Peter's fingers brushed the spine of the book just as another hand grasped it. He looked up to see a girl around his age, her eyes bright with curiosity and intelligence.
"Can you even understand this?" they both said simultaneously, their voices overlapping.
They stared at each other, stunned, and then spoke again at the same time.
"Of course I can! If not, why would I pick this?"
Their voices were louder than they intended, and the librarian shot them a stern look, pressing a finger to her lips. "Shhh!"
They quickly covered their mouths, stifling their laughter.
"I'm Peter," he said, trying to sound flirtatious, though his small frame and earnest expression made it more adorable than anything else.
"Gwen," she replied, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
7 year old Gwen Img
Peter tilted his head, trying to look serious. "You sure you want this book? It might be a bit advanced for you. Maybe you should start with something simpler, like ABCs."
Gwen raised an eyebrow, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "ABCs? Please, Peter. Maybe you should stick to picture books. Wouldn't want you to strain yourself with all those big words."
Peter chuckled, feeling a strange connection with this girl. "Oh, I can handle big words just fine. But can you?"
"Why don't we find out?" Gwen shot back, her grin widening. "Let's read the first chapter and see who gets farther."
Peter hesitated for a moment, then shook his head, laughing. "Alright, you win this time. You can have the book for today."
Peter and Gwen exchanged glances, both curious about the other's school life. Peter broke the silence first.
"So, what grade are you in, Gwen?"
Gwen tilted her head thoughtfully. "I'm in second grade. What about you?"
Peter's eyes widened with surprise. "Really? I'm in first grade."
Gwen's eyebrows shot up. "Oh, that's cool! So, we're at the same school. What's it like in your class?"
Peter grinned. "It's pretty fun. We do a lot of hands-on stuff, like building things and exploring. How's second grade treating you?"
Gwen's face lit up with enthusiasm. "It's great! We're learning more advanced stuff now. I love science and art the most."
Peter nodded, impressed. "Science is my favorite too. We're doing experiments with simple machines. It's amazing to see how things work."
Gwen's eyes sparkled. "That sounds awesome! We did a project on the solar system last month. I got to make a model of Jupiter."
Peter's curiosity was piqued. "Jupiter? That's so cool! What did you use for your model?"
Gwen beamed. "I used balloons and paint. It turned out pretty well, if I do say so myself."
Peter chuckled. "I bet it did. My project is a bit different. I'm building a remote-controlled car. It's going to have sensors to avoid obstacles."
Gwen's jaw dropped in awe. "A remote-controlled car? That sounds amazing! I've always wanted to build one of those. How did you come up with the idea?"
Peter shrugged, a modest smile on his face. "I've been really into electronics and programming lately. I thought it would be fun to combine both and see what I could create."
Gwen's excitement was palpable. "I'd love to see it! Can I come over and watch you work on it?"
Peter hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Sure, but you need to check with your parents first."
Gwen's face lit up with excitement. "Oh, I will! I really want to see it. My dad's always saying that I should learn more about technology."
Peter smiled, feeling a sense of accomplishment. "That's great! I'm sure you'll enjoy it."
Gwen glanced at the clock. "Oh, I should go. My dad's waiting for me outside. I'll ask him about visiting your house."
Peter nodded. "Alright. I'll see you tomorrow, then?"
Gwen grinned. "Definitely. And thanks for letting me borrow the book."
Peter chuckled. "No problem. I'm glad we could share it."
They walked towards the library's exit, chatting about their favorite books and classes. Outside, Gwen's father, George Stacy, was waiting patiently. He raised an eyebrow when he saw Gwen holding hands with Peter.
"Who is this, Gwendolen?" George's voice was stern, his gaze fixed on Peter.
Peter stifled a laugh at the use of Gwen's full name. Gwen turned bright red and gave her father a reprimanding look.
"Dad, don't call me that! This is Peter," Gwen said, trying to hide her embarrassment.
Peter extended his hand, trying to look as respectful as possible. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Stacy."
George scrutinized Peter with a skeptical eye. "What were you two talking about?"
Gwen jumped in enthusiastically. "Peter's building a remote-controlled car, and I'm going to see it. Isn't that cool?"
George's expression softened slightly, but he still looked cautious. "A remote-controlled car? That sounds... ambitious. Are you sure you can handle it?"
Peter nodded confidently. "Yes, sir. I'm using a microcontroller to manage the servos and sensors. I've been working on it for a while."
George raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed despite himself. "That's quite a project for someone your age. I'd like to meet your uncle before Gwen visits."
Peter's heart swelled with pride. He knew Uncle Ben would be happy to meet Gwen and her father. "Of course, Mr. Stacy. I'm sure my uncle will be glad to meet you."