"Alright class we're starting out study of To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee, we'll start of by reading the first chapter this lesson and then do essay practice in the next."

Various groans were mumbled throughout the classroom at the thought of having to write an essay, several students already resigning themselves to spending the lesson napping. The teacher handed out a copy of the book to each student. Peter receiving his was already thinking of how he could get Karen to read him an audio book as he went on his nightly rounds.

He glanced at MJ and saw she was positively static at the thought of reading in class and not being told off for once.

"So can you make it tonight?"

Peter's gaze shifted from MJ to Ned, who was waiting for an answer.

"Sorry what?"

"To build my Millennium Falcon."

"Um, yeah. Yeah I think I can make it, I've got the Stark Internship this evening but you know after that, I'm all up for it."

"Oh yeah, the internship." Ned nodded with a knowing smile.

Peter shot him a look as not to hint to anything about him being Spider-man. But Ned's expression suddenly changed to that on one of surprise. Ned then exclaimed in a hushed excited whisper.

"Dude!"

"What?"

"Its her! She's in our class!" he said rapidly tapping Peter's shoulder and pointing.

Following his finger Peter also shared Ned's expression as he too saw that the LEGO Star Wars enthusiast was sat right there at the front of the classroom, reading the blurb of her given book. But the second thing Peter noticed, was that she was sat where Liz used to sit.

Another thing that had happened in the past two months was the Vulture's trial, but rather than the Vulture, at the school he was simply known as 'Liz's dad'. The rumors went around for weeks about how her whole family were apparently criminals, and had been dating centuries back.

Peter had felt guilt swelling in his chest wanting to correct every idiot who believed those lies, but there was no way in doing that without giving a solid excuse as to how he knew the details. Fortunately Liz's old friends, who had popularity of their side, had spoken up and were actually listened to.

And as soon as the trial ended, so did the rumors around the school about the past student.

"I wonder what her name is?" Ned thought out loud. Sparking Peter's curiosity about the new classmate again.

"I don't know, aren't new students usually announced at the beginning of class?"

"You losers were absent yesterday so missed her introduction." MJ interjected not looking up from her book.

"What so she started going to this school yesterday?" Peter asked.

"Yep."

It was then Peter recalled that he had taken the day off school yesterday, Monday to get his suit checked up by the drones at the Avengers tower, and Ned had been sick with a 24 hour bug. In fact Peter had swung by and made a web hammock for him to cheer him up as he went on his evening rounds. So that's why they hadn't recognized the new student.

"Do you think she'd want to be friends with us?" Ned asked hopefully as the two stared at her back.

"You've got no chance. You 2 are losers and she's actually cool."

"What do you mean actually cool?" Peter questioned, head tilted. He'd never actually heard MJ compliment someone.

"She likes books like me. So she's cool."

"So come on tell us!" Ned said getting impatient leaning over in his chair "What's her name?"

"Not saying."

"Oh come on! Why not!?"

"Cause I like to watch you suffer."

"MJ please!" the two begged in unison.

"Peter and Ned!"

The two grew rigid as the teacher called their names earning them the attention of every student in the room.

"Is there something you would like to share with the rest of the class?"

"N-no ma'am." they both stuttered blushing.

"Good. But I'll take your loud conversation as the pair of you volunteering to read part of the first chapter."

Sighing Peter took the first turn to read out loud to the rest of the class. All the while MJ sat there with a very smug grin on her face. The added benefit of finally having friends was the fact she could tease them.

For once Peter thought the day might not pass as drearily as usual, constantly waiting for the day to end so he could leave Peter Parker behind and become Spider-man. Thinking that he might be more occupied with trying to communicate with the new student rather than the time. But as it turned out she was always sat several tables away, and the classes were so busy that a word couldn't be exchanged edge ways.

Then at lunch break Peter and Ned had a club meeting, so that once again left no time to try and at least talk to the new student. And then before he knew it Peter was stripping in the alleyway putting on his suit.

Swinging from building to building he kept open a keen eye for any petty crimes going on, perfectly happy to be a neighborhood Spider-man at the moment. Feeling that being an Avenger was a bit too advanced for him at the moment. And as usual, as he swung about he struck up a conversation with Karen.

"Good evening Karen, how are you?"

"I am very well Peter. How was school?"

"It was cool, we got a new student today and me and Ned really want to meet her."

"What is her name?"

"We don't know that yet."

"If you had a visual record of her I could locate her and tell you all back ground information."

"What!? No! Don't do that Karen, I'm not some kind of freak."

"Very well. I will not conduct a search."

"Thank you."

"To verify what does she look like."

"I'm no way telling you Karen."

Peter knew better than that as in 30 seconds flat Karen would be running down a long list of possible students.

"On another subject do you have access to e-books Karen."

"Of course I do. Why? Do you wish to listen to a book."

"Yeah, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, I'm studying it in class."

"Very well, I am now playing the e-book of To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee."

That night Peter found himself killing two birds with one stone as he listening to the first five chapters of the book, all the while stopping a car being stolen, helping a kid with some bullies chasing him and even helping an old lady take a bag of shopping home.

Taking his usual break Peter sat on a fire escape eating his pre-made sandwich when his phone started ringing. Glancing at the screen it was Ned.

"Hey dude, what's up?"

"Nothing. Just wondering when you were going to swing by."

"Hilarious pun Ned."

"I know, so are you finished crime fighting for tonight?"

Glancing at the time on his hologram screen Peter saw it was about that time for him to head home.

"Yep just about. Wait, are you in my room again?"

"Yep!"

"Alright then, I'll be there in a few minutes. How much of it have you built?"

"Only one pack. So get here before I finish the rest."

"Roger that."

Hanging up Peter took off to his flat making it home in a matter of minutes. Sliding open his window he scaled the ceiling before dropping in front of his bed. Only to be met with a shrill scream! Whipping round there was Ned sat on the bottom bunk.

"Why did you scream!?"

"You made me jump! I had my earphones in so I didn't hear you come in!" Ned explained helplessly holding his LEGO.

"Who screamed!?"

Peter looked desperately at the door quickly throwing off his suit kicking it out of view just as may rushed in to see Peter stood there in his boxers.

"Are you two okay?" she asked worriedly.

"Uh it was me May. It was uh um I was was screaming at Peter's abs." Ned stuttered.

"What?" Peter scoffed looking at Ned judging his excuse.

"Well he is growing into a fine young man ins't he?"

"May!"

"Well I'll leave you two to it, but you'd better put on some clothes soon sexy Tiger."

"May!" as soon as she left the room Peter threw on a random T-shirt and jeans "Ned why on Earth would you say that!?"

"I don't know I panicked! And I always seem to think of the most sexual excuses on the spot like when i got caught being the man in the chair and said I was looking at porn."

"Just don't think of an excuse like that again, but then again it only May."

"I thought you said she caught you in your outfit the other day?"

"I was able to convince her it was cosplay and that I rented in from a costume house."

"Oh okay." Ned nodded"Oh yeah I need to tell you."

"Tell me what?"

"About the new student."

"Do you know her name?"

"No, but I do know other things."

"Go on."

"Well apparently she really likes reading, Star Wars, Mario, Pokemon and Sonic games, so she's a geek like us, and catches the same train you do."

At first Peter took in the information with a nod at each fact, only to slowly frown.

"Wait, how do you know so much about her?"

"I may or may not have bought MJ 5 of her favorite chocolate bars as a bribe to tell us everything she new about the new student."

"Normally I'd say that was creepy but the creepy one sometimes is MJ with how observant she is." Peter accepted his reason "Now are we going to build this Millennium Falcon or what?"

"Yeah!"

With it already being evening Ned could only stay a couple of hours before heading home, happy to leave the Falcon in Peter's room rather than carry it home down the streets only half built. After that a dinner with an okay-ish meatloaf and more teasing off May Peter, as usual, felt the common exhaustion that came with being a 'superhero'.

As he tried to doze off however he glanced at his laptop shut on his desk. Ignoring he turned over, only to look at it again. What seemed like five minutes of deliberating was only thirty seconds as he found himself sat at his desk starting to write an email to Liz. He started some elaborate message about he'll be there for her if needed. But in the end him simply typed.

Hey, how are you?

Hitting send however he felt it was more than enough considering he hadn't sent her any other message in two months, he just wanted to make sure she was okay. But it was more out of guilt for arresting his father rather than his feelings for her. As unfortunately the situation had resulted in them never being able to amount to anything.

And everyday whatever he had felt for her before hand was rapidly deteriorating everyday. But that didn't mean he wanted to loose contact with her. So content with himself he clambered back into bed. And not a moment after he'd gotten back under the covers there was a knock at the door and May popped her head around the corner.

"Just wanted to say night night Pete."

"Good night Aunt May."

"Love you Tiger." she blew a kiss before closing the door.

Happy with how today had gone, Peter was happy to fall asleep that night. Yeah, being Spider-man was good.