Walking the Tightrope 🕷 Peter Parker [2]

thirteen

Alexandra

Sweat was kind of gross. But this was how Alexandra spent every Saturday morning. Working out. Specifically sparring. She was getting better at it, or so her instructor said. Still, Alexandra could never beat her instructor.

And that's how she ended up pinned to the mat at nine in the morning.

She tapped the mat and was released. "You're still hesitating, you need to make your decisions quickly, otherwise you'll end up on the floor. Like you are right now."

Alexandra sat up and glared at Maria. "My dad is only making me do this until he feels comfortable with me being alone outside again, you know," She said. "And I think I'm actually getting better at this."

Maria looked at her and raised an eyebrow. "Sure, you're getting better. But you're not ready yet," She replied. "Colin asked me to train you up to my standards, not his. So, until you're up to my standards, you'll continue to come here Saturday mornings and train with me—got it?"

"Yeah, okay, got it." Alexandra raises her hands in surrender. She grabbed her water bottle and took a gulp of water. She glanced over at Maria, who was wiping her face off with a towel. "My dad never told me how he knows you. Or why you're scary good at fighting. Are you ex-military or something?"

"You ask a lot of questions," Maria commented. "Too much talk, not enough action." She walked back onto the mat and raised her fists. "Again."

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Alexandra texted her dads when she got through with her lesson and was heading back to their apartment. It was important to her parents that she let them know where she was going, when she would be back, and who she was going with. She understood, but it was all getting kind of annoying.

Alexandra decided to call Peter on her way back, just to chat, maybe see how his history project was coming along.

She dialed his number and smiled when he picked up. Talking to Peter—or any of her friends for that matter—was always comforting. "Hey, Allie, what's up?" Peter asked.

Alexandra shrugged. "Nothing much. I just got finished with my self defense stuff," She replied. "I'm walking home now."

"Alone? Do you need me to come meet you?" He asked, worry evidence in his voice.

She laughed slightly and shook her head. "No, I'm okay. My dads let me walk home by myself as long as I let them know when I leave and when I get home."

The sounds of the city were somewhat comforting, if Alexandra was being completely honest. Queens wasn't Manhattan by any means, but it still impressive, she thought. The skyscrapers weren't scraping the sky in exactly the same way that Avengers Tower or the Empire State Building were, but they were still climbing pretty high. Now that she was actually looking around, Alexandra was beginning to realize just how impressive her home was.

"Well... okay, but you should stay on the phone with me until you get back," Peter replied. He was using his worried voice and it made Alexandra grin a bit.

"That's why I called," She agreed. "How's your's and Ned's history project coming along?" 

"Pretty great, actually," He said. "Ned basically has the whole thing planned out... he's pretty excited. I'm kinda letting him take the lead with it."

"Yeah, Ned's pretty good at history, even though he kind of hates it." Alexandra nodded. She turned her head slightly and suddenly noticed a black car parked down the street. She couldn't explain it, but something felt off about that car. She shook her head and turned her attention back to the conversation. It was probably nothing.