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

3.20 Seaweed Crackers

"He's in his room." May Parker said as she let me into her apartment. She didn't even need to ask why I was there. "He just had a shower."

I nodded in thanks, a small smile on my face. "Thanks, May. It's good to see you again."

She put an arm around my shoulders and hugged me briefly. "You too, Ashley."

I smiled at her as I walked over to Peter's door. Raising my fist, I knocked three times. "Peter? You in there?"

May's footsteps faded away as she walked back to the kitchen and when no reply came, I knocked again. "Peter?"

"Yeah, I'm in here," his voice was small and shaky.

I opened the door slowly and closed it behind me, it clicking shut and making Peter look up from where he lay on his bed.

"Hey," he said quietly.

"Hi," I replied, sitting on his desk chair.

We were silent for a moment, both of us looking anywhere but at the other.

After a while, I broke the silence. "I'm sorry. For everything. I just-"

"I know. And it's okay. It wasn't your fault." Peter said as he sat up. "I would've done the same thing."

I smiled softly, looking at him. "Still. Your suit-"

"Yeah..." he looked back down. "I don't know what to do about that."

I leaned forward and took his hands in mine. "I don't think there's anything you can do."

He pulled his hands from mine. My heart sunk. "There's always something," he said.

I shook my head. "Not this time, Petey."

He looked away with teary eyes.

My eyes closed briefly and, when I opened them, he was looking at me again.

I picked up my bag and pulled two packets of seaweed crackers out. "I got crackers."

"Do you think you can buy me?" he teased.

"Yes." I paused. "Can I?"

"Yes." he agreed, snatching a packet of crackers. "I am bought."

The next day, Peter was called by Principal Morita.

I was talking to Michelle, who practically ambushed me at my locker.

"Hey," she said as she leaned against the locker to the left of mine.

"Hi?" I pretty much asked, shoving my final book in and closing it. "What are you doing here?"

"We're friends now, right? Friends talk to each other at their lockers," she told me in her usual deadpan voice.

"Uh, yeah. That's right." I smiled. "So, what's up?"

"Nothing much. We've got Bio together first."

"Okay, do you want to head over?"

"Sure."

We walked in silence.

After a while, I said, "This is awkward."

"Yeah."

"Okay, uh-"

"Your friend, Hayley, she doesn't go here?" Michelle asked.

"No, she's at one over in Brooklyn," I replied with a shrug. "Why?"

"I just figured you two would be attached at the hip if she was here."

I tilted my head in thought. "Yeah, that sounds likely."

Soon after that, we reached the biology classroom.

We stood across the hall from it and waited for the teacher to get there.

I was fiddling with my earring when Michelle turned to look at me again.

She just stood there silently until I dropped my hand and asked, "What?"

"I want to be your friend," she said quickly.

"Okay?" I asked. "I mean, we are already, aren't we?"

"I think so, but I don't really have many friends, so I don't really know how to make them."

I smiled. "Well, that's okay, because I'm surprisingly good at making friends, so you don't even have to worry."

A relieved smile filled her face. "Okay. Cool."

As she said that, the teacher showed up and unlocked the classroom door.

I sat in my usual seat, but Michelle sat beside me, pulling out her books.

My phone buzzed in my jacket pocket as I put my bag on the ground.

It was Peter texting me.

Peter:
Have I got English first?

Me:
Yeah I got bio soo
Are you expelled?

Peter:
No but Ive got detention til the end
of time

Me:
Sucks for you
Jk love ya

Peter:
Love you too
Gtg to class now tho so see ya later

Me:
Ok bye

I turned off my phone and put it in my pocket, pulling my books out with a smile on my face.
"Peter?" Michelle asked.

"Yeah, he's not expelled," I replied.

She nodded once. "Good. You'd be nothing without him."

I dropped my jaw in mock offence. "Ouch? My feelings are hurt!"

She shrugged, smiling properly. "Oops."

I grinned back at her.

"Can everyone focus, please?" the teacher asked. "Today we're talking about cells. Now, I know you all covered this ages ago, but we have to go over it again for this year's curriculum."

I groaned and leaned over my desk.

For a superhero, everything seems mundane.

(A/N)

Just MJ and Ash becoming friends.

Cuties!

Also, my friend Binnaa was eating seaweed crackers one day while I was writing and she suggested that I fit seaweed crackers into this chapter somehow so thank Binnaa for the seaweed crackers everyone.

-lost_in_a_book__