Spider Parker

*You're My Normal pt.3

"Park here, Dimitri," I adjusted my blouse and held onto the stair handle of our bus as it came to a stop. I stepped out, my heeled boots tapping against the pavement below. Mr. Harrington and the rest of the Midtown High class stood a few yards away. I waved towards them, "Mr. Harrington!"

"Look at our upgraded ride!" Mr. Harrington excitedly guided the group to me. The kids excitedly took pictures.

"Glad you like it," I smiled, "It was the least I could do in return for you letting me tag along yesterday. Besides, after that hotel and the Elemental, you guys deserve a treat."

The class excitedly loaded onto the bus, Ned and Peter still standing in place. Peter gave me a look similar to the one I received at the airport. 

"Mr. Parker," I nodded, "As I said, we're not letting you ignore us this time. Come on, we've got a schedule to keep."

"Awesome," Ned smiled and got onto the bus. 

"Yeah," Peter sighed un-enthusiastically and eventually pulled his eyes away from me, "Awesome."

. . .

The bus calmly drove through the Eastern Alps. Peter and I sat in one of the front benches, Ned and Betty behind us.

"Yo what's up Flash Mob?" Flash spoke the the livestream running on his phone, "It's your boy, the big F, cruisin' through the Alps with my private driver, Dimitri."

Dimitri continued to drive with a mildly irritated expression. I rolled my eyes, but let the boy have his fun and turned my attention back to Peter. A small smile grew on my face as I found him studying the EDITH glasses.

"Try them on," I urged softly. He turned his head to glance at me, then back at the glasses. The black frames fit his face well as he slid it over the bridge of his nose. 

"How do I look?" he asked with a somewhat nervous smile.

"You look great, Pete," I smiled back. We stared at each other for a moment before he looked back to the box. Pulling out a small note, he studied the text.

"For the next Tony Stark, I trust you," Peter read aloud, "P.S., say EDITH."

He looked up in shock and I could tell that they worked. A proud smile lifted my lips again.

"Cool, right?" I continued. He nodded slowly, still taking in all the new information. 

"Hello?" he asked the glasses. My mind drifted to all that the past had to offer. More than anything, I wanted to go back. I wanted to go on patrol in Queens and stay up late working with my Dad. I wanted to be home again.

But home didn't exist anymore.

Nothing was normal anymore, nothing felt real.

But seeing Peter like this- happy and nerdy and everything in-between- brought me back. Despite what I had been trying to convince myself for eight months, Peter was the little normal I had left. 

Guilt weighed heavy on my heart at my selfishness. Peter deserved to have his normal back, even if that meant I didn't. The deeper my thoughts spiraled, the more I came to realize I was only so persistent with Peter helping me because outside of him, I was alone.

The bus rolled to a stop and pulled me from my thoughts. I took in a breath and stood, once again shoving my emotions to the side.

"Alright, Midtown," I addressed with a smile, "Use the bathroom, get some water, stretch your legs- whatever you do, this bus leaves in ten minutes. Please be back by then because Dimitri won't wait up, will you?"