Little Situation

Chapter 19

School was interesting the day after the press conference. Sarah had been introduced to the world once again when the holidays were over. Only instead of being Sarah Rogers aka America's Darling, she was the newest member of the Avengers: Gemstone. The PR team also chose this moment in order to overshadow the announcement of Steve and Sam in case of backlash. Sarah became the talk of school again much to her detriment.

She had enjoyed how the hype had died down around her but now it flared up like the first day of school again. MJ, Ned, and Peter didn't appreciate how people suddenly surrounded their table. Sarah tried to answer any questions she could, having to tell them that a lot of what they were asking was classified so she can't give any answers.

Sarah felt nothing but relief when they left to go to Peter's— MJ still not fully on board coming home with them, it might take till senior year but Sarah was determined to bring her into the squad completely. Even if it involved more nights like Hamilton where she'd see the logic in sleeping over and reluctantly agree.

"I'm surprised you don't have to go home."

"We set strict boundaries. I'm Midtown student Sarah Rogers first and Avenger second and besides, I already train before school anyway...you got number four wrong." She peeked at Ned's chem homework.

He looked down and erased it. "Oh thanks, yeah that shouldn't be there."

"And it's a Friday. I'm on vacation unless there's a mission. The weekend is my time to thrive!"

Sarah made a funny gesture causing both boys to laugh. May let the kids eat pizza in Peter's room and actually have the apartment to themselves for a good chunk of the night because she had a date— also because she was positive the three of them wouldn't do anything with her all of a sudden being gone for an hour or two. Peter looked at his bed.

"There's only two bunks," he said.

Usually they never slept over all three at Peter's house but at Ned's and whenever it was going to be at Peter's either Sarah or Ned couldn't stay over.

"That's fine, you and Ned can share," Sarah said.

Ned pulled the pizza slice from the girl's hand. "Um, I'm an only child, I don't share. And Peter's bed is too small for us both."

"We're all only children," Peter said. "My house, you two share."

"Dude, I just said your bed is too small for me and you, what difference would it make being me and Sarah?"

Peter sighed because Ned wasn't exactly wrong. He looked to Sarah but she stayed quiet because she was glad Ned found a reason he couldn't share with her either. Sarah cut him off as he opened his mouth.

"I'm not sleeping on the floor."

"I was gonna ask if you wanted to share!"

"... I get nightmares," Sarah admitted to them. She continued talking when both boys stayed silent.

"That's why I'm worried about sharing, I don't want to wake either of you up. They can get, um, pretty bad... all HYDRA stuff."

"I mean there's no guarante—"

"About five times a week. They're slowly calming down, it used to be every night... my Uncle Jamie and I usually help each other relax enough to go back to sleep."

"How?" Ned asked.

"Tea, candles... face masks."

Ned and Peter looked at each other and then back to Sarah.