Peter arrived at school, his mind elsewhere as he strolled through the hallway, expecting a typical, uneventful day. But his routine was interrupted when a group of students blocked his path.
Peter stopped, his shoulders slumping in exasperation. "Why does this always happen to me?" he muttered, letting out a heavy sigh.
Raising his head, he locked eyes with Flash Thompson, who stood at the center of the group, smirking like he owned the place.
"What do you want?" Peter asked flatly, his tone carrying more exhaustion than fear. "Looking for another beating, Flash?"
Flash's smirk faltered for a second, but he quickly recovered. Before he could respond, Peter shifted his weight slightly, a deliberate and subtle movement that carried just enough intent.
The effect was immediate. Flash and his crew flinched, instinctively stepping back as if Peter had swung at them.
Peter raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Yeah, that's what I thought," he muttered, brushing past them without another word.
As Peter walked away from the encounter, other students stood by, watching silently. None of them dared to intervene or even comment, preferring to stay out of the situation entirely.
On his way to the principal office, Peter felt his phone buzz in his pocket. Pulling it out, he saw a message from Jessica: "Have you arrived yet?"
Peter typed a quick reply: "Yes, are you here?"
A moment later, her response popped up: "Later during lunch break, head to the library. I'll be waiting."
"I'll be there," Peter texted back before slipping his phone away.
With that settled, Peter made his way to the principal's office. Standing outside, the assistant at the desk looked up from her paperwork and asked, "Is there something I can help you with...?"
"I'm Peter Parker," Peter introduced himself. "I want to register for the SAT. Do I need to talk to the principal or someone else for that?"
The assistant gave him a quick once-over before replying, "Wait here for a moment." She got up, knocked on the principal's door, and stepped inside when a voice called, "Come in."
Peter waited patiently, tapping his fingers against his leg. After a few minutes, the assistant emerged. "You can go in now," she said, holding the door open for him.
Stepping into the office, and the assistant closed the door behind Peter.
"Peter Parker, right?" the principal said, glancing up from his desk.
Peter nodded, his hands casually resting at his sides.
"Take a seat," the principal instructed, gesturing to the chair in front of the desk.
Peter sat down, and the principal handed him a registration form and a pen.
"Fill this out. When are you planning to take the test?" the principal asked.
"Next month," Peter replied as he started filling in the details on the form.
The principal nodded, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He didn't ask any further questions—after all, Peter Parker's reputation as an A+ student preceded him.
Once Peter finished, he handed the form back. The principal looked it over briefly before placing it in a folder. "Alright, Peter. Make sure you attend the test on the scheduled date next month."
Peter stood up, offering a polite smile. "Thank you, sir."
The principal nodded. "Good luck, Peter."
With his registration complete, Peter returned to his class, settling into his seat. Pulling out his textbook, he began flipping through the pages, reviewing a few key concepts.
Laurie, who sat next to him, leaned over curiously. "What are you doing?" she asked.
"Reviewing," Peter replied without looking up. "I'm taking the SAT next month."
Laurie's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? Next month? That's so soon!"
"Yeah," Peter said, glancing at her with a small smile. "I don't want to waste more time than I already have."
Laurie nodded, though she still seemed a bit shocked. "Well, good luck, I guess. Not that you'll need it."
"Thanks," Peter said, returning to his book.
Moments later, the bell rang, and the teacher entered the room. The usual hum of chatter quieted as class began, the day slipping into its normal rhythm.
When the lunch bell rang, Peter packed up his things and made his way to the library. Upon arriving, he looked around but didn't see Jessica anywhere. Pulling out his phone, he sent her a quick message:
"Where?"
Her reply came moments later: "At the back."
Peter headed to the far end of the library, weaving through rows of bookshelves. He finally spotted Jessica sitting on a bench near the window, nibbling on a piece of bread. She looked up as he approached, a smile lighting up her face.
Peter walked over and sat down beside her. "I'm taking the SAT next month," he said, cutting straight to the point.
Jessica blinked, momentarily taken aback. "Really?"
"Yeah," Peter confirmed with a small nod.
"Well, good luck then," Jessica said, her surprise giving way to a warm smile.
"Thanks," Peter replied, leaning back slightly.
"Are you free today, by the way?" Jessica asked, brushing a few crumbs off her skirt.
"Probably," Peter replied. "But I still haven't finished my project."
Jessica tilted her head, puzzled. "You still have a project? I thought there weren't any more science assignments?" She paused, then realization dawned. "Oh, wait—you're probably working on something for the science fair, right?"
Peter smirked. "Something like that."
Her curiosity piqued, she leaned closer. "So, what are you planning to create?"
"I'm not entirely sure yet," Peter said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Maybe something along the lines of an energy source like the Arc Reactor."
Jessica raised an eyebrow. "Arc Reactor? You're seriously aiming that high?"
Peter shrugged, a sly grin tugging at his lips. 'If I can pull this off, I could use it to power computers for mining Bitcoin,' he thought.
"Yeah, I think with enough knowledge it could be doable," Peter said, tapping his fingers on the table. "But right now? It's pretty much impossible."
"Why's that?" Jessica asked, her brow furrowed.
"I'm missing a lot—both in materials and in knowledge," Peter admitted.
Jessica observed him for a moment, her thoughts racing. 'I know he's a genius, but sometimes it feels like his mind operates on a completely different plane.'
She leaned back slightly, stealing another glance at him. 'And yet... he's changed. He used to be so unsure of himself. What helped him gain this confidence? Whatever it is, I like him more this way.'
A small smile played on her lips, but she said nothing, letting Peter drift deeper into his thoughts.
Peter glanced at her, a soft smile on his face. "If I'm free later, I'll message you."
Jessica raised an eyebrow, her tone playful but firm. "No, you call."
He chuckled, nodding. "Alright, I'll call you."
Satisfied, Jessica leaned her head gently on his shoulder, savoring the quiet moment they shared. Neither of them spoke, letting the warmth between them fill the silence.