Throwing Caution to the Wind

Chapter 6

By Thursday, his thigh felt like he had just pulled a muscle. But, it confused Peter as to why it took so long. Bullet wounds were new to him sure, but stab wounds seemed to be in the family, and those only took maybe a night to a day until they were mere scars, and those healed just a day or 2 after that. But once again, Peter brushed it off as a new norm and went to school.

"So losers, are any of you up for a game of references." MJ said plunking herself down across from him and Ned.

It was weird hearing MJ initiate the game, but the two had been talking about watching a few of the  Harry Potter movies on Friday. She had complained on more than one occasion that they had seen those movies way too many times.

Peter took it in stride though.

"Are you challenging us Jones" said Peter raising one of his eyebrows.

"So what if I am Parker" she replied cooly.

The look on her face would have gotten anyone else to back down, but Peter saw the smile hidden behind her eyes.

"What movie"

"The Hunger Games"

Predictable, she loved that movie. She was always talking about how the author really challenged societal norms in the books while also making it a genuinely good story with a strong female lead

"I guess we're on then" Peter said with a smile.

"Let the Games begin"

She smirked when she saw that Peter realized that she had just made a reference.

He tried to fight back with a worthy reference. 

He was too slow though

"And may the odds be ever in your favour"

Her smirk only grew when Peter loudly announced to Ned that they would most definitely not be watching Harry get the snitch for a few more weeks.

*******

They had thoroughly had their behinds handed to them. Despite the fact that there were two of them. MJ always managed to one up them.

In chemistry when Cindy had managed to light the sleeve of her lab coat on fire, she had whispered "Presenting Cindy, the Girl who was on Fire"

Later when they heard the theatre kids rehearsing Romeo and Juliet she had motioned to them and decalred them "The star-crossed lovers from district 12"

That continued the remainder of the day, and while Peter and Ned had managed to slip in a couple good ones, like when Flash had pushed Peter against the locker and he had looked at Flash point blank and said "Scared Potter".

That one didn't turn out too good for Peter though. But on the brightside, MJ told him afterwards that that reference was worth double because of the bruises he sported after.

*******

Patrol that night wasn't anything special. Ned wasn't there though, some uncle of his' birthday was today. He got the usual, cats stuck up in trees, attempted mugging and a couple corner store robberies.

What got Peter exited though, was that Friday was almost here. But he still had some time kill, so he allowed himself a small break.

He was sitting on his usual rooftop watching the sunset when he noticed a flash of red headings towards him.

Sighing he resigned himself to his fate.