Malen'kaya Zemlya [2] [P. Parker]

3.4 Harbingers of Happiness

One minor downside of managing to re-enrol at Midtown after leaving was that all my classes were different.

I wasn't in any of my old classes with people I knew, even though I was supposed to be with them then was changed to a different one.

To say I was tired of people I didn't even know staring at me like I was about to break down was an understatement.

And to say I was done with random people trying to be my friend to be popular was also an understatement.

I dropped my lunch tray on the table beside Peter and Ned and sat down with a huff. "I am so... Done."

I pushed the tray away a bit and dropped my head onto the table.

Peter rubbed my back gently.

"What are you done with?" Ned asked.

"People always-"

"Hey, Ashley!"

I stifled a groan and plastered a smile on my face, hoping it wasn't noticeably fake, and turned around. "Hi!"

There were two freshman girls standing behind us. "I'm Gina and this is Lacey and we just want to say that you're a huge inspiration to us. Did you know that people are selling replicas of your necklace?"

I raised my eyebrows. "I did not know that, actually. Wow. Do people buy them?"

Lacey nodded. "They're selling in thousands, along with Captain America shield replicas and fake Iron Man gauntlets."

I smiled and looked down. "Thanks for letting me know," I said, overwhelmed. "That's really amazing."

"Yeah," Gina nodded as she and her friend started to walk away. "Well, it was great to finally meet you!"

"Yeah, you too!" I smiled and waved as they left.

Once they were out of sight, I dropped my head onto the table. "Fourteen people have already told me that today."

Peter had the audacity to laugh. "Aw, poor Ashy."

I glared at him and placed my head on his shoulder. "I'm dead."

"But if you die you won't get to talk to these new fans who are dressed exactly like you." he teased.

My head shot up. "What?"

Ned nodded, looking to the right.

I followed his gaze to see a whole group of teenage girls all dressed in clothes that I'd worn in the last week. "Oh, my God."

They looked away and giggled as I let out a groan of exhaustion.

Peter rubbed my back again while Ned watched with worried eyes.

"You good?" the latter asked.

I nodded. "Yeah. Thanks, Ned."

I picked at my food, dipping my carrot stick in my tomato sauce and popping it in my mouth.

Ned's eyes widened. "You like that too?"

"What? Carrot and sauce?" I asked. "Uh, yeah. It's kind of weird but it's pretty good."

Peter screwed up his nose. "I've been telling Ned this for years. You disgust me."

I snorted. "Come on. Have you ever tried it?"

"No, and I don't want to." he declared, sticking his nose in the air.

I dipped another carrot stick in the sauce and stuck it in front of his face. "Come on, you know you want to eat the carrot..."