ANTEBELLUM: X

PETER PARKER

I WILL NOT DENY THAT RIDICULIZING FLASH THOMPSON FELT AWESOME AND FAIR, AFTER ALL THE BEATINGS AND CONSTANT PESTERING I HAD TO ENDURE. But I will also admit that I got carried away, I should've just gave him the ball when I told him I was, I just couldn't help myself. I was enjoying it, but the real reason that I did it was to give him a piece of his own medicine.

Uncle Ben walked beside me, his expression was angry and quiet. His expression made me realize how far I had gone, the abilities that I have are not to be abused. I should've been smarter, but again, I let the opportunity of impressing a really nice girl get into my head and I partially regret it.

"I hope they're not gonna make us pay for the backboard." I voiced some of my worries.

Uncle Ben threw a dismissal hand, "I don't care about the backboard." He glances at me, "Was it true?"

"What?"

"What I heard in there, just now? Did you humiliate that boy?" Uncle Ben asked, his tone obviously angry.

I sigh in defeat as I nod, "Yeah, I did. But—"

"— But what?" Uncle Ben interjected.

"This guy... this guy deserved it." I tried to reason, but Uncle Ben just scoff at my words.

"Did he?"

"Yeah," I answer firmly, my eyes staring right back at him before looking forward.

Uncle Ben remains silent for a few seconds as if analyzing my words, "Is he the kid that hit you?" I just sigh in response, unable to look at him, for I was embarrassed. "Is he?"

"Yeah." I answer at last, "Yeah, but—"

"— So all this is about getting even?" Uncle Ben asks harshly, "If so, I guess you must feel pretty good about yourself now, right? Am I right or wrong?" My silence was enough of an answer, "Yeah, I thought so. Well, thanks to this little escapade of yours, I had to change shifts at work. So you, have to pick Aunt May tonight at nine o'clock, understood?" I nod, "Is that understood?"

"Yeah," I answer, loud enough, so he could listen.

Uncle Ben nods satisfied as we near the entrance of the school, "Ok, Good."

I kept my eyes glued to the floor, the good side of me made me analyze just how poorly I handle the situation; Flash was at a disadvantage due to my recent enhancement. But the bad side of me told me he had it coming, he didn't care how many times he would beat me since I have always been a skinny boy with no strength; he had me at a disadvantage there, and yet he didn't care. Sometimes I wonder, why do I have to have a conscience?

I heard Uncle Ben hmmed beside me, "She looks familiar. What's her last name?"

I glance up, my eyes settling on a familiar girl with waist-length wavy hair, her head was tilted to the side as she spoke on her phone. "That's Ramsey Bianchi."

Uncle Ben nodded, "Second last name?"

I shoot him a weird look, "Walker. What's with the questions?"

Uncle Ben's eyes twinkle with recognition, his eyes dart toward Ramsey, whose still on her phone, oblivious to our presence.

Uncle Ben chuckles at me, "Her aunt and I, go way back."

My eyebrows raise in surprise, "You two dated?"

Uncle Ben's head snaps at me, "No! No, always quick to assume the worst. We were classmates in high school, don't tell Aunt May, or she'll have my head for dinner."

"Right, if you didn't date, then why would Aunt May have your head?" I tease my uncle; he shoots me a menacing look.

I breathe out a laugh at Uncle Ben, we neared Ramsey just as she finished the call, she turns to leave but stop when she saw us.

She takes a few steps toward us, "Hey, everything alright?"

"Yeah. Yeah, just— I got community service." I scratch the back of my head, feeling nervous all of a sudden. "Oh! This is, uh, Uncle Ben Parker. My uncle."

I pressed my lips together in an attempt to keep any words from coming out, Uncle Ben stares at me in amusement. I clear my throat in order to hide my embarrassment, Uncle Ben just shook his head and turns to Ramsey who just chuckles at my nervousness and proceeds to extend a hand toward my Uncle.

"Pleasure, to meet you, Mr. Parker." Uncle Ben smiles and shakes her hand.

"Pleasure is all mine, sweetheart. How's Ivana doing?" Uncle Ben lets go of her hand, and Ramsey's eyes widen in surprise.

"Oh, I didn't know you two knew each other."

Uncle Ben nods his head, a smile still present on his face. "Yeah, we go way back. High school classmates."

Ramsey smiles brightly, "Wow, well, she's great. Busy all the time, but she makes it up to us, I'll tell her you said hi."

Uncle Ben nods gratefully, "Thank you, well I must get going. Nine o'clock, Peter, don't you dare forget it."

I sigh and nod, he disappears after taking a right turn toward the exit of the school. Ramsey turns her body toward me, I met her hazel eyes which seem to be brighter, probably due to the sunlight radiating from the windows.

"So..." I trail off, having no clue what to say.

Ramsey always had an obvious effect on me, I stutter more than usual, and I always find myself speechless when I'm staring at her. Her beauty was one of a kind, but what drove me insane was her smile and her eyes, that was the first thing that captured my attention when she arrived at Midtown High School. At first, I thought it was pure infatuation, but then she talked to me one afternoon when I was photographing the sports team on the school campus. Her personality is complicated, she can be sweet and kind but at the same time, she can be fierce and witty. She's something, I can feel it.

"That was something you did there, Parkour." She teases, I scratch the back of my neck, feeling uncomfortable with my actions. 

"Yeah, that... that got out of hand," I confess.

Ramsey placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder, her gentleness made me glance up at her. "It's fine, I know the feeling. Flash has been bullying you, it's okay to get some revenge here and there."

She removes her hand, much to my dismay. "Yeah, if only Uncle Ben thought the same. I got an earful once we left the office."

Ramsey giggles before she rolls her eyes playfully. "Well, what else is new? Adults think we should solve our problems with diplomacy. It's like they've forgotten what high school is like."

I nod at her words. "Probably, but they won't ever admit that."

We share a laugh, the conversation ending as we stay in silence for a few seconds. My brown eyes stare at the way her mouth curves into a friendly smile as her eyes are cast down, she tugs a hair strand behind her ear before looking back at me. Our eyes once again met, and my heart stops for a second, I swallow harshly as I thought about what to say next.

Where are my guts when I need them? Moments ago, I was humiliating Flash while playing basketball, a sport I'd never played before, just to impress the girl before me. Now, I wanted to spend time with her, the last time we accidentally met at the Chinese Lanterns Festival was the best night of my life.

It was magical, being in a tunnel with decorations of glowing flowers adorning a semicircle was like a fairy tale. I don't believe in does, hell I didn't even believe in Santa Claus, but she made me feel like a five-year-old at Christmas.

I took in a deep breath, "Ramsey?"

"Yeah?"

"I-I was wondering if you... or if you wanted to go— no, maybe we could meet up... I don't know, if not, it's okay. You don't— "

Ramsey placed her hand on my elbow, gently interrupting my babbling as I fail to ask this wonderful girl out. "Yeah, I would love to."

My brown eyes widen in surprise, a huge part of me had expected a rejection since nobody likes nerds. We are freaks, abnormal beings whose favorite hobby is to feed their brains with information.

"What? Really?" I mumble, "I mean, awesome! Cool, that's really dope."

Ramsey laughs again," You're funny, Parkour. If you don't mind, I have a place in mind."

"No, I don't mind." I quickly respond, Ramsey smiles.

"Great, are you free tomorrow?" She asks me, I nod. "Awesome, I'll text you the details. See you, Parkour."

She turns and pushes past the double doors that lead toward the gymnasium, I stare at the door with a smile on my face.

"Yes!" whisper as I threw a fist bump into the air.

🅷🅾🅻🅰

Day idk what of
Quarantine:

I ran out of series to watch
I literally watched all my list
Of series and movies, I wanted
To watch since, well, last year.
I still have to watch Never Have
I ever, but idk if it's good. Also
Dark seems compelling, is really
That good?

Any recommendation would be
Good.

What'd you think of this
Chapter? Aren't they adorable,
I love how they have the opposite
Reactions whenever they talk.
Peter is always nervous and then
There's Ramsey, she's bold and
Sweet.

I can't wait to see how their
Relationship evolves.

Don't be a stranger and tell me
What'd you think, don't forget
To leave a vote.

Stay safe, lots of love💘