'Protect Her' ✘ Peter Parker || EN

PROLOGUE

Jade // 9.03 AM

I got out of bed early this morning. Today was Saturday. At dawn, the sun shone its bright rays through my windows and on to my bed, lighting up my entire room. I woke up at 7, and my body refused to go back to sleep. So, I got up and decided to start my day productively.

The first thing I did, was work out in our gym for an hour. I always preferred doing that before I had breakfast. The contrary always gave me acid reflux... Not great.

After that, I showered. I put on some make-up, I brushed my long, blonde hair and I got dressed. A lilac dress covered with black flowers, paired with a black belt around the waist, was the look I went with today.

Having finished freshening up, I went downstairs and walked into the kitchen, where I found my dad, sitting at the table.

'Good morning, princess.' He said. The edges of my lips curled upwards at the name he called me. 'Good morning, dad.' I responded, kissing his cheek quickly as I walked past him to make some breakfast for myself. 'You look nice today.' He commented. I smiled quietly.

The television, hanging on the wall, was turned on and the news was playing. I cooked some oats in some coconut milk, mixing it with cocoa powder and lastly adding some slices of banana, to top it off. The atmosphere was very relaxed as I sat down beside my dad. The news talked about the schools, which were getting ready to start the new school year.

I sighed, overly irritated, gaining a look from my father. He lifted an eyebrow while I chewed my chocolate oatmeal, ignoring him. 'What's up with you?' He asked me, curiously. I stirred my oats as I thought about what to answer. 'Why am I not in a school? Like normal kids my age?' I watched the slight change in my father's facial expression cautiously. He frowned. 'You know very well why not, Jade.' He said. 'It's simply too dangerous for you to be going to a school. Did you already forget about what happened last year? I shouldn't have to remind you of this.' He said curtly.

I exhaled, puffing a strand of hair out of my face. 'No..' I bit down on my lip.

He continued to read his paper while I ate my oats in silence, apart from the sound of the news on the TV playing. The memories of last year came flooding back to me. I'd snuck out of my house to go for a walk, longing for some fresh air and some social contact with people who didn't work for my parents. It was on the way back from the flea market in Brooklyn, as I was walking through an empty alley, that three giant guys appeared and surrounded me. They tried to catch me and take me, most probably so they could demand money from my father or something like that. Thank God for a cook, who worked at one of the restaurants there and was taking a smoke break at that same time. He saw it all happen and called the police.

So, I was safe again. But my dad swore to me, and himself, that something like that would never, ever, happen to me again.

Although that was probably the umpteenth time he'd promised me that.

From the day I was born, I'd been homeschooled. The education was very good. I mean, look who my parents are. Of course, they'd made sure to hire the best teachers in the state for me. I, without a doubt, can tell you that I know more than my peers and the average students my age. I always loved to learn, and I was a fast learner too. But although I didn't want to sound like another snobby, spoiled, rich kid...

...the truth was, I felt lonely.

I'd had friends, of course. However, I never really kept contact with any of them. I was Jade Stark, daughter of Tony Stark. Apparently I was 'intimidating'. I understood.

I would make friends online, but this way, I'd obviously never know whether they really liked me for me, or for my family/wealth.

The only friend I had, was Aaliyah Daniels. She'd been a part of the Avengers ever since she was quite young, around 13 years old. She'd never done dangerous missions, of course not, but she had special powers. She could change her appearance, to turn into someone else. She has to have seen this person, but in theory she could change into anyone. We've known each other ever since she joined the Avengers, and we'd been best friends ever since. She filled a part of my heart that would otherwise we entirely hollow.