Chapter Text
Peter hated his English class and hated his life. Okay, so maybe that was a little dramatic. He had an okay life. But his English class sucked royally.
It wasn’t like he hated English or his teacher or anything. He actually had loved the class a couple weeks ago. That was before a new kid, Harry, had been introduced in the class and just so happened to have the seat in front of him. The new guy wasn't particularly annoying or anything, nor was he rude to Peter. In fact, he hadn't even ever spoken to Peter before. Despite this, Peter had a huge crush on him.
Before he had met this guy… Well less met and more seen, but, anyways, before Peter had seen this guy he hadn't even known he liked guys. But everytime he saw the guy he mentally drooled and every time he heard him talk he shivered like it was twenty degrees. He hated this thing, this crush. It was so annoying.
It made him think of Liz and that crush he had on her. He was constantly comparing the crushes, how they made him feel, and he couldn't really see a difference between the crushes besides the obvious gender fact and that both had this air of unattainability, what with Liz being an out-of-his-league senior and Harry being a (probably straight) guy. Besides, rumor had it that Harry was Harry Osborn, son of the CEO of Oscorp and used to live on the Upper East Side before he got his invitation to their school in Queens. He was totally out of Peter’s league.
He was exiting said hated English class when Michelle- wait, no, it was MJ now- MJ snuck up on him. He didn’t know how she could sneak up on him with his enhanced senses, but she was still somehow able. Sometimes her skills of subterfuge scared him a little.
“Boo!” When Peter had jumped, she laughed. “What’s on your brain Peter?” She asked, squinting her eyes in a mock-accusatory look. “You seemed spacey all period.”
“Nothing, nothing. I’m good,” he said with an awkward smile as he put his hands in his pockets. “Wanna walk with me to Chemistry?” MJ just shrugged and they began walking.
MJ was not particularly daft and knew there was definitely something up with Peter. He was generally awkward, especially when talking to people, even with her and Ned, but he had been so weird lately that she had decided to finally get to the bottom of it. She figured the best way to do that was interrogate him.
“Y’know…. You always seem nervous in English,” she said. Peter just looked at her from the side and quickened his pace. He really didn't want to have this conversation. He may have been good at keeping one secret, but two? He didn’t know if he could handle the pressure of MJ questioning him. She was very persuasive. Very.
“Are you sure you don't wanna tell me something?” MJ said this with a smirk. She could see he was barely containing himself. “Does it have anything to do with that new guy? You've been pretty fidgety since he showed up.” Peter’s eyes bulged. Bingo
Before MJ could ask him another question, they reached Peter’s chemistry lab. “Whoops, I’m almost late! Nice talking to you! See you at lunch! Bye!” Peter shouted as he ran off.
MJ wasn't daft. His weird behavior definitely had something to do with that new kid Harry. Huh.
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At lunch, Peter met up with Ned down the hall before they headed to the cafeteria. They talked about simple stuff on the way there, like what he planned to do tonight (“The usual,” he said. “Haven’t heard anything big lately so I’ll just cruise and see if I can help out where I can, y’know.”) and if he had seen the latest episode of their favorite show. Before long they had reached the cafeteria and got their trays before joining MJ at their table. Peter really hoped she had forgotten about their earlier conversation, but, knowing her, she hadn't.
Sometime during their typical lunchtime argument about if Princess Leia should still be called a princess or if she should be called General Leia (Peter and MJ were for general, Ned was for princess), Peter saw him. Harry Osborn had entered the lunchroom. This was the first time Peter had even seen Harry come to the cafeteria in the two weeks he had been here. He could barely contain himself from staring. Actually, scratch that, he was indeed staring, chin in hand. It reminded him of when he used to stare at Liz from across the lunchroom with Ned.
He was really hoping Ned and MJ were too busy to notice, but, because fate seemed to think it was funny to ruin Peter’s entire life, MJ called him and his goo-goo eyes out. “Hey, Peter, you okay there?”
“Huh?” He didn't even move his head, too busy observing Harry Osborn’s perfect face and perfect hair and perfect body and perfect everything from afar.
“Peter? Peter. Hello?” Ned said, dragging out the last syllable. “Earth to Peter Parker?”
“Wha?” Peter said, snapping himself out of his daydream of Harry coming over to talk to him. He looked over at his friends quizzical expressions and raised eyebrows. Shit, he thought. I’m done for.
“You alright there, tiger?” asked MJ. Peter just nodded, wide eyed, and went back to eating his spaghetti. Riiiiight. Sure Pete. She mentally rolled her eyes and went back to schooling Ned in Star Wars knowledge. Peter had totally been staring at that Osborn kid. Did he really think he was subtle? Peter was by far the worst at keeping secrets. Oh well. No reason to bring it up now in front of Ned. Especially when she was currently beating Ned in a Star Wars debate, a rare feat in itself. Peter’s obvious little crush could wait until they were alone.