Alone

30: Opening Up

"Are you sure you want to walk to school?" Happy asked as we pulled up to Peter's apartment.
"I'm sure, it's not like i'm walking alone, i'm walking Peter and Ned so it'll be fun." I said grabbing my bag and opening the door, "Thank you Happy, I'll see you later." I then got out of the car and put my bag over my back. As I walked up to the doors of the apartment building, my name was called.
"Elizabeth!" I turned around to see Ned sprinting up to me, with a huge smile on his face.
"Hey Ned!" I said, we then walked up to Peter's apartment. We knocked on the door and few seconds after Peter answered giving us both a smile, he held all his books in his arms and used his foot to close the door behind him. We then started to walk. Not to long after Ned whispered something in Peter's ear to which Peter nodded and answered.
"Yes she knows." Ned turned to me in amazement, I suddenly realized what he had asked.
He then leaned in close to me, and whispered, "so you know Peter is Spiderman? D-do you have powers too?" he emphasized on the word 'powers'. I pondered for a moment on whether I should tell him. I then nodded feeling i could trust him just as Peter seemed to.
Ned seemed as if he was refraining from jumping up and down, he looked like when Pietro had been given a soccer ball by our parents on his and wanda's ninth birthday, so full of joy and excitement. I smiled to myself at the thought of the happy memory, I held my locket for a moment then returned back to reality.
"This is so cool! I can't believe it I know two super people!" Ned said in excitement, I looked up at Peter who had an amused look on his face, we both held in a laugh. Ned then turned to me, "So you're from Sokovia right? Did you fight with the Avenger's?!"
Once again the memories from the fight flashed in my mind, it stung as though my heart was trapped in a bee hive, but I pushed down the pain and nodded my head.
"So what's your real name?" Ned asked.
I looked around making sure no one else could here me, "Elizabeth Maximoff." I whispered.
"Woah! So what powers do you have?!" Ned asked while staring at me eagerly waiting for an answer.
"I can manipulate the shadows and darkness to do whatever I want it to, as well as telepathy, mental manipulation, increased intelligence, and a hypersonic scream." Ned looked as if he was about to pass out, Peter let out a light laugh.
"You have to show me!"
"Okay, maybe later." I said, amused at how excited he was.
He then turned to Peter and began to unload many questions, to which Peter replied by telling his story about becoming Spiderman.
"You got bit by a spider? Can it bite me? It probably wouldn't hurt right? You know what, whatever, even if it did hurt, I'd let it bite me, maybe." I giggled hearing Ned talk. I looked at Peter who began to look annoyed. "How much did it hurt?"
"The spiders dead Ned." Peter said turning to Ned. Ned sighed with a look of disappointment. We soon neared a store that had looked like it had been blown up, people surrounded the building. We stopped and stared at the chaos before us.
"Is that the deli?" I asked turning and looking up at Peter, who nodded, he stared at the destruction with guilt and sorrow on his face.

"You were here?" Ned asked staring at the building as well.
"Yeah." Peter said looking at the bank then Ned.
"You could've died." Ned's words, hung in the air a few moments "Do you lay eggs?" We both turned to Ned, I let out a laugh at the seriousness of his question.
"What? Noooooo." Peter said laughing while he answered.
We started walking again, passing the chaos.
"Elizabeth have you seen Star Wars?" Ned asked as we passed a comic book store.
"No I haven't, though I have heard great things about them." I answered, as i thought about all the times people have brought up the subject.
"What?! We have to watch it, all of us, like a movie day." Ned said shocked. I turned and looked at him then at Peter who smiled at me when we made eye contact, I looked down at my feet and smiled to myself. It was weird, every time Peter and I made eye contact or he would smile at me I got this feeling in my heart and stomach, something new.
Soon we arrived at school, once inside we all separated to go to our lockers. I opened mine and placed all my books inside, when i closed the door a boy stood smiling at me. It was the same boy who had asked a question yesterday in science class.
"Hey, I'm flash." He said with a smug smile. He held out his hand for me to shake it. I stuck out my hand slowly and shook his hand. The awkwardness seemed to only be one sided as he seemed to not feel it.
"I'm Elizabeth." I answered, while holding my books to my chest.
"So, you're new and I was thinking i'd show you around the school, you know cause i'm helpful like that." he leaned again the locker, I kept myself from rolling my eyes. Before i could say anything Peter came from behind Flash and stood near me.
"Actually i'm giving the tour Flash." he said sounding annoyed yet confident. Flash rolled his eyes.
"What's up Penis Parker, think you can impress this girl." Flash said smugly while standing straight. Peter had a look of embarrassment cross his face before another wave of annoyance.
"Just leave Flash."
"Whatever. See you around Elizabeth." Flash said giving me a smirk and walking away, he strut down the hallway, till finally he turned the corner. I turned to Peter and smiled.
"My hero." I said as i laughed. Peter laughed as well.
"he's the worst, I figured you didn't want to deal with him." Peter said laughing, as i continued to laugh.
"So are you actually giving me the tour?" I asked eagerly.
"Yes, so I guess we should start." He said as the bell rang for the start of the day. I turned and locked my locker and we started walking. "Why don't we just go hang out somewhere, unless you really want to see the school." peter said, I smiled and nodded having no interest in seeing the school. We then walked outside onto the football field and then climbed the bleachers and sat down. "Hey, um, sorry about Ned, and you know all the questions he was asking. He really means well."
"Oh, it's fine, he was excited, it was no problem." I said touching my locket, as the breeze ran through my hair and the sound of cars filled the air.
"Where did you get that necklace? I notice you're always holding onto it." peter asked, I looked up at him then continued to lightly squeeze it.
"My brother Pietro gave it to me. When we were hiding out in Sokovia." I said smiling to myself at the memory.
"You have a brother?" Peter asked, normally I wouldn't talk about what happened to Pietro, but with Peter I feel I could talk about anything.
"had," I answered, Peter turned and looked at me with sorrow and guilt.
"I'm sorry, I-I didn't know."
"It's fine, really." I said giving him a smile.We sat in silence a couple minutes.
"If you don't mind me asking but, what happened?" he asked while looking at me, i turned and looked at him again, I would've avoided the question but I felt comfortable around Peter, like he would understand.
"It was during the battle of Sokovia, and we had all just loaded the carriers with the people from the city, Pietro had told me to stay, but there was this little boy who was still stuck. So i ran to get him, I was weak, I had used my powers to much so all I could do was run towards him. Once I got to him, Ultron came flying towards us while shooting, and I shielded the boy with my body, I expected to get hit but, no bullet hit me." I paused, and took a deep breath. "A bus had been moved to shield us, Pietro had moved it, saving me and the boy. He was just standing there, staring at his wounds, shocked and scared, I wanted to do so much, all I wanted to do was save him like he saved me, but there was nothing I could do," I squeezed my eyes shut to keep the tears from falling. "My whole life Pietro had always done everything he could to protect me, to keep me safe, and no matter what he pushed down his pain to make me happy." I paused again, and I squeezed my locket, "Before he.. died, he said my name, and he forced a smile, like he always did, just to try to make me feel better." a tear rolled down my cheek, "he gave me this locket only a few days before, he stole it from one of the little stores in the market, he was so proud, Wanda scolded him for stealing but he just teased her." I smiled and let out a light laugh. I opened the locket revealing Wanda and Pietro both smiling. Peter leaned closer looking at the pictures, he smiled and then looked at me, as i shut the locket. "I miss them both so much, they were all I had, and i've lost them both." I squeezed my hands and shut my eyes, the tears threatened to fall but I wouldn't let them. Suddenly Peter placed his warm hand on mine. His touch calming and comforting me. He smiled at me, and then moved his hand from mine. I wanted to reach for his hand and hold it but I kept myself from doing so.
"I lost my Uncle Ben," Peter paused. "he was killed because I didn't do anything, I could've but I chose not to, and he payed the price." he looked up at me, and smiled. "I'm glad I have you Elizabeth, you understand me, and I haven't really had that before." I smiled at his words.
"I'm glad I have you too Peter." We sat for a couple minutes longer and then went inside. Once in class, Ned continued to ask Peter questions. In gym we watched a video with Steve in it, I smiled at how dorky he looked.
"Do you know him?" Ned whispered.
"I stole his shield." Peter said proudly, I scoffed and giggled.
"and today my good friend your gym teacher, will be conducting the fitness challenge. Take it away." Steve said while giving the salute.
"Thank you Captain. Pretty sure this guys a war criminal now, but whatever, I have to show this to you, whatever let's do it." the coach said then blew his whistle. "Okay get into pairs or groups of three!"
Ned, Peter, and I all got together and began the fitness challenge. We started with, pull ups and then climbed up a rope. We then got a mat and started doing sit ups. Peter held my feet as I did mine, I held Ned's feet as he did his. It was finally Peter's turn and Ned held his feet. As Peter did his Ned asked many questions.
"What does hulk smell like?" Peter shushed him, but Ned continued, "I bet he smells nice. Is captain America cool or is he like a mean old man."
"Shut up." Peter whispered again. I giggled at Peters annoyance.
"Hey can I be your guy in the chair?"
"What?"
"You know how there's a guy, with a headset, telling the other guy where to go, like if you're stuck in an apartment building, I could tell you where to go, because there would be so many screens around me. I could be your guys guy in the chair."
"Ned, we don't need a guy in the chair." Peter said.
"Looking good Parker." The coach said as he walked by. Peter then laid down on the mat.

Peter POV:
We all listened to a group of kids including Liz who I had had a previous crush on. They were playing F, Marry, Kill, Avengers addition.
"See for me it would be, F Thor, Marry Iron Man, and kill hulk." betty said.
"Well what about the Spiderman?" Seymour asked.
"It's just Spiderman." Betty answered.
"Did you guys see that big security camera video on Youtube? He fought off four guys!" Liz said matter a factly.
"Oh my gosh, she's crushing on Spiderman." Betty said laughing.
"Well kind of." Liz said embarrassingly.
"He's probably like thirty."
"you don't even know what he looks like. He could be like seriously burned."
"I wouldn't care, i would still love him for the person he is on the inside." Liz said.
"Peter knows Spiderman!" Ned yelled loudly. Everyone stopped and remained quiet. I turned and gave Ned an angry look, then looked at Elizabeth who was wide eyed and looked at Ned. I turned back around and looked at the group. "So does Elizabeth!" I turned back around to see Elizabeth with her mouth hanging open, she then shook her head and sighed.
"Uh, no I don't. No." I said walking towards them.
"There friends!" Ned said, I wanted to yell at him but kept my cool instead.
"Yeah like Coach and Captain America are friends." Flash said walking towards us.
"I met him, a couple times. But it's uh through the Stark Internship. But we're not really supposed to talk about it." I said giving Ned an angry look as I said it.
"Oh that's awesome! Hey you know what maybe you should invite him to Liz's party." Flash said walking towards me. I turned to Liz now.
"Yeah um, i'm having people over tonight and you all are more then welcome to come." Liz said looking at me then Elizabeth and Ned.
"Yeah it's going to be dope, you should totally come and invite your personal friend Spiderman." Flash said smugly.
"It's okay. Peter's way to busy for parties anyways so." Liz said.
"Oh come on Parker you'll be there?" Flash said, then walked passed me to Elizabeth. I turned and looked as he smirked at her. I then walked over to Ned as the bell rang.
"Can I talk to you?" I said angrily. "What are you doing?" I whispered.
"Helping you out. Did you not hear her? Liz has a crush on you!" I sighed and closed my eyes realizing I hadn't told Ned about losing my feelings for Liz.
"Ned! I don't like her like that anymore."
"What? Why?" Ned asked confused. I turned and looked at Elizabeth, as she walked to the girls locker room, and before I could answer, Ned figured it out. "You like Elizabeth?" he said excitedly.
I shushed him, hoping to god she didn't hear. "Yes, and I really like her okay? She understands me, she's funny, and smart, and I have a chance with her so don't screw it up for me, please."
"Okay, I didn't know. Look at least we get to go to a party okay?" I nodded thinking it could be fun. Ned and I then walked to the locker room.
The rest of the day we all talked about what had happened in gym. When Elizabeth and I would talk Ned would give a smirk, I regretted telling him about my crush on her. As soon as the bell rang signaling the end of the school day we all walked out, there Happy's car awaited.
"Hey so do you wanna go to the party tonight?" I asked Elizabeth as she placed her things in the car.
"Yeah, sounds like it's going to be fun!" She said smiling at me.
"So come to my apartment at eight, and we can all go together?" I asked.
"Yeah! See you guys in a few hours!" She said smiling and getting in the car. Ned and I watched as she drove away. Ned turned to me and smirked again, I scoffed and rolled my eyes.
"Come on let's go." I said as we started walking to my apartment.