Chapter Text
The whispers reach you. Of course they do. You have an ear tuned to anything relating to the name Stark—Stark Industries, Tony Stark, occasionally getting distracted by Game of Thrones fans before realizing. So it comes to your attention incredibly quickly that apparently, Peter Parker, nerd extraordinaire, has an internship at Stark Industries.
You’re not surprised. Peter is, quite possibly, one of the smartest people you’ve ever been in the same room as. It tracks that of everyone at the school, he would get such an opportunity. And, well, as to the rumors that he made it up—Peter’s not the kind of guy to do that. He’d much prefer to blend into the background along with his buddy, Ned. You’re pretty sure it was actually Flash Thompson who publicized the whole thing, so, there. Checkmate, assholes.
You were friends with Peter, once. It had started with needing tutoring—apparently, being Tony Stark’s unknown illegitimate daughter didn’t mean you got the genius genes passed down. That had turned into genuinely hanging out, sitting at his and Ned’s lunch table, catching movies with them after school, being educated against your will on the Star Wars franchise (for your part, you always found Reagan’s Star Wars/SDI far more interesting), and educating them against their will on musical theatre.
That is, before Flash messed everything up for you. Now, you avoid them, ducking out of the way, keeping your head down in the classes you share. Your dropping grades and decided lack of friendships concerns you, but the threats Flash made concern you more, so you’re careful to stay away from the two. You feel guilty, but… they’ve recently begun to hang out with MJ more, so you suppose they’ve moved on. There was one brief interaction, after the whole internship thing came out, when you had given Peter a brief For what little it’s worth, I believe you, but scurried away before Flash could see you—before Peter could respond.
Now, you’re sitting in AP Physics C, which you took because apparently you’re a masochist, and zone back in to Mr. Harrington gesticulating wildly as he addresses the class.
“Okay, everyone, I’m sure you have all been waiting patiently for this announcement to happen, so I’ll get straight to the point because I am equally as excited.” He pulls papers that look identical to permission forms as you furrow your brow. You have genuinely no idea what’s going on, and by the looks on your peers’ faces, neither do they. “We finally have our field trip location for this semester!”
Well. You suppose you were right about the whole permission form thing. Although, you are vaguely concerned at the fact that, you know, the last time you went on a class trip the entire group almost died.
Semantics in the eyes of the state, you suppose, as long as there’s no suits.
“Now, I am going to preface this by saying that I am very excited for this trip myself, as I’m sure you will all also be.” Mr. Harrington calls the group’s attention back to him from their not-so-quiet speculation. Goodness, everyone in your class is absolute shit at whispering. “So, there will be some strict rules as to not have things go wrong. Goodness knows we absolutely do not want a repeat of some of our previous trips.” Around the room, the class nods, while MJ rolls her eyes in her corner of the classroom. You wish you were as uninterested and absolutely badass as she is, but it is what it is.
“Of course, it goes without saying that you will all be on your best behaviour,” your teacher continues. “You will be representing Midtown so we want no foul language or general rudeness. This includes bullying, where we are going has strict policies on such and I would hate for us to be asked to leave. I also ask that you please, for my sanity, stay with the group.” He glances pleadingly over at Peter, who sinks into his seat slightly at being the center of attention. Two seats over, Flash grins smugly while the class titters at your former friend’s embarrassment at being called out.
“Well, I’ve kept you all in suspense long enough.” You manage to contain an eye roll. Such suspense, you think sarcastically but don’t say. “Without further ado, our next field trip will be at no other than... Stark Industries!”
Everyone grows excited—everyone save Peter and yourself. You restrain yourself from banging your head on the desk until you can get a concussion and be excused from going on the field trip.
You knew you should’ve never signed up for Physics C.