SPIDER MAN'S SOCIAL DILEMMA class thoughtfully Now Ms Allan brought up a good point Is it fair to pretend you're something you're not Peter sucks a quick breath in through his teeth Sometimes Sometimes he feels like pretending is all he's been doing for the last six months since he started his nightly escapades He rubs a hand through his hair and then raises his hand Yes Mr Parker Dr Shah looks at him over the rims of his reading glasses which he'd forgotten to take off his face again Isn't everyone kind of pretending they're something they're not all the time Like aren't we all just I mean He isn't sure how to end his question or if it was a question at all He considers if this is a sign that he really needs to get a better school vigilante life balance I agree Another voice speaks up and Peter almost cracks his neck turning to look back at the person who is speaking Mary Jane Watson is resting her chin in the cradle of her hand head tilted just so to the side She's using her other hand to lightly tap her pen against the desk The sun coming in through the window makes her hair look golden red and Peter is sure his pupils have turned into actual hearts She is so pretty he thinks Then his ears catch up to his brain and he realizes she said she agreed with him What do you agree with Ms Watson Dr Shah encourages her to keep going
PREETI CHHIBBER I think on some level we're all kind of faking it all the time And anyway- Not me baby I'm one hundred percent Flash all the time Flash jokes flexing a bicep MJ narrows her eyes at him Unless you're stealing the body of an action star so you can pretend to be in his movie Flash But the corner of her mouth lifts as if to soften her words Not that she needs to soften anything for Flash Peter thinks As I was saying I think on some level we are all pretending Like Peter said And But whatever MJ had been about to say is cut off by the ringing ringing of the bell signaling the end of class Peter shoves his notebook into his backpack not really caring when the cover bends up and over wrinkling the notepaper underneath MJ had agreed with him and she'd said his name Even if the rest of the day sucked at least he had that going for him Dr Shah's voice rises above the ringing Remember Next week I'm going to assign your groups for the OSMAKER prep project Start thinking about what you want to tackle Dr Shah can't we pick our own groups Liz's Voice has a plaintive note She definitely only wants to work with the popular kids Which Peter is not Obviously Sorry Ms Allan I have a system and it works I'll be assigning your groups you just think about what you want to work on
SPIDER MAN'S SOCIAL DILEMMA The whole class groans in response Assigned groups are horrible Last year before it all Peter got stuck working working with Flash Thompson on exactly one science project and it had been one of the worst academic experiences of his life Sure he was only sixteen but he was pretty sure nothing could top Flash Thompson walking into class the day of the presentation saying Oh that's today at Peter's tri fold poster board of mitochondria diagrams Peter zips his backpack and hitches it up on his shoulder shoulder letting the class empty out some before walking to the door Mr Parker Try to work on your focus please Dr Shah calls him to as he leaves Peter raises a hand in apology Yes sir sorry about that Won't happen again You're a bright kid Peter Just try a little harder Peter shoots him a flat grin that doesn't reach his eyes and nods He lets the expression fall after turning away He knows he has to get better at this He steps into the hall where the sounds of every kid in school commuting to the next class are almost overwhelming Bro did you see the Wolves match last night Brutal And then my mom said I wasn't allowed to go Can you believe that All I did was come in like five minutes after curfew one night Let's go off campus for lunch There's a bomb taco place that just opened like two blocks way
PREETI CHHIBBER What is Peter's deal He's been so weird lately Peter's ears perk up That was Liz Allan and she was walking with MJ He strains to hear her response but they're too far away and MJ's answer is lost in the mess of Midtown High's overpopulated hallways He grips the ends of his backpack straps pulling them taut and locking his elbows It's better that he couldn't hear what MJ said She probably agreed with Liz anyway He throws his head back and groans at the ceiling standing stock still on the side of the hallway while students go past Universe could you just let me have one day of being cool Peter thinks Is that too much to ask Just one day As if in answer his phone buzzes in his pocket Probably Probably a text from Aunt May asking if he is coming straight home after school He pulls the old brick out of his pocket and groans again NEWS ALERT SPIDER MAN MENACE OR MENACING MENACE Come on he stews He stopped two bank robberies and a mugging and helped an old lady take her groceries home last night In what world was he a menace And what is a menacing menace That doesn't even make sense He makes a mental note to send J Jonah Jameson an anonymous anonymous letter to the editor asking for more even Spider Man coverage Again Maybe this time the Bugle will print my letter
