Endure and Prevail | Peter Parker [DISCONTINUED]

three | "what are you doing here"

"Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss in life is what dies inside us while we live."

Rosalinda Keyes walked through the similar lobby of the building she spent most of her life in when her mom was still alive and her dad was not an abusive drunk.  Rosie waved at the receptionist who smiled at the girl and pressed a button on the keyboard of her desktop, buzzing her in. 

Rosie pushed through the double glass doors, walking past people in lab coats and goggles.  "Hey Rosie!" The girl turned around to face Valentina Garcia, the woman who her mother worked beside for years of her life.  "Hey Val, it's nice to see you again."  The woman smirked and nodded, agreeing as she walked over to the teenager and pulled her into a comforting hug.  "Yeah it is!  I haven't seen you in months, how's school doing and Anthony?"

Rosie felt her blood boil at her father's name but she put on a smile on her face and shrugged her shoulders.  "He's good and school is too.  I'm really struggling with Physics right now." "Well I'm sure I can help you out or—OH!" Rosie jumped at her friend's sudden shout. "That boy Peter, the one you like. He can help you with your Physics homework—" "Wait, Peter?" The young girl laughed and shook her head, "I don't like him."

Valentina scoffed, playfully rolling her eyes. "Oh please. I remember every time he was around there was always this glint in your eyes and blush on your cheeks." Right on queue, blush formed on Rosie's cheeks and she lowered her head, trying to hide it. "Well, do you think you can help me with my Physics homework or are you busy?" She asked, changing the subject as her eyes shifted over to the glass tube that was next Valentina. The glass had some sort of spider in it. "No, I'm not. I can help you." Val smiled as she pushed the tube away, making space for Rosie.

Hours passed and Rosie currently had her head against the desk and Valentina was letting out loud groans as she threw another bundled up piece of paper into the trash. "What type of shit are they teaching in schools now?!" The woman shouted, her words echoing in the lab. "I don't know any of this and I mastered in Physics!"

"I give up!" Rosie sighed, leaning back in the rolling chair. "We should go. It's nearly nine." In that moment Rosie felt her heart drop into the pit of her stomach and skin turn pale. "I-It's nine? I—I have to go home n-now." She stuttered, quickly shoving her things into her backpack and literally running out of the lab and out of the building, leaving Valentina confused as she watched the girl leave in a hurry.

• • •

Rosie felt a breath of relief come out of her mouth when she saw her apartment complex in the distance, pain shooting through her feet and thighs from her five mile run from Oscorp Industries to her home, also, feeling pain in her back from her heavy-weighted backpack. She entered the complex and got into the elevator, fear filling her when she could feel herself get closer to her apartment.