Dreams of Normalacy

[st_hotflashes]

Ned was excited. He could not believe that he and Peter got into the same university and had some of the same classes together! This was going to be the best and so far on campus neither of them had run into Flash, so he was sort of hoping Flash got into some other university other than MIT and neither of them would have to worry about the bully ever again. Of course, Ned sometimes thought about how if Flash wasn't there to bully them, who would take his place? Like Flash was some sort of Hydra creature and they were two nerdy versions of Hercules... well, Peter was definitely like Hercules. Ned just held the equipment or something.


"Dude, do you think the professor's going to be hard?" Ned slipped into a seat in the big lecture hall. They were early, but it felt safer than being late on your first day to theoretical physics class.

Comments

[st_arkintern]

Peter is still dressed in his Spider-Man costume when he approaches. "Hey, are you guys all right?"

It had taken awhile for Peter to get everything under control. After emergency services showed up, things had gotten considerably easier.

It was not the first day of college that Peter Parker was counting on.

[st_hotflashes]

She felt herself flush, though she wasn't quite sure why. "Um, yeah. Yes. Just... keeping each other company until someone can help her." She smiled toward Spider-Man.

The old woman thanked Spider-Man and almost as if on cue - though perhaps paramedics had simply followed Spider-Man over, there were professionals taking over and Liz stepped away. It should have felt weird or awkward talking to Spider-Man, but somehow it didn't. "Um. Thanks. For, you know, helping everyone and stuff." Why did she feel nervous, though?

[st_arkintern]

Peter smiles from beneath the mask. "Yeah, well," he says, rubbing the back of his neck, just as he had in class. "It's kinda the job."

[st_hotflashes]

"I should, um -" It suddenly hit Liz and she closed her eyes, frowning, as if to say 'oh my God, my life is over.' Her eyes opened again and she looked up and down the bridge, but it was still chaotic. She exhaled and looked defeated.

"Go... get a new backpack and a new textbook and stuff." Because she had no idea where that went anymore. How was she going to swing about $90 for a textbook?

[st_arkintern]

"Yeah, yeah," Peter agrees, feeling awkward. "I should, uh, I should go. Thanks for your help earlier."

[st_hotflashes]

Liz felt like an idiot, but she nodded. "You're welcome. Um." What did she say? She couldn't say 'see you later' though she felt like she should. Saying 'have a good day' felt weird as well. "Good luck."

She headed back towards the dorms as she kept a look out for her stuff. She had discarded it in a hurry because she knew it was a hazard, but now the reality of it was hitting her hard. She wasn't even sure she could afford a new textbook.

Liz eventually made it to Baker House, but she still hadn't found her backpack. She looked up at the dorm and sighed.

[st_arkintern]

Peter is sitting in the lounge when he hears the doors open and is relieved to see the person he's been waiting.

"Hey," Peter says, immediately clamoring to his feet. "I, uh, I found something for you."

He holds up Liz's backpack.

"You dropped it not too far from where I lost you."

[st_hotflashes]

Her eyes widened and she inhaled suddenly and before she really realized what she was doing, Liz walked up to Peter who was holding out the backpack and hugged him tightly. "You're a life saver." And she kissed him on the cheek.

[st_arkintern]

Peter's face grows warm at the kiss. "Hey, it's no problem, really. I'd probably go crazy if I just lost a $90 book."

[st_hotflashes]

When she pulled back, she was blushing. "Sorry." She took the bag with a sheepish expression. "Thank you. This is..." Liz exhaled, like the weight of the world was suddenly lifted from her shoulders. "I was really worried."

She looked at him then. "Are you okay, by the way? I mean, the accident." Liz knew it could freak people out.

[st_arkintern]

"Yeah, I mean, I didn't end up going near the accident or anything," he says. "I'm fine."

[st_hotflashes]

She nodded a few times. "That's probably good. It was, um. Really intense." She paused and realized how strange that might sound. "I uh, I mean, I saw it from afar and that's what it seemed like. Would have been dangerous to go there." She nodded again as if to say 'I definitely didn't go up on that bridge at all'.

[st_arkintern]

"Yeah," Peter agrees, trying to fight back a grin. "Super dangerous." A beat, and then: "I'm sorry I couldn't walk you back here. Maybe some other time?"

[st_hotflashes]

She blinked and felt a sudden burst of butterflies. "You... you'd like to walk me to the dorm sometime?"

[st_arkintern]

"Yeah, I mean... if you'd like me to."

[st_hotflashes]

It wasn't even like the request was a big one. It wasn't a date. It was just a walk to the dorms that she could do on her own and yet - Liz pressed her lips together, smiling despite herself, and nodding. "I'd really like that. Um. A lot."

[st_arkintern]

"And maybe a -- maybe a date?"

[st_hotflashes]

Her eyes widened. "A date?" She blinked and then felt warm inside. It was a little nerve-wracking, but somehow it felt really right. A warm smile crept onto her face and she nodded, not finding her voice for a moment. "Yeah. I'd like that." She brushed a hair behind her ear - a action she did when she was a little nervous. "That'd be great, actually."

[st_arkintern]

"What would you want to do? I mean, what kind of food and movies do you like?"

[st_hotflashes]

She blinked. They didn't really know each other, did that? "Well... I like hamburgers and pizza and Mexican... anything really. And movies..." Liz paused, almost confused like there were wires crossed for her. Something tugged at her in an unexpected direction. "I like sci-fi stuff."

Since when, she wasn't sure, but she did.

[st_arkintern]

"Yeah?" Peter asks, relieved that they have similar tastes. "You see the trailer for Yesterday? That comes out this week. Think you wanna see it?"

[st_hotflashes]

"I have. It looks really cool. And the music's probably going to be great." If the movie fell flat, at least there'd be that, right? "We should, um. We should see that one. I mean, if you want the date to be that soon or whatever."

[st_arkintern]

"Yeah, I mean, if that's okay with you," Peter says. Now he's second-guessing whether or not he was too forward.

[st_hotflashes]

Liz laughed, letting her nervousness flow out of her as she did. "It's okay with me." She nodded, smiling. Then suddenly she leaned forward and kissed him on the lips. It was a peck and then she withdrew.

"How about Thursday, okay? But, um. I should go. I have another class in the afternoon. I'll see you around, Peter Parker."

[st_arkintern]

Peter's face may have been warm before, but now it's hot; even his ears feel like they're burning. Shouldn't he be used to this by now? he wonders. But then he wonders why he should be.

It just feels like he should.

"Bye, Liz," he says, waving awkwardly at the figure.

And when he turns around to head to his room, he suddenly opens his eyes and wakes up.