The bright morning sun streamed through the dusty blinds of a small apartment in Queens, New York. The muffled sounds of honking cabs and distant chatter seeped through the thin walls, a daily reminder of the city's relentless energy. Peter Parker groggily opened his eyes, blinking away the remnants of sleep. At sixteen, he had grown accustomed to the rhythm of city life—early mornings, long school days, and nights spent buried in textbooks or anime marathons.
He swung his legs off the bed and stretched, letting out a quiet yawn. His body ached slightly from his late-night shift at the corner store, but he shook it off and made his way to the bathroom. The cold tiles sent a shiver up his spine as he turned on the sink, splashing cool water onto his face. He glanced up at the mirror, taking in his pale complexion, messy brown hair, and tired brown eyes. Running a hand through his tousled locks, he muttered to himself, "I need to get out more."
After a quick shower, he dressed in a black t-shirt, green cargo pants, and a pair of black-and-white Vans. Simple. Comfortable. Grabbing his backpack, he stepped out of the apartment, pushing his earbuds in and letting music drown out the city's chaos. The walk to school was the same as always—dodging impatient pedestrians, avoiding street vendors calling out their deals, and trying not to inhale too much exhaust from passing taxis.
As Peter approached Midtown High, he sighed. Another year. Another cycle of classes, tests, and trying to survive unnoticed.
Just as he stepped into the crowded hallway, an arm slung around his shoulders, pulling him into a familiar headlock. He already knew who it was before even looking.
"What do you want, Johnny?" he asked flatly, though he didn't bother shaking him off.
Johnny Storm grinned down at him, his blond hair slightly disheveled from the wind. "Come on, Pete! That's no way to greet your best friend!"
Peter sighed. "You're only my best friend because you refuse to leave me alone."
Johnny smirked. "Exactly. You were way too depressed to be a normal kid, so I made it my mission to fix that. And look at us now—two orphans against the world!"
Peter rolled his eyes, though he didn't entirely disagree. They had both lost their parents at a young age. They found each other in the orphanage and they somehow had managed to find a sense of family in each other.
Johnny nudged him. "So, how was your summer?"
Peter shrugged. "It was alright."
"All you did was work and watch anime, didn't you?"
"No comment," Peter muttered, looking away.
Johnny shook his head. "You gotta live a little, man."
They made their way to first period, taking their usual seats in the back. The classroom buzzed with the usual morning chatter, but Peter hardly paid attention—until the door opened.
And then, she walked in.
Antonia Stark. Or Toni, as she preferred. The richest girl in school. The daughter of Howard Stark. One of the top three smartest people in the world, right behind Bruce Wayne and Lex Luthor.
Peter swallowed hard, his heart rate spiking the moment he saw her. She had this effortless confidence about her, the kind that made people turn their heads without her even trying. They had never spoken before, mostly because Peter was convinced she enjoyed making him nervous. Johnny, of course, had tried countless times to get them to talk, but Peter always managed to escape before it could happen.
She took her seat in the front, completely unaware of the chaos she had just caused in Peter's head.
Johnny leaned in, whispering, "This year, I'm making sure you talk to her. That is my goal as your best friend."
Peter turned to him, face already heating up. "What?! No way."
"Come on," Johnny grinned. "I need you to lose your virginity before you turn eighteen."
Peter's face turned an even deeper shade of red. "What the hell, Johnny?!"
Johnny just chuckled, clearly enjoying Peter's embarrassment. He spent the rest of the class ignoring his friend, but he could still feel Johnny smirking beside him.
Later—Gym Class
Peter and Johnny sat on the bleachers, watching as students played basketball. Gym wasn't exactly Peter's favorite subject, so he spent most of it reading manga or debating theories with Johnny.
"So, I think the final battle in One Piece is gonna be an all-out war," Johnny said, stretching his arms behind his head. "The Marines, Blackbeard's crew, Shanks' crew, the Revolutionary Army, the Gorosei, and the Straw Hats—everyone just going at it. And then, right when it seems like everything is about to fall apart, Emu finally reveals himself."
Peter shook his head. "Nah, I think Luffy is gonna fight Blackbeard first, then take on Shanks separately. After he beats them, that's when he'll go after the Marines and the Gorosei. The Revolutionary Army will probably get involved at that point, but Emu? He's the final boss."
Johnny considered it. "Hmm. Yeah, that makes sense."
Peter smirked, feeling victorious—until he glanced to the side and spotted Toni.
She was wearing tight athletic shorts and a fitted tank top, her toned figure impossible to ignore. Peter immediately felt his brain short-circuit.
Johnny noticed, of course. Without hesitation, he smacked Peter upside the head.
"Ow!" Peter rubbed the spot, glaring at him.
"Pay attention," Johnny said. "You can have that if you just listen to me."
Peter scoffed. "Not happening."
Johnny sighed, exasperated. "Dude, just walk up to her and say, 'Hi, how are you?' That's it."
"Nope."
"So you're just gonna admire from afar?"
"Yep."
Johnny groaned. "This is exactly what happened with Barbara, and you let her move away to Gotham without telling her how you felt!"
Peter flinched at the memory. Barbara Gordon had been another one of his long-time crushes, but he had never worked up the nerve to talk to her. Then, one day, she was gone—moved to Gotham City with her dad, Commissioner Gordon. He had regretted it ever since.
Johnny leaned in, voice softer now. "Look, I know putting yourself out there is scary. But you can't just keep running away every time you like someone. Eventually, you're gonna have to take a chance."
Peter stared down at his hands, thinking about Johnny's words. He wanted to argue, to insist that things were fine the way they were. But deep down, he knew Johnny was right.
Still, he wasn't sure he was ready for that yet.
So, instead of answering, he pulled out his manga and flipped it open.
Johnny sighed, shaking his head. "One day, Parker. One day."
And with that, the day continued. Just another year at Midtown High.