American high schools ran on a credit-based class schedule. That meant no fixed homeroom. You went to whichever classroom matched the class you were taking, and the rest of your time was yours to manage. Classes were split into electives and required courses. Midtown High had five required classes per semester, plus two electives. There were five class periods a day, three in the morning starting at 8:20, and two in the afternoon, with school ending at three.
There really was not much to the first day of high school. There was the opening ceremony, placement testing, and then picking up your schedule based on your results and interests. After lunch came club recruitment and planning for this year's homecoming activities by the upperclassmen, which did not have much to do with the freshmen.
The only thing remotely worth mentioning was that Norman Osborn gave a speech at the opening ceremony.
The reason a famous businessman like Osborn would come to a regular public school like Midtown High was simple enough.
His son had just enrolled.
"I thought you'd be way more interested in hearing a scientist talk," Gwen said. "Didn't expect you to almost fall asleep during Osborn's speech."
"Osborn's a great investor and businessman, but I seriously doubt he's a great scientist or engineer... hey, our school has its own TV program?"
Peter gave Gwen a vague answer. He had this strange relationship with Norman, where he wanted to pay attention without daring to focus too hard. Peter Parker and Harry Osborn had no connection here.
But the spider that bit him had absolutely been an Oscorp test specimen.
And who was to say Norman Osborn in this universe was not already the Green Goblin?
The only comforting part was that Norman seemed normal, at least for now.
So he answered Gwen absentmindedly while looking at the television in the hallway. On it, a teenage boy and girl were hosting "Midtown Evening News." They were nowhere near professional anchors, but they looked like they were trying their best.
"The new semester is officially underway, and voting for this year's homecoming theme has now begun. Please visit the school website to cast your vote..."
The two of them watched for a few seconds. Gwen seemed genuinely excited for high school. Compared to middle school, it definitely looked like life here would be more colorful.
As for Peter, he was already thinking about slipping out. It was three in the afternoon, which meant it was about time for Spider-Man to start patrol in New York.
"Oh my God, our school has a rock band too! I want in!"
"I think George is going to be furious if he finds out you dropped ballet in high school to go play drums."
Peter said it while walking over to his locker. Gwen, leaning against the locker next to his, raised an eyebrow.
"If you rat me out to my dad, you're dead, genius."
"I surrender."
Peter raised both hands, then opened the new locker he had been assigned on day one and started packing up. Gwen finally realized what he was doing.
"Wait. You're leaving already?"
"Uh... yeah?"
"On the first day of school? You're not even going to learn where the classrooms are? Or see if there are any clubs you're interested in?"
"Maybe?"
"What if there's a mad science club? Or a comics club? Or a detective club?"
Peter Parker thought about it for a few seconds and came to a firm conclusion.
"Okay, you've convinced me. Let's enjoy high school."
Did Peter Parker actually want to enjoy high school?
Maybe.
But he was thinking about other things too. For example, Gwen had already noticed that Spider-Man wore the same shoes he did. That was only because making a custom pair cost money, and Peter had to make sure he had enough spare suit parts to rotate through. He could not afford to modify shoes just for the costume. Still, it reminded him that he had to be careful. He could not let his identity get exposed and put the people around him at risk.
Of course, if something like that ever did happen, the people responsible would regret it.
But it would be much better if it never happened at all.
So he gave it some thought. If Peter Parker joined no clubs, kept his distance from everyone, and vanished at random all the time, then not only would Gwen get suspicious, teachers and other students probably would too. If he wanted to avoid that, the best solution was simple.
Be a normal high school student.
That was the best possible way to keep Spider-Man's identity safe.
On top of that, it would be ideal if he could get into some kind of internship program with Stark Industries or Oscorp. That way he could quietly upgrade his suit. But that also meant he'd have to manage his time even more carefully. Thankfully, Spider-Man's recovery was far beyond normal too. Peter only needed about four or five hours of sleep to shake off fatigue.
"By the way, why did you assume I'd go play drums?"
"Because... it suits you," Peter said.
He could hardly say that in another universe, one where she got bitten by a spider, she was the drummer in a band. So he just laughed awkwardly and pushed the topic aside.
"So what club are you planning to join?" Gwen asked.
"Hard to say." Peter answered casually. "Academic competitions for sure. Those help a lot with college. Student government... not really my thing. Midtown probably doesn't have a seriously advanced science research club, so an internship with Stark or Oscorp would be more realistic. Other than that, it'd be nice if there were some place where I could code with people, play Dungeons & Dragons, or build LEGO stuff."
"Hmm..." Gwen gave him a look. "That sounds extremely nerdy."
"I am extremely nerdy. I like books, tech, anime, and tabletop games. I know basically nothing about sports. I just happen to stick to distance running and combat training."
The two of them kept talking as they headed off to check out the club recruitment tables.
But before they had gone very far, they heard a familiar, thoroughly unpleasant laugh.
A tall guy in a short-sleeved shirt was pinning another student's head against a locker. Peter let out a tired sigh, reopened his locker door, and took something out.
"I can't believe high school always comes with the same stupid scene. Some oversized jock throwing his weight around by the lockers."
He shut the locker and looked at Gwen, who was waiting for him.
"I kind of thought you'd be the one running over there to help the poor little guy."
"If you weren't planning to go, I would," Gwen said. "But right now my job is carrying you back to the nurse's office afterward."
"That won't be necessary in high school, Gwen. In middle school I only ended up there a few times, and most of that was back in sixth grade."
Peter started walking toward the scene.
The hallway was lively, almost festive. Sometimes Peter felt schools like this rewarded exactly the worst kind of behavior. Why did American high schools seem to mix disdain for smart kids with hero worship for athletes, and somehow also turn bullying into something people gathered around to watch?
The kid getting shoved around was a young Asian boy Peter did not recognize. But the bully?
That one he knew very well.
Carl King.
The same Carl King he had spent three years in middle school fighting in one way or another.
Small world.
Peter was just about to speak when, surprisingly, someone beat him to it. A brown-haired guy in a black jacket stepped between them and glared at Carl.
"Listen, man, I don't know who you are, but if you don't back off right now, you're going to regret it."
"Oh yeah?"
Carl cracked his knuckles exactly like every high school bully in every TV show, then loomed closer with his massive six-foot-something frame.
"No, you're the one who's going to regret it, hero."
"Hey, Carl."
The familiar voice stopped him.
Peter Parker walked over calmly. "How about this? You stop bullying people in high school, and we can still be friends. What do you think?"
Peter held out his hand with a warm smile.
And somehow, Carl actually took the bait. He let go of the other two, reached out, and grabbed Peter's hand.
No.
He squeezed it.
"When you start begging, you won't be smiling like that anymore, Parker, you little..."
"touch-activated shock device, Carl. If you'd just shaken my hand normally, you wouldn't have gotten zapped."
Peter was still holding Carl's hand.
"And I'd recommend not swinging at me. I spent the whole summer learning a lot of fighting techniques from my uncle. If I flatten you, I'll have to waste time explaining to the teachers that I'm not the one starting trouble."
"Screw you!"
Carl yanked his hand free and threw a furious punch.
Peter caught it with his palm.
Carl howled in pain all over again.
Peter sighed and glanced at the two other guys.
"Did anyone hear the part where I explained it was pressure-triggered?"
"Uh... isn't the electric shock thing maybe a little..."
"Don't worry. I've known Carl for three years. I know what he can take."
Peter smiled at the guy who had stepped in first.
Carl backed up again, then lunged.
"I'm going to beat you into..."
"Quick tip, Carl. Don't yell while you're attacking."
Peter sidestepped in a blur, caught Carl's wrist, twisted it behind his back, then released him while he was still yelping and kicked lightly at his ankle.
The big guy hit the floor hard.
Carl started trying to get up again, furious, only to see Peter's open hand hovering just in front of his face. The hand with the device on the palm.
Then Peter changed it into an offered handshake.
"Like I said, if you stop bullying people in high school, we can still be friends. What do you think?"
"Screw you."
Same words.
Very different tone.
This time Carl had learned his lesson. He slapped Peter's hand away and ran off in humiliation.
The students gathered around them buzzed with surprise and excitement at the unexpected turn of events.
Peter ignored them all and sighed as if disappointed.
"I really thought that once we got to high school, we might actually end up being friends. You guys okay?"
He turned back toward the victims.
The smaller Asian kid was climbing to his feet, and the other guy, the one who had also stepped in, was already coming over.
"That was awesome," he said. "Seriously. You dropped that guy just like that."
"I went to middle school with him. He used to bully me too, so I know how to deal with him."
Only then did Peter really take a close look at him. Short brown hair. Almost six feet tall, if not a little more. And handsome, unquestionably. At least in Peter's opinion, the guy had him beat in the looks department.
"Peter Parker. Freshman."
"Harold Lehman. Same here, freshman. Just call me Harry."
Only after they had shaken hands did Harry belatedly react.
"Oh! Wait, I didn't feel anything."
"It only shocks people who are trying to punch somebody."
Peter turned to the smaller boy.
"You okay?"
"Thanks... uh, thanks. My name's Amadeus Cho."
If Harry had only reminded Peter a little of the Harry Osborn he had not met yet, Amadeus's name hit a lot harder than that.
Even so, Peter recovered fast enough and held out his hand.
"Nice to meet you, man."
(End of Chapter)
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