Ben Reilly

“Personally,” he placed the drinks down, scooting hers over before placing the cake pops down and letting her choose which one she wanted, “I like to hide. I did for years,” which wasn’t a lie. He just didn’t mention how he hid. She probably never needed to know that. But he was sure it would come out eventually. And he would hope she didn’t think he was some weirdo.

Ben lifted his cup to his lips to drink but instead laughed at her comment. He placed the glass back down, shaking his head. “No. No. Ew. That would be weird,” he pulled in his lips so it looked like he had no teeth and tried talking, “See, this is what I’d look like. In case you wondered,” he smirked before contorting his face back to normal, finally taking a small sip from coffee. “I wonder odd things sometimes,” he simply shrugged his shoulders at her.

“I’m sure everyone does, they just don’t admit it because it’s not cool or part of the norm,” he sighed. He hadn’t been out in the real world, long. But long enough to realize that people were sheep and wanted to fit in way more than they should. “i heard a quote once. ‘Why try to fit in when you were born to stand out?’ I like that quote. I don’t understand why everyone tries to fit in so bad. Me? I like being me. And if people don’t like it?” he simply shrugged his shoulders again.

“Sorry, did I get on a soap box there?”

Michelle’s eyes fell to the cake pops in front of her. She normally didn’t go for the sweets section, just the coffee, but she didn’t resist. She chose one at random and analyzed the small sprinkles, which made it look like a ball of happiness.

“Thanks.”

Her eyes met his as he spoke. She furrowed her brows before lifting one. 

“You’re not some type of fugitive, are you? I’d totally rat you out.”

She bit into the cake pop and immediately paused. It was a little too sweet for her taste, but she had tried worse things. After swallowing what was in her mouth, she placed the remainder of the cake pop on a napkin and returned her focus back to him.

She simply smiled at first, wondering how she ended up in the current topic, but she eventually chuckled.

“Right. Nothing wrong with being weird. Just don’t focus on the staring and you’re good.”

Actually, she never really had to deal with that. Her weirdness made it seem like she didn’t even exist, which was why she was so confused when a new kid, who could have spoken to anyone else, chose her instead. What an odd turn of events.

Michelle folded her arms across her chest and leaned back in her seat as she listened to his speech. She was a little impressed because for someone who seemed like a dork from the inside out, he seemed pretty satisfied with himself without sounding cocky. She nodded, fixing her posture before reaching her her cup.

“Just a little.”

She took a sip, eyes never leaving his. She set it back down before continuing.

“But I liked it. We’re a lot alike.”

Her eyes fell to the cake pop in front of her with one bite missing.

“So what’s your favorite flower?”

Ben studied his cake pop for a minute before finally taking a small bite, wanting to savor the treat. These were the finer things he enjoyed of coming out of hiding. There was a lot he hated about the real world but this was definitely not on of them.

If only Michelle knew how many people stared at him. Granted they didn’t know it was him behind the mask. But still stared. Then there were those that did stare at him merely because he was different. Social awkward; hiding in the back. And when he did speak, people looked at him like he had a second head. “It’s hard to ignore sometimes I find,” he shrugged his shoulders, bringing the cup up to his lips for a sip, “no matter how hard I try.”

“Hey now!” Ben patted his chest with the palm of his hand, pretending to be offended. “Some of like a little milk in our coffee. I personally don’t think I’m a wimp. Just, you know, Like a little more flavor in it.” Ben flashed her smile, not really offended at all. At least he wasn’t like Peter, who when he attempted to drink coffee put half the container in it.

“Welcome,” he half smiled, half smirked at the stunned looking Michelle next to him. He liked throwing her for a loop for some reason. And also, were people not nice to her? Did they not buy her things like coffee and cake pops? It didn’t seem that out of the ordinary to do. “I think I’m the right amount of nice?” he questioned with a laugh. “Although if you’d like me to be meaner, I can be.” He playfully shoved her with his elbow as he put his debit card back into the slot on his cellphone.

“Something else we have in common then?” He glanced over the case full of desserts. “Should I order more? Maybe the cookies? Or cinnamon roll because that looks amazing!” And he would too, if she wanted them. “And I’m curious what you would look like with no teeth,” he joked back with her.

He nodded at her as she suggested grabbing a table, waiting for their order, making their way over to the far back table when it was ready. “You really do like to hide, don’t you?”

This was when Michelle normally tuned out everything going on in the small coffee shop, but much to her surprise, that wasn’t the case. Her eyes weren’t desperately in search of words on a page, but found Ben instead. She felt weird knowing that there were other things in life to keep her occupied than a book, but it was only the first day. Maybe tomorrow wouldn’t be the same and they would go back to not knowing each other, and keeping her hopes too high never served her well.

She watched as he approached the small table. After hearing his question, she shrugged.

“I don’t really try to hide; I just don’t care about being found.”

‘Shy’ was not a word that Michelle would use to describe herself, but rather uninterested. She didn’t have much luck when it came to finding people she had things in common with, and although Ben was very upbeat and a little talkative compared to her, they weren’t complete opposites. At least he knew a good place to read a book when he saw one.

“Thanks.”

She slid the black coffee to her side of the table. She normally didn’t wait for it to cool at all, and that held true when she started sipping on it right away.

“Mind telling me why you want to see me with no teeth? Do you normally take grandmothers on non-dates?”

Ben lifted his cup to his lips to drink but instead laughed at her comment. He placed the glass back down, shaking his head. “No. No. Ew. That would be weird,” he pulled in his lips so it looked like he had no teeth and tried talking, “See, this is what I’d look like. In case you wondered,” he smirked before contorting his face back to normal, finally taking a small sip from coffee. “I wonder odd things sometimes,” he simply shrugged his shoulders at her. 

“I’m sure everyone does, they just don’t admit it because it’s not cool or part of the norm,” he sighed. He hadn’t been out in the real world, long. But long enough to realize that people were sheep and wanted to fit in way more than they should. “i heard a quote once. ‘Why try to fit in when you were born to stand out?’ I like that quote. I don’t understand why everyone tries to fit in so bad. Me? I like being me. And if people don’t like it?” he simply shrugged his shoulders again.

“Warm milk?” Ben’s nose wrinkled at the very thought. Sure, he’d heard of the remedy before. But the mere thought of warm milk grossed him out. “Milk should be cold. Unless,” he raised a finger, “it’s being mixed into my coffee.”

He chuckled at her comment with a nod. “I’d like to think I’m super intuitive but,” he grinned, “it was definitely the convo.” Ben’s eyes glanced up at the menu, trying to decide what to order.

Ben’s brow raised at her order. “Coffee with two shots of extra coffee? How are you not bouncing off the walls wired?” Her order would definitely have kept him up all night. And probably the next day or two.

Ben stepped next to her, pushing her wallet aside. “I asked, I pay. Besides, what kind of not date would I be if I let you pay?’ Ben turned back to the barista, head moving shoulder to shoulder until he decided.

“Large Flat White for me. Thanks.” He pulled out the debit card Mr. Stark had given him. “And two cake pops,” he added before sliding the chip first into the little machine.

“I have a sweet tooth,” he flashed a smile at her before taking the card back and shoving it into the little slot on his phone case.

“Whatever. I still don’t think it belongs with coffee unless you’re a wimp.”

She was teasing, but was she? Why couldn’t people just drink it straight like it was made? Leave it to humans to constantly mess with stuff, but that was a rant for a different day.

Michelle grabbed a wad of cash and smoothed out the bills, but before they could be handed to the barista, she felt her hand being gently pushed aside. She squinted before looking up at Ben as he spoke. Her eyes were glued to him as he ordered, while her mouth remained slightly agape. What had just happened? No one had ever been that nice to her, so she was left puzzled for the first time in a while.

Still staring up at him, she slowly put her money back into the front pocket of her backpack and zipped it. She rolled her shoulder so that the bag could return to its default spot on her back.

“Thanks…”

That was all she could say before she folded her arms across her chest.

“Are you always this nice? Because speaking of sweet tooth, mine might rot.”

She smirked, hoping that he caught onto the joke. If not, eh, it was better in her head anyway.

“I’ll go get us a seat?”

“Welcome,” he half smiled, half smirked at the stunned looking Michelle next to him. He liked throwing her for a loop for some reason. And also, were people not nice to her? Did they not buy her things like coffee and cake pops? It didn’t seem that out of the ordinary to do. “I think I’m the right amount of nice?” he questioned with a laugh. “Although if you’d like me to be meaner, I can be.” He playfully shoved her with his elbow as he put his debit card back into the slot on his cellphone. 

“Something else we have in common then?” He glanced over the case full of desserts. “Should I order more? Maybe the cookies? Or cinnamon roll because that looks amazing!” And he would too, if she wanted them. “And I’m curious what you would look like with no teeth,” he joked back with her.

Secrets. Everyone had them. Ben certainly did. Peter did. The one thing Ben was sure of was Michelle’s secrets could compare with his and Peter’s. They were obviously masked for a reason. And if should their identities ever be exposed well, he was sure that Mr. Stark guy would not be happy.

Ben pulled open the door to allow Michelle to walk in before him, the cold air of the coffee shop hitting him much as the surprisingly warm air had hit him once they left the school. Letting the door close behind him, his eyes quickly scanned over the small, quiet shop; not only to take in the atmosphere, but to check for any imminent danger. It was a habit he couldn’t help doing, no matter the situation he was, even something as simple as walking into a coffee shop with a pretty girl.

Ben towered over Michelle as he stood behind her, watching her as she looked up at the menu before his own eyes traveled up to scan for what he wanted himself. So many choices, he thought. Coffee was something he had come to love in his new life. Coffee and microwave popcorn. Not together though.

He laughed at her question, shaking his head. “As if I sleep,” he let slip out accidentally before he shrugged. “Touch of insomnia lately. Must be the moving, new school. You know,” he babbled on and on before finally making his selection.

“Something tells me you’re not the pretentious “skinny flavored latte with soy/coconut/almond milk” type,” he smirked at her as the barista asked if the were ready.

“Again, after you.”

MJ turned her head to look at him and raised a brow. He didn’t look like he never slept, but then again, she hadn’t been staring at his eyes very much. She tried to dodge eye contact whenever possible; she just wasn’t good at it.

“I hear warm milk helps you sleep at night. Gross.”

She whispered the last word before turning to look over the pointless menu once again. Some of the names of the drinks intrigued her, but she was a creature of habit.

“How did you guess? Did the conversation we had earlier about black coffee do it?”

Without looking at him, she nudged him with her elbow. Physical contact of any kind was normally strictly prohibited, but something about Ben made it seem like if she didn’t let him know that she was joking, he might take it to heart. Yep; Peter and Ben were definitely related.

She took a slow, deep breath when they moved up in line. She always hated this part, which was the interacting. She wished they would get with the times and install a machine that would do everything for them, making going through people to get a coffee would be unnecessary.

“Can I get just a black coffee with a shot of espresso?”

She paused, bouncing one knee up and down as she stood in place while contemplating.

“Actually, make that two shots. I don’t have anywhere to be.”

He chuckled at her comment with a nod. “I’d like to think I’m super intuitive but,” he grinned, “it was definitely the convo.” Ben’s eyes glanced up at the menu, trying to decide what to order.

Ben’s brow raised at her order. “Coffee with two shots of extra coffee? How are you not bouncing off the walls wired?” Her order would definitely have kept him up all night. And probably the next day or two.

Ben stepped next to her, pushing her wallet aside. “I asked, I pay. Besides, what kind of not date would I be if I let you pay?’ Ben turned back to the barista, head moving shoulder to shoulder until he decided.

“Large Flat White for me. Thanks.” He pulled out the debit card Mr. Stark had given him. “And two cake pops,” he added before sliding the chip first into the little machine.

“Popularity was never my thing. I’m more of a,” Ben paused, his head bobbing from side to side as he thought about how to phrase his life so far, “hide in the background kind of guy. Huge crowds of loud, fake people don’t exactly sing out excitement to me. Besides, those huge crowds make me kind of,” again Ben paused, shoulders shrugging high to his ears, “edgy. Not a fan.” he left his shoulders fall back to a normal position. Was that admitting too much? Would she find him a lonely creeper? He hoped not.

He walked silently for a moment as she discussed Peter, finally a laugh escaped his lips. Oh, oh if she only knew the things Peter did for his “night job.” She’d be surprised that Peter was the exact opposite of everything she thought about him. “He’s not that bad. Maybe there’s a reason behind his issues. Stress. Stuff he doesn’t tell anyone,” Ben glanced at her out of the side of his eyes, not trying to give too much away.

He stopped at the spot for a moment, giving it a once over before catching up back up with her. “It’s not that bad. Far enough away in my opinion. Let me guess. You have a better one, but you’re not going to share?” He smirked at her, not surprised that she would have a secret hiding spot.

As they reached the coffee shop, Ben glanced up at the hole in the wall. It was the furthest thing from a Starbucks she cold find and….he was more than impressed. “This place looks amazing.” Quiet and out of the way. Everything he could ask for.

Opening the door, he motioned to her. “After you, of course.”

Her eyes skimmed over his body once more, and she put extra effort into trying not to come off as judgmental this time. His body type didn’t scream anti-social, awkward nerd, but maybe he was; looks could be deceiving after all.

“Same. It’s not that it bothers me, I just don’t care.”

She turned toward the coffee shop and looked up at the sign, which she now had to strain her neck to see. There was nothing interesting about it at all, but she needed to put her eyes somewhere other than on him before she made it awkward. Michelle was still all ears, listening to his explanation for Peter. Without moving her head, her eyes shifted to one side, just happening to meet his.

“Secrets don’t make friends.”

She was being sarcastic. She didn’t care if Peter never told her anything about what he did behind closed doors, but she couldn’t lie and say that she hadn’t caught onto the leaving school early, going absolutely nuts at academic meets when his phone rang, and just the change in his physical appearance overall; she was very observant. She didn’t want to come out to someone she had known for a whole nine hours and say that she had suspicions of Peter, their cousin, for a while. What if Ben wasn’t aware of Peter potentially being the web-slinging superhero of the city? She was careful not to let anything slip, which was easy for her since she had control over her words.

She lifted a brow while a small smirk appeared in hearing his question.

“I might fill you in someday, but we’re not there yet.”

When he pulled the door open and motioned for her to go inside, she mouthed a ‘thank you’ before slipping past him. One of her favorite things about the shop after school was how quiet everything was. She often sat in the corner next to a large plant and just contemplated life, or her life in one of the books she was currently reading. The present felt a bit odd because she had someone at her side, but it wasn’t a bad thing.

Her head tilted back slightly as she scanned over the menu, which was pointless because she already knew what she wanted.

Ben pulled open the door to allow Michelle to walk in before him, the cold air of the coffee shop hitting him much as the surprisingly warm air had hit him once they left the school. Letting the door close behind him, his eyes quickly scanned over the small, quiet shop; not only to take in the atmosphere, but to check for any imminent danger. It was a habit he couldn’t help doing, no matter the situation he was, even something as simple as walking into a coffee shop with a pretty girl.

Ben towered over Michelle as he stood behind her, watching her as she looked up at the menu before his own eyes traveled up to scan for what he wanted himself. So many choices, he thought. Coffee was something he had come to love in his new life. Coffee and microwave popcorn. Not together though.

He laughed at her question, shaking his head. “As if I sleep,” he let slip out accidentally before he shrugged. “Touch of insomnia lately. Must be the moving, new school. You know,” he babbled on and on before finally making his selection. 

“Something tells me you’re not the pretentious “skinny flavored latte with soy/coconut/almond milk” type,” he smirked at her as the barista asked if the were ready.

This girl never ceased to amuse Ben. That is, in the eight or nine hours he’d known her. She was a breath of fresh air versus the other people he had in life, catering to him, trying to make him more like Peter, trying to make him more….human. Not that he didn’t need the help with socialization and fitting in but Michelle knew nothing about him or his past to her straight up bluntness was refreshing to him. She didn’t tip toe around him like most people, afraid he was going to break or go back into hiding.

“Honesty. Is that what you call it?” He playfully jabbed her elbow with his, a bright smile on his lips as he joked with her. “Actually, I kind of like it. Most people don’t tend to be that way. Long story,” he waved his hand, hoping she wouldn’t ask any follow up questions.

“So you’re not big on the whole school popularity thing, huh?” He wasn’t surprised by this from what little he knew of her, and it actually kind of made him like her more. He was the king of hiding in the shadows, and that was plan number one for school. Stay in the background and make it through without being too heavily noticed.

As Peter was brought into the conversation, he choked, well, coughed, trying to cover it up. “Peter? He wasn’t feeling well this morning when I left. Probably left mid day sick or something.” He couldn’t exactly tell her that Peter had been whisked away by Happy Hogan for who knows what right before lunch. So sick it was.

“So yeah, sick. I suppose you could - oh, that’s pretty spot,” he nodded at the quiet little spot as they passed it. “I may have to remember that for when I want to get away from people.”

“As a matter of fact, yes. I don’t want to lead the very few people that I talk to astray.”

Long story? Her eyes examined his features like she was looking for something, but she dismissed it and faced forward, resuming her attention on the walk. If he wanted to fill her in, she was sure he would. After all, who else did he have to talk to?

She shook her head at his question.

“Nope. I don’t really have the materials for it, but whatever. I think popularity is overrated. I kind of like being the outcast.”

She shrugged, completely unbothered by the fact that the people she spoke to on a daily basis could be counted on half of one hand.

“From the looks of it, you don’t care too much about it, either.”

Her eyes returned to him as she raised a brow. She knew that if he really wanted to get in with the crowd at their high school, he would be far away from her. The only contacts she had were the voices in her head, and he most likely didn’t want to hear those.

That brow remained raised when he started acting all weird. Her expression remained the same, not surprised in the slightest with his response.

“That kid needs to live in a hospital. If his stomach is that bad, I’ll give him half of mine.”

Once again, her eyes left his to focus on what was in front of her. Her hair bounced freely as she walked, even though she didn’t have that natural, happy bounce that a lot of girls did. She turned her head to the spot that distracted him and reduced her amount of footsteps, slowing down as they passed the area.

“Yeah, it’s alright. A little too close to school for my comfort, but it would do. Let me know how you like it.”

With that, they turned a corner that would soon reveal the coffee shop. She came to a halt outside and sighed, staring up at the well-lit sign.

He walked silently for a moment as she discussed Peter, finally a laugh escaped his lips. Oh, oh if she only knew the things Peter did for his “night job.” She’d be surprised that Peter was the exact opposite of everything she thought about him. “He’s not that bad. Maybe there’s a reason behind his issues. Stress. Stuff he doesn’t tell anyone,” Ben glanced at her out of the side of his eyes, not trying to give too much away.

He stopped at the spot for a moment, giving it a once over before catching up back up with her. “It’s not that bad. Far enough away in my opinion. Let me guess. You have a better one, but you’re not going to share?” He smirked at her, not surprised that she would have a secret hiding spot.

As they reached the coffee shop, Ben glanced up at the hole in the wall. It was the furthest thing from a Starbucks she cold find and....he was more than impressed. “This place looks amazing.” Quiet and out of the way. Everything he could ask for. 

[ @scarletspideyclone ]

“Slack is earned, not given.”

She pressed the handle on the door, which lead to where the dumpsters were out back. She stepped out, her first thought being how ridiculously warm it was. She preferred cooler weather because it was perfect to read in, but her and Mother Nature often didn’t see eye to eye. She was going to attempt to keep her complaints to a minimum, however, because she didn’t want to come off as some brat that always had to have what she wanted; she knew from experience that it wasn’t how life worked.

She could hear commotion in the distance, which was no doubt the high schoolers getting into their fancy cars that their parents bought them. Her legs worked just fine, so walking was her form of transportation. She preferred that to having to deal with teenagers on the road, anyway.

As she walked at a steady pace, she turned her head toward Ben, who looked a little taller in the sunlight for whatever reason.

Ben looked around at the alley behind the school. It was…well…an alley behind the school. But they were the only two kids leaving this way; no rush of students falling over each other to get out. Maybe she had a point coming this way. Minus the smell of the dumpster, he thought as his nose slightly wrinkling as she quickly walked passed it.

Quickening his face to catch up with the pretty brunette, he hands tightened on the bag hanging around his body. 

“I don’t crack easily under pressure, so I’m sure you’ll be here for a while. As for the mean part, that depends on whether you are able to distinguish that between honest. Time will tell.”

She was very blunt, which she was sure that he had figured out by then. 

“Yeah, they’ll do that. I kind of like it. It means less conversations that I have to have.”

She shrugged, her lips spreading into a thin line across her face. A brow lifted as she decided to milk him for all that she could. He knew Peter, probably a little more than her, so he could perhaps answer some questions that would surely come.

“Have you seen Peter today? He missed gym…again. His scrawny body and small stature can no longer be the reason that he almost fails.”

“Honesty. Is that what you call it?” He playfully jabbed her elbow with his, a bright smile on his lips as he joked with her. “Actually, I kind of like it. Most people don’t tend to be that way. Long story,” he waved his hand, hoping she wouldn’t ask any follow up questions. 

“So you’re not big on the whole school popularity thing, huh?” He wasn’t surprised by this from what little he knew of her, and it actually kind of made him like her more. He was the king of hiding in the shadows, and that was plan number one for school. Stay in the background and make it through without being too heavily noticed.

As Peter was brought into the conversation, he choked, well, coughed, trying to cover it up. “Peter? He wasn’t feeling well this morning when I left. Probably left mid day sick or something.” He couldn’t exactly tell her that Peter had been whisked away by Happy Hogan for who knows what right before lunch. So sick it was.

[ @scarletspideyclone ]

“Slack is earned, not given.”

She pressed the handle on the door, which lead to where the dumpsters were out back. She stepped out, her first thought being how ridiculously warm it was. She preferred cooler weather because it was perfect to read in, but her and Mother Nature often didn’t see eye to eye. She was going to attempt to keep her complaints to a minimum, however, because she didn’t want to come off as some brat that always had to have what she wanted; she knew from experience that it wasn’t how life worked.

She could hear commotion in the distance, which was no doubt the high schoolers getting into their fancy cars that their parents bought them. Her legs worked just fine, so walking was her form of transportation. She preferred that to having to deal with teenagers on the road, anyway.

As she walked at a steady pace, she turned her head toward Ben, who looked a little taller in the sunlight for whatever reason.

Ben looked around at the alley behind the school. It was...well...an alley behind the school. But they were the only two kids leaving this way; no rush of students falling over each other to get out. Maybe she had a point coming this way. Minus the smell of the dumpster, he thought as his nose slightly wrinkling as she quickly walked passed it.

Quickening his face to catch up with the pretty brunette, he hands tightened on the bag hanging around his body. 

[ @scarletspideyclone ]

It took all of her efforts to hold back the eye roll when he referred to himself as ‘another Peter’. Great. She just couldn’t get away, could she? Then again, if what he was saying was true, then she had no doubt that he was a decent guy because Peter Parker wouldn’t bite a piece of bread.

“Thanks for the warning.”

She thought that her tone was sarcastic enough, but just to be sure that he didn’t take her too seriously, she shot him a small half grin.

Michelle took a few moments to ponder on his request, eyes skimming over him. Eventually, she agreed, and she even felt a rush of something going through her… Was it excitement? Nervousness? Dread? No, not the last one for once in her life, but it was a mix of other things because she was so unsure of what to do or say on this…pre-friendship gathering.

“Alright, sounds good. We can just walk there after school. The coffee shop’s just a few blocks away. I like to walk because it lets me clear my head. That, and we pass a cemetery that I like taking pictures of.”

Worried for a moment that she might change her mind, Ben’s smile grew when she started actually making plans for after school. So she was in. He had a date. Not a date though.

“Sounds like a plan. And I get what you mean by walking. I do the- wait, cemetery? They don’t creep you out? Most people I know are creeped out by them. I kind of find them, well, peaceful.” He simply shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. Hopefully that didn’t come off too weird.

“Yeah… I like to sit with my back against one of the tombstones sometimes and read. It’s pretty peaceful. People in coffins can’t talk.”

Who was she kidding? He didn’t seem like the type to just lie to her about his interests, so her expression shifted as the muscles in her face relaxed. She then pursed her lips slightly at his question, squinting absentmindedly. 

“As if anyone who was a vampire would just admit it. That’s something you’ll have to find out for yourself.” 

He wasn’t as annoying as Peter, yet. Also, his smile was a bit contagious, because she found herself smiling back shyly, but it didn’t last for long. Her eyes lifted toward the ceiling as the bell rang, unleashing a flood of students heading for the classroom door. She stuffed her book inside of her backpack before standing up & slinging it over her shoulder. She faced Ben as she tucked a few stray hairs behind her ear.

“I guess I’ll see you after school, then. Maybe I’ll see you in another class if we have it together?”

Her awkwardness was shining through, but she barely even noticed; it was just part of her.

“It was nice to meet you.”

“So, I guess I’ll just find out when you don’t show up in mirrors or pictures, huh?” he playfully jabbed back at her. “Or if you sparkle in the sun like those really horrible movies I saw once.” He did occasionally leave his cave when he was hiding to catch a movie or two. Twilight was the wrong choice.

Their gaze caught but only for a moment before she looked away, not surprising to him. She didn’t seem the type for long glances or walks along the beach holding hands. But the fact they did have that moment was enough as the bell rang. He grabbed his bag, standing, letting her walk first.

“Right. Hopefully. I have chemistry next. You?” he said as he headed for the door, just as awkward as she was. He shifted his bag on his shoulder as he avoided the other students rushing to the door to head to their next class, not really wanted to leave this fascinating girl.

“It was nice to meet you too Michelle. Until later,” he shot her a cocked smile, letting her walk away, following a few steps and students behind. 

Yes, he just brought up Twilight of all things. She didn’t despise the saga, but she was highly disappointed that vampires were so kind. She had more hope for them than that. 

When Ben began to walk toward the classroom door, she turned to face the front instead of backing up all the way to the front of the class. She tugged at her backpack strap, which was basically just something to do to take her mind off of how awkward human interaction could be.

“Chemistry’s cool. I like when things overflow and people freak out.”

She smiled to herself, thinking of several times that Peter had messed up some kind of sticky substance that he was set on perfecting. 

“Yeah, uh, same to you.” 

Michelle saluted him before quickly shifting her gaze to something, anything else. She entered the crowd of students that were way too packed in the halls for her liking, but in that particular instance, she couldn’t complain too much as she got lost in them. It’s not that she was trying to get away from the new guy, because she actually liked to talk to him if she was being honest, but she was afraid that she would end up saying something that was too far out there and just like that, he would be gone. Maybe she needed to learn that other people wouldn’t just up and leave her so easily, or maybe she just hasn’t met the right person yet.

She spent most of her time throughout the school day just reading her book, and when the teachers would ask why she wasn’t paying attention, she would respond by telling them that she didn’t need to. She preferred to learn the material through reading about it herself, and as long as she continued to get near perfect grades, teachers shouldn’t question her ways.

Between classes, she would walk much quicker than her normal pace. A few times, she caught herself peeking around corners, and when she spotted him, she would go the long way around to her next destination. When the bell rang for her last class of the day, though, she was more prepared to reunite with him and go through with their plans. Once she packed up all of her belongings and slung her backpack over one shoulder, she entered into the hall, which was much less crowded than earlier. Everyone was rushing toward the double doors at the front of the building, which was why Michelle always preferred to take the back. She shook her head as she watched the students shove each other through the doors and just went on with her own route.

Ben made his way through the rest of the day, a skip in his step, happily not blowing anything up in chemistry. The day did drag on after lunch, geometry being the worst of his classes he had, when the final bell rang.

He quickly grabbed his bag and headed to his locker, eager to meet Michelle, Hoping she still wanted to go for coffee. Ben slammed his locker shut, turning without looking as he started down the hall, knocking someone shorter than him to the ground.

The new guy. Oh great. Fantastic.

She didn’t care so much about the hard floor nearly breaking her back or leaving an indention in the back of her skull, but she wasn’t looking forward to the conversation over coffee that they were going to have later that took the place of one of her favorite books, or even her elaborating on the cemetery thing. 

When Ben first started talking, she ignored him. That was her tactic to make people go away, but it didn’t seem to work, because his voice just got louder and his hands got closer. Coming to the realization that it was right next to impossible to not rise to her feet, she groaned quietly as her brows knitted together. Her eyes formed slits as her lids lifted the slightest bit, only enough to make out the figure hovering above her. She slowly began to open her eyes more and more, and eventually, the blurriness left. She noticed how he extended his hand toward her in offering, and on any normal day, she would swat it away and say that she was capable of getting up herself. In that moment, though, that thought didn’t even cross her mind as she slowly lifted her hand to meet his. She kept her grip on his hand gentle as she used his strength to help pull her to her feet.

Once she was balanced, she used her free hand to brush a few stray hairs that was annoying to her vision out of her sight.

“Thanks.”

Then she grinned. Or groaned. He wasn’t sure what the noise was that came out from her but at least it was something as her eyes slowly opened to meet his, her hand finally slipping into his so he could help her up.

Those stray hairs wisping across her face. He was tempted to brush those back and tuck them behind her ear but she beat him to it, not surprisingly.

“It was the least I could do. You know, after bumping into to you. You sure you’re okay?” He met her smile with one of his own, hands still together. That is, until she realized that fact and quickly pulled away. Normally Ben would be upset by this, take it as some form of rejection. But Michelle was different and dor once, he didn’t take offense.

She shrugged, slowly taking a step back to distance herself just a little bit. She wasn’t used to having to talk about how she was feeling, so her words came out in a bit of a mess.

“Yeah, I’m good. I’m not bleeding out on the floor or anything, so it’s not even a big deal.”

She was relieved when Ben changed the conversation topic to their coffee…gathering after school. She faked a laugh at his joke about the Tylenol.

“I’m used to it. People give me a headache on a daily basis.”

She cleared her throat before continuing.

“I see by the direction you were going that you were trying to exit through those double doors.”

She twisted her upper body to better face the doors behind her for a brief moment before turning back to look at him.

“Don’t. It’s not worth it. People aren’t smart enough to use the back way.”

She paused, taking a few steps toward her destination before stopping in her tracks.

“I guess you weren’t, either.”

“Good thing there’s no blood. I bet they’d make you clean that up. Which would only delay you in coffee. And we can’t have that now, can we?” He joked, laughing at her comment about people. “Just let me know when I’m giving you a headache. I have a bottle of extra strength in my bag with your name on it.” He nodded his head down toward his bag as his hand slid down to pat it.

His eyes fell to the doors in front of them, a wave of kids trying to all get out the same time. “It looksike a stampede,” he said under his breath. Turning to follow her, he crossed his arms over his chest. “Hey! New kid, remember? I haven’t learned the secret ways in and out of the school yet. A little slack please,” he teased her as he caught up to her, heading towards the back.

[ @scarletspideyclone ]

It took all of her efforts to hold back the eye roll when he referred to himself as ‘another Peter’. Great. She just couldn’t get away, could she? Then again, if what he was saying was true, then she had no doubt that he was a decent guy because Peter Parker wouldn’t bite a piece of bread.

“Thanks for the warning.”

She thought that her tone was sarcastic enough, but just to be sure that he didn’t take her too seriously, she shot him a small half grin.

Michelle took a few moments to ponder on his request, eyes skimming over him. Eventually, she agreed, and she even felt a rush of something going through her… Was it excitement? Nervousness? Dread? No, not the last one for once in her life, but it was a mix of other things because she was so unsure of what to do or say on this…pre-friendship gathering.

“Alright, sounds good. We can just walk there after school. The coffee shop’s just a few blocks away. I like to walk because it lets me clear my head. That, and we pass a cemetery that I like taking pictures of.”

Worried for a moment that she might change her mind, Ben’s smile grew when she started actually making plans for after school. So she was in. He had a date. Not a date though.

“Sounds like a plan. And I get what you mean by walking. I do the- wait, cemetery? They don’t creep you out? Most people I know are creeped out by them. I kind of find them, well, peaceful.” He simply shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. Hopefully that didn’t come off too weird.

“Yeah… I like to sit with my back against one of the tombstones sometimes and read. It’s pretty peaceful. People in coffins can’t talk.”

Who was she kidding? He didn’t seem like the type to just lie to her about his interests, so her expression shifted as the muscles in her face relaxed. She then pursed her lips slightly at his question, squinting absentmindedly. 

“As if anyone who was a vampire would just admit it. That’s something you’ll have to find out for yourself.” 

He wasn’t as annoying as Peter, yet. Also, his smile was a bit contagious, because she found herself smiling back shyly, but it didn’t last for long. Her eyes lifted toward the ceiling as the bell rang, unleashing a flood of students heading for the classroom door. She stuffed her book inside of her backpack before standing up & slinging it over her shoulder. She faced Ben as she tucked a few stray hairs behind her ear.

“I guess I’ll see you after school, then. Maybe I’ll see you in another class if we have it together?”

Her awkwardness was shining through, but she barely even noticed; it was just part of her.

“It was nice to meet you.”

“So, I guess I’ll just find out when you don’t show up in mirrors or pictures, huh?” he playfully jabbed back at her. “Or if you sparkle in the sun like those really horrible movies I saw once.” He did occasionally leave his cave when he was hiding to catch a movie or two. Twilight was the wrong choice.

Their gaze caught but only for a moment before she looked away, not surprising to him. She didn’t seem the type for long glances or walks along the beach holding hands. But the fact they did have that moment was enough as the bell rang. He grabbed his bag, standing, letting her walk first.

“Right. Hopefully. I have chemistry next. You?” he said as he headed for the door, just as awkward as she was. He shifted his bag on his shoulder as he avoided the other students rushing to the door to head to their next class, not really wanted to leave this fascinating girl.

“It was nice to meet you too Michelle. Until later,” he shot her a cocked smile, letting her walk away, following a few steps and students behind. 

Yes, he just brought up Twilight of all things. She didn’t despise the saga, but she was highly disappointed that vampires were so kind. She had more hope for them than that. 

When Ben began to walk toward the classroom door, she turned to face the front instead of backing up all the way to the front of the class. She tugged at her backpack strap, which was basically just something to do to take her mind off of how awkward human interaction could be.

“Chemistry’s cool. I like when things overflow and people freak out.”

She smiled to herself, thinking of several times that Peter had messed up some kind of sticky substance that he was set on perfecting. 

“Yeah, uh, same to you.” 

Michelle saluted him before quickly shifting her gaze to something, anything else. She entered the crowd of students that were way too packed in the halls for her liking, but in that particular instance, she couldn’t complain too much as she got lost in them. It’s not that she was trying to get away from the new guy, because she actually liked to talk to him if she was being honest, but she was afraid that she would end up saying something that was too far out there and just like that, he would be gone. Maybe she needed to learn that other people wouldn’t just up and leave her so easily, or maybe she just hasn’t met the right person yet.

She spent most of her time throughout the school day just reading her book, and when the teachers would ask why she wasn’t paying attention, she would respond by telling them that she didn’t need to. She preferred to learn the material through reading about it herself, and as long as she continued to get near perfect grades, teachers shouldn’t question her ways.

Between classes, she would walk much quicker than her normal pace. A few times, she caught herself peeking around corners, and when she spotted him, she would go the long way around to her next destination. When the bell rang for her last class of the day, though, she was more prepared to reunite with him and go through with their plans. Once she packed up all of her belongings and slung her backpack over one shoulder, she entered into the hall, which was much less crowded than earlier. Everyone was rushing toward the double doors at the front of the building, which was why Michelle always preferred to take the back. She shook her head as she watched the students shove each other through the doors and just went on with her own route.

Ben made his way through the rest of the day, a skip in his step, happily not blowing anything up in chemistry. The day did drag on after lunch, geometry being the worst of his classes he had, when the final bell rang.

He quickly grabbed his bag and headed to his locker, eager to meet Michelle, Hoping she still wanted to go for coffee. Ben slammed his locker shut, turning without looking as he started down the hall, knocking someone shorter than him to the ground.

The new guy. Oh great. Fantastic.

She didn’t care so much about the hard floor nearly breaking her back or leaving an indention in the back of her skull, but she wasn’t looking forward to the conversation over coffee that they were going to have later that took the place of one of her favorite books, or even her elaborating on the cemetery thing. 

When Ben first started talking, she ignored him. That was her tactic to make people go away, but it didn’t seem to work, because his voice just got louder and his hands got closer. Coming to the realization that it was right next to impossible to not rise to her feet, she groaned quietly as her brows knitted together. Her eyes formed slits as her lids lifted the slightest bit, only enough to make out the figure hovering above her. She slowly began to open her eyes more and more, and eventually, the blurriness left. She noticed how he extended his hand toward her in offering, and on any normal day, she would swat it away and say that she was capable of getting up herself. In that moment, though, that thought didn’t even cross her mind as she slowly lifted her hand to meet his. She kept her grip on his hand gentle as she used his strength to help pull her to her feet.

Once she was balanced, she used her free hand to brush a few stray hairs that was annoying to her vision out of her sight.

“Thanks.”

Then she grinned. Or groaned. He wasn’t sure what the noise was that came out from her but at least it was something as her eyes slowly opened to meet his, her hand finally slipping into his so he could help her up.

Those stray hairs wisping across her face. He was tempted to brush those back and tuck them behind her ear but she beat him to it, not surprisingly.

“It was the least I could do. You know, after bumping into to you. You sure you’re okay?” He met her smile with one of his own, hands still together. That is, until she realized that fact and quickly pulled away. Normally Ben would be upset by this, take it as some form of rejection. But Michelle was different and dor once, he didn’t take offense.

[ @scarletspideyclone ]

It took all of her efforts to hold back the eye roll when he referred to himself as ‘another Peter’. Great. She just couldn’t get away, could she? Then again, if what he was saying was true, then she had no doubt that he was a decent guy because Peter Parker wouldn’t bite a piece of bread.

“Thanks for the warning.”

She thought that her tone was sarcastic enough, but just to be sure that he didn’t take her too seriously, she shot him a small half grin.

Michelle took a few moments to ponder on his request, eyes skimming over him. Eventually, she agreed, and she even felt a rush of something going through her… Was it excitement? Nervousness? Dread? No, not the last one for once in her life, but it was a mix of other things because she was so unsure of what to do or say on this…pre-friendship gathering.

“Alright, sounds good. We can just walk there after school. The coffee shop’s just a few blocks away. I like to walk because it lets me clear my head. That, and we pass a cemetery that I like taking pictures of.”

Worried for a moment that she might change her mind, Ben’s smile grew when she started actually making plans for after school. So she was in. He had a date. Not a date though.

“Sounds like a plan. And I get what you mean by walking. I do the- wait, cemetery? They don’t creep you out? Most people I know are creeped out by them. I kind of find them, well, peaceful.” He simply shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. Hopefully that didn’t come off too weird.

“Yeah… I like to sit with my back against one of the tombstones sometimes and read. It’s pretty peaceful. People in coffins can’t talk.”

Who was she kidding? He didn’t seem like the type to just lie to her about his interests, so her expression shifted as the muscles in her face relaxed. She then pursed her lips slightly at his question, squinting absentmindedly. 

“As if anyone who was a vampire would just admit it. That’s something you’ll have to find out for yourself.” 

He wasn’t as annoying as Peter, yet. Also, his smile was a bit contagious, because she found herself smiling back shyly, but it didn’t last for long. Her eyes lifted toward the ceiling as the bell rang, unleashing a flood of students heading for the classroom door. She stuffed her book inside of her backpack before standing up & slinging it over her shoulder. She faced Ben as she tucked a few stray hairs behind her ear.

“I guess I’ll see you after school, then. Maybe I’ll see you in another class if we have it together?”

Her awkwardness was shining through, but she barely even noticed; it was just part of her.

“It was nice to meet you.”

“So, I guess I’ll just find out when you don’t show up in mirrors or pictures, huh?” he playfully jabbed back at her. “Or if you sparkle in the sun like those really horrible movies I saw once.” He did occasionally leave his cave when he was hiding to catch a movie or two. Twilight was the wrong choice.

Their gaze caught but only for a moment before she looked away, not surprising to him. She didn’t seem the type for long glances or walks along the beach holding hands. But the fact they did have that moment was enough as the bell rang. He grabbed his bag, standing, letting her walk first.

“Right. Hopefully. I have chemistry next. You?” he said as he headed for the door, just as awkward as she was. He shifted his bag on his shoulder as he avoided the other students rushing to the door to head to their next class, not really wanted to leave this fascinating girl.

“It was nice to meet you too Michelle. Until later,” he shot her a cocked smile, letting her walk away, following a few steps and students behind. 

Yes, he just brought up Twilight of all things. She didn’t despise the saga, but she was highly disappointed that vampires were so kind. She had more hope for them than that. 

When Ben began to walk toward the classroom door, she turned to face the front instead of backing up all the way to the front of the class. She tugged at her backpack strap, which was basically just something to do to take her mind off of how awkward human interaction could be.

“Chemistry’s cool. I like when things overflow and people freak out.”

She smiled to herself, thinking of several times that Peter had messed up some kind of sticky substance that he was set on perfecting. 

“Yeah, uh, same to you.” 

Michelle saluted him before quickly shifting her gaze to something, anything else. She entered the crowd of students that were way too packed in the halls for her liking, but in that particular instance, she couldn’t complain too much as she got lost in them. It’s not that she was trying to get away from the new guy, because she actually liked to talk to him if she was being honest, but she was afraid that she would end up saying something that was too far out there and just like that, he would be gone. Maybe she needed to learn that other people wouldn’t just up and leave her so easily, or maybe she just hasn’t met the right person yet.

She spent most of her time throughout the school day just reading her book, and when the teachers would ask why she wasn’t paying attention, she would respond by telling them that she didn’t need to. She preferred to learn the material through reading about it herself, and as long as she continued to get near perfect grades, teachers shouldn’t question her ways.

Between classes, she would walk much quicker than her normal pace. A few times, she caught herself peeking around corners, and when she spotted him, she would go the long way around to her next destination. When the bell rang for her last class of the day, though, she was more prepared to reunite with him and go through with their plans. Once she packed up all of her belongings and slung her backpack over one shoulder, she entered into the hall, which was much less crowded than earlier. Everyone was rushing toward the double doors at the front of the building, which was why Michelle always preferred to take the back. She shook her head as she watched the students shove each other through the doors and just went on with her own route.

Ben made his way through the rest of the day, a skip in his step, happily not blowing anything up in chemistry. The day did drag on after lunch, geometry being the worst of his classes he had, when the final bell rang.

He quickly grabbed his bag and headed to his locker, eager to meet Michelle, Hoping she still wanted to go for coffee. Ben slammed his locker shut, turning without looking as he started down the hall, knocking someone shorter than him to the ground.

[ @scarletspideyclone ]

It took all of her efforts to hold back the eye roll when he referred to himself as ‘another Peter’. Great. She just couldn’t get away, could she? Then again, if what he was saying was true, then she had no doubt that he was a decent guy because Peter Parker wouldn’t bite a piece of bread.

“Thanks for the warning.”

She thought that her tone was sarcastic enough, but just to be sure that he didn’t take her too seriously, she shot him a small half grin.

Michelle took a few moments to ponder on his request, eyes skimming over him. Eventually, she agreed, and she even felt a rush of something going through her… Was it excitement? Nervousness? Dread? No, not the last one for once in her life, but it was a mix of other things because she was so unsure of what to do or say on this…pre-friendship gathering.

“Alright, sounds good. We can just walk there after school. The coffee shop’s just a few blocks away. I like to walk because it lets me clear my head. That, and we pass a cemetery that I like taking pictures of.”

Worried for a moment that she might change her mind, Ben’s smile grew when she started actually making plans for after school. So she was in. He had a date. Not a date though.

“Sounds like a plan. And I get what you mean by walking. I do the- wait, cemetery? They don’t creep you out? Most people I know are creeped out by them. I kind of find them, well, peaceful.” He simply shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. Hopefully that didn’t come off too weird.

“Yeah… I like to sit with my back against one of the tombstones sometimes and read. It’s pretty peaceful. People in coffins can’t talk.”

Who was she kidding? He didn’t seem like the type to just lie to her about his interests, so her expression shifted as the muscles in her face relaxed. She then pursed her lips slightly at his question, squinting absentmindedly. 

“As if anyone who was a vampire would just admit it. That’s something you’ll have to find out for yourself.” 

He wasn’t as annoying as Peter, yet. Also, his smile was a bit contagious, because she found herself smiling back shyly, but it didn’t last for long. Her eyes lifted toward the ceiling as the bell rang, unleashing a flood of students heading for the classroom door. She stuffed her book inside of her backpack before standing up & slinging it over her shoulder. She faced Ben as she tucked a few stray hairs behind her ear.

“I guess I’ll see you after school, then. Maybe I’ll see you in another class if we have it together?”

Her awkwardness was shining through, but she barely even noticed; it was just part of her.

“It was nice to meet you.”

“So, I guess I’ll just find out when you don’t show up in mirrors or pictures, huh?” he playfully jabbed back at her. “Or if you sparkle in the sun like those really horrible movies I saw once.” He did occasionally leave his cave when he was hiding to catch a movie or two. Twilight was the wrong choice.

Their gaze caught but only for a moment before she looked away, not surprising to him. She didn’t seem the type for long glances or walks along the beach holding hands. But the fact they did have that moment was enough as the bell rang. He grabbed his bag, standing, letting her walk first.

“Right. Hopefully. I have chemistry next. You?” he said as he headed for the door, just as awkward as she was. He shifted his bag on his shoulder as he avoided the other students rushing to the door to head to their next class, not really wanted to leave this fascinating girl.

“It was nice to meet you too Michelle. Until later,” he shot her a cocked smile, letting her walk away, following a few steps and students behind. 

[ @scarletspideyclone ]

It took all of her efforts to hold back the eye roll when he referred to himself as ‘another Peter’. Great. She just couldn’t get away, could she? Then again, if what he was saying was true, then she had no doubt that he was a decent guy because Peter Parker wouldn’t bite a piece of bread.

“Thanks for the warning.”

She thought that her tone was sarcastic enough, but just to be sure that he didn’t take her too seriously, she shot him a small half grin.

Michelle took a few moments to ponder on his request, eyes skimming over him. Eventually, she agreed, and she even felt a rush of something going through her… Was it excitement? Nervousness? Dread? No, not the last one for once in her life, but it was a mix of other things because she was so unsure of what to do or say on this…pre-friendship gathering.

“Alright, sounds good. We can just walk there after school. The coffee shop’s just a few blocks away. I like to walk because it lets me clear my head. That, and we pass a cemetery that I like taking pictures of.”

Worried for a moment that she might change her mind, Ben’s smile grew when she started actually making plans for after school. So she was in. He had a date. Not a date though.

“Sounds like a plan. And I get what you mean by walking. I do the- wait, cemetery? They don’t creep you out? Most people I know are creeped out by them. I kind of find them, well, peaceful.” He simply shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. Hopefully that didn’t come off too weird.