Spider-Man x Michelle Jones

Chapter 10

"How could I have let this happen?" groaned Peter as he sat in  chem class with Ned at his side. "I know this whole situation sucks man, but think about it. She had the entire weekend to tell someone your identity and I am guessing from the fact you aren't on the news that she hasn't breathed a word of it," says Ned as he places a comforting hand on Peter's shoulder. "Thanks Ned," mutters Peter as he buries his face into his hands.

The only person who seemed to be loving this was Michelle Jones. She watched Peter's anguish from behind the shield that was Pride and Prejudice. She knew she was being immature when she dropped the whole I know who you really are bomb on Peter at the Avengers Compound but it felt really good too. She has been in love with him for a long time and to see him with Cindy Moon was enough to push her over the edge and want revenge for dismissing her feelings for him in the first place. But now it was time for phase two of her plan - getting on the inside.

She stood up and but her book back in her bag and approached Ned and Peter, "Hey losers. Why is he about to have a heart attack?" she asked whilst pointing at Peter. "You know stress and stuff," said Ned as his face went as red as Peter's Iron-Spider suit. "Dude she already knows who I am," whispered Peter as looked at her with an exhausted expression, "What do you want Michelle?" he asked with a tired and stressed voice.

"I wanted to make sure you are okay. I mean it's pretty clear that there is something wrong and...I was worried," said Michelle as she placed a hand on his shoulder as a sign of comfort. "Thanks Michelle. Look it's nothing you need to be worried about. I got it handled," says Peter in a low voice. "Well if you need a friend. You can contact me," says Michelle as she walks back to her seat and takes out the book from her bag and pretends to read, but in reality she is spying on Peter to gauge his reaction to her hand of friendship. He and Ned seemed to be in deep conversation but every now and then she could see Peter looking in her direction in her peripheral vision.

*

"Hey Michelle...um can we talk?" asked Peter as Michelle was putting her books into her locker at the end of the school day. "Sure what's up?" she asked as she flashed him a kind smile. "I wanted to know if you wanted to hangout. I sorta need to talk to someone about my current situation that isn't Ned," said Peter as he scratched the back of his neck nervously. "Sure Peter, if you want there is a good coffee house not too far from here," suggests Michelle. "Yeah...that's a good idea," says Peter as he puts his hands into his pockets.

"Hey Peter aren't you walking me home?" asked Cindy as she approached him wrapping her arm around his waist. "Uh...sorry I forgot. Um I promised Michelle I would tutor her in Chem. You know she needs it with her grades," says Peter as he lied to his girlfriend. "Wow you are like the kindest guy in this school," says Cindy as she pecks a kiss upon his lips, "You are an angel Pete." Cindy waves goodbye and leaves the two alone. 

After a few moments of awkward silence they both begin walking out of the school. The journey to the coffee house was quiet and not many words were exchanged, but the silence that existed between them was as heavy as an elephant.  Once they entered the establishment the atmosphere seemed to relax them somehow. Peter and Michelle both sat down in a booth in the corner of the shop and relaxed into the leather seats, "This place is nice," commented Peter as he took in his surroundings.

"Yeah well I find this place somewhat relaxing," says Michelle as she holds up a hand summoning one of the employees, "That's why I like reading here." A woman wearing an apron approaches and smiles at the pair, "What can I get you two?" 

"I'll just have a flat white please," said Peter. "Yeah I'll have a latte," says Michelle with a smile. The woman goes to fetch the two their drinks allowing Peter and Michelle to return to their small talk. "Look the reason that I wanted to talk to you...someone found out my identity. Her name is Black Cat and....I dunno I am stressed out as all hell. I feel like..." began Peter as he faded off. "You feel like you lost a part of yourself," supplied Michelle as she leaned forwards and gripped his hands upon the table, "Look Peter you are a good man and no matter what happens I know you will come out of this on top." Peter returns his grip on Michelle's hands, "Thank you Michelle that means a lot." 

"I'm always going to be here for you Peter," says Michelle as they both made eye contact. They both couldn't deny that in that moment there was a spark between them. They both started leaning in very slowly...Michelle was finally going to get that kiss she longed for. "Here you go guys!" says the woman as she places their coffees onto the table between them defusing the moment very quickly. "Uh thanks," says Peter nervously as he gave her a weak smile and took a sip of his drink. "Yeah thanks," muttered Michelle as she took a deep gulp of her latte.

"Oh no," says Peter as he stands up. "What?" asks Michelle looking confused. "Flash," says Peter pointing to Flash Thompson who just snapped a photograph of the two of them. "I need to get that phone!" Peter rushes after Flash who just disappears into the crowd of New Yorkers leaving Peter standing on the sidewalk with his face as white as a sheet. Not only was his identity just figured out by Black Cat but his relationship with Cindy is about to be ruined because of Flash Thompson.

Michelle exits the cafe and notices that Flash has disappeared and that Peter is now standing in the middle of the sidewalk looking dismayed. "Well that worked out," muttered Michelle to herself . Now it looks like her plan to get together with Peter is working out perfectly, but now she needs to pay a little visit to Flash Thompson.