Elena Rodrìguez and Lucy Carter sit next to Eloise at lunch. Both have stained school lunch trays in front of them with a greasy pizza on each.
"Hey," Eloise greets, popping a chip into her mouth. Her usual lunch consisted of a bag of chips and a soda, and today was no exception. She did, however, stop by a gas station on her way to school and bought a delicious Snickers bar that she has yet to devour.
Elena smiles back. "Hey."
Lucy groans and lies her head on the table dramatically. Eloise raises her brow at Elena.
She sighs. "We have an English test tomorrow."
"And I have no idea what it's even over," Lucy adds, sitting up suddenly. She blows a strand of her curly black hair out of her face. "But it's whatever, I guess. I mean, it's not like I'm going to go to college and become a really successful business woman. I'm just going to end up working at McDonald's for the rest of my life."
Elena shrugs. "That's not that bad, they pay some good money." She picks up her floppy pizza and bites into it.
Lucy glares at her pizza. "Ugh, I don't even want to eat right now, I'm so stressed." She pushes her tray to Elena. She picks it off of her tray and flops it onto her own.
Eloise sees the disgust on Elena's face as she chews the food. Her family is living under the poverty line and she has five other siblings, so lunch is the only meal she gets to eat since the school gives it out for free to students who can't afford it. Eloise offers her her Snickers bar. Lucy's face lights up.
"You don't want it?" She asks.
Eloise shrugs. "Not really. Go ahead."
She gladly takes the chocolate and unwraps it. Eloise turns to Lucy, who is still sulking.
"I can help you study, if you want," she suggests and then looks between the two of her friends. "Both of you. I took that class last year."
"Thanks, smarty pants," Lucy breathes, somewhat relieved. "I don't know how to study. I don't even know what to study."
Elena swallows a bite of her chocolate bar. "I have to go to work right after school."
"Same," Lucy says. "I don't get off until 8:30."
Eloise shuffles the bag of chips in her hand before going in for another one. "We can meet up at that library on 1st Avenue at 9 if that works." She licks the salt off of her fingers before wiping them off on a thin paper napkin. "I can sneak in some snacks and it'll be like a cute little study date."
Lucy beams. "Dude, you're literally the best."
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Eloise checked the sign next to the bus stop bench to see when the next bus was scheduled to come around, but when she realized that it wouldn't be returning until another hour, she decided to just walk to the library.
It's dark, the only light coming from the street lights and the dull lights in a few windows. Her backpack is slung over her shoulder and bouncing slightly as she walks. She pulls her jacket tighter to her body, thankful that the night didn't bring a freezing walk. The air is cool, but it feels nice as she continues on in her jeans and light jacket.
Suddenly there's a whoosh and a flash of red and blue in front of her eyes. She jumps back and falls on her butt with a squeak.
Eloise's hand immediately dives into her pocket and pulls out some pepper spray, but as she takes aim and looks up at the person in front of her, her eyes widen.
"What the hell, Spider-Boy?"
The well-known neighborhood hero in front of her slumps his shoulders. Eloise has never actually seen him before, but she has seen the articles in the newspapers and the YouTube videos. Where most girls fawn over the hero, she's just confused about the sticky substance that shoots out of his wrists. It can't be natural.
The boy in the spandex suit sighs. "It's Spider-Man." Then, to himself, he mutters, "Why does everyone call me Spider-Boy?"
Eloise clears her throat. His masked head turns and he faces her. "Oh! Right!" He extends his hand toward her and she takes it, letting him help her to her feet.
Eloise brushes herself off and pockets the pepper spray.
"I didn't mean to scare you, I'm so sorry," Spider-Man rushes. "I just saw you walking alone, which isn't very smart by the way since it's really late and there are a like bunch of creeps on this street." He pauses. "Wait, why are you on this street this late at night by yourself?"
"The only 24-hour library is this way," She replies, watching the crime fighter in front of her with interest. His voice sounds young—he can't be any older than herself.
He cocks his head. "There's a library that's open 24 hours?"
She crosses her arms and nods.
"Huh. Karen, remind me about this later," he speaks.
Eloise frowns in confusion. Who's Karen?
Spider-Man suddenly remembers the girl standing there and steps forward. "Can I ... can I walk you to the library?"
Eloise smiles. He's as kind as the newspapers make him out to be. "Sure. Thanks."
She leads the way as they walk down street after street. On the way, Spider-Man tells her stories about some of the crime that he's fought. It's kind of cute, listening to him and watching him act out some of the actions. He does a perfect flip off of the wall and then acts out how he supposedly stole Captain America's shield.
After a story about an old woman buying him a churro, he says, "Anyways, sorry about talking your ear off." Eloise is about to say that it's fine, really, because he's funny and cute, but then he talks again. "What school do you go to?"
She tugs on the straps of her backpack on her shoulders. "Park East. How about you?" Internally, she hopes he doesn't make fun of her for going to such a run-down school.
He purposely ignores her question and says, "Where's that at? I don't think I've heard of it."
"Probably not." She shrugs. "It's a few blocks away from that rich high school Midtown. You know, that school only geniuses get into?"
He nods. "Yeah, okay."
They approach the library. Eloise spots Lucy and Elena from the front window sitting at a table with their notes already spread across the wooden desktop.
She turns to Spider-Man. "It was nice meeting you, Spider-Man."
He puts his hands on his hips. "You too." He scratches the back of his neck. "I, uh, I never got your name?"
His nervous stutter makes a small smile cross her thin lips.
"Eloise Jones."
She can imagine him smiling as he repeats her name quietly under his breath, trying it out. She isn't meant to hear his whispers, but she does, and she finds it endearing. Spider-Man nods. "I'll see you around then, Eloise. Stay safe."
And then he's gone, swinging away from building to building until he disappears.
She stands there on the empty sidewalk for a full minute before she turns and enters the warmth of the library. She finds Elena and Lucy at their table. They look up at her when she approaches.
Eloise sets her palms against the table and says, "You will not believe who I just met."
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Attached Song: Walking in the Wind by One Direction
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