Gwen and MJ walked into the bathroom some time after Emma and Chat did. A conscious decision to not make themselves look so desperate for much needed answers to satiate the weird feeling that hearing Emma talk about her and Peter brought to them. That and…well, they understand the need for privacy in the bathroom.
So they entered when they thought enough time had passed for both girls to do their business there, and they were met with Emma looking like a child refusing to be scolded - complete with an annoyed frown and arms crossed- while Chat simply looked kinda sad and worried. The bathroom, thankfully, is empty besides them.
"I just said that to distract myself" Emma claimed in a mumble that, if Gwen and MJ didn't know any better, would make the usual ice queen look meek beyond her irritation.
"I get it" Chat answered with her voice carefully but with her face almost in a grimace "but Peter doesn't know that. What if he gets angry at you?"
"Peter wouldn't…" Question that made Emma shrink onto herself, avoiding looking at Chat and thus, making her look at MJ and Gwen looking uncomfortable at her. Seeing Peter's friend watching her like that after what Chat is telling her only irritated her even more "Is there something I can help you with, or are you just going to stare at me?"
Her question and almost snarling tone caught both best friends off guard, but they each quickly realized just why the girl was acting like she is; more irritable, moody and irrational than what they are already used to.
They do go through the same thing after all, which sparked Gwen's empathy. So with a gentler approach, she asked "Are you, uhm, are you feeling well?"
Reading their thoughts and the accuracy of their worry now painting their faces, Emma sighed and mumbled with resignation "Well enough… thanks".
This made an awkward silence between the four girls - or at least three, since the telepath was able to hear the torrent of thoughts that came from the other girls. With Chat thinking about the mutant hating guys above all while the other two were trying and failing to form the proper words to ask Emma of her 'tasting' of Peter's body.
And Emma dislikes that.
"If you have something you need to say, do it at once" Emma said with annoyance clear in her voice "I really don't feel patient enough today to be stared at".
And her words made Gwen falter in her resolve to find out what happened. She knows how Emma is feeling, and because of it, she must've said what she said without really thinking properly about it.
Her faltering also made her ability to formulate proper words fail her, so she was left without something concrete to tell the annoyed looking blonde paired with a small sheepish look on her face.
It wasn't that way for Gwen's best friend though, because Emma's way of speaking bothered MJ, who always disliked being talked to like that by this girl, and that strengthened her resolve to ask what she came to find out without bothering for discretion.
"Did you and Peter had sex?" MJ asked with a blank face but slightly quivering voice; seriously and casually - calmly and nervously - easily and hesitantly. A complicated way to convey the emotion she feels when asking this.
Because she doesn't know if she really wants to know… because what if she says 'yes'? Would Peter change in her eyes? Would that make him even closer to Emma? Why would she care beyond what she already thought before?
She had no reason or justification to be asking something like that, as bluntly as she did no less, from someone that is not even in basic friendly terms with her. And the idea of asking Peter passed through her mind for just one second.
But the idea of him saying 'yes' was even more jarring than hearing it from Emma.
Meanwhile, Emma's mouth went slightly agape, her lips trembled a little and her eyes narrowed with anger bubbling from within her at what she heard. She wasn't expecting to actually hear the question from either girl out loud after all.
She knows what they think, but it's always different to hear something being spat to her face rather than hearing it from within their thoughts. Because she is regretfully used to the latter.
She is used to seeing the disgusting mind of man-kind. The depravities that they think in the daily, the morbid things they keep to themselves, the annoying things that everyone think that just makes her want to be cooped up alone in her room to stop the 'noise' - even the gross sexual acts that many would want to commit against her.
It always takes her back to when she awakened her powers; when she had no control over them and she was unable to filter out everyone's disgusting and cruel nature. When she would pass out when she had enough, and how thousands of voices yelled right into her own mind.
She has more control now, and she has learned to deal with what people think - whether that is a good thing or not.
But it's definitely a different feeling of indignation for her to see someone thinking wrongly of her, to then having to hear it directed straight to her face without a care. More so in front of her best friend.
So Emma looks back to see Chat also surprised at the boldness of the question, to then turn her head back to see the other pair of best friends looking at her expectantly, with MJ more resolved and Gwen more nervous looking. The latter wasn't expecting that her best friend would be so bold, and she would have usually scolded her for that… but right now? She really wants an answer as well.
She too is having some uncomfortable feeling gnawing at her at the thought of the sweet boy she came to befriend over the years doing something so naughty at such a young age after all… Especially with the mean blonde in front of her.
"What?" Emma asks with narrowed eyes and an edge to her voice, now without her powers assisting her, giving the red head a chance to change her question or apologize. Because who the hell does this girl think she is to be talking to her like that?
But MJ had already said what she needed to say, no point in backing down now.
"Did you had sex with Peter?" MJ asks again while masking her nervous tone with one that makes Emma look like the dumb one, which the irked blond does not appreciate in the slightest.
"…what is it to you?" Emma asks after a few seconds of genuinely not knowing how to respond; her tone and question made to make bith girls in front of her feel embarrassed "Why would you care? And did you two seriously follow me here to ask me that in such a rude and disrespectful manner?"
"…we just want to know" MJ answered lamely after a heartbeat; faltering a bit in her resolve due to being embarrassed. She knows that what she is doing is kinda wrong after all.
"I got that. I don't get why" Emma stresses with an annoyed roll of eyes, now making MJ feel dumb.
And that, paired with everything the young red head felt before, made her angry. Was it really this hard to get an answer out of a 'yes or no' question? Why does Emma make every conversation so unnecessarily tedious? And MJ knows that, perhaps, she is in the wrong here, but Jesus Christ!
She and Gwen just want an answer!
"Because I want to know what you said was just a weird joke not even Peter understood, or if you just get a kick out of seeing Peter being embarrassed by something that is supposed to be private for you two" MJ said with a scowl on her pretty face and an edge to her voice, much to Gwen's and Chat's worried faces; the situation seems to be escalating between these two - again.
It's almost routine by now and the four girls know it. Despite Peter's seemingly never ending attempts to make everyone friends, Emma always ends up having some sort of petty and dumb discussion with either MJ, Gwen or even Harry.
No matter what Peter tries, what angle he tries to appeal with their shared interests in fashion, literature, or the high society that Emma shares with each one respectably, Emma is just unable to get along with Peter's friends and vice versa.
And their spats they so regularly have… they all know Peter gets incredibly annoyed and perhaps even disappointed when they fight like this - even if he is almost an expert in hiding it from everyone with a sigh and a tired smile on his lips.
If Emma, MJ and Gwen didn't know Peter as well as they do, they might be convinced by his acting - but they do know him well enough to realize he is just masking his true feelings for their sakes, so in return, they try to not fight at all. But no matter what, every once in a while it ends up happening.
And usually, Emma would be the most unbothered by the words said by the others. But this time is different.
This time, Emma felt something uncomfortable stirring inside her thanks to the redhead's words. The same thing that she felt when Chat 'scolded' her for saying what she said, claiming how Peter was most definitely going to be embarrassed by their class gossiping about what she did and say, how hurt he must be for having something so private to them so casually mentioned and the possibility of Peter being angry at her.
…that wasn't Emma's intention at all.
She just wanted to distract herself from thinking about how her entire race is unfairly portrayed and hated by all. Because it's truly devastating for her! It's heartbreaking! It's agonizing for her to feel so alienated from humanity and fearful of the radicals because of these… these fucking mongrels!
And whenever something like this happens, she feels self-conscious about her relationship with Peter… doubtful.
And she knows it's dumb, stupid, illogical and ridiculous to think and feel that way because Peter has known she's a mutant since the very start of their relationship and they have done nothing but get closer and love each other more and more as time goes by!
He has been nothing less than friendly and chivalrous since the very day they met, and his affection for her has been increasing to a point where they can confidently say they love each other out loud.
So Emma knows it's unfair to have doubts in her mind of Peter because of her insecurities. It's unfair to both of them to have a shadow looming over their relationship because of her.
And she trusts Peter more than she has ever trusted ñ anyone. And her doubt… Emma knows she shouldn't have any, but she just…
Peter is a human that was forever changed, but a human nonetheless - and a really great human at that! The only one Emma has seen with a mind so pure, one that is so smart yet humble, so kind and selfless, so caring and even good looking. Someone amazing.
Peter is a great human.
In contrast to him, Emma is just a lowly and disgusting mutant; born into a wealthy and awful family.
She is bad, she is cold, cunning in the wrong ways and she uses her powers to manipulate others as she pleases while keeping it quiet from Peter. All while she very consciously knows how bad some of the things she does are.
They are almost opposites in ways that matter perhaps a little too much. She is a mutant while he is a human, she is uncaring of others while he is a literal superhero, she is mean while he is kind, she is coldly serious while he is delightfully funny, she is bad while he is good.
…doesn't Peter deserve better than that? Than her? Isn't Peter supposed to be with someone who can light up his day with a blinding smile? Someone who can lift themselves up to match him instead of being someone dragging him behind with all the baggage she carries?
Doesn't he deserve 'more'?
This always ends up happening to her; whenever she starts feeling 'less' than humans, she then starts becoming self-conscious of her every aspect, including her relationship with Peter and whether or not he deserves better than who and what she is.
And it's stupid, because she knows he loves her just as much as she loves him. And knowing this, she reached Peter, looking for comfort in his smile for every doubt and fear to disappear just as this… this red-headed harlot was talking of tasting HER Peter.
Emma hates that.
She hates that no matter how she got rid of any romantic feelings the two girls in front of her had for Peter, they still make her feel this level of jealousy and worry.
And she's had half a mind to do something once again, but Peter is sure to notice something is wrong with his friends if she does so. And he is very smart, so it wouldn't take him long to realize that his mind-powered girlfriend had something to do with any personality shift they might have had if she did do something.
So instead of that, she simply licked Peter as a form of 'marking her territory' that even these animals were sure to understand while saying out loud one of her best recent memories with him. This to try and distract herself from the whole world-hating-her little heart breaking and scary fact.
She was looking for comfort in him, not to make him angry at her.
And the thought of Peter being angry at her for this made her nervous. And adding up that feeling to everything that she felt when seeing those wretched shirts and hearing MJ BOTH times, made the usually prideful girl angry.
"It is as you say" Emma says with a deep frown and almost gritted teeth "this is private between Peter and I! So why don't you stay away from our business for once in your life!?"
"Oh? So now it's suddenly private!?" MJ questions mockingly while placing one hand in her chest in fake surprise "because out there I saw you licking Peter's face in front of the whole school to see!"
"And let me guess, you wish that were you, isn't it?" Emma questions with a heavy heart and narrowed eyes, allowing for her jealousy to be seen by the other three girls.
"W-what?" Asked MJ shocked and flustered by that, with Gwen looking at her with wide eyes next to her.
"Don't play dumb with me!" Emma shouted as she pointed a finger at MJ and Gwen "it's always like that with you! With you two! Always swarming around MY boyfriend, always demanding his attention, always making stupid comments like you did about tasting him!
I mean, what the hell was that for!? I hate it! I hate when you do that! I hate how that makes me feel!" Emma shamefully admited as her breath became uneven.
Her jealousy… it all stems back to the low self esteem she usually keeps deeply hidden to herself. Being a mutant, her family not getting along, being bullied for many years. It all makes her feel inadequate and insecure, more so with these girls that used to have such strong feelings for Peter.
Key words 'used to', because Emma erased those feelings from their minds. And she knows for a fact that her 'work' has not been lifted or tampered with!
Even now, as Emma is yelling this at those two, she is looking into their minds and she is sure that they think nothing romantic about him. So why do they act like that with just him!? They are also best friend with the Osborn creep, why can't they swarm him?
Why is just Peter?
Chat was able to notice how angry Emma got, so she placed her hand on her shoulder and squeezed in reassurance and even warning while whispering - subduing her anger even if a little "Calm down, don't do anything you'll regret".
Emma looked to Chat out of the corner of her eye, who looked worried about the possibility of her using her powers as a rash act in her emotional state. And to be fair, Chat had a point; so Emma made the conscious choice to be more careful with her powers as to avoid doing anything big against the red head or the other blonde.
Both girls who now also looked genuinely offended.
" 'You hate it'?" Gwen questions with narrowed eyes and anger bubbling up within her "He was our friend long before you even met him! Who are you to tell us you hate us hanging around him!?"
"S-she didn't say she hates you guys hanging around him" Chat entered the discussion in support of her agitated friend while still keeping her arm on her to stop any accidents "it's just… what you said MJ could be misinterpre-".
"I already told her that it meant nothing!" MJ stressed angrily and incredulously "is that really the reason why you said you had sex with Peter? Because you were wrongly jealous?!"
"I didn't say I had sex with Peter!" Emma exclaimed with her face red from embarrassment and anger "we didn't do it, and I didn't casually say it as if it were to mean nothing to me!"
Emma's lip and eye twitched even more as she could very easily see the relief both girls unconsciously showed in their postures and expression - only to quickly return to their offended looks.
"Then why lie about it?" Gwen asked with a raised eyebrow "why would you embarrass Peter and yourself like that?"
"I just…!" Emma wanted to exclaim something - perhaps how she just needed to be grounded even if just for a second by Peter to get out of the heartbreaking pit that she felt - but she couldn't.
No one can know she is a mutant or how horrible that makes her feel - especially today.
"Look, we know that you don't care if people see you as they do" MJ says without thinking very much, prompting Gwen and Chat to look at her in surprise at the implication while she keeps talking "but Peter has enough as it is. He doesn't need any more rumors or-".
" 'As they do'?" Emma questions extremely angry while leaning slightly forward in a menacing like stance. Because, not only can she read MJ's mind to know what she meant, the implication was extremely easy for everyone in the room to get "And how do people see me?"
Seeing MJ's mind and how she planned to avoid saying what she was thinking, Emma used her powers to force the words out of the redhead's mind against MJ's wish.
"As a slut" MJ said out loud with a 'matter of fact' like voice and facial expression, as if it was obvious and Emma was stupid for asking; something that made both Gwen and Chat gasp at.
"What did you fucking call me?" Emma asked dangerously, with narrowed eyes and in a whisper-like tone. She knows she forced the words out of Watson's mind, but she did not force the thought, and she hates to be thought of in that way.
Because she knows many people think of her like that. These two included. And she also knows it's because she dresses the way she does - more revealing than most - and the fact that she is simply dead gorgeous. It was the same with her former classmates and many of the disgusting men she walks by daily.
Her body - something she is proud of how she maintains it; because of how hard she's worked for it to be the way it is with a strict diet and even stricter exercise routine - is something that does not bring her any shame. On the contraire actually, she is beyond proud of her looks and body.
So Emma, sick of people thinking shit about her while
hiding themselves as cowards inside their minds, she forced someone to say what's really on her mind - so that she could finally get appropriately angry at their thoughts.
"…" MJ blinked twice as she realized what she said; and she felt terrible due to it. That's not -! S-she really didn't mean to say that! She thought about it, but…! It's just the idea of Peter, her best friend of years - who is still fifteen years old himself! - doing 'that' with… with HER, really unnerved her in a way she can't explain even to herself.
But the way the words just blurted out from her mouth… it's not like her to lose her cool like that. Admittedly, she did want to insinuate that with her previous words, but she never wanted to outright call Emma a slut to her face. It's just not who MJ is.
It got worse for the redhead when she turned and saw the shocked and unbelieving face of Gwen and the shocked and even offended one of Chat.
"I. Am. NOT. A. Slut." Emma accentuated every word with gritted teeth and a reddened face, feeling her whole self wanting nothing more than to go back to the past and stay home. What a horrible day this supposedly good day was turning out to be for her.
"I-I'm-" MJ wanted to apologize. She truly did, and it was obvious to the other two because of the ashamed expression. But Emma interrupted her quickly.
"And why would you say that?" Emma questions with narrowed eyes and malice in her voice "is it because of what I said? Or because of the way I dress? Because if it's the latter then I'm sorry, honey, but your lack of funding is no issue of mine".
"What?" MJ questions slightly offended; similarly to Gwen. Chat simply huffed in tired exasperation as she knew where Emma was taking this.
"Don't think I don't notice how you see my designer's clothes with envy while you wear those hideous rags and then dare to call yourself 'fashionable' " Emma exclaims; feeling immense joy at how MJ's face crumbled even more "it's pathetic, honestly".
She gets satisfaction from getting the upper hand in discussions. A bad and nasty habit? Perhaps. But one she suspects that'll never leave her.
Much less because it's HER - Mary Jane Watson. Someone Emma knows to be someone so close to Peter and his family in a very intimate and unique manner. Someone that could rival her in looks. Someone that, unlike her, is just so annoyingly… lovable.
Emma is not blind, deaf or stupid; far from it. So she knows that Mary Jane Watson is someone liked by everyone because she is someone nice, caring and kind to - almost - everyone. Someone that lights up a room with her presence and has the ability to ease tension with just a flash of her pearly whites in what she has perfected as a smile.
And that makes her an amazing human.
Just like Peter is.
Just like Emma isn't.
And that's another of the thousand things Emma dislikes of Watson. Because while Emma loves these traits on Peter, she despises feeling lesser than other girls that are also close to him. Unlikeness that feels deeper when it comes to this particular girl.
So she uses one of the few things Emma has over her and almost everyone else; money. Something that should work especially well with MJ, who Emma and everyone else knows she struggles with.
"They are…! Not rags…" MJ wanted to refute, but a deep sense of insecurity took hold of herself all of a sudden. She looked down to herself, and noticed how everything she was wearing today came from thrift stores; which she would usually not mind or be ashamed of, but hearing it from Emma Frost?
Mary Jane knows Emma is beautiful, perhaps even more than she is. And she is also rich, beyond confident, and with her family complete. And yes, the clothes they each have are leagues away from the other.
And a deep part of MJ did wish she had the opportunity to have whatever she wanted, but she can't. Everything MJ lacks, Emma has. And hearing that confirmation up close and personal really impacts her beyond what she would usually feel in her lonesome.
*Heh* Emma's small amused singular laugh snapped MJ's attention back up, which made the latter embarrassedly angry.
"…b-besides, I don't want to dress like you" MJ claims as she tightens her fists, without coming up with any other angle to defend herself "and you think having money makes you special? It's not even yours! It all comes from your 'daddy's' pocket!"
"Well then, perhaps you should run back the to backwater town you came running from to your own daddy" Emma says with a smirk matching her almost evil eyes at the sight of MJ's shocked and hurt face "maybe then you will stop being a burden to your of and aunt in a place where you don't even belong in".
Mary Jane took a step back with her heart pounding, stomach sinking and her eyes stinging with the familiar sensation of wanting to cry. Because she knows it.
In her worst moments, she knows she is a burden to her aunt. She is old, frail, tired and doesn't have enough money for both of them. But she makes due - they both do - with whatever they have.
All for the sake of keeping that man away from them.
That… that monster is someone Mary Jane needs to be far away from. Forget even. Because he is the source of every problem Mary Jane Watson has.
Her fears, her struggles, her lack of confidence and belonging, her selfishness, greed - all of it, are born from him and inner demons he has that made the man into a monster. Someone that 'forced' Mary Jane to flee and abandon her sister after their mother died - shortly after abandoning her father to the abuse they all suffered.
It was simply too much. The moving away due to the teaching job of her father, the constant yelling and belittling, the physical abuse Gayle suffered, her mom moving away with relatives only to die shortly after due to her poor heart, coming back to her dad…
MJ couldn't take it, so she took the first chance she got and used her studies as an excuse to get away. She ran from her family to find an easy place for herself anf herself alone.
And she knows it's bad. She knows she disappointed Gayle, she knows her father is angry at her, she knows she is a burden to her aunt and she knows she doesn't belong in New York.
But she would much rather shove that down those feelings and enjoy herself than face the harsh reality she could be living in. Because that's who she is - someone that runs away to find easy pleasure. Even when she knows it's just a fake.
So it's really hurtful to hear someone else say that she doesn't belong in the city, and it's worse to hear she should be back home with her dad - facing her awful reality.
Sentiment shared by Gwen, who saw the way in which her best friend's heart shattered by the expression on her face. So she frowned and talked with an edge to her voice "That's was too far".
" 'Too far?" Emma questions Gwen with narrowed eyes "coming here to question me the way you did, to then call me a slut is fine - but me telling this hillbilly that she should go back to her family is too far!?"
"…yes" Gwen replied after a heartbeat, where she internally admitted even to herself that they were in the wrong. That this whole mess is simply that - a mess. Still… "you went too far".
"Oh honey" Emma breathes out almost menacingly as she steps closer to both girls "you can't even fathom what 'too far' really is".
"Emma!" Chat cried as she grabbed Emma by the wrist and - almost - yanked her back. The animal-lover knew Emma was 'talking' about her powers, and that's something she simply can't allow her friend to do.
*…Tsk* Emma clicked her tongue as she looked away; knowing very well how risky her 'threat' was. And with enough of this interaction, Emma stomped her way out of the bathroom.
"… what Emma said was really out of line" Chat was following after Emma, but stopped at the door's frame to address MJ and Gwen without looking back at them; but her face clearly with a scowl "but you also said some pretty nasty things. And you know what? That was very wrong of you two, and I can barely believe it from you".
And with that light-disappointed scold, Chat walks away; leaving a still shaken up MJ and a dissatisfied Gwen behind.
————
Emma walked away from the bathroom just a few minutes after entering it while dutifully ignoring everyone who is not of interest to her. She just wanted - needed - to see Peter once again and forget about everything else.
"Peter!" So Emma called out loud when she saw her school's group walking slowly at the guide's instruction in the same direction as her, with Peter at the very end of the line.
She was expecting to see him smiling as he usually does, waiting for her to come back so that they both can keep being together for the field trip as she had hoped at first.
…instead she saw him turn around to see her with a scowl on his face and his shoulders tense with untold emotion. A look on his face that Emma does not like at all - much less directed her way.
At the same time that Peter turned to look at her, many of her fellow students did so as well. And the majority of them had knowing looks or funny smirks in their faces, with snorts that sounded out loud the moment they saw her, which made Peter groan down low; but quite visible to everyone.
Emma did not care about them, but it did make approaching Peter a bit more uncomfortable - which only made her dissatisfaction of this day even worse.
Peter is meant to be her distraction - her comfort. So why is it that she feels her heart squeeze with Peter's expression? Why does it feel like he is not willing to be there for her when she needs him? When she feels less than human, not good enough for him, threatened by his friends and self conscious about all she is and comes from?
"Emma…" Peter mutters as he steps closer to her, his own eyes showing hurt in them, leaving behind him the snickering and surprised classmates that are surely gossiping over them "w-what was that for?"
"… you're angry" Emma noted, with an unspoken need to say that he really is angry at her. And that to her is… really disappointing. Why can't she have what she needs? From her own boyfriend no less?
Peter tensed his jaw for a second, making her see that he actually is in fact angry and yet hesitant at the same time "I… don't want to be angry, Emmy. Really. I just… why would you-?"
" 'You don't want to be angry?' " Emma repeated Peter's words with hurt on her face and tone - one that quickly shifted to anger "Oh! Well, I'm sorry, I didn't know that I make you angry!"
Peter flinched at her apology, moving his head slightly away while tightening his eyes - which Emma took wrongly "You don't make me angry, I just-".
"No, no, I understand perfectly!" Emma exclaimed louder this time, making some classmates look their way - now looking uncomfortable rather than entertained at the couple "I'll simply leave you to your friends so that you can be as happy as you were before I got here!"
"That's not-!" Peter shouted, wanting nothing more than to refute her and claim that she is simply wrong, but she interrupted him yet again.
"I saw how you were laughing with Watson and Stacy just before I called you out! And the moment that you saw me you got 'angry'!" Emma argued back in Peter's face without allowing how hurt she actually felt to shine through her scowl.
"What!?" Peter cried dumbfounded, not understanding where this is coming from "that is not what happened at all!"
"So you're calling me a liar!?" Emma questioned with narrowed eyes, really fighting the urge to cry as she is called yet another thing by someone that shouldn't be calling her other than loving pet names.
"Don't put words in my mouth!" Peter said with narrowed and unkind eyes, not appreciating that at all "I just want to understand-!".
"YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO UNDERSTAND ALREADY!" Emma shouted out loud for everyone to hear - including the approaching Chat with an embarrassed pair of best friends close behind her and the teachers.
"Uhm… Excuse me Emma, but you really shouldn't be screaming quite like that - much less in a public space" Mr. Harrington's failed attempt at a scold interrupted the shocked Peter from saying anything. And the scold failed to sound like one due to the fact that even the teacher is somewhat scared of the girl and her parents - which is why he also didn't say anything about her leaving for the bathroom like she did.
*Tsk* Emma clicked her tongue in disappointment while looking away from everyone at how Peter failed to comfort her - or even explain himself properly.
… which… Emma knows it's unfair to him. Peter really doesn't know why she is in the mood she is or why she so desperately wants a distraction from it all. But she just… she just wants the reassurance from Peter that he is still looking at her like always; without caring for her nature or anything else.
And she is not getting it, and that makes her feel many negative things - and that makes her angry to hide those negative things.
"…Emma, hey" Peter says calmly and gently as his face morphs back into the worried expression he wore when he first saw her and noticed her demeanor "c-can we just… talk?"
Emma shook her head as her scowl faltered with Peter's tone, wanting to do nothing more than cry her eyes out in his embrace. But she can't make such a scene in a public place given how that will alert the teachers even further, who will ask her various questions as to what has her in such a mood.
She won't be able to answer without revealing herself as a mutant while those men are still lurking around - or she'll simply sound stupidly crazy if she tries to come up with an excuse. Her silence and tears will make her look weak in front of everyone, her classmates won't respect her anymore and instead they will look down on her while Peter thinks wrongly of her.
So she takes the first chance she gets to get away from everyone, which luckily to her, happened rather quickly.
"Okay, everyone! We're going to call out names so that you can pair up!" Mr. Harrington called out for everyone with both hands around his mouth to get everyone's attention "your assignment is to write an essay about what you saw on here today with whoever you're partnered up with! You can go wherever you like as long as you're still inside the building WITHOUT MAKING TROUBLE!"
"Uhm, can we choose our partners?" Jason ionello asked while raising his hand, already planning to ask Chat to go with him.
"Nah" but he was quickly shot down by Mr. Julius, who waved a piece of paper in front of him "we already have the names written down here. For starters, Emma Frost and Sophia Sanduval -".
"Let's go" Emma muttered as she turned her back to Peter and saw Chat standing there with an uncomfortable look on her face; to then beginning to walk away from Peter and the rest.
"E-Emma, wait!" Peter stepped forward to reach her, but Chat put a hand on his shoulder to stop him from moving further. He looked at her with a questioning look that was answered with an apologetic one.
"She just… needs some time away" Chat explained as best as she could without really explaining anything to the boy.
"B-but I just…" Peter tried to refute her, but didn't really know what to say, causing Chat to pat his shoulder before stepping away to follow Emma.
"I'm sure she'll get over this quickly" Chat said with an unsure smile "just… give her a little space".
"… yeah, uhm, sure" Peter answered dejectedly, frustrated at himself for not being able to be that comforting presence Emma had seeked for before; feeling that gets worse when Peter remembers all the times she has been exactly that without being dramatic over it "just… please tell her that I…".
Chat saw the way Peter struggled to convey a message to Emma with little information. Should he apologize? Should he press on? Should… he simply doesn't know. But as it goes with many things, it's the intent that counts, so Chat smiled softly and said "Don't worry, I will".
And with that she left Peter behind, a boy that felt powerless and useless to ease whatever it's gnawing at his girlfriend while it looks like he made things worse somehow, making him worry even further. Those feelings do not sit well with Peter, and they all turn into anger once he sees most of his classmates still looking at him.
Some were looking at him uncomfortably, some looked entertained, and some others even looked at him with some degree of pity.
This is why Peter didn't want Emma saying anything about what they did behind closed doors in front of everyone. Not because he is embarrassed or anything like that, but simply because it's HIS and Emma's business. No one else's.
And Peter doesn't want people knowing anything private about him. ANYTHING. Because he hides too many things from the people close to him, and he doesn't want any more people looking his way.
His secrets come in layers, some that are easy to peel while some need to be dug a little deeper to get to know him and his past. Then there are tougher ones like his uncle's passing and his mask, and the final one is Connors' death and everything he learned of The Web.
Peter doesn't want anyone learning anything, because once you peel one layer off, the next ones are easier.
And him being looked like this? By many people that are not even his friends? Some of which look at him in pity? It makes him angry.
"… what the hell are you all looking at?" So Peter asks everyone with an edge to his voice, narrowed-annoyed eyes and his frame leaning forward slightly as if in a threatening manner.
This discouraged many from even looking at the boy; remembering how he snapped to his bullies in a weirdly and strangely scary way a month ago. Including Jessica Jones, who was seeing this as an opportunity to talk to Peter - and MJ and Gwen, who heard their names being called out together by their teachers; prompting them to also take a quick leave from everyone.
The only one that didn't care about Peter's tone was Harry, who just rolled his eyes while he approached his friend as the teachers were still calling out names.
"Calm down, man" Harry said as he placed a hand on Peter's shoulders in what he hoped was a reassuring gesture "let's just walk around for a bit and soon enough you'll forget all about this".
"I don't want to 'forget about this' " Peter stressed with a tone loud enough just for Harry to hear "I just don't understand what happened! Or why she got angry! Or why was basically everyone staring at me!"
"Dude, she yelled out loud at you and made a scene, of course they were staring" Harry replied as if it was obvious thing in the world "but just you see, in a matter of a few minutes-".
"Harry Osborn and Elizabeth Allan!" Both teens perked up as Mr. Julius called this out, making Harry beam and shout 'Score!' under his breath.
"Sorry, dude" Harry said as he looked towards Liz while fixing his hair, watching as she apologized or something to Sally with a small smile - not watching as Peter tensed even further at the word "looks like I just got myself a date~".
"Right… Good luck…" Peter muttered dejectedly as he saw his friend walking away, only to drop his head even further when he heard -
"Sally Avril - Peter Parker!" From his teacher, while hearing 'You gotta be kidding me!' from Sally.
"Amazing… just… amazing" Peter mutters out loud for himself while pinching the bridge of his nose, already feeling exhausted on this day even when it's still fairly early.
————
And now 20 minutes had gone by since Peter and Sally were partnered up together. 20 minutes since Peter had offered himself to do all the work with an uneasy smile while she looked bored and unimpressed with complete silence on her part.
20 boring and frustrating minutes in which Peter could be making things right with Emma, but is instead stuck with someone that has been very weird around him since a month ago.
And Peter knows it's because of how he yelled at her and her friends.
Is it something they deserved after everything they've done to Peter and many others? Most likely. Is it something Peter has wanted to do many times before? Probably. Did he hate that they apologized and pitied him? Absolutely.
Does he regret doing so? … Yes, yes he does.
Because… because he can't allow himself to be overwhelmed by his emotions like that. It's not like him to do that, even after what happened. And he told MJ that he wants to be the best version of himself that he can, and the best version of him is someone who can admit he is in the wrong to try and make amends with someone who dislikes him so very much.
So he has a choice to be better, one he has to make. And he takes the chance to catch up to her while she looks at one of the Nordic exhibitions - one with a weird looking rune with some inscriptions on it - while no one of their classmates is near.
Peter is stressed, with a lot of things going all around his head and now Emma is angry at him while dealing with something of her own that he didn't even have the chance to ask and this is something he has to do even though he doesn't really look forward to.
But well… if he can't make things right with Emma in this instance, he might as well make things slightly less worse with someone else.
"Hey, Sally" Peter stands next to her and talks without making eye contact, looking instead at the exhibit in front of them.
*Ugh* "Aren't you tired of trying to make small talk?" Sally huffs with annoyance as she crosses her arms and her scowl deepens "you already said you'd do all the work, right?"
"Yeah, don't worry about that" Peter dismisses that notion away, still keeping that serious tone in his voice that Sally is not used to "I need to tell you something else".
"… you're not going to ask anything perverted, right!?" Sally says as she still refuses to look at him, recalling how he is now apparently sexually active with that other blonde. And given how she too is really good looking, Sally believes it wouldn't be such a stretch for a weirdo like Parker to say something like that "because I swear to god, you try to touch me and I'll scream as loudly as-!".
"I'm sorry" Peter interrupted somewhat loudly and rudely, really wanting to shut her up before he had second thoughts on what he was doing.
And also… Peter has always had a problem when someone apologizes to him, given that he hates the words and actions behind an apology. But he has never had a problem with himself apologizing to others.
Many people seem to revere being apologized to, which is something Peter can't compute while at the same time abusing this to make matters easier on him with others.
But lately… saying that word himself is starting to feel straining… wrong and difficult. Leaving him a sour taste on his mouth after saying so.
He is starting to hate saying he is sorry. But, it's just another of the many unpleasant things he must do to make the 'right' thing. The correct choice - his slight suffering, for another's sake.
"What?" Sally breathes her question out as she turns to look at Peter, and she notices how… different he looks. She has noticed the obvious physical changes along the year that has gone by, those are very obvious.
He got taller, bulkier in a muscular and lean way, his face lost a lot of that baby fat that made him look young and innocent, his jaw line got sharper and he simply looked like puberty hit him good.
But right now she is able to see just a bit beyond that. The way his unusually sharp eyes try to stay focused in front of him, how his jaw clenches while trying to explain himself and his tone; it's all so… mature.
And not in a nice kind of way.
He looks… a bit rough. Kinda sad and troubled; experienced in ways she knows she can't even fathom that made him gain a level of maturity that he should not have until many years from now - if ever.
Like this… she is able to see why Betty finds him good looking.
But Sally quickly shakes her head to clear up any confusion that swarmed momentarily in her head. This is not some sort of troubled and matured man with deep thoughts.
It's just Parker.
The nerdy, shy and weird kid that makes her and her friends look like idiots in front of their peers and teachers whenever he opens his mouth in class. The wallflower that had the gall to yell at her clique when they tried to do something nice for him for a change, starting a weird silent treatment between him and Flash - who seemed the most affected by that little tantrum - and thus making the entire group ignore the nerd herd.
And she remembers that day clearly, because that's the first time her heart squeezed at the thought of being so hated in this boy's heart due to the way he looked at her.
It was kinda scary.
And not because he was intimidating, but because he looked scared, angry, sad, worried, anxious and many other unpleasant things that took many days after that little 'incident' to happen for Sally to realize this. She was offended - of course she was! - but… perhaps there was something more to it.
"I'm, uh, I'm sorry" Peter repeats himself while sounding just a tiny bit conflicted, which makes Sally consider her own thoughts.
Perhaps there is really something more going on, and that's why he is apologizing right now… n-nah, that must not be it. Again, it's just Parker, a weirdo with no deep thoughts whatsoever. He must be apologizing because he truly did want something perverted or whatever now that his little girlfriend ran away from him.
The thought made Sally frown at Peter, and basically barked at him a question "Huh? What are you talking about?"
"A month ago" Peter replied easily with his tone steady, now turning his head to meet her eyes with his. Normally gentle and meek eyes, now turned almost stoic "you guys wanted to say your condolences, and I reacted badly at all of you. That was… uncalled for, and I'm sorry".
"Oh" Sally said in genuine surprise, seeing how she was indeed correct at first. This did not make her mood better "a little bit late to apologize for something that happened a month ago, no?"
*Chuckle* "Yeah, I guess it is" Peter chuckled in a low and genuine manner as he returned his eyes to see up ahead at the exhibit.
"So why say this now?" Sally asked with a raised eyebrow, not knowing if she is willing to believe the sentiment behind his words.
"It's what's right to do" Peter shrugged easily "You guys were being nice - I was a jerk. There's nothing more to it than me admitting it".
"…But why now?" Sally asked as she felt her heart squeeze once again. She was actually expecting Peter to apologize the very next day at the latest with a pathetic little display as to not get his ass beat by Flash, but a month had gone by with neither of them even looking properly at the other.
And she felt really left out, something she disliked a lot! Even Randy refused to even talk about the geek and how he treated them!
"Well, I know it's not like you care or anything" Peter huffed with fake entertainment that caused Sally to cringe slightly "but I had a… pretty rough month. Things I had to deal with on my own and had to face head on while feeling like I couldn't handle any of it, but I had no choice but to. And it was heavy, and I felt lost, and I couldn't… I couldn't see ahead of me… and then I was told…".
Peter was starting to get lost in thought, and he forced himself to snap out of his little ramble as quickly as he could. He turned to see Sally watching him intently - not in a weirded out way or bored one - just, attentively listening to him talk about things he shouldn't be.
It was kinda weird actually. He would've never slipped up like this in front of someone who is close to him. Why would he do so with someone that, despite knowing each other for many years, is basically a stranger?
…Either way, he shouldn't be saying anything like that out loud, so once again, he put on a sheepish smile on his face as a 'mask' and rubbed his neck while looking away from her "Heh, sorry about that. I didn't intend to bore you or anything".
"… Are… Are you okay now?" Sally asked hesitatingly, even realizing how weird it feels for her to ask this to him. Nevertheless, she felt like it was important to ask.
"…" Peter dropped his smile and looked at her for a second too long, causing her heart to skip a bit. Was it due to how intently he was looking at her? Because of how his eyes seemed to look something deep inside her own? Or it was simply because she has never seen this expression on his face, and yet, it feels like his most sincere one?
But Sally had no chance to rationalize any of this, because Peter suddenly snorted a laugh under his breath and chuckled slightly.
It wasn't annoying or over the top, he just let out a melodious and genuine hearty laugh with a bright smile on his face that forced him to look away from Sally while closing his eyes due to the action.
Because, what a silly question for him, is it not? 'Are you okay now?'. After everything that has happened, Sally Avril of all people has to be the one that asks him that question a day after he learned something so life changing and - honestly - devastating.
How… funny.
"Yeah… I'm okay now" Peter says after he stops laughing with an entertained smile, locking eyes with her once again "It wasn't as serious as I painted it to be though, that was just me being somewhat dramatic".
"Right…" Sally says while not really knowing if she wants to believe that. But she has no idea how to judge Parker's character and it doesn't affect her, so she'll just take that at face value "Still, I don't get what you want to get out of apologizing to me. It's not like we're friends or whatever".
"I know we're not friends" Peter shrugs easily, showing no real emotion at his words. And that… it kinda stung Sally again, because she has known Peter for a long time, and it's honestly hurtful to see just how much he doesn't care about that fact "but it's the right thing to do. Like I said before, you did something nice and I was a jerk about it; the right thing is to apologize for it.
And well… I should thank you too, I guess" Peter admitted somewhat embarrassed, but still keeping his eyes locked with hers "it was something actually really nice and thoughtful from you - from all of you - so really, Sally. Thank you. And I'm sorry".
"…T-thanks" Sally mumbles with an embarrassed flush on her face, not really used to being apologized in such a sincere and heartfelt manner. No hidden agendas, no an undertone of anger or resentment, not a favor followed after; just a simple admission of guilt for her, paired with genuine gratitude for something she did try to do.
At her acceptance of the apology, Peter simply nodded with a level of satisfaction and gave a step backwards, intending to turn around and leave the girl by herself while he did their assignment for both of them.
Curiously though, Peter was soon stopped by someone holding onto his backpack. Turning his head around again, he saw Sally with her arm outstretched to keep him from walking further "Sally? Is something wrong?"
"…" Sally really looked like she was struggling with her words, with her face redder than Peter had ever seen before and her mouth moving around as if she was a fish out of the water. But soon enough she made her question; her tone low and shy while avoiding eye contact "Do you… Do you hate me?"
It doesn't make much sense for Sally to ask that of Peter out of all people, because first: she shouldn't really care if Parker hates her. He is just a lowly geek that has just a handful of friends while she is their school's very own 'Queen'! The leader of the cheerleaders, part of the most popular group, beautiful amongst many and just so much more that makes her great!
And second: … She knows he has every reason to hate her. For years and years she has been belittling him, mocking him, calling him names almost every chance she has, claiming how he makes her disgusted and, well, she knows she's just a mean bitch to him.
And this past month she has begun wondering, just why is that?
When he shouted at her and her friends, she was beyond indignated and insulted at the gall of this lowly nerd, and it only grew when all her friends simply wanted to ignore it.
She tried searching in her memory times where Peter had done similar things, or something similar so that she could justify her feelings!
She found nothing.
Among all those years, Sally wasn't able to recall one single moment in which Peter was rude to them. Sure, there were times where he got mildly annoyed at their behavior, but at the end he shrugged away with a kind smile that is so characteristic of him.
So much so in fact, that every time that Sally pictured Peter in her head, he would be sporting that bright and kind expression in his face that always looked friendly and kind of goofy. No matter how rude she was or how mean she treated him, he would always simply roll his eyes and retort something easy with that smile.
Why does she hold so much animosity against him?
She remembers meeting him, and she knows that the only curse Peter had ever truly done was being on Flash's bad side. But why? She never bothered asking; there was no need.
It was simply any school's basic hierarchy. The jocks were the cool and popular ones while the weird nerds were casted away by everyone else - and Peter Parker just so happened to be the biggest and weirdest one.
An easy pick for her clique.
But… Peter isn't that much of a weirdo, is he? Sure, his interests don't align at all with hers or anyone else's she knows of, and he has a really unusual life story that has molded him into who he is today. But just who is Peter Parker? At first Sally thought he was simply a background character in her life with no real personality of his.
But after he shouted at her, Sally finally realized who Peter Parker really is, and that is someone kind. That's the best way Sally can describe Peter. She knows he is not so one dimensional, but that's the best way she has to describe Peter in just one word.
Kind.
No matter who, when or how, Peter Parker is someone kind.
So what does it say of her if someone like that hates her? Sally doesn't care - not really. It's just that Peter has known her for many years now, and whether she likes it or not, he has been in her life for the better part of it. Because of it, Sally knowing that someone hates her it's just… it makes her feel sad.
Peter meanwhile widened his eyes slightly at the question, to then let a small and awkward snort while facing her completely again.
"Sally Avril caring about what little ol' puny Parker thinks of her?" Peter quips to hide his awkwardness and a raised eyebrow to hide the surprise on his face; thing that Sally is already familiar with "who are you and what did you do with my classmate?"
But Sally doesn't answer beyond giving him a raised eyebrow to try and hide the pleading look she has on her face, silently pressing him to answer. Which works, since Peter sighs after a few heart beats in defeat; dropping his strained smile as well.
"…No. No, no, of course I don't hate you" Peter says as he looks away from Sally, not really knowing what exactly to say due to him not expecting this question from her ever happening "We're not friends, but that doesn't mean I'd wish you harm or anything like that. Ever".
"I know that" Sally mumbles, already knowing that Peter is too kind and forgiving to do something like that even in his private moments "It's just… why?"
Question that took Peter off guard again, causing him to ask again with genuine curiosity "What do you mean?"
"I've been - I know I've been awful to you" Sally admitted while swallowing her pride in favor of showing some level of vulnerability and shame "And any other person who was treated as I have treated you wouldn't be apologizing or doing what you're to the one that… well. So why are you? Why don't you hate me?"
Peter sees how much this seems to matter to her, so he holds the urge he has to quip or make light of the situation with a dumb joke. He passes his hand over his mouth while thinking of what to say.
"Hate…" Peter began talking in contemplation after a few long seconds, as though this was something truly important to him. Yet another thing that mildly surprised Sally in this short conversation "Hate is a strong word, one rooted into an even stronger emotion - one that is ugly, horrible, wrong and dangerous. And believe it or not, I hate many - MANY - things".
The dry humoristic-like huff Peter let out made Sally a bit uncomfortable, but she didn't interrupt so as to not derail Peter out of his train of thought.
Thoughts that were swarming with things and people he actually hates. Apologies, being pitied, the irresponsible use of powers - usually from all his villains - , the concept of fate (as of recently) - his uncle's assassin… Connors…
Peter even hated his parents for a long while for 'abandoning' him like they did. He understood that they weren't the ones that planned to do it or anything like that. But the little six year old didn't care about that during his darkest moments.
He just wanted to hug his mom tightly and feel his dad's warm hand on the top of his head in a soothing manner.
And he wasn't able to.
And it was their fault.
So yes, Peter hated his parents for a couple of years for abandoning him like they did until he was 'mature' enough to forgive them. Which was mostly thanks for the love May and Ben gifted him.
Still, he hates many, many things. Like…
…Himself.
These are all things Peter has agonized over. Useless words that make his body tense without fail, memories that bring him nothing but guilt and regret, shameful moments and actions that make him unable to look at his own reflection and keep him up at night, people he misses dearly that makes his emotions run wild.
These are things that are important to Peter. One way or another, each of these are what makes Peter 'himself' - vital parts to who he is today and that will shape who he will be tomorrow.
His bullies though?
"But you? I don't hate you because you… we're classmates, Sally, barely acquaintances really" Peter says as Sally widens her eyes just a tini-tiny bit and clenches her shirt over her heart at the implication "when I'm in class, so you are. I see you, you see me, we 'talk', etc. etc.
… but when school is over, when the last bell rings and we walk out… you're no longer there in front of me. You're simply… not there. You go do whatever it is that you do, and I go do my own stuff away from school. Why would I spend time out of my life thinking about and hating someone who's not…? Who's…" Peter struggled to find the right word to really describe how he feels about Sally without being rude or ending up as an insulting jerk.
Because how do you tell someone straight to their face - after years of knowing them no less - that you're simply indifferent to them? That they make no impact whatsoever in your life and if they were to suddenly do something like move cities away, absolutely nothing will change for you.
Peter doesn't hate his bullies, he has much more heavier things going on in his life than a group of teenagers calling him a nerd every now and then during school hours.
But… well, Peter is not so high and mighty as to claim he never hated them. More so Kenny, Carl King - who thankfully changed schools a few years ago - and especially Flash. This last one… Peter remembers very well that he is the first person he had ever wanted to punch - the first person he really hated.
And Peter hated Flash because he was his first and best friend, the person Peter liked the most outside of his family. And all that changed when he ended up as an orphan and Flash turned his back on him, which was so… disappointing and heartbreaking for a young Peter.
And he once had the courage to ask just why Flash started bothering him, and the latter's answer was 'because you changed'. Those were not the exact words of the little six year old Eugene, but that was the core of the problem.
Peter had changed.
And he was resented for that.
And Peter hated Flash for that for a long time. It's not his fault that his life had changed so drastically out of nowhere, but it was his choice to change because Peter had not seen any other way to deal with his grief.
If Flash was a good friend, he would've seen and understood that. But he didn't; he just saw how Peter changed and started acting differently around him. But that's… that's also wrong.
Peter changed, sure, but he didn't stop being 'him'. He just… evolved. He was still the same kid he was before, but he had also become something more. Why should he be hated for that?
Huh… Now, doesn't that sound familiar?
Something drastic and tragic happened and due to it, Peter changed and evolved. The difference between his parent's death and the death of his uncle after he got powers is that Peter has learnt how to keep it a secret.
So that those closest to him won't abandon him like Flash did.
Would they do that? If May, MJ, Gwen, Harry and Chat were to learn he changed, would they abandon him like Flash did? Would… would Peter hate them if they did? Just like he hated Flash for so many years before becoming indifferent to him? Peter doesn't want to believe it… but… he simply doesn't know.
And that uncertainty makes him not trust them enough to reveal the truth to them - just another of the many, many reasons he has to keep everything a secret anyway.
But then what about Emma? She knew him after he changed and a very large part of his love for her comes from the fact that she accepts him as he 'is', Spider-Man and all. But what if he changes further? He already did after killing Connors, would he also change even more if he were to accept the role of 'The Champion'? Would Emma abandon him if that was the case?
… Is that his fate?
To be abandoned by those he loves because he changes, and he keeps on evolving who he is both physically and mentally? No matter that he is still the 'same' despite 'changing'?
Because he fights hard for that. He doesn't want to change who he is deep down, no matter how strong or powerful he becomes - he has the same dreams, goals, aspirations and ambitions as he has always had.And nothing will ever make him stop being 'Peter Parker' - not even 'Spider-Man'.
So will he be abandoned either way? Even when he is still 'Peter Parker', the kid who wants to grow up to be a good man with a good family of his own?
Is he now 'free' from that 'fate' because of what Madame Web said? Would that be a bad thing? A good thing? Is he - again - going crazy with such thoughts?
That last thought sends shivers down his spine. He can't talk about this with anyone, but what about with someTHING? Like that nice looking gargoyle he saw the other day during his daily patrol.
…Isn't that crazy talk?
He really has much more things going on around his head to be thinking about his bullies after school. And it has honestly been this way since way before Peter had his powers. Flash, Sally and their clique were just… there in school, and that's it.
But to Sally's ears, the words that Peter was missing were 'not worth it'. She and all her friends are not worth his time of life after he sees them in school. And isn't that just hurtful?
Because whether Sally wants to admit it to herself or not, she knows she does think a lot about Parker. Whenever she sees or hears about something 'geeky', her first thought is always 'Heh, I bet Parker is the kind of guy that loves things like these' or when she sees a scientific article when scrolling down her phone and she thinks 'Pfft, leave that boring stuff to Parker' or many more cases like that.
Peter is constantly in Sally's mind, while she's not worthy of being in his.
And to hear that Peter simply forgets about her so easily while admitting to her she's not even worth hating, or worse, worth his time out of his life outside of class, makes her feel so… pathetic.
It's embarrassing, humiliating, truly pathetic and it just makes her feel small. And she wants to be angry at Peter for saying that, but… but it honestly just makes her feel sad.
And it makes her sad because deep down, Sally wants to be liked by everyone, including Peter - especially Peter - since he has known her for many years. And seeing him not being interested in her as a person is really-
"Sally!" Her thoughts are suddenly interrupted as Peter grabs her by the shoulder, a bit rougher than what would've been necessary for her to listen to him.
"W-what the hell was that f-!" Sally choked on her words as she noticed that Peter was not looking at her, and following his eyes, she saw that Peter was looking at one of the many Nordic runes glowing with an ethereal blue-ish light "Uh, i-is that thing supposed to be doing that?"
"Honestly? I don't want to find out" Peter said as he started stepping backwards from the glowing rock while keeping his hand on Sally's shoulder. His spider-sense was beginning to tingle harder and harder as the seconds went by, but he couldn't really shout or do anything 'heroic' without giving something away.
"Y-yeah, I don't think I want to either" Sally agreed while her lip started quivering a bit with just the slightest hint of fear that was noticed by Peter out of the corner of his eye.
"Heh, never a dull moment in New York, right?" Peter quipped to try and make light of the situation to ease her up a bit - much like he always does when donning the mask.
This gained him an unbelieving glare from Sally that quickly faltered with an accepting and tired nod. This mere comment might've made whatever she thought of Parker during their conversation a bit null due to how dorky it was, but she did have to agree to it.
There is never a dull moment in her beloved New York.
"O-okay, people! We know the drill!" Soon after Peter and Sally started backing up from the exhibit, more and more people started noticing the blue and honestly beautiful looking light coming from somewhere it shouldn't be possible. So a security guard began shouting safety instructions for everyone "Carefully and without putting anyone in danger, go to your nearest ex-!
"SALLY!" Peter shouted out of nowhere while throwing himself over her, feeling his spider-sense flare up violently from one second to the next.
*KSH - FWOOOSH* The rune suddenly exploded in a torrent of ice-cold wind and snow that covered the entire room while destroying the bulletproof glass it rested behind - drowning Sally's, and many others - yells and yelps of fear.
Both Midtown students remained silent as the violent and extremely cold wind swept through them, with Peter holding Sally close to him while kneeling, forcing her to be almost completely in her back against the floor where it was not for Peter holding her close to his chest.
They were both not blown away by the wind thanks to Peter sticking himself to the ground and Sally clinging herself to him for dear life without really caring about anything else.
A few seconds went by, which to everyone in that room felt like hours, in which the rune painted the room white with its snow to its entirety, not caring at all about the living people or the rest of the exhibit.
"S-Sally, are you okay?" Peter asked as his teeth rattled - actually rattled - due to the sudden change in the temperature. Which affected him more than to anyone else due to his colder blood. Still, the girl in his arms is now his priority.
"W-what happened!?" Sally screeched in Peter's chest, holding herself almost desperately to the warmth that his body brings her - even if it's barely any of it, he also gives her a surprisingly reliable and strong sense of security despite the situation and who he is.
"I don't - I don't know" Peter said as he also used Sally's body to warm himself, but forcing himself to look around at the other people in the room who are in similar positions to him "W-we need to get out of here! W-we need… we need to-".
Peter was talking with urgency, but he faltered in his speech when his spider-sense made yet another spike in its warning of danger, prompting him to look behind him where the rune's exhibit was.
His sudden silence made Sally's worry grow, so she moved her head away from his chest to see what's going on "Peter? What happened… now…?"
Sally finished her sentence lamely as she looked over his shoulder, only to be met with the figure of a huge monster rising to his feet. The creature looked human in shape, but his skin was clearly ice-blue, but underneath a cape of rubbery-like skin that was completely black - which reminded both teens of someone that suffered a frostbite of the fourth degree - covering his hands and most part of his arms and legs.
The huge looking-'man' can be seen wearing a fur-like loincloth that reached just barely above his knees with a leather belt, leather boots with some fur at the top, a leather shoulder pad with ice-like buttons and a leather strap that crossed to his right hip with an elk's looking skull on it, and a huge - HUGE - ice club.
His face was almost silly looking, with big open eyes that seemed to focus on nothing in particular and his mouth opened dumbly to show huge ice tusks from the lower part of his mouth.
Once he stood up fully, he reached around 49 feet (15 meters) of height, almost reaching the 80 feet (24≈ meters) high ceiling.
*…sigh* "I hate these field trips…" Peter mutters in defeat and frustration under his breath as he looks up at the giant, who is standing still with both students on his left - from the side that is not holding the huge weapon; already picturing in his mind what it would be like to be bitten by that thing and shuddering at the thought.