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𝐶𝐻𝐴𝑃𝑇𝐸𝑅 𝐸𝐼𝐺𝐻𝑇𝐸𝐸𝑁
𝐻𝑒'𝑠 𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑟𝑑
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Eddy smiled as he walked out from the Decathlon practice with Ned on his left and Peter on his right. The lunch bell had rung a few minutes ago and the three were headed toward their fourth period. This was how most days went: random, humorous conversations dotted in between lessons, only half of which they shared. Sometimes MJ joined them, but never in a way that made it look like what they shared was friendship. Needless to say, however, despite the sporadic, odd looks sent his way, Eddy was fitting in neatly.
"So I was looking at the stuff for the Lego Death Star. I'm gonna say it'll take about two hours to do the base, but once we've got that down, the rest of it will be easy," Ned said, leaning over to talk to Peter.
"That's Star Wars, right?" Eddy asked.
Ned smiled. "Yeah. Lego Star Wars."
"I watched it the other day. None of it really made any sense though," he said, shrugging.
"What did you start with?"
"Start with?" Peter nodded as an answer. "Well, I watched Empire Strikes Back."
The only reason he'd even known about the film was because of Spider-Man and his flippant remarks during the fight. The minute Eddy watched the scene with the large walkers being fought by the good guys in the snow, he'd been nothing but annoyed. The red bug had won that battle because of a film.
"That's why! That's the fifth episode. You've gotta start with the fourth one, A New Hope," Peter said excitedly shaking his head.
Ned nodded and then snapped his head toward his best friend with a start. "The fourth!" Ned exclaimed, lip upturned. "No way! Start with the prequels and watch in chronological order."
"But then there's no shock. The originals are way more nostalgic."
"But the emotions!" Ned said, his shouts gaining stares as they walked through the hall. "How have we gone this long and never had this discussion? I don't think we can be friends knowing you'd watch A New Hope first."
Peter shook his head and rolled his eyes but kept the smile on his lips as he turned to Eddy. "Watch A New Hope first. That's how it was made to be watched."
Eddy nodded and smiled warmly. It was nice to see someone so passionate about something, even if it was just a film.
"We should do a marathon!" Ned said, casting a glance between Peter and Eddy.
"That sounds cool."
The second bell rang, signalling that they were late. Most of the corridor had already cleared out.
"Ugh. I have English now," Ned groaned as he hurried his steps, slouching with his backpack.
"We've both got free period."
"See ya fifth," Peter shouted after him.
The two walked a few steps before looking at each other.
"Library?" Peter asked.
"Library."
Edward flicked through the pages of his physics textbook, relishing in the first moment of quiet he'd had all day. Friday and woken him with loud music, as per Tony's request and Happy insisted upon playing the radio in the car, and classes were never going to be silent.
Eddy's fit in with the work as well as he had with his new friends. It was hard in a different way than it used to be when he worked with Howard. Back then, there were few resources to go from, but here in the present, there was so much information that it could be difficult to thumb through and remember. He loved it though- and he'd stuck to his promise to learn about everything in Tony's lab, which had also helped with school.
As he flicked to the section in dynamics. Peter lifted his head from his own book to look at him. After a moment, with flushed cheeks, Eddy glanced up.
"So where are you from?" Peter asked, clearing his throat awkwardly. "In England, I mean. I know you're from England from the accent and everything and from the fact you told us yesterday."
"I'm from Hampshire, if that means anything to you."
Peter shook his head. "Sorry. Do you miss it?"
Eddy shrugged his shoulders. A little truth in a lie was healthy. "Sometimes. My sister is still there, studying biology at Oxford. But my dad needed the job here, and my mum's always loved the idea of moving around."
"Will you visit your sister?"
"As soon as I can," he said quickly, ensuring his voice didn't break. If only he could visit his sister. It was more difficult than flying overseas. "I'm just glad he moved us somewhere where I could still have a life, you know? I was worried, actually, before my first day."
Peter's brows furrowed. "What about?"
"Fitting in," Eddy said truthfully. "But then me, being the bloody idiot I am, wore a smart jacket when everyone wears jeans."
"Shhhhh," the librarian hissed as Peter laughed.
"In my old school, we would have been sent home for wearing casual clothes."
"Well, if it's any comfort, I like your blazers," Peter said.
Eddy's eyes snapped toward the table awkwardly as he felt the heat rise in his cheeks.
"Thanks," he mumbled, confused by his own reaction. He hurried to change the subject. "So what's this about you interning for Tony Stark?"
"Oh, yeah I do," he said, reaching to scratch the back of his head, attempting to act humble. But Edward could see house proud he was. "I dunno. I just kind of shadow him sometimes. He likes to use me as a bit of a secretary too."
"That sounds like him," Eddy said, before adding quickly, "-from what I've seen on the TV."
"Yeah. He can be demanding, but it's always for a reason," Peter said before laughing at something he thought of. "I took him coffee once. Have it to him only to find out it was cold and it wasn't even coffee."
"What was it?"
"I don't know but whatever it was tasted like dish soap," he said, the threw his arms out in exaggeration. "So basically I made Tony Stark drink washing up liquid."
"How have you still got the internship after that?" Eddy joked.
"I don't know! I really don't know."
Another hiss rang out across the library. "Shhhhhhh!"
"Ah, Penis Parker! How'd daddy's day with Iron Man go? Did he put you in daycare?" Flash's voice shouted from across the room. Peter slumped down onto his book, face falling from a smile into visible annoyance.
"Just ignore him."
"Why?"
"He does it all the time. It's better just to show him it doesn't get to you," Peter said, rolling his eyes.
"But it does."
He shrugged. "It's flash, no one listens to him."
Eddy glanced behind Peter to see Flash leaning back against his chair, a comic book in his hands. He was smirking obviously, glancing over every few seconds. Swiftly, Eddy moved to get out of his chair.
"Ed. No- Ed!" Peter lunged to grab Eddy by the wrist, pulling him back into his chair.
"This your boyfriend?" Flash quipped, his delivery poor but meaning still the same.
Eddy scowled, brow darkening as he tilted his head. "That's it. Let me talk to him."
Peter stood quickly as Eddy went to live toward flash. Grabbing both of their books and slinging both of their empty bags over his shoulder, he put an arm around Eddy, steering him toward the library door, away from Flash and away from the angry librarian.
"No, no, no, no. Why don't we go find MJ."
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Just a quick little one before the next chapter x
Also sorry if the quality isn't as good as normal, I did this on my phone x