What lies behind a smile

3

Peter
T•w car accident
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"Ms.Parker thank you for coming."
I listen from a distance May just showed up and is in the lobby. Flash sighs, I feel like I'm naked because the principals explained how my parents died and that I live with my aunt because she's the only family I have left. I never really told people, some people know I live with my aunt others think I have a normal situation.

"I-I'm sorry about your parents," He says his voice is heavy, full of pity. Pity I don't want.

"ok," I say my voice emotionless. The door opens and May walks in I turn around to look at her. Her brows are furrowed and her chestnut brown eyes stare at me I can see the disappointment and concern on her face.

"Mrs.Thomson this is May parker Peter aunt, Ms.parker this is Eugene's mother"Flash's mom shakes May's hand they both sit.

"What happened?" A gasp leaves Mays lips as she looks at Flash I look away not wanting to see the look she gave me.

"Do you two wanna explain or should I?" I don't respond I don't wanna talk, I'm now wishing I stayed home because the exhaustion is starting to get at me.

" I uh... I had been picking on Peter for a while now. I guess it made me feel better I don't know but I would tell him some messed up stuff. Push him around. I guess today I got what I deserved."

"So you have been bullying Mr.Parker."

"Yes. But I didn't know his parents, uh you know I thought they just..."He drifts off not finishing his sentence.

"Peter do you have anything you wanna say."

"no" Mays places her hand on my own and our eyes meet.
May has known me my whole life, she's my mom at this point. It was never my intention to replace my parents but when you lose them at the age of four and don't even remember them it's hard not to. Especially since May and Ben had been raising me for the past eleven years.
But looking into her eyes right now I can she's seeing something I never wanted her to see. I never wanted her to know that deep down I'm in pain, that I haven't felt the same since Ben died in my arms. Because that would hurt her and May has gone through enough from not being able to have kids to being burdened with her nephew, then losing her husband because of me. And yet she always was able to smile, her smile has always been so bright so if she was able to smile why couldn't I do the same? I thought I was gonna be okay after Tony walked in my life and then homecoming just ruined it.

"We'll Flash you have no right to be bullying students and it will not be tolerated at this school. You are very lucky I don't expel you but you will have a three-week suspension and your lucky I don't expel you
Peter, you are a very good student but due to recent behavior and this, I'm beginning to worry.-"

"Recent behavior? W-what does that mean?"

shit.

"Have you not been getting emails?" Mr. Chang says his brow lifted.

"No." May looks to me my stare resting in my shoes like they are the most interesting thing in the world.

"Um, could you two go to Ms. Smiths' office, and then your free to go."

"Okay thank you so much and I'm so sorry for all the trouble."Flashes mom says the leave.

"Well many of Peter's teachers have shown concern for Peter recently. He has been very distant, not showing interest in his work skipping clubs even a few classes even. And his grades have dropped significantly he's barely passing any of his classes."

"Peter, "May says less angry and more concerned.

"His teachers all understand what happened with Peter with his uncle a few years ago affected him greatly."

"I've just been tired with my internship."I try feeling panicked.

"No it's not because you were doing good you were fine before homecoming and even Tony has reached out to me asking if you were okay recently. And now this, your not fine so cut the b- crap and tell me."

"I am fine I'm just tired."

"Peter I can't help you unless you tell me what's going on."

"what the fuck do you want me to say May?"I snap at her. She sighs.

"Is Peter suspended as well?"Mr chang sighs.

"If you would like I can do that not because he's in trouble, it was self-defense for the most part. Flash has a history of being a bully. But I do think it'll be good for Peter to have a few days to rest. And peter if you're needing any help with your work your still welcome to come to tutorials."I nod my head though he means it nicely, it's not what I need. The work is easy I just don't have the motivation to do work.
What's the point?
"Thank you so much, I'm sorry about any trouble he's caused."

"It's fine, not his fault. And Peter takes care of yourself remember people care about you." 'People care about you' I nod following May to the car the cold air makes hits my face, we get in the car may start it. We sit in silence Mays staring at me and something about the look she's giving me hurts.

"Pete what's going on with you."

"I don't know May."I swallow the lump in my throat.
"That's not an answer."She tilts her head her cheeks rosy from the cold.
"I won't be upset with you Peter...but I need to know if something is going on with you."

My eyes start to heat up, tears start to cloud my vision.
"Can we go home?"I demand not wanting to tell her. Because she can't fix it, it's not her job to fix it. And she's gonna hate me, Ben died because I couldn't save him, I lie to her every day so I can be spider-man just to not always make it in time. She's gonna freak out if she finds out about the building because that's why everything got worse.

"You know I love you right? And I notice things Peter, and I don't want you dealing with whatever those voices in your head alone but you have to let me in." I shake my head, she sighs but doesn't say anything. I wipe my tears away.
May pulls me into her side and I can't hold back my sobs I can't keep in the tears. Her hands run through my hair and she whispers comforting words.

"I'm s-sorry" I cry and she pulls away from her handsets on my chin.

"Don't be sorry peter I'm not gonna be upset with you okay. You have been so strong your whole life. Too strong. I'm not gonna blame you if your feeling lost or confused or pissed off at the world. Because I know Pete I know your life has been far from perfect and I wish I could take away all your pain but I can't."I nodded wiping my face trying to stop crying.
"But you have to be honest and I don't want you to be strong for me."I wipe my tears and stare into her brown eyes. "But if you're not okay I need you to admit it and let me help. I'll listen and I won't get mad, even if you are doing dumb stuff to cope. But please talk to me, Peter."

"C-can we talk about it tomorrow?"She nods and I feel slightly relieved like maybe that weight will be lifted. "I love you so much."she pulls me into side and i embrace her. "I love you too...a-and i'm sorry I haven't been honest."She smiles at

"Your gonna get through this okay hun, i promise."
The music plays softly in the backlights and buildings pass by while we drive.

left

I look to the windows and see a semi slide.

"MAY LOOKOUT-" everything goes blacks and when I open my eyes red and blue flash someone talks to me though I can't make out what they are saying. Where's May?
I close my eyes again slipping back to sleep.
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Word Count - 1382
Published-12-15-21

Good luck on finals to everyone that's taking them! sorry for the delay i had to study😭
Stay safe love y'all