TELEKINETIC │ p.p

Chapter Twenty Six

"You really need a brace?" Lane commented as they both sat in their usual spot.

"You're lucky I haven't reported you," Vanessa snaps, earning a smirk from Lane.

"Great, I could tell them all about your boy toy and how he assaulted me," he chuckles. Vanessa gulps, staring down at her books. "And how he threw you to the ground effortlessly."

"That was an accident," she protested. She knew Peter didn't mean to, he was a fucking superhuman after all. He couldn't control his god-like strength.

"Who knows when he'll harm you again," Lane grumbles, sipping on his coffee. Vanessa glared at him now, thinking of all the curse words that could spew from her mouth at any moment. But she didn't want to risk the possibility of Peter getting in trouble. "I'm glad my comment finally shut you the hell up."

"Why are you so fucking rude?" Vanessa retorted, unable to hold back. She didn't make it as long as she'd liked.

"You'll find out eventually," Lane chuckles under his breath, turning to the appropriate page in his textbook. Vanessa shivered, increasing Lane's ego. She definitely feared him, and he was aware.

"What does that mean?" she questioned, her voice small. Lane just gives her a grin and dismissed the question, returning with his own.

"Can we work now?" She hated him. Fuck that, she loathed him. Every ounce of her regretted being her kind self and accepting to help a fellow student that doesn't even try to comprehend simple lessons and assignments.

She needed someone to vent to right now, knowing Peter would be available. Or at least hoping. Without thinking it over, she pulled out her phone and began to text in a rapid fashion.

"I don't think the principal would be too pleased to hear that you're not focused on your studies," Lane taunts.

"It's an emergency," Vanessa grumbles, continuing to type vigorously.

"If it's about how big of a meathead I am, then that's not exactly an emergency." Vanessa growls, shuts off her phone mid text, and slams it down.

"Fucking happy?" she spits.

"Delighted," he grins. "Now, teach me quantum physics, darling."

"Do not talk to me as if you give a shit," she remarks. "And do not give me pet names."

"Sorry, I'll save it for the bedroom," he teases with a disgusting smile stuck to his face.

"Why not just save it for someone who actually finds a desire to go anywhere near a bedroom alongside you?" she questions. "Because I obviously am not interested."

"Because of your boyfriend?"

"Because you're an absolute dick, and I fucking wish your dad would've just pulled out," Vanessa snaps, not making eye contact. That would be her downfall. But she saw Lane's fists clench on the tabletop and immediately cowered in her booth seat. She gulped, trying to be as quiet as possible but ending up loud as hell, and looked over her notes. His eyes dug into her scalp, wanting her to look up so she could feel the fire transfer from his eyes to her stomach. But she never met his eyes the rest of the afternoon. Not once.

- - - - -

She sighed in relief as she was able to leave, gathering her notes and picking up her books, rushing out of the cafe as fast as she could without looking back. She tossed everything into her car and sped off, her white knuckles going unnoticed.

As she pulled into Tony's driveway, she piled her belongings into her backpack and slipped out of the car, entering the large home. Her eyebrows furrowed as she smelt some kind of meat being cooked.

She turned around the corner, smiling once she saw the brunette. "I am so glad to see you," she spoke, hugging him from behind. He chuckled and said it back.

"How was tutoring Captain Asshat?" Peter questioned, stirring the meat in the pan.

"I literally want to strangle him," she responds. Peter laughed as he pictured the event unfolding before his eyes, amused to see the petite girl folding her hands as tight as she could around the muscular boy's thick neck until he turned purple.

"Well, I'm proud of you for restraining," Peter replied, dumping the browned meat into a bowl.

"How do you know I restrained? Maybe I need you to help me hide the body," she teases, letting go of him so he could move freely. As he acknowledged her with a chuckle, he took one of her hands in his, grabbing the bowl of meat with the other, and led her to the dinner table.

"I will never get over that toilet," Vanessa heard Ned's voice say in awe. She looked over and saw him entering the dining room, a smile appearing on both of their faces as they saw the other. "Hey, V!" Ned exclaimed, meeting her halfway for a hug.

"I didn't think I'd see you this soon, Ned," she chuckled, soon letting go of him and walking with the boy to the table.

"It was supposed to be our night," Peter bitterly spoke to Vanessa, giving a short death glare toward Ned. He realized how rude he sounded and softened his face. "But I'm delighted to have the trio back together."

"Ew, never say delighted again," Vanessa retorts, sitting in the chair at the head of the table. "And it's lovely to have some company on this horribly awful night."

"Tutoring was really that bad?" Ned questions.

"You don't know the half of it," Vanessa proclaims, making herself two tacos and scooping some Mexican rice on the side. She moaned as the juicy, well-seasoned taco meat hit her tastebuds. Ned choked on his water and Peter chuckled into his taco. "Sorry, but holy shit."

"May taught me how to cook," Peter responds. Ned and Peter both burst into laughter, Vanessa joining as soon as she recollected Peter's aunt nearly causing their whole apartment building to crumble down in flames.

"I really appreciate the cooking channel then," Vanessa announces before devouring the rest of her meal. "Am I allowed to have more?"

"Um, of course." Peter was a bit shocked, as well as Ned.

"I've never seen a girl eat so much," Ned comments under his breath as he watches Vanessa eat her third taco.

"I've never tasted anything so delicious," Vanessa responds, going for a fourth.

"I guess Peter's meat is the best," Ned teases. Vanessa reaches next to her and smacks Ned in the arm, scolding him with her eyes for being so crude, all while Peter tried to contain his flustered expression and suppress a laugh.