The Void

Chapter 12 - Yielding

(Your POV):
"When do you want to finish up the lab report?" I asked Peter as we left our physics class. "Want to do our normal FaceTime whenever we're both available?"

"Well, actually I'm free right after school today if you want to come over to my place and get it done?" He suggested, his cheeks flushing slightly. "O-or, you know, I think the library is available after school, if you would rather-"

"No, your apartment is fine," I replied, the words leaving my mouth before I had the time to fully think them through. I could feel heat rising to my own cheeks as I tried to search for something to say that would make me sound less like I was eager to go over to Peter's house, but my brain stopped processing everything.

"Great, I'll meet you outside after school and we can head over together?"

Not knowing how to get out of this mess, I just nodded, "Yeah, sure."

Peter and I were silent for the rest of the trip to chemistry, but it felt like we both wanted to say something. However, he seemed too nervous to speak and I was trying to distance myself from him so not a word was spoken. I practically ran to my desk, away from where from where Ned and Peter sat, the minute that we reached the classroom, in desperate need for a moment just to breathe.

God, why did I feel this way? Every time Peter was around, I seemed to lose my ability to think. I mean, I could still handle academic knowledge for the most part, but every lesson that my parents had taught me in social interaction disappeared. Not to mention how lightheaded and fuzzy I felt whenever he looked my way. There were times that I would get so frustrated that I just wanted grab him and shove him into some lockers and desperately kiss him.

No, that wasn't what I wanted. I didn't want to kiss him. I couldn't want to kiss him. He wasn't even a friend, he was just a lab partner. Someone I was forced to work with for the sake of my grades. I didn't actually like him or enjoy spending time with him. It was just those damn hormones acting up, a chemical reaction that meant absolutely nothing to me and that would pass in time. I just needed to keep my distance from him as much as I could until that time came.

However Peter had other ideas. He and Ned immediately ambushed me at the end of class, not allowing me to slip out unnoticed so that I could return to my solitary lunch in the library. As though they knew that I was going to try to escape, they wrapped me into their conversation and escorted me to the lunch room to sit with them.

"(Y/N), you have to come to one of our study nights sometime, they're actually really helpful," Ned commented, making me groan.

"You're not on this again, are you? I'm sorry that I'm busy, it is junior year and all. If you think I have time to do anything, then you're wrong," I replied, hoping that it would discourage them from bringing up the topic again. But I had no such luck.

"Yeah, but this is academic. Surprisingly enough, we do actually get stuff done. Besides, there are definitely times that we could use your brain. Especially if Harry's over, I'm pretty sure he lowers the IQ of the room whenever he walks in," Ned elaborated as Harry joined us at the table.

"Hey, I may not be as studious as all of you, but that's because, unlike you, I actually have a life outside of academics. If I put all of my efforts solely into school, I think we would have someone else sitting in the spot of valedictorian right now, even if I was a year younger," Harry smirked, causing me to roll my eyes as his cockiness. He clearly noticed it because he immediately challenged me, "have something to say to that, (L/N)?"

I flashed him a sweet smile, "nope. Nothing except that you could never take my spot from me, regardless of how much you focused on school."

"Your spot? I believe it hasn't been decided yet that you're number one in the class, Peter's only, what, .0002 points behind you? He'll probably steal your precious spot before the semester's up," he shot back, his eyes radiating his trademark seductive look.

"Anyway, Ned's right, we could use you at our study sessions," Peter interrupted, looking a little uncomfortable at Harry's interest in me. "We were going to have one tomorrow evening, if you are available."

Part of me wanted to say yes, to start a life outside of the one I had known for so long. It was all so exciting and new, I enjoyed the rebellious feeling coming from breaking my family's strict rules. Not to mention that I would be able to spend more time outside of school with Peter, perhaps be able to sort out the swirl of emotions running through me whenever I saw him.

But that wasn't who I was, I couldn't give into the temptation. I shook my head, "sorry, I can't."

"You can't? What's going on, (Y/N), you've missed every single one. I'm getting the sense that you are just making up excuses," Michelle spoke up, forcing me to search for yet another excuse.

"I'm sorry, but Thursday nights are film nights at my house. They are always extremely busy at Oscorp, so we made a deal years ago that on Thursdays, no matter how hectic life got, we would find the time to sit down as a family and watch a movie. I can't break the tradition, not when my parents have been so vigilant in upholding their end for so long," I easily lied, internally cringing at the sentimentality.

When I first got introduced to outside life, I had found myself daydreaming here and there about a situation such as the one I had shared, but after confessing it to my parents, those ideas had quickly been stamped out. Now I looked upon sentimentality as a disgusting weakness and disgrace.

"(Y/N), you always have an excuse," Ned argued. "Can't you find just one day to join us? How about this, what days in the next two weeks are you available? We'll build it around your schedule."

"Well, I-" I began, desperate for some way to decline. My eyes scanned the table, as though hoping that someone else would give me something to say. They rested on Peter, who was giving me a hopeful look, one that I felt myself melting into. An involuntary sigh passed through my lips and I gave in, "I suppose I am available this Friday."

"Friday works perfectly, we can hold a study session then," Peter jumped in flashing me a large smile.

Oh god, what did I just agree to?

-

(A/N): 4 out of 4 of my concerts this weekend are over, preliminary auditions are complete (just need to do callbacks now), and the theatre department's all ready to fight back against my school's administration trying to deplete us! It's been an incredibly hectic weekend and now I don't get a rest before plunging back into classes and then finals (I can't wait for break guys) Anyway, I hope that you enjoyed this chapter!