As they always say, second semester flew by too quickly. It was a bit of a shock when fourth quarter was announced. It seemed like February had just ended. But then... 

"It's April already?!" Dev exclaimed at lunch. Michelle nodded.

"Yep," said Ned.

"Ugh exams are coming soon," Dev groaned.

"They're called 'finals,' Dev," Harry laughed. Peter laughed also.

"Shut up," she rolled her eyes.

"You'll do fine," Peter said. "We all did great last semester, so woo!"

"But I've slacked off this quarter," Dev poked her food.

"You'll do fine, babe," Harry kissed the side of her head. Peter and Ned looked down awkwardly, and Dev blushed slightly before pushing him away.

"No PDA," Michelle said, blandly. "It makes my eyes burn."

"Sorry," Dev laughed.

"Hey Harry!" they heard.

"Gwen," Peter mouthed to Dev. She sighed and turned to see Gwen Stacy, wearing her bright smile and an even brighter outfit as usual.

"Hi Gwen," said Harry. She held up various books, all about something STEM related.

"Did you forget?" she asked. Harry groaned.

"I'm so sorry," he said, packing up his stuff. He turned to Dev. "I totally forgot I had to do some research with Gwen for the club. Do you wanna join?" Dev shook her head.

"I'm good, but have fun with that," she said. He laughed and kissed her cheek, making her blush again. Michelle pretended to vomit into her carton milk, and Dev rolled her eyes. Harry went off with Gwen, waving at the group.

"You aren't worried?" said Michelle. Dev turned to her.

"About what?"

"She's gonna steal your man," she said plainly. Dev frowned.

"I don't think so," she replied. Michelle shrugged.

"Whatever." She stood up, throwing her lunch away. "Later, losers and Dev." Dev laughed, while Ned and Peter grumbled.

"Where're you going?" Ned asked.

"None of your business," she said, putting her notebook under her arm. "Bye." With that, the girl left the cafeteria and into the school halls.

"She's so weird," said Ned, shaking his head. Dev laughed again.

"Yeah but she's funny sometimes," she said.

"Oh Ned, look!" Peter said, eyes lit up. Dev looked behind her to see Liz and her friends walking across the cafeteria. Her stomach felt weird all of a sudden, but she pushed the feeling down.

"Oh my god, you two..."

"I like her new shoes," Ned said dreamily. Dev facepalmed.

"Just go and tell her how you feel!" she said. The two boys shook their heads quickly.

"No no no," Peter said, looking back down at his food. "She'd hate us."

"Yep," Ned agreed. Dev rolled her eyes.

"Probably not," she said.

"How would you even know?" Ned said.

"Fine, you got me," Dev said with a small smirk. "But I'll tell her eventually."

"No! Don't!" Peter said loudly, attracting some attention from nearby tables. He coughed and looked back down.

"Fine, fine," laughed Dev. "Whatever secrets you two have, I promise not to tell them."

//

LB: hi devi!

LB: it's been awhile, huh? how's school? i hope those americans are treating you well LOL

LB: if u ever need anyone to talk to, i still miss you

D: i thought i told you i was done with this

LB: oh sorry ...

D: it's ok

LB: i just thought maybe after us talking might start up something again?

D: i don't think so

D: i gtg rn

LB: it's all good

LB: these bloody time zones haha

D: truee

D: bye

LB: bye

//

P: DEV

D: what

P: TELL NED HE IS WRONG

D: what happened now...

N: WHA

D: can someone tell me what happened omg

P: NED SAID THAT THE EDITED EP VII IS BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL

N: WHAT

N: I NEVER SAID THAT

D: r u two really that bored

N: ITS PETER

P: HEY

D: what did u guys drink this time??? bloody three coffees??? i told you both that two was already over the limit

P: I TRIED A SIP OF RED BULL

N: ME TOO

D: why

D: just

D: why

P: BC STUDYING IS BORING

D: now that's something peter parker would never say

D: damn u two really did drink red bull

P: YEAH

P: I WANNA JUMP AROUND THE ROOM

P: LIKE ON THE WALLS

P: BUT I CANT

P: BC LIKE THATS NOT PHYSICALLY POSSIBLE

P: DUH

P: YEP

D: uh huh

N: HES JUMPING ON THE FLOOR THO

N: YO ESTUDIO

D: aaaand spanish mode has begun

P: NED ESTUDIA PERO YO SALTO

D: sigh

D: ur energy is draining mine

P: U SHOULD COME OVER

D: no gracias

P: OK

N: REJECTEDDDDD

D: i dont understand why u guys r texting while ur in the same room

D: like what the heck

P: IDK EITHER

N: LIZ LOOKED NICE TODAY

P: SHE ALWAYS DOES

D: ive never seen this much caps from u guys

D: this is a bad sign

D: throw away that energy drink for the sake of everyone's sanity

P: OK

N: NOOOO MY ENERGY SOURCE

D: why do i even deal with u two

N: LOLZ

//

Dev and Harry were happy, especially Dev. She liked him more and more, and they kept enough distance to not get sick of each other. Each had been in relationships before (although they never talked about them), so they knew what to avoid but also were on a new adventure with the other person.

Honestly, they were almost complete opposites. Harry was sociable, extroverted, and extremely wealthy while Dev was quiet, an introvert, and liked her all-black outfits. But somehow, it all worked out and that was what mattered. They had even gone for five months without any major fights (every anniversary, Harry got Dev a different coloured rose and a small gift like chocolates) Peter kept saying that Dev seemed more upbeat, which she denied, but she could tell that she smiled more (like when she was in London) and felt more cheerful.

As finals (Dev called them "exams," making her friends alway correct her) rolled around, the whole friend group got more stressed. They spent hours studying and finishing final projects, drinking lots of caffeinated drinks and sleeping fewer hours, even though Aunt May told them to sleep more instead. They didn't really listen to her though.

"So exams start next Monday, huh?" Noah Jackson asked his daughter. They were eating dinner on the Friday before finals week. Dev had a textbook and multiple note sheets next to her while she ate quickly. She nodded, still reading about Punnett squares. "What's your uh first exam?"

"Bio," she said, flipping the page. He sighed a bit.

"You need any help?" he offered. Dev shook her head.

"I'm ok," she said.

"Ok that's good to hear because I'm not very good at sciences," he joked. She made a small smile but went back down at her notes. They ate in silence for a few more minutes. "Are you excited for summer?" She nodded. "Me too! I have less work, so maybe we can go around the city or something?" She looked up.

"Uh yeah, sure," she said. Dev had been planning to spend summer with Harry like how they had hung out during winter break, but if her da wanted to hang out, she would probably have to go. She finished eating her pasta and started packing up her notes to go to her room.

"Hey, Dev," he said. She looked up, slightly nervous.

"Yeah?"

"Sorry we haven't really talked or done anything these past months," he apologized. "Work kinda sucks."

"Uh it's ok," she said. "I made new friends."

"I feel bad that I haven't really been there for you like I was with your brothers," he said. She bit the inside of her cheek.

"It's really ok, Da," she replied. "You're still a cool da."

"Really?" he laughed. Dev nodded with a smile. "Thanks, Marie."

"I'm gonna go study, so," she pointed to her door. He nodded.

"Oh right right," he said. "You can go and study."

"Thanks," she said before walking away. She and her da hadn't ever been very close, but after moving around together more, he had tried to become closer with her as he had with her older siblings. It threw Dev off sometimes, but she couldn't really say anything; and plus, he was trying his best. And that was better than nothing.

//

"Why are you so sad all the time?" Peter asked randomly. Dev looked up. The two were inside a study room in the library waiting for Ned to come back from the bathroom. He tapped his pencil rhythmically on his notebook, a habit Dev noticed the first week they met. "Sorry, random question."

"Didn't you say like two days ago that I seemed happier?" she said, also tapping her pen subconsciously. She picked it up from Peter.

"Well yeah, but like, before that," he waved his hand. "You were all like black clothes and stuff." Dev looked down at her outfit.

"I still wear all black, Parker. Are you going colourblind?" she said. He gave a small laugh.

"Ok nevermind nevermind, sorry," he said, looking back down at his notes. "So...how is it dating the popular kid?"

"It's ok," Dev said, chewing on her gum. "Not the best sometimes, but it's ok. How's Liz?"

"I think she's stressed out with graduating soon, but..." He stopped and narrowed his eyes. "Hey, are you trying to get me back or something?" Dev grinned.

"You ask about my boy, I ask about your girl," she said.

"She isn't even my girl though," Peter sighed.

"Keep trying, Parker," said Dev with a smile.

"Crushes are weird," he mumbled, slightly looking up at her.

"They are," she agreed.

"Ok, I'm back!" Ned came running over to their table. A few librarians shushed him, and he ducked apologetically. "What did I miss?"

"Nothing," Dev said, straightening up her papers. "What did you guys get for the history study guide?"

//

"So are you in school or something?" Wings asked. Spider-Man looked up from his perch, adjusting his web-shooters. He shrugged as the other vigilante landed near him. Their big, thin wings fluttered in the spring breeze. The city was aglow with night light and apartment lamps.

"Why would I be?" he said vaguely.

"Because you look like a kid," they replied. He narrowed his eyes and subtly tried to appear bigger.

"I-I'm not a kid," he said.

"Ok," they said. There was a small silence.

"Are you?" he asked. The other laughed a little. It sounded forced.

"School is lame," they said.

"You didn't answer my question," said Spider-Man.

"I don't have to answer anything you ask," they said. "See you around. I heard there's an emergency on Fifth." Before Spider-Man could say anything else, Wings flew off in a flurry. He sighed and kept playing around with his webs. Something seemed off about Wings recently, as if they were nicer than usual, but maybe it was just because the two had been talking for awhile.

He shrugged off the thought and sprung off into the city, hearing sirens in another section of New York near where Wings had directed him. Time to be a hero.

A/N

YAY THIS CHAPTER WAS A BIT LONGER AND A BIT BETTER LMAO

ok so like honestly finals SUCK rip

alsooooo i didn't know whether new york is on a trimester or semester system SO i'm just guessing semester lmao bc most high schools are like that

HOPE YOU ENJOYEDDDD

WE'RE ALMOST AT HOCOOOOOO WOOT WOOT

( ehehehe wings and spider-man are lit )