Once in a lifetime

Chapter 3

Peter POV

"NED!" I run through the school hall, worming around all the students lingering, "Ned!" When I am within feet of his locker I trip on a pile of books and land in a messy heap on the floor.

While I lay upside down and defeated, a pair of fancy-looking shoes step up to my face. I stare up to see the beautiful Michelle laughing, "hey loser, aren't you supposed to be anything but clumsy?" I frown as I wonder what that means. She gives a smile and sits down next to me.

I straighten myself and grin at my perfect girlfriend. Her brown hair is curly and messy. What did I ever do to deserve her?

"So what is so important that you had to frantically run down the hallway screaming Ned's name?"

I bite my lip excitedly, "I got an internship at Stark Industries!"

"Oh my gosh! Peter that's... that's amazing," She leans in and plants a kiss of my lips, "But wait, I didn't even know that you applied?"

I rub my forearm, "Yeah, I didn't tell you or Aunt May because I didn't want you to be disappointed if I didn't get it."

"Oh loser, you know that I'm proud of you anyway... when do you start?"

"Miss Potts said tomorrow. I'll basically be her personal intern; I will be taking information between different departments and writing reports on what certain scientist are doing. I might even get to do some programming! But I will mostly be making coffee runs..." Michelle gave me another hug as we both lifted ourselves off of the school floor.

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Stark Tower - The Avengers Floors

Tony POV

"Son of Stark, where is the warm caffeinated liquid?" Thor inquires as he enters the living room. I groan and pause the episode of Star Trek: Next Generation that I was watching.

"It's called coffee, Goldie-Locks," I mock, "and we ran out... but there's a Starbucks across the street, so why don't you go and freak out some of the customers."

The lunk of medieval clothing happily jumps off the balcony in the direction of the coffee shop, "I cannot get enough of your mortal beverages..." I sigh, pick up the remote, and press play.

"Make it so— " Captain Jean Luc Picard begins to say before, as if on cue, Steve walks into the room ranting: "TONY HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU TO KEEP JARVIS OUT OF MY ROOM?!"

I click pause once again and let my head falls back to the couch. "Calm down Cap. In case you haven't noticed, I'm trying to watch a REAL captain," I say and gesture at the Starfleet Captain on the television screen. Of course, Steve completely disregards the fact that I am trying to relax and continues to complain.

"I don't want him commenting on my outfits and plans all the time! Yesterday I was putting on a t-shirt and jeans and Jarvis said, in his robot voice- Sir, are you sure you want to wear such informal attire, your calendar says that you are attending a banquet," Steve badly imitates a British accent.

I shrug, "Well a t-shirt does seem a bit casual— "

"BUT HOW DID HE KNOW I WAS GOING TO A BANQUET?!"

"Oh yeah... I gave Jarvis access to all of our agendas, phone records, credit card bills... you know, for security purposes." I elucidate. At this, Steve is practically steaming. He turns on a heel and barges out of the room yelling at the ceiling hoping that Jarvis will respond. Thankfully, I programmed Jarvis not to talk to Steve when he is having these tantrums about modern technology.

"Finally," I breathe as I resume my program. Within seconds, the elevator dings and Clint and Natasha come through laughing. They are wearing stealth, combat uniforms that are quite tattered and bloodied (the blood most likely not their own). I finally decide to just turn off the television.

I stand up, crack my back, and yawn like a cat, "Super secret mission I presume?" I say directed toward the lovebirds.

The laughing stops and Black Widow and Hawkeye exchange expressions, "Classified." they say simultaneously. How did I know that's what they would say that?

Nodding, I wave them off as I walk toward my lab, "Yeah whatever, tell the others that I am going into science-mode; I'm going into my lab, no distractions."

Clint smirks "Have fun with your robots, loser."

As the elevator doors open I look back, "Call me a loser again and you should check your bed tonight for microscopic robot insects..."

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Midtown High School

Peter POV

Michelle and I lounge on the bleachers next to the football field. Its almost January and the air seems to be getting colder by the minute. My adorable girlfriend came prepared with a coat, scarf, and gloves; whereas the only thing keeping me warm is my Spider-Man suite under my clothes. I hold her close to me, wanting this moment to last forever.

"Peter?"

"Mmhmm?" I mumble, my eyes close, head leaning against her.

"This internship could get you into any biochemical or engineering college in the country... where do you think you are going to go?"

I sit up and lean against the cold aluminum bleacher, "I dunno... I haven't really thought about what comes after high school, I mean, how am I gonna deal with my other self if I have college work?" With every breath a small cloud is released from mouth into the chilled air. Gwen doesn't say anything, just stares at me with her glistening eyes, signaling that she wants me to continue. So I do. "Maybe I could start working at Stark Industries right out of school."

She shakes her head, "Stark Industries would never hire you full time without a college degree and you know it."

My head dips because I know that she's right, "Well I might apply to Empire State University and a couple of other places here in the city but if I can barely keep my attendance rate up in high school, how will I be able to make all the lectures?" I lower my voice almost hoping that she doesn't hear the next part, "Maybe I shouldn't even try."

My face is met with a soft slap in the face, "PETER BENJAMIN PARKER! You just want to be a high school drop out, is that it?! Do you want to working at McDonalds your whole life because the superhero career doesn't pay rent."

"Michelle I— "

"No. Peter, you are the smartest person I have ever met. You have too much potential to stop now, you can change the world."

"I know Michelle, but even with a scholarship, Aunt May still wouldn't be able to afford the housing and books. I do change the world, anyway. On a daily basis!"

The brown haired girl strokes my face where she hit it previously, "This is important... who are you Peter Parker? Who do you want to be?"

Who am I?

Do I want to be known as Spider-Man or Peter Parker in the history books?

I fiddle with my bare hands, "I guess I want to work in the Stark Industry labs..." I say quietly.

She smiles, "Then do it! Go to college, so what if you have to take out some loans. So what if you have to miss a few classes. You're more than just a guy in a mask, you have a face." Is Michelle right? is Spider-Man or Peter Parker more important? But Peter Parker doesn't save lives. Peter Parker isn't adored by the citizens and criticized by the press. Peter Parker isn't known. I'm just a nobody without my mask.

Michelle is facing me now, her beautiful brown eyes only inches from my dull brown ones. We both exhale clouds of frost, they leave our mouths and swirl around each other between our faces. It's as if we are breathing the same breath. "Michelle... I love you."

"I love you too loser," at this, she leans into me and our lips connect. My freezing mouth is instantly warmed by hers. I wouldn't mind it being December forever as long as I am with her.