𝚍𝚒𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞 ➪ 𝚙. 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚎𝚛

𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚎𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚎𝚎𝚗

𝟺𝚊𝚖 𝚒𝚜 𝚊 𝚙𝚘𝚙𝚞𝚕𝚊𝚛 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚟𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚜
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Thankfully Ned managed to keep this annoying new secret. So well, in fact, that I forgot about it completely until lunch hour when he brought it up again.

"So when are you two going public?" He asked in a low whisper.  I grimaced and played it off as a smile.

"We're not sure yet."

Peter gave me a look as though to say, 'Don't say anything dumb' to which I responded with a flickering of my gaze that I hoped would come across as, 'relax'

"Oh." Ned said, "Why?"

"Because we'd undoubtedly be bullied, Ned." Peter snapped, nearly crushing the water bottle in his hand. I placed a hand gently on his knee and forced a smile on my face.

"Sorry, Ned, Peter's just stressed about his upcoming algebra exam," I improvised.

"Why would Peter be stressed about algebra?" Ned asked incredulously.

"I haven't really been paying attention in class lately..." Peter said, his voice looser now, "I've been thinking about something else."

Stark.

"Kate?"

I blushed at the suggestive eyebrow-wiggle Ned sent Peter and he flinched.

"Yeah, yeah, Kate. My...girlfriend," The word seemed unnatural in his mouth or maybe it was just his distracted persona, "I gotta go."

Peter lightly kissed my cheek as he rose and I felt my face turn all sorts of red.  I watched him sulk off to his locker.

"He's-um-he sucks at keeping secrets doesn't he," I stammered, slipping my bracelet off my wrist and fidgeting nervously with it.  Ned snorted a laugh.

"Tell me about it."

We ate in silence for a while until Ned spoke again.

"We should hang out some time, me you and Peter," He suggested.  I nodded with fake enthusiasm.

"Yeah, yeah!  We can watch a movie at my place tomorrow night if you guys are both free.  My mom is taking Hazel to karate try-outs and won't be back until late," I rambled, not taking my eyes off my food.

"Sounds like a plan!" Ned said, "I should go get ready for my next class, cya Kate!"

Ned left and I exhaled shakily.  Peter would hate me for making all these stupidly impulsive decisions.  Thankfully he was so pre-occupied with the Stark situation to notice my idiocy.

When I mentioned our newly made plans later that evening he barely even looked up at me.

"Peter, please talk to me," I begged, "I know Stark-"

"It isn't about Stark," He said. I knew that was a lie and so did he.

I didn't push it, though. If I did he would be less likely to talk to me. I've learned the best way to help Peter deal with things is to give him time.