Upside-Down

Chapter 27

Peter debated the subject all day long. When he was siting next to MJ in chem class, when they were sit up partners in gym-- well, a sit up trio-- Ned sat on the side lines, watching the other two do the work.

Peter was less attentive at watching his sit ups today. He could knock everyone else out of the park, no sweat, and it took careful pacing to seem like the tired nerdy kid he was. He knew MJ noticed something was off.

"You look like a spider just crawled down your ear," MJ greeted him at lunch. "Are you okay? Is you know who experimenting on you?" She raised an eyebrow conspiratorially.

"No... can you guys come with me to the back field today?" he asked his two friends.

"Why-- are you actually a drug dealer, bent on hooking us on some kind of lizardine substance?"

Peter jerks up, away from questioning whether or not MJ would punch him when he told her. "Lizardine substance?"

"Yeah--" Ned adds, looking away from his burger, "It's all over the news. Junkies fighting each other-- losing memories... and nobody knows where it's coming from."

"Oh..." he makes a mental note to ask Sharon about it when he gets home. He hasn't put on his suit in a few days, and feels bad about leaving the whole mystery on a cliff hanger. "Oh. Well, I promise you I'm not a drug dealer, I just want to talk to you two."

"You're talking to us now," MJ continues her suspicion.

"I promise I'm not going to kidnap you-- I just don't want to be overheard. Don't you trust me?"

"I don't trust anyone," she blew a strand of curly hair out of her face.

"Then why should I trust you?" He crosses his arms, rethinking the entire thing.

"I don't know."

"Screw it then. Never mind."

MJ back tracks, "When someone asks you to go to a back field one must be cautious, or one might end up dead." Peter rolls his eyes, resting his face on one hand. "Fine," she draws out the i. "You know I'm just messing with you, Parker. I gotta do something for fun."

"So you do trust me," he grins.

"To an extent," she rolls her eyes and sits her book straight up, blocking her from Peter's view. She continues this ritual by reading while slowing munching on her sandwich. Peter gives up and talks to Ned about Star Wars.

Ned was in his seventh period, and Peter is antsy for the bell. He taps his feet on the ground, worrying about what he's planning to say. He should have a back up plan, incase he chickens out. He can already imagine,

"Oh, hey MJ! I just wanted to tell you-- Ned already knows-- that..." insert chicken. I just wanted to tell you I like cheese? I have an allergy to tree nuts, so stop bringing peanut butter sandwiches? I think you're awesome?

No no no... I have a world shattering plan for the decathlon competition?

He runs his hands through his hair, stressed. Should he have run this by Mr. Stark first? Would Tony be fine with it?

"Peter, are you okay?" Ned asks, and Peter nods slowly. "Your acting stressed for that secret meeting-- wait... you're not thinking of telling MJ, are you?"

"What?" He says awkwardly, "no... Yes I am." He concedes.

"What! I'm your guy in the chair," Ned sounds sad.

"And you always will be, but sometimes it's good to have an extra guy, incase--"

"Incase?"

"Your in a school computer lab and a teacher is coming down the hall way, or someone's coming to kill you, or--"

"Someone's coming to kill me... Wait... so you mean, like, a look out."

"Yeah. A look out."

"Mr. Parker and Mr. Leeds, get back to work."

Peter is grateful for the teacher's interruption, and went on to doodle all over his paper. Maybe he'd show them to Steve later-- apparently Captain America had originally been trying to major in art. When the bell rings, Peter waits to turn in his paper last, waiting for MJ to appear at the door next to Ned. 

When she does, he says, "Hey, MJ, how are you doing?"

"Do you understand the complete lack of meaning in that question? Moods can change in seconds--"

"Yes MJ, I do. How was your last class."

"That's a much better question. It was long and boring. How about you?"

"Same." Peter leads the trio out the back entrance and towards the middle of the empty field. He's going to keep going, but MJ plops down in the grass, Ned following her lead. He rolls his eyes, turning back around to sit next to them.

"So, what's up?" MJ picks at the grass, and Ned waits expectantly.

"You were just reprimanding me for saying--"

"Fine. Why did you call this secret meeting of the Three Amigos."

"That's a really old movie," Ned reminisces. "Me and Peter watched that the summer of eighth grade."

"So a few months ago?" MJ points out.

"Shh! I'm trying to feel old!"

"Guys!" Peter interrupts, "I have something really important to say!"

"He does," Ned nods knowingly at MJ. She rolls her eyes.

"Comon' MJ this is important," Peter says.

"Shoot," she leans back against her back pack.

"Okay-- this is going to sound really weird-- but," he hesitates, watching MJ closely. "I, am... Spiderman."

MJ bursts out laughing. "Number one, you totally stole that from Tony Stark--"

"Hey! He's my guardian now!"

"Really, good job," Ned pats him on the back.

"Number two, no way." She pushes her hair out of her eyes, grinning.

"Uh, yes way," Ned sound incredulous.

"No way."

"Yes way."

"No way."

"Yes way--"

Peter shuts them both up by shooting a spiderweb at the nearest tree. MJ hesitates. "Maybe you just know  Spider-Man. Though your internship or something."

In response, Peter crosses his arms and does a back flip from his seated position, landing balanced on one hand, the other one in the air. "Ta-da."

"Maybe I'm dreaming..." MJ collapses back onto her back pack, trying to think through everything.

"I thought so too, but-- it's been a really long dream then..." Peter shrugs, folding back into his cross legged position. "So, please don't punch me, be my friend, don't sell my identity--"

"And be the look out!" Ned exclaims.

"He knew about this?" MJ groans.

"Yeah-- so please stay my friend--"

"Of course I'm staying your friend... but this is a lot to process. Is that why you can do so many sit-ups? And why you live with the Avengers?"

"Well-- that and other reasons."

"Pete?" Someone's crossing the lawn behind them. Peter spins around to see--

Ned gasps, and MJ collapses back onto her back pack. "Of course Captain America and Black Widow pick you up from school."

TO BE CONTINUED!

Sorry for that-- but not sorry. Have a good week, my friends!