Autumn Leaves | p.p.

| 14 {Sophie}|

Like any normal teenage girl with overwhelming feelings for someone, I waited. I told myself hour by hour that if he really wanted anything more than friends he would say so. But he never did.

The worst part was the fact that we got a new student. A girl with fiery red hair and a stunning smile. Her name was Mary Jane Watson. And she sat right next to Peter in chemistry.

I walked into class Monday after Thanksgiving break and saw her when I looked for Peter. She was already laughing at something he said. I chewed the inside of my lip and shrugged down into my seat.

"Everything okay, Cap?" Harper slowly set her things down. Her dark eyes looked at me with a worried expression.

"Yeah, fine. Just didn't sleep well last night," I sighed. An awful churning was overwhelming my insides. The kind that makes you feel like you're getting the flu. But the kind that makes you wish it was only the flu. Because if it was the flu, it would go away.

"Whatever you say kiddo," she pursed her lips but didn't push any further. A substitute walked in carrying an overstuffed folder with papers sticking out in every direction.

"Alright class," she saw no one was listening, "class," she shouted, "your teacher has asked me to tell you today is a work day. We also have a new student, Mary-Jane Watson?" The girl in the back raised her hand, "great, now go on and do your projects."

"Not a fan," Harper whispered.

"You and me both," I nodded before grabbing all of my stuff. I walked over to Peter's table.

"Oh should I move?" Mary-Jane asked, oh boy.

"Yeah we have a huge project to do," I nodded.

"Oh I'm so sorry," she smiled, I simply nodded again.

"Okay so I'm thinking we messed something up with these reactions," Peter immediately pulled out the project portfolio. Is it a good sign that he didn't say anything about the girl?

"Yeah I was looking over it last night too," I nodded, he looked up.

"You should have texted me."

"Sorry I didn't know if you would want me to," I shrugged.

"Sophie we've been friends for like ten years?" He could have said we've known each other, but the emphasis on friends wasn't necessarily a good sign.

"Right," I nodded. After class I packed my backpack quickly wanting nothing more than to escape the horrible awkward persona I'd taken on now that my romantic anxiety had taken control.

"Hey, Soph," Peter jogged up beside me, accidentally pushing another kid out of the way.

"Sorry I just needed to get to practice," I shook my head.

"Well at least let me walk you there," he offered. I took a long sigh, it had to be a good thing he was still willing to right?

"Okay, yeah," I nodded and grabbed his elbow like normal as he weaved through the people.

"When is practice done?"

"Today or for the season?"

"The season."

"Well we have sections coming up in about a month and then it'll all depend on how we do."

"Can you let me know when the sections meet is? Maybe I can try to make it," his offer made me smile, a small twirl of excitement danced in my stomach.

"I can definitely do that."

"Cool," he grinned, "well then I'll catch ya later."

"Yeah, see ya," I gave a small wave before he headed off into his next class.