alluring hope | peter p.

TWO.

'Next question. What is the heaviest naturally-occurring element?"

Arielle didn't know what had gotten into her, but she decided to join the academic decathlon team at Midtown High. And with her amazing luck, Peter, Ned, Michelle, and Liz were in the team.

Just, great.

Liz was blasting questions out to her team, while Arielle was studying, trying hard to catch up before the decathlon coming up in the near future. Peter was talking to Mr Harrington.

"Hydrogen's the lightest," A guy named Charles answered. "that's not the question. Okay." Everyone just looked at him weirdly, including Arielle. Maybe joining this team wasn't a good idea after all.

"Uranium!" Abraham answered, and Arielle jumped, shocked at how loud he is.

"A little quietly next time, perhaps?" She whispered to no one in particular, but she looked up to see Peter turning his head to look at her as she spoke, he only heard her. Weird, but she didn't care.

"That is correct. Thank you, Abraham." Liz replied, a small smile appearing on her face. "Please open your books up to page 10."

She looked over to where Mr Harrington and Peter were talking, she overheard Peter talking about this Stark internship and how he might not be able to make it. It's one of the reasons why she joined, maybe she could take his place. "Peter, It's nationals." Mr Harrington spoke to Peter, annoyance clearly covering his whole face. "Is there no way you could take one weekend off?"

"I can't go to Washington. If Mr. Stark needs me, I have to make sure I'm here" Peter replied desperately.

"You've never been in the same room as Tony Stark." Flash yelled to Peter from where he was seated reading. She had no idea why he was in this club, maybe to flirt with Liz, who knows.

"Wait. What's happening?" Cindy questioned.

"Peter's not going to Washington." Sally replied.

Cindy's eyes went wide, "No, no no no no."

"Why not?", "Really? Right before nationals." Abe and Liz asked. Peter just frowned at Liz, disappointed in himself that he disappointed her.

"He already quit marching band and robotics lab." Michelle said loudly, regretting it moments after the words fell out of her mouth. Everyone turned to look at her, shocked with the fact that she actually spoke for once. "I'm not obsessed with him. Just very observant."

Arielle just laughed, and Peter's eyes just shot straight to hers. She just stared back until Liz spoke. "Flash, you're in for Peter."

"I don't know. I gotta check my calendar first. I got a hot date with Black Widow coming up." Flash said while smirking, eyes wiggling at Peter. "That is false" Abe replied.

"What'd I tell you about using the bell for comedic purposes?" Mr Harrington asked, glaring at Abe.

Arielle knew she could take on the academic decathlon without a challenge, and she was impressed of Peter that everyone wanted him on the team, maybe he was crazy smart like her. Maybe.

"Hey, uh- I could participate instead of Peter and Flash?" Arielle spoke rather quietly, but loud enough that everyone could notice it, and there eyes shot straight to her, and she hated it.

"You just got here today, Arielle? Are you sure you'll be ready?" Mr Harrington asked, eyebrows raised at her. Everyone was staring at her, she really didn't like this. Her eyes shot to Peter's. His stare wasn't as harsh, it was softer than the others. She didn't realise she was staring back until he smiled, she turned her gaze back to Mr Harrington as soon as she realized.