Electric Storm

Chapter 3: Searching for You

For the first three days, Ned and Peter (and sometimes MJ) would ask me to sit with them.  A week in and they no longer had to. I was accepted as part of the group. I hadn't jumped into the friendship like I did with the three girls, I was still taking it easy, but the boys and MJ were fun company. I felt like I had a deeper connection with them than I ever had with the girls.

'Katherine, how did you manage to get full marks on that physics test? You weren't even here when we studied that material!' Ned exclaims.

'I've worked hard to catch up.' I shrug. 'Besides, Peter got full marks too.' I haven't worked. I learnt this stuff five years ago.

'You should join Academic Decathlon.' Ned says. 

I choke on my sandwich. 'What?'

'Yeah. We need another member and Peter and I think you'd be great.'

'I can't join decathlon.' 

'Why not?'

'Because...' "It's social suicide." No, these are my friends. It wouldn't be social suicide anymore.

'Peter, tell her she'd be great.'

Peter looks at me hesitantly, stuttering over his words. 'Yeah, you'd be great.' 

"Why is she so smart"... Maybe Peter doesn't think I can do it. Well he's wrong- I could easily do it. But that's the problem, and I can't afford to be distracted.

'Peter, could you be less convincing?' MJ rolls her eyes

'I... I didn't mean...'

'Katherine, you should join. You're way smarter than these two losers!' MJ smirks. 'Besides, if you don't Flash will be bumped up to a position.' 

All three look at me expectantly.

'I guess I could...'

'Are you free after school?'

'I have an hour before dad collects me...'

'Perfect.' MJ smiles 'See you tonight!'

Peter glances at me nervously. My smile drops. Is he worried I'll take his place? I send a message to dad.

Going to academic decathlon with Peter, Ned and MJ after school. Is that ok?

Dad replies quickly. 

Will it affect project OBOH?

OBOH?

...

Our Blue onesie hero

I roll my eyes. 

...

Don't think so. He always appears later on Mondays anyway.

Cool. Knock em out mini Stark!

"Alright SUNDAY... having looked at the past two weeks of crime in Queens, we've narrowed Spiderman's location to this circle." I point to the projection in the middle of the room, looking for any pattern there might be. Using my fingers, I flick and add various crime reports from the police. "Do you see any correlation?"

"Scanning now."

"Who are you?" I whisper to the projected red and blue figure.

"All of these crimes were stopped between the hours four to nine on weekdays, except Mondays and Thursdays, where the earliest record is five. The time varies all day on Saturdays/Sundays."