• Perfect Strangers •

Chapter Five

Peters PoV

Standing next to Ned in Gym, I shift uncomfortably from one foot to another as I recall the scene that had played out last night, glancing up at Michelle who's stood against the wall reading her book as usual "is something wrong Peter?" Ned asks as he looks up at me, shrugging I look over to him "my senses are going wild" I reply as I step towards the pull-up bar I grip the bar tightly with both hands, lifting myself up consistently I look down at Ned "Something abnormal?" He asks, shaking my head I drop down after the right amount of pull-ups are done "no, not alien invasion senses" I reply, watching him nod we walk over to the push-up station "maybe it's just a feeling" he says, nodding I nip the inside of my lip cautiously.

"Hey loser." Jumping I turn around quickly, my eyes falling on Michelle she cocks an eyebrow "what's up?" She asks, shrugging I shake my head "nothing, I'm fine" I respond, walking beside her towards Chemistry she furrows her brows "You coming to the meeting tonight?" She asks as we walk into the science lab, Ned already sat at the desk "Uh, yeah but I can't stay for long" I murmur, watching her nod she walks off to her own desk as i sit beside Ned.

Tapping my foot nervously against the floor as Mr Harrington and Michelle discuss questions between each other, I watch as Michelle walks over, sitting opposite of me I clench my jaw "Your coming to the next Washing DC decathlon championship aren't you" She says, nodding in response I push my hand into my thigh, watching as she scans over a sheet of paper, I look outside before looking down at my watch and tapping the table impatiently "Somewhere to be?" She asks suddenly, looking up with wide eyes I struggle to form words as if someone has got my throat in a tight hold "I'm kidding loser." She says after realising the tension rising, watching her push a pile of books my way she arches her eyebrows casually "Since your always ditching, Ive put a bunch of notes together. Read them, if you don't, I'll kick your ass." She says seriously, nodding I put the books in my bag before slinging it on my back "okay, thanks MJ, I have to go, I'll see you tomorrow?" I say shrugging as I back out of the room, waving to Ned before disappearing.

Shooting an impact web at a criminal it pushes him against the wall, dodging the other attempts of his friends who are carrying things like crowbars and batons, I drop a web-bomb on the floor, wrapping three of the criminals in webbing, I kick the last one in the side before webbing him to a lamppost "Your sentence would've been worse had I let you break into that building. your welcome Mr. bad guys!" I shout as I swing off I stop at the top of a building as I usually do "how was school today Peter?" I hear Karen say softly, shrugging I dangle my legs off of the edge of the building "it was good I guess, it's just awkward knowing that MJ knows and knowing she doesn't know I know." I breath, leaning back I stare at the busy city of Queens "You should tell her you know Peter" Karen says sternly but softly, laughing at her constant motivation I breath "maybe another day" I breath, watching as her icon appears at the top of my spidey-screen, I smile slightly "MJ? What's up?" I say as I answer, I hear Karen ask if it's MJ but choose to ignore it "Yeah, sorry for bothering you loser, you ran away quick earlier, you...you good?" She asks, arching an eyebrow as it begins to chuck it down with rain I exhale softly "I'm okay don't worry, what about you? Are you out in this?" I ask, hearing her hum I bite into an apple I had got given earlier "Yeah, I'm just at the library, I have no money to get home so I'm hoping the rain calms down" she replies, smiling slightly I stand, swinging off I land on the top of a rooftop near the library I watch as she looks around holding her phone to her ear "Why don't you just walk home in it?" I ask, hearing her scoff she looks behind her as a couple leave the library walking out into the rain "I'll pass, I hate rain" she replies, smiling slightly as she pulls her book out, holding the phone to her ear "what are you doing?" I ask, crouching on the roof top I look up at the sky briefly "Reading, what else do you think I'm doing." She replies in the usual tone she uses "What are you reading?" I ask out of interest, leaning forward slightly I watch as she shakes her head, a smile spreading over her face "Wolves of War" she responds, restraining a laugh I exhale softly "sounds like a fantasy" I say gently, glancing at the time I stand "I gotta go MJ, I need to go pick something up for May" I murmur, watching her nod as if im stood with her I swing away back home "okay, I'll see you tomorrow loser" she chuckles before ending the call.

Sitting across from May I poke the pork on my plate, my mind racing a million miles "Is something wrong Pete? Did something happen during patrol?" May asks, leaning forward I exhale slightly "MJ knows I'm spider-man"  I reply, watching a smile spread across her face she sits upright "That's Great, right?" She asks, shrugging I clench my jaw "She doesn't know I know she knows, Karen says I should tell her" I explain, watching confusion spread over mays face "who's Karen?" She asks, laughing lightly I look over to my mask "Karen is my AI" I say gently, watching her nod slowly she turns to me "well Karen is right, you should tell her" May says, standing I grab my jacket "I didn't mean now!" May shouts as I jump out of the window.

Pushing my phone to my ear as I hurry down to the Library, it rings for about a minute before she answers "Peter? What's wrong it's almost Eleven" she says sternly, shaking my head as I stop at the library "meet me at the Library" I say seriously, hearing her scoff I furrow my brows "I'm serious MJ" I mumble, hearing another scoff leave her she sighs "fine, I'll be in two minutes." She mumbles before ending the call.

Sitting on the table of the bench I look up as she walks towards me, walking towards her I stop a few feet away, my hands tucked into my pockets I have the same feeling as I had earlier, the feeling that someone's got a tight hold around my neck, opening my mouth to speak she puts her hand up "wait, I think I know what your gonna say" she says sternly, arching an eyebrow i tilt my head to the side "You can't come to the decathlon championship" she says, feeling my heart stop I furrow my brows "what?! No! I can come!" I reply loudly, watching her arch an eyebrow I shake my head "then what?" She asks, sighing I look up at her now "I know you know." I say sternly now, clenching my jaw when she stares at me for a moment "How" she says quietly, staring at her I look down briefly "I saw you talking with Ned." I admit, feeling rain pour down on me I push my hair back before it could fall over my eyes "I hate the rain." She says, laughing I shake my head "I know" I murmur, watching her tilt her head, she pushes my shoulder "So this is why your always ditching everything" she says, shrugging I smile sheepishly "how'd you figure me out?" I ask out of interest as we stand in the pouring rain, the dark sky of New York acting as a blanket over the city "I'm very observant loser. You leave web everywhere around your house and you get super skittish when you get caught doing something out of ordinary" she explains, laughing I tilt my head back "curse your extreme observance" I chuckle, watching her smile warmly, in that moment it was as if she was a different person, her smile genuine and clear, there was even a slight glimmer in her eye "It's late, I should get home." She says, nodding I move my web shooters into place as I pull my mask out of my pocket I shrug "I'll see you tomorrow" I say whilst pulling my mask on "Karen, Navigation to the Avengers headquarters." I say before walking away, as a pathway appears I look to MJ one last time before swinging off.