Seeing Beyond

6

"You're not sitting with Peter and Ned?" Liz asked at lunch.

"Nah, Peter pissed me off and I need a break from them."

"I feel that," Jamie nodded and shoved a little bit of food into her mouth. "So?"

"So?" The girl looked back at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Are you gonna tell us?" One of the freshman boys at the table asked.

"You told them?" Aurora looked at the two girls.

"Sorry," they both shrugged. "Come on, though. You gotta."

"He didn't really know what he was doing," The girl finally said. "It was weird, I was, like, a teacher or something."

"Figures," Jamie rolled her eyes. "Anyway, you smell like weed."

"Not a lot I can do about that right now," she sighed.

"Just figured you should know."

"Yeah, Whatever. Give me a second, I need to figure out if I'm getting tutored tonight."

"Good luck," Liz snickered as the girl got up and went toward Peter and Ned.

When she asked the question, Peter choked.

"I—uh..." he stammered. "Uh, no. I'm busy tonight."

"Whatever. You busy, Ned?"

"Um... probably. Why?"

"Just wanted to see if you're free to hang out. If not it's chill, I get it."

"Um," he said, sensing the tension between Peter and Aurora. "I think I will be. Busy, I mean. Tomorrow?"

"Sure," she smiled.

"Where's the kid?" Aurora asked, propping her feet on the coffee table.

"His place. Get your nasty feet off my furniture."

"My feet are perfectly clean, thank you." Tony just stared at her. "Whatever," with a sigh, the girl laid fully across the couch. "Ugh! I hate my life."

"What's wrong now?" Tony asked, scrolling on his phone.

"I have a crush!"

"Please don't tell me it's on Parker."

"No it's on this junior. Her name is Liz. She's so cool, and she's 17, so there's not a big gap between our ages. She's really awesome."

"Jesus. Is she gay?"

"I don't know."

"Are you gay?"

"No!"

"Then..."

"I can like both, you know!"

"I was just curious, Damn."

"What're you curious about?" Pepper asked as she walked into the room.

"Hey, babe," Tony replied and gave her a kiss when she leaned over the arm of the chair he was sitting in. "Rory's in love."

"I am not!"

"Aw, with who?" Pepper asked.

"I just want to... be with... this girl I know."

"Do it!" She encouraged.

"I can't!"

"Why not?"

Tony quickly answered. "We're not sure if she's into pu—"