Miss America: The Daughter of Steve Rogers

Chapter 17

A week later, we got everything sorted out. With the help of Happy Hogan, I was able to register at Midtown High under a different name. Emerson Hogan.

Note to self: don't let Happy pick your last name.

My first day was interesting to say the least.

"Wait, so you're telling me, you're the daughter of Captain America?" Ned, Peters friend, asks with wide eyes.

"Yeah." I smile.

"Steve Rogers, the 100 year old hero?"

"Yes, Ned." Peter puts his hand to his forehead in annoyance.

"So you're his flesh and blood?" He continues to badger. I nod. "That is so cool."

"I guess so." I chuckle. "But you can't tell anybody. At school I am Emerson Hogan."

"I just want to thank you for entrusting me with such an awesome secret. I promise this will stay between us." He puts out his pinky and I latch onto it with mine. "Ahhh, this is so cool."

"Okay, Ned, seriously, cool it." Peter interrupts.

"You betcha..." he trails off and while still grasping onto my pinky, he takes out his phone and snaps a picture. "Oh, this is the greatest day of my life. A super soldier is in my presence." I grin awkwardly as I release myself from his grasp and he pulls out a pen and a notebook. "Could I have your autograph?"

"Ned!" Peter yells and rolls his eyes.

"Right, sorry."

"What's up Ned? What's with the pictures? Did you need photo evidence that a girl was willing to touch you?" A guy walks up to us.

"Funny, Flash." Ned rolls his eyes.

"Anyway, who's this? She must be new because she's sitting with you dorks." He sits down in front of me and looks me up and down.

"I'm Emerson. And you are?" I say as I raise my eyebrow.

"Emerson. I like that." He puts his hand on mine. "The names Flash Thompson. If you knew what's good for you, you'd come with me."

"And if you knew what's good for you, you'd remove your hand." I glare.

"Feisty. I like that." He removes his hand and winks. "Anyway I'm having a party Friday night, you should come."

"Hmm?" I pretend to think about it. "Let me think. Go out and be treated like an object or stay in and have fun with my friends?" His eyes go wide. "Yeah, I think I'm gonna go with the ladder option. Sorry."

"Fine." He scoffs. "It's your funeral."

"And it's the smell of your cologne that killed me." I plug my nose and act like I can't breathe. Peter and Ned laugh beside me.

"What are you two laughing at?" He glares. Peter and Ned immediately stop and look terrified.

"They're laughing at the fact you thought you had a chance here." I tell him.

He gets up and walks away with his ego slightly wounded. The boys stare at me in awe.

"What?" I question them. "I don't like bullies."

"That was incredible. You really let him have it." Ned high fives me while a tall, slim girl walks up to us and takes a seat. She had just been listening in to the entire conversation with Flash.

Her head was buried in her book but for a split second she looks up, eyes me up and down, then looks back to her book. "I can tell we're gonna be great friends."

"Em, this is MJ." Peter says, gesturing to the young lady.

"Nice to meet you, MJ." I smile at her.

"Likewise."

We head to class, and I gotta say, Peters friends are amazing.

The bell rings as soon as we step in the door of our chemistry class.

"Cutting it a little close, aren't we Mr. Parker?" Our teacher says to Peter.

"Sorry, Mr. Harrington." He says.

"Don't worry, you're here now." Then he notices me. "Oh, and you brought our new student with you! Way to go for taking the initiative to show her around." He says, walking up to us. "Hello, I'm Mr. Harrington. Peter why don't you take a seat and Miss Hogan can introduce herself to the class."

Oh, no. Public speaking was never my strong suit.

Peter takes his seat and the teacher directs me to stand in the middle of the room.

"Um, hi. My name is Emerson." I say quietly, looking down at my fidgeting fingers.

"I'm sorry, did you say Anus-son?" I look over and see Flash laughing with a group of his friends towards the back.

"That's enough, Mr. Thompson." Mr. Harrington scolds. Then he looks to me, "Go ahead, Emerson. Tell us an interesting fact about yourself."

"Um.... I, Uh." I try to think of something off the top of my head, but everything that comes to mind would give away the fact that I'm Captain America's daughter.

"What's wrong? Thought the kitty had claws?" Flash continues to taunt me.

I take in a deep breathe and think. What's something I can say without giving away the fact that I am a super soldier?

"I love history. It's my favorite subject." I say, looking around the room. Then my eyes land on Flash. "And I'm allergic to cats." I glare.

I move to take a seat next to MJ. Flash continues to laugh at my expense.

"Thank you, Miss Hogan." Mr. Harrington says. "Now, if you could all turn to chapter one..."

"Don't listen to him. He's a brainless hooligan." MJ whispers to me as we open our books.

"Yeah, I get that vibe from him."

"Plus, he's probably over compensating for something." As she says this, we both turn around and look at him. He sees this and acts like he's coming at us, trying to scare us. "Oh, he's definitely over compensating."

I laugh and we continue on with the lesson. I can tell MJ and I are going to be great friends.