A calm smile on her face Felicia Hardy moved her eyes across the classroom for a few seconds before stopping.
"Hello, nice to meet you all. My names Felicia Hardy." She said.
Murmurs beginning to fill the classroom immediately after her little self-introduction.
"Wow. She's pretty." Ned muttered.
Me agreeing entirely.
She is quite the looker.
Though I didn't want to say it out loud and accidentally get overheard.
I'll keep my naughty thoughts and desires to myself. Like a gentleman.
"Okay, settle down. There will be time to ask Ms. Hardy questions later." The teacher spoke.
The classroom quieting down again.
"Alright. Now Ms. Hardy if you would please take a seat." He said. His eyes focusing on the empty desk on my right.
Given I am seated by the window.
"Right there, next to Mr. Parker." The teacher said. Pointing to the desk next to mine.
"No problem." Felicia replied.
She then moved with grace and poise to the desk right next to mine and sat in it. Turning towards me immediately. "Felicia Hardy. Nice to meet you."
"I know. You just introduced yourself. And my name is Peter Parker by the way. Nice to meet you as well." I replied.
"Okay class, take out your textbooks and turn to page 20." The teacher said.
Everyone doing as he instructed.
Save for Felicia.
"Ah, right Ms. Hardy. You don't have any materials for class yet. Well then just share with Mr. Parker for today." The teacher spoke.
"Mind if I do that?" Felicia asked me.
"Sure. No problem." I said.
Felicia then scooted closer to me until our desks were touching.
Once they were I slid my book in front of her.
"Wait, don't we need to share it?"
"Oh, no you don't. Trust me." Harry spoke up from behind me.
Leading Felicia to look at him.
"Peter likely has that book memorized front to back. Harry Osborn by the way. His best friend." Harry spoke.
"True. In both accounts." I added.
"I see." Felicia mused. "Well nice to meet you Harry. Also, it looks like someone has some big brains huh." She said to me.
"Oh, I do alright." I replied.
"An understatement if I ever heard one." Harry whispered.
Given the teacher has finally begun the lesson.
When he did I followed along. If only for Felicia sake. Since she was asking me questions.
All the way until the end of class.
Then it started again in the next one.
For it seemed Felicia shared the same class schedule as Harry, Ned, and I for the first portion of the day.
Leading to the four of us making small talk.
A trend that continued until lunchtime.
Where after we entered the cafeteria and got our seats, Gwen found and joined us.
"Hey guys." She said. Taking a seat at the table. Her eyes immediately going towards Felicia. "Whose your new friend?"
"Felicia Hardy, Gwen Stacy. Gwen Stacy, Felicia Hardy." I introduced.
"Nice to meet you Gwen." Felicia said.
"Likewise, Felicia." Gwen replied. "So, what brings you to Midtown? Not that I'm trying to pry or anything it's just rare for our school to accept transfer students this far into the year?"
"It's no trouble at all." She replied. "You see my mom and I just returned from a few years abroad Europe, where she was working to set up a new branch of the investment form she works for, and she did so good a job she got a promotion that brought us back to the states. But since the school year was already in full swing, and all the first choices of schools my mother wanted me to attend had already closed their enrollment periods for the year, she decided to send me to Midtown. So here I am. Also, no offense against you guys or the school. Which I have to say I like way better then the stuffy private schools I went to as a kid."
"Tell me about it." Harry agreed.
"Oh, so you experienced that as well?" Felicia inquired.
Harry nodded. "I did. My dad thought it would give me prospects for the future. Even though he was always saying I would take over the company from him."
"Company?" Felicia asked.
"Harry dad is Norman Osborn." Ned revealed.
"The founder of Oscorp Industries?" Felicia asked.
We all nodded.
"Wow. Interesting." She mused. "I never would've guess Harry, especially since.."
"Since I don't act like a stuck-up rich kid that throws money around and flaunts my status every chance he gets."
"Exactly." Felicia said. "No offense."
"None taken." Harry replied.
Just as he did Flash and some of his cronies came over to our table.
Arriving he smiled at Felicia.
"Hey there babe, why are you hanging out with these nobodies when you could be hanging out with us?"
"You mean the guys who act like the kings in highschool but will likely amount to nothing but minimum wage fast-food workers in the future?" Felicia asked, a bright smile on her face. "Yeah, no thanks." She said. Dropping her smile.
Leading the rest of us to burst out in laughter.
While Flash and his cronies got dumbfounded looks on their faces.
"Damn, good one Felicia." I said in between laughs.
Ignoring the look Flash and his friends gave me when I did.
"Got something to say Parker?" One of the cronies asked me.
"Are you really asking me that after the beating I gave Flash before?" I asked. Putting a devilish grin on my face. "Because if you want some too I'm more than willing to dish it out. Well, who wants some?"
None of the cronies said a word in response to my question.
Good.
They should know their place.
"Ah whatever. Come in guys. If the new girl wants to hang out with the nerds then let her." Flash spoke.
He then turned and walked away.
His cronies following him.
"Okay, someone want to tell me what that was all about? Since in someone quite knowledgeable about jocks with inflated egos I know they don't just walk away without any reason."
"Oh, well it's nothing much. It's just that Peter verbally gave Flash a beating near the start of the school and ever since then he's been avoiding him and is." Ned explained. "Which has been great. I've been able to use the bathroom without fear of swirlies." He mused. A satisfied expression on his face.
"Oh my. So there's more to you than meets the eye, huh Peter Parker?" Felicia asked. Scooting a bit closer to me in her chair. "Interesting."
"Well I am a man of many mysteries." I spoke in a mysterious voice.
"That's right, he is." Gwen said.
Leaning over me a bit as she did.
"That's great. Since I'm a girl that loves solving mysteries." Felicia mused. "So maybe I should begin solving yours Peter? What do you say?" She asked.
But before I could respond the first warning bell rung and the instant it did Gwen suddenly stood up and stood me up as well.
"Well, would you look at that. We all better get a move on if we don't want to be late for our afternoon classes." She spoke. "By Harry, Ned, Felicia. Come on Peter."
"Alright?" I spoke.
I then said goodbye to the others and grabbed my bag. Following behind Gwen as we exited the cafeteria and headed for our next class.
Me wondering what that was from her a moment ago.
Since although she's one for punctuality she's not the type to just leave a conversation like that.
Then there the fact she leaned over me just now.
An actions she never taken before.
Wait.
The pieces coming together I couldn't help but smirk as Gwen and I took our seats in our first afternoon class.
"So, Felicia seems pretty cool."
"Yeah. She does." Gwen replied.
"She's also pretty. And seems to have a good head on her shoulders."
"Yep."
"So I get why you would be jealous of her."
"Exa-What?" Gwen suddenly asked. Turning to face me. "Jealous. No, I'm not jealous. Don't flatter yourself Parker."
"Really. Then I just imagined what happened a minute ago in the cafeteria."
"Yes." Gwen instantly replied.
"So if I were ask Felicia out you wouldn't get upset?"
"It's none of my business." Gwen stated. "I'm not your girlfriend or anything."
"But what if I wanted you to be?" I questioned.
"Peter, are you asking me out on a date?"
"Yes. Gwen Stacy. I am." I firmly replied.
Seeing no reason to dance around the issue.
During these past few months since school began I've grown closer to Gwen and I know she has to me.
So why not go for a relationship with the girl I like?
Saying nothing Gwen simply stared at me in silence for several seconds before giving me her reply.
"Yeah, sure. Let's go on a date Parker." She said.
Her words music to my ears.
***
A/N: I told you would be starting romance in the story soon and I meant it.
Now some of you likey think this is too fast but remember Peter and Gwen have known each other for a few months now. So this isn't our of the blue.
I just skipped the background build up.
Plus they won't instantly fall in love.