pull the picture frame fully out with a big 'huff.'

I observe it, turning it all the way around until I see the front where the photo should be. I blow off the dust, realizing it must have been down there for quite a while.