Winning the Game

Chapter 6

Peter's stomach was in knots.

He had never been to a girl's house before, and naturally his first was going to be of the most popular girl in school.

When Peter got Y/N's message after lunch, he had to read over it multiple times. Ned must have noticed his shocked expression because he plucked Peter's phone right out of his hands and beamed at the message.

"Peter, do you realize what this means?" Ned whisper-shouted. "You're going to hang out with the coolest girl in school! This will do wonders for us!"

Peter scrunched up his nose at Ned and gave him a look. "How will me doing a school project do 'wonders for us'?"

Ned rolled his eyes as both guys stood up to throw out their trash. "Because you can do a school project anywhere, but she wants you to come to her house."

Peter stared blankly at his best friend. "So...?"

Ned gave a frustrated sigh and pinched his nose. "So, this means she wants to hang out with you outside of school, which means you could be on the fast track to popularity, which means I'll be on the fast track to popularity."

Peter looked away to roll his eyes. Sometimes it seemed as if all Ned cared about was becoming popular, as if Peter wasn't good enough for him. Peter gripped his left wrist with his right hand and squeezed until he felt enough pain that this thought passed. He couldn't think like this at school while there were people around.

"Are you gonna go?" Ned asked eagerly.

"Well, yeah," Peter replied. "We have a calculus project to do."

"What are you gonna wear?"

Peter raised an eyebrow. "Um, what I have on..."

Ned shook his head. "Peter, you can't wear that to Y/N Y/L/N's house!"

Peter looked down at his science pun T-shirt and shrugged.

"Peter," Ned said, placing his hands on Peter's shoulders. "This is the coolest girl in school. You have to look hip and—"

Peter brushed away Ned's hands and glared at him. "I'm just doing a project, Ned. Would you stop trying to force me to live out your dream of being cool for five seconds?"

Peter stormed away to his locker, pissed at his best friend. Why couldn't Ned see he didn't give a shit about being popular? He barely gave a shit about living as it is.

As Peter angrily turned his locker combination, his spider senses alerted him that Ned was right behind him. "What, Ned?"

"I just...I'm sorry for pushing you," Ned said gently. "I know you're going through a lot, and I just don't want you to get hurt by this girl. Popular people can be assholes to people like us."

Peter sighed and felt his heartstrings pull. He knew he had been a shitty friend lately. He wasn't letting Ned in or engaging in their typical nerdy banter anymore. He didn't even tell Ned about the hot makeout session with Y/N, which he knew they would've freaked out about together if it was four months ago.

Peter turned around and shrugged. "I know. I'm sorry I got frustrated. I just have a lot on my mind."

Ned held up his hands and nodded. "Dude, trust me, I know. It's just my duty as your best friend to look out for you."

Peter gave a small smile. "Thanks. Do you really think I should change?"

Ned laughed and shook his head. "Fuck em, right? If she doesn't like your shirt, then she's not worth it. And also has a bad sense of humor."