Stones and Glass Houses (Book 1)

🕷(37) The New Students

Brooklyn POV-

Lounging by the front of the school, Brooklyn was hanging out with her friends before classes started in their usually claimed spot. None of them were particularly happy with the cold, but it was better than spending their last few minutes inside where the air was stuffy.

After a long weekend away with the gala and the trip to California, the girl was in great spirits, something she would've never expected.

Even though she'd had an amazing time with her family in San Francisco, some part of her eased at being back in the now comfortable confines of Midtown High. She'd missed her friends greatly.

The trip to school with Harry and Peter had been more enjoyable than usual, and the Stark couldn't help referring to Tony and Pepper as her parents during conversations of her weekend. 

Brook really couldn't help it, she was far too thrilled the have a family that actually cared for her, if she could, she would likely scream it to the world.

Perhaps it was that happiness that made her friends question why she was in such unusual high spirits. Though it did not seem to make them restless, Brook's happiness in this magnitude WAS a first for them to witness in the time they'd know her, honestly... it was a first for her as well.

"I just had a good weekend with my family is all" Brook said, not flinching for once when Harry placed an arm around her shoulders. If anything, she was glad for his warmth on this chilly morning, her red sweater was only doing as much as it could to keep her warm, and amidst her joyful mood this morning, her coat had been forgotten back in her flat.

Settling into the warmth of Harry's letterman jacket, Brooklyn shot a smile towards her friends, who were scattered around the main staircase by the parking lot just as she was. 

It eased something in her when all of them returned the gesture without hesitation.

"It was better than good! You guys should've seen our Brook at the gala, she told off the scariest man in the world in front of the whole circus! Even humiliated the meanest teen in history, all done so flawlessly! My dad couldn't stop talking about it on our way home, I think it's the most I've heard him speak to me in weeks" Harry said enthusiastically, throwing his books off to the side of the stairs railing with no care whatsoever.

He used his free hands to play with MJ's curly hair from her place sitting beside him on the dirty steps of the school. The decathlon leader didn't even seem to notice what was occurring, too busy with her new book to bother stopping Harry from trying to make a bun with her hair.

The person that did notice was Tanya of course, and even though she was dressed like a girly and gentle cheerleader, Brooklyn could tell she was fighting back the urge to pounce on the boy, which is exactly what Harry wanted.

Those two would never stop fighting...even Brook knew that by now.

Peter, who stood on Brook's other side at the foot of the stairs, was the one to shoot her a quizzical look, ignoring the showdown of stares from their two friends.

"What happened exactly?" he asked softly as he turned her way, leaning close and resting his elbow on her arm, "You told me everything went well at the gala?"

Brook smirked, throwing her own backpack beside Harry's as she leaned into her friend's hold further. Maybe it was to not focus on the closeness of Peter Parker, or to prevent his usual comforting scent of lab and the vanilla sweetness of his apartment get to her.