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Ned Leeds starts his day as any other. He walks into school his backpack on his shoulders and a cautious air about his general being. He hasn't seen Peter yet today and he hopes he isn't out. School is always so boring without him. Yeah, they have MJ with them now but she can only entertain his ramblings for so long.
It gets to a point where MJ, as politely as she can, tells him to shut it before burying her nose in her latest book. She's not mean about it or anything, she's just overwhelmed by him. Ned knows he's a lot in more ways than one. Peter has never gotten fed up with his chatter though.
Ned maneuvers his way through the sea of students towards his locker. He sees MJ, casually leaning against the lockers, clutching her book like it's a shield against the general student populous. To her right stands Peter and he feels himself smile. He's about to call out to him when he pauses, his hand lowering to his side because he gets the sudden sense that he's intruding upon something.
Ned watches as Peter and MJ exchange hurried whispers. Peter is nervous, switching between twisting his hands together or around his back pack strap. He looks around nervously. He sees MJ roll her eyes at him before encouragingly shoving his bag.
It has a weird feeling twisting in his gut, like he's eaten something sour and Ned finds himself moving before he can think better of it. Ned strides up to the pair and as soon as he steps foot next to him, Peter jumps.
Peter slams his locker shut with a loud bang as his face burns a bright cherry red. The shade of Peter's face almost matches that of something he clutches in one of his hands. Peter shoves the thing behind his back before Ned can get a better look at it, hiding it from his view.
"I'll uh talk to you later Ned!" Peter stutters, tripping over his words that are an octave higher than normal.
Peter then grabs MJ by the wrist, turns, and practically sprints down the hallway leaving behind a very confused Ned. What just happened? He thinks, ignoring the ensuring whispers the scene caused. He swore he saw a heart in Peter's hand. A red heart.
The twisting in his gut worsens and Ned looks to the side. On the column between the lockers slapped across its surface in numerous places is posters for the homecoming dance. It all clicks into place with a savage wrench in his gut.
The whispered talk to MJ, the red heart and Peter leaving with MJ as fast as possible… Peter has a crush on MJ. And that was his attempt at asking her out that I just ruined.
He's just ruined his best friends chance with his crush and he doesn't feel as bad about it as he should. He's glad for it even because then that means that Peter can go- Ned harshly slumps forwards against his locker, stopping that train of thought in its tracks with a burst of pain.
No. No, no, no. He can't think like that. Peter is his best friend. And as his best friend he needs to pull himself together. He has to fix what he didn't let begin.
He needs to get Peter and MJ together.
Ned takes a deep breath in and allows himself to hide against his locker a moment longer. The metal is cool on his forehead. It soothes the ache banging into it had caused in the first place. He feels the stares of his classmates against his back but he's learned to brush them off. For the most part.
He doesn't have to look to know that one certain gaze has already found him. Ned picks his head up and opens his locker, grabbing what he needs in the nick of time.
Flash appears on his right, leaning against the locker next to him like they're friends. "Aw did Parker finally ditch you for less annoying friends?"
"Go away Flash," he grumbles shoving his things into his bag. He slings it over his shoulder and turns away as he heads towards his first class.
"Come on Ned, you know it's true," Flash says stepping in front of him, blocking his path with a firm hand on his shoulder. "You're…you. Anybody else, even that weird girl is an upgrade."
Maybe it's because of the whirlwind of confusion Ned has already experienced this morning. Or maybe he's just tired of dealing with Flash all the damn time but the sourness in his gut easily bubbles into rage.
He grabs Flash's wrist and pries it off of himself before shoving Flash's hand into his own chest. He uses more force than he intended as Flash stumbles back with the momentum.
"Fuck off Flash," he says, voice thick with emotions he doesn't have time to parse right now.
He stalks past Flash and to his first class. Introduction to Coding, a class he took to fill his schedule even though he's way past the beginner level. It's just what he needs.
Plus neither Peter or MJ are in this class. He finds his seat and pulls out a notebook, opening it to a fresh page and starts his plan. The Peter Plan to be exact.
If anybody finds this notebook they'd think he is a serial killer in training. As it is though it's a good start and an even better foundation. Sitting here parsing through the information he has… they would make a good couple. They'd look good together too.
Better than you ever could, he thinks and Ned firmly shoves it from his mind. But the damage is already done. He feels his stomach twist with something ugly and he can't get rid of it. He should be happy for Peter. There's a lot of things Ned Leeds should be.
Ned looks down at the page, blank for all but the title and with a confidence he doesn't feel picks up his pencil. He jots down what he knows about his friends. Their hobbies, interests and any shared classes. He has two days to see this through.
______________
They finally have a shared class between all three of them in English. They go through the usual morning announcements. Homework collected and attendance taken but Peter isn't paying attention. He's too busy writing something on a piece of paper before handing it off to MJ.
He wonders what it says because MJ's face betrays nothing. He watches her read it but she might as well have been staring at a blank page.
"Today we will begin a group project," the teacher says, dragging his attention back to the front of the room instead of his friend groups melodrama. "I am allowing you to pick your groups but keep them limited to three at most."
Peter immediately turns to him, excitement rippling across his face in a goofy smile. Ned can't help but to smile back as a blip of warmth unfurls in his chest. Movement catches in the corner of his eye and he looks to see MJ pressing a hand to her mouth as her shoulders shake.
Is she laughing? Why?
But Peter turns towards him and says, "Want to be a group of tw-"
Ned doesn't let him get the words out of his mouth. A group of two? Really Peter? Why does he insist on making Ned's self given, duty bound task harder for him?
"Tooo join our group MJ!," he interrupts, turning towards her only to find her already looking at them.
MJ has stopped maybe laughing and has returned to her normal state of practicing being a statue. She looks between the two of them, something dancing within her dark eyes that makes Ned have the sudden itch to fidget. It's gone in an instant as she shrugs.
"Sure," she says.
Peter seems to have deflated a bit. Shoulders drooping, his smile lessening as it dims. It quickly disappears as Peter hops out of his desk, hands curled around the seat as he waits to move it. Him and MJ follow suit, working together to shove their desks together. The rest of the class does so as well as the room explodes into sound. Metal scrapes against linoleum flooring while fabric drags and zippers clink as backpacks get moved too.
As they move Ned spies something red peeking out of Peter's pocket. The heart. Peter is still planning on asking MJ to the dance. A rush of relief floods through him that he hadn't put Peter off of trying entirely. Ned ignores the hard lump forming in his throat at the same thought.
The room settles into its normal level of chatter as everyone's groups are sorted and the teacher's voice carries over the room. "I am allowing one person per group to go to the library and pick out a book for the group. Come see me once you're ready."
Ned knows an opportunity when he hears it. This a a certified wing man win. So he doesn't hesitate when he says, "I'll go."
"You don't have to," MJ says, glancing at Peter after she says it.
"Yeah either one of us could go," Peter chimes in.
For two seconds Ned dares to let himself feel sad about this. To mourn the fantasy and well-worn day dream he's giving up. But then he remembers who he's really doing this for and he shoves it aside as he stands.
"I want to stretch my legs," He says.
Ned leaves them to collect his pass before heading to the library.
_________________
When Ned returns Peter and MJ are whispering among themselves again. He reaches their desks and they fall silent, breaking apart and pretending like they were doing other things. Ned doesn't acknowledge it but when he glances at Peter's pocket the heart is still there.
_____________
By the time lunch rolls around Ned has become sure of one thing. Clearly, him being there is the problem. He keeps interrupting them or interfering somehow. He needs to leave them alone again. Isn't that paramount to the guy getting the girl? It says so in every movie. He just has to find the perfect opportunity for it.
"Do people actually think we're eating Tidepods?" MJ asks as she stares down at her phone in a rare moment of her using it.
Peter makes a noise of interest and MJ turns the phone for them to see. The screen displays a Tik Tok video from a real news outlet discussing the new trend in today's youth.
"They’re probably basing this assumption off of Flash so no wonder they think so," Peter hums.
MJ laughs and Ned knows this is his time to act. He laughs loudly, forcing the sound from his throat because his stomach still rolls with sour grit. The other's look at him in a mix of confusion and concern. Ned never claimed to be a good actor. But his performance is not what he's trying to sell anyway.
He hooks an arm around Peter's shoulders jostling him as the fake laugh punches through his teeth. “Good one Peter! Isn’t he just the funniest?” He asks turning to MJ.
Ned stops laughing but he keeps his arm on Peter even though it's no longer needed to sell it. It's selfish of him. He knows it. Yet the touch has the sourness mellowing to the point he doesn't feel like he's seconds from throwing up his lunch.
MJ glances at Peter and Ned feels bile rise in his throat. Another piece of evidence that something is going on between the two that doesn't involve him.
"Uh yeah he’s alright in the humor department. I can always appreciate a good dig at Flash," She says, idly picking up a fry and twirling it.
Good. Good, that's good! This is some totally successful wing manning and now he just needs to seal the deal. And he’s totally fine with it for sure. He’s being the best bro ever, plenty of opportunity for Peter to do his thing. Get the girl and all that.
Yup.
He just needs to remove his arm from Peter's shoulder and everything about their current lives will change for the foreseeable future. Flash's earlier words filter into his mind and he can't let them garner any weight. It'll be fine, he tells himself but the words settle like ash upon his mind.
This feels bigger than him and that's saying something. It feels like he's stumbled into his worst nightmare. The realization that everything he's ever thought about himself is true. He was never going to be that guy. He was never going to be the so called 'girl' that Peter gets. That doesn't happen to guys like him.
It's time he lets that fantasy go. For Peter's sake.
And it is that thought that allows Ned to let him go. He slips his arm from his shoulder, gathers his things and stands. "It's too loud in here I'm going to go," he says not waiting for a response.
He leaves the cafeteria intent on heading towards the library when someone grabs his wrist. He turns to see Peter there, breathless like he ran to catch up to him. The heart is still in his pocket and rage froths within him.
Why can't Peter see what he's doing for him? Just give her the heart and ask her to the dance already! He's about to say exactly that when Peter beats him to it.
"Have I done something wrong?"
The questions throws flour on the rage fueled flames burning within him as confusion takes its place. "What? No, why would you think that?"
He feels Peter's fingers press into his wrist, an insistent pressure. It makes Ned's stomach flutter in ways he can't handle right now. But he's too weak to wrench himself from Peter's grip. It's everything he longs for yet cannot have.
"You’ve been avoiding me? Like all day and I just want to know if what happened this morning pissed you off or- or I don’t know something," Peter says, his voice wobbly and cracking in places.
Ned sighs because it all comes back to that. Of course it does. "It's not like that. I understand what you were trying to do."
"You do?"
Ned nods. "Yeah I’ve been trying to make up for it by setting you up. Ya know, give you two ample alone time together.”
To his surprise Peter isn’t blushing which is crazy because Peter blushes at basically everything. Pasty white people problems. It's kind of miraculous how easily they change color. Point is Peter doesn’t blush he looks… hurt? Vaguely pissed off?
His brow furrows before flattening into a straight line. The corners of his mouth droops while his lips thin. His words are flat as he says, "You think I have a crush… on MJ?"
"Well yeah that's who the paper heart is for."
"I don't have a crush on MJ, Ned."
"Peter I'm not blind. I saw the heart and I'm sorry I-"
"Ned," Peter says, cutting him off. "I don't have a crush on MJ. I have a crush on you. It's been you, it's always been you."
Peter slides his hand off of his wrist, moving it downwards so his hand is in his. He interlaces their fingers and his face is full of such raw, tender love that Ned aches all over.
Hope threatens to bloom in his chest and he firmly squashes it. It's too cruel to keep it going.
"No you don't," Ned says because Peter is everything he isn't. He's handsome and funny and just the right amount of everything. He could have anyone he wanted so why would he go after him?
"I like you," Peter says, softly smiling and it's one of the many things he loves about him. "This morning before you walked up I was talking to MJ about the best way to ask you to the dance actually."
Ned can't believe his ears. Hope floods through him despite his best efforts. It's warm, fragile and trembling but it dissolves any lingering jealously within him. He doesn't know what to do, how to act with his dreams being realized. He does nothing but stand there in abject shock.
Peter lets his hand go and awkwardly steps back. “I’m sorry I know you might not feel the same way so we can just forget this ever happened, okay? We can go to the dance as friends like we planned.”
“No. Yes I mean-“ Ned blurts as his brain and subsequently his mouth decides to function again. “No I don’t want to go as friends. Yes I will go to the dance with you as your date.”
“Really?”
Ned nods and he does what he's wanted to do for months now. He reaches out and takes Peter's hand in his. Peter beams at him and wow, okay, he's never smiled at MJ like that.
A snort sounds behind him and he whips around to see MJ casually leaning against the wall. He wonders how long she's been standing there watching them flounder around each other.
"What? I had to see you two nerds finally figure it out.”
Peter blushes like a tomato. A bright red that spreads from his face down his neck and disappears into the neckline of his shirt. It feels good to finally see it again.
MJ shrugs. "Plus Liz wanted me to ask once you guys did figure it out if you’d like to go on a double date with us.”
Peter and Ned look at each other. Silent questions leaving closed mouths because words are seldom needed between the two of them. Everything is new and worn at the same time but the answer comes easy. Ned squeezes Peter's hand and he squeezes back.
“Yeah, yeah that’d be great," Ned answers.
“Dorks,” Mj says with a fond huff before turning around and beginning to walk back towards the cafeteria. "Now let’s finish lunch before a teacher catches us all out here having our gay intervention.”