The Void

Chapter 18 - Bruises

(Your POV):
I finished applying my makeup, concealing the bruises and scars that remained from my parents' punishment. However, I knew I was running late and didn't have time to cover any part of my body that might be seen, so I threw on my Midtown sweatshirt to conceal the marks on my arms and focused solely on hiding those on my neck.

Peter met me at my locker at the beginning of the school day, before classes even started with a concerned look on his face. "Hey, I know that you said you were fine when I texted you, but are you sure? Your parents weren't too mad, were they?"

I sighed, reminiscing on the easier times when no one gave a shit about my life, "I told you Peter, they were really mad, but they'll get over it. I'm grounded for the next two weeks and I can feel their judgement whenever we're in the same room together, but it'll pass."

"But this is totally unfair, it was my fault that you ended up staying the night. If I hadn't-"

"Peter, you were trying to do what was best for me. It wasn't your fault so stop beating yourself up over it. Besides, I don't think you really had an idea of how strict my parents are. But, like I said, it will only be a matter of time before they forget that any of this ever happened."

The day continued to pass normally, just another long day at school. Peter continued to fuss over the situation with my parents, but I shot him down each time, wishing that he would just give it a rest. I certainly wasn't about to give him the truth, but I found that I did not like lying to him. Yet another reason that I needed to abolish this crush I had forming, I needed to be able to lie to anyone in order to get what I needed and no one could be the exception to that.

"It sucks that you can't come hang out with us for a while, I think you would have really liked our movie nights," Ned complained as we walked to the lunch room, stopping at our lockers briefly before heading inside.

"It's only two weeks, you shouldn't have been expecting to see me hanging out with you again in the short period of time anyway. You had to practically drag me to the homework session on Friday and after what happened, I don't know why you would've thought I would agree to another get together so soon afterwards," I replied, putting my chem book back on the top shelf of my locker so that I would not have to lug it around all day.

Peter grabbed my arm as I was bringing them back to my side, looking down at it with a mixture of pain and anger. Lifting his gaze to my eyes, he demanded, "(Y/N), how did you get this bruise?"

"How am I supposed to know? Do you remember where you get every bruise from? I have like two more on my legs that I have no recollection of ever doing anything to warrant the formation," I easily lied, but I could tell that he wasn't easily fooled. He brought up his other hand and began to pull back the sleeve of my sweatshirt, causing me to yank my arm from his hands to protect my secret. "I never gaze you permission to touch me either, so if you would kindly keep your hands to yourself."

I glared at him for a second before finishing grabbing my binders for my next classes and brushing past him to get to the lunch room. He quickly caught up with me and spoke in a low voice so that Ned, who was trailing slightly behind us, wouldn't hear, "(Y/N), that was from your parents, wasn't it? They beat you, didn't they?"

I sighed, "Peter, I know that you've created some sorts of fantasy that my parents are heartless and evil and I have a terrible home life, but that's not true. You want it to be real, perhaps because you want me to be some sort of damsel in distress, so you create evidence yourself to support your imagination, but it isn't true. My parents are incredible loving. They can be strict, but they would never hurt me."

"But (Y/N)-"

"Why are you so insistent on this?! That was just a random bruise, they show up all of the time, so just please let this go! I will not have you insulting my parents in such a way!"

With that, I stormed away from him and slid into my now normal seat at our lunch table. Harry looked up at me as I sat down and I immediately knew that something incredibly annoying was going to come out of his mouth. And I was not disappointed.

"How's our Sleeping Beauty doing today, not going to fall asleep in class, are you?" He teased and, although it was meant only in a lighthearted way, it angered me.

"Listen, I was exhausted from my treatment and was practically forced to go to Peter's apartment afterwards, even though all I wanted to do was curl up in my bed and get some rest. I didn't even want to go to your stupid homework night, I never did! And I honestly don't know why I ever let you pressure me into going! I'm not your friend, I never will be; you aren't my type of people," I growled, finally snapping.

Peter was becoming too close, as was everyone in his friend group. I found myself caring about them, even Harry who was a jerk most of the time, but could also be a total sweetheart when he wasn't trying to impress someone. I couldn't afford to have such weakness, I needed to cut it off before it worsened.

"You have no people, you're a loner, just like the rest of us," MJ spoke up, glancing up from her book to join the conversation.

"You're right," I replied as I stood from the table and gathered my stuff. "I am a loner and I enjoy being one. So, if you don't mind, I am going to go back to being a loner in peace and resume eating lunch in the library."

"(Y/N), please stay, Harry was only joking," Peter spoke up and you could hear the devastation in his voice.

I elected to ignore him, knowing that if I were to turn back, or even acknowledge his presence, then I would lose the will to leave. There was a pang in my heart as I walked out of the cafeteria and I found myself fighting back tears. All because of a boy and a group of friends that I might have had. But it was better this way, without any attachments. I couldn't let my attraction to Peter deepen, nor could I let my attachment become more solidified. If I was ever presented with the choice of completing my mission or saving Peter, I would need to be able to choose the former.

-

(A/N): And you finally snapped! Although I'm getting some doubts that you would actually be able to chose your mission over Peter, I guess it's a good thing that you don't know that he's Spider-Man! I hope that you enjoyed this chapter!