Dev noticed during the next day that Ned and Peter kept muttering to each other all throughout their classes. It seemed like Ned was trying to ask Peter something, but Peter would try to brush it off. In the two classes she had with them, she was very curious.

"What do you think Ned's asking Peter?" she leaned over to Michelle in Chemistry. The boys were again talking rapid-fire about something. Dev wished she had a superpower for advanced hearing. They were supposed to be focusing on making some sort of liquid, but Michelle and Dev had already finished (they were lab partners).

"Probably something dumb like Star Wars or robotics," Michelle whispered back, not looking up from her drawing of the teacher's face. Dev laughed and went back to texting her brothers underneath the desk.

During lunch, the boys came over to the table late, still discussing fervently. Peter shook his head at something Ned said and then jogged over to sit next to Dev. Ned ran to catch up and sat across, next to Michelle.

"So...what are you two nerds talking about?" Dev asked, taking a bite of the scrawny sandwich Brendan had packed for her that morning. She noticed Peter shooting Ned a glance.

"Uh nothing," Ned said, starting to eat as well. Dev raised an eyebrow.

"Suspicious," Michelle said. Peter put his books down on the table.

"It was nothing," he said, repeating Ned.

"Whatever," Dev waved her hand. "Parker, what happened to your backpack?" Ned and Peter exchanged looks again. "Ok why the hell are you two like doing that little look thingy?"

"What?" Ned said, looking up. "We're not doing anything, Dev."

"It got really dirty," Peter said. "My backpack. May's getting me a new one today."

"That's like the third backpack you've gone through in the first semester," commented Michelle. They all looked at her. "Shut up, I'm just observant."

"She's right though," Dev said. "You need to stop breaking your backpacks, Parker."

"Yeah," he nodded and started to eat.

"You two are weird," shrugged Dev.

"No we're not!" Ned exclaimed.

"Yeah you are! Remember in freshman year when we called each other like Star Wars names?" Dev said.

"Oh that's a good point," Peter said, laughing.

"Why'd we stop?" asked Ned.

"'Cause it's nerdy," Michelle interrupted. Dev laughed.

The bell rang a few minutes later, and they all walked to the aca deca meeting spot. Dev decided to watch Youtube during her free period, while watching the team practice. It was almost nationals, so Liz was cracking down on her teammates.

During their sixth period PE, Ned and Peter continued their talk, while Dev tried to eavesdrop from behind them on the bleachers. Michelle sat next to her, reading some book about torture. The class was watching some Captain America fitness video, but Dev could tell the video had been filmed years ago.

"Hi. I'm Captain America. Whether you're in the classroom or on the battlefield..."

"Why do they keep whispering?!" Dev whispered to Michelle. "Like what the hell? Why not tell us?"

"They're just dumb boys, Brit girl," Michelle responded. "They're probably talknig about dumb boy stuff."

"...fitness can be the difference between success and failure," the video continued.

"But like what was that?" Dev pointed directly at Peter, who had whispered something to Ned. Ned's eyes widened with shock. "Are they keeping secrets?"

"Why do you wanna know, Dev?" Michelle looked at her friend. "Who cares?"

"'Cause we're supposed to be friends!" Dev threw her hands up. 

"Just chill, Brit girl," Michelle said, going back to reading. "I'm sure they'll tell us eventually."

"Today, my good friend, your gym teacher," Captain America gestured to his right, "will be conducting the Captain America fitness challenge." Their teacher, Coach Wilson, waved slightly and realised that he was standing to the video's left. Dev rolled her eyes.

"PE is so dumb," she muttered.

"I concur," Michelle nodded. The students watched the small screen fade to black, and their teacher cleared his throat.

"Thank you, Captain," he said, monotone. "I'm pretty sure this guy's a war criminal now, but whatever. I have to show these videos. It's required by the state. Ok, get up - let's do it!" There were groans heard as the students got up from the bleachers to start doing sit-ups. Coach Wilson blew his whistle, and Dev pulled Michelle over so that they could be closer to Peter and Ned. As they started doing their exercises, she overheard bits of their conversation.

"Hey, can I be your guy in the chair?"

"What?"

"Yeah. You know how there's a guy with a headset telling the other guy where to go?" Dev and Peter both had a confused expression on their faces.

"What are they talking about..." Dev murmured, trying to keep her core steady. Peter seemed to be doing the sit-ups very fast, as he did for every other PE exercise. Dev could never figure out how the nerdy boy was so fit. She went back to eavesdropping.

"-stuck in a burning building, I could tell you where to go. Because there'd be screens around me, and I could, you know, swivel around. 'Cause I could be your guy in the chair," he smiled wide.

"Ned, I don't need a guy in a chair," Peter responded.

Are they talking about a video game or something? Dev thought. Suddenly, the boys stopped and looked up at Liz and her friends. Dev rolled her eyes. Weirdos.

"Did you guys see that bank security cam on Youtube? He fought off like four guys," Liz was saying, blushing. Dev tilted her head and remembered the news footage that had gone viral on Youtube the night before. It was a security video of the famous Spider-Man fighting off four robbers swiftly, tying them up in his webs and kicking them out the window. There had also been a large explosion after, causing the police to show up.

"Oh my god," one of Liz's friends said. "Are you crushing on Spider-Man?" Dev rolled her eyes again.

"Kind of?" Liz shrugged.

"Gross," her friend laughed. "He's probably like...thirty."

"You don't even know what he looks like," Charles from the aca deca team cut in. "Like, what if he's, like, seriously burned?"

"I wouldn't care. I would still love him for the person he is on the inside," Liz said. 

Suddenly, Ned interrupted loudly.

"Peter knows Spider-Man!" The students around them grew silent, and all eyes were on the two.

"What?" Dev murmured, tilting her head in confusion. He's never mentioned it before. Peter's eyes widened, and he got up in a hurry, starting to stutter.

"No, I don't. No. I...I mean..."

"They're friends!" Ned said, cheerfully. Peter was still trying to find words when Flash walked into the conversation.

"Sure, like how Coach Wilson and Captain America are friends," he said, clearly unimpressed. Dev sat up and leaned on her hand. This was interesting.

"Shut up, Flash," she called. He turned and narrowed his eyes at her. "Let Parker explain." They all turned back to Peter and Ned.

"I've met him. Yeah," Peter stammered, "like a couple times. But it's, um...through the Stark internship. I'm uh not really supposed to talk about it." Flash scoffed.

"Well, that's awesome." His eyes brightened with an idea. "Hey, you know what? Maybe you should invite him to Liz's party. Right?" Flash turned to Liz, who looked at Peter.

"Yeah, I'm having people over tonight," she nodded. "You're more than welcome to come."

"Having a party?" Peter said, eyes still wide.

"Yeah, it's gonna be dope," said Flash. "You should invite your personal friend Spider-Man."

"Uh..." Peter seemed lost for words.

"It's okay. I know Peter's way too busy for parties anyway, so..." Liz cut in. Flash dismissed her comment and walked over to Peter.

"C'mon, he'll be there - right, Parker?" he said, smirking. The bell rang just in time. The students rushed out the doors to change, and Flash walked away, laughing. Liz walked away with her friends too but nodded at Peter.

"So...would you two like to tell me what the hell that was?" Dev stood up and crossed her arms, facing the boys. They exchanged glances.

"Do you wanna go to the party with us?" asked Ned. She raised an eyebrow, and Peter facepalmed.

"Yeah, whatever. But you better tell me what's up with this Spider-Man thing," she said, pointing a finger at Peter. "I'll come by your house later, Parker."

//

Dev was trying to pick an outfit for the party when her phone buzzed. She threw the black dress she was looking at on her bed and picked up her phone, wondering who was calling her. The caller's contact name startled her: London Boy. What the hell... Before she could think, her thumb slid the phone screen open to reply. She put the phone to her ear nervously.

"Um hi Ben!"

"Hey Dev. How're you?" Ben's voice rang through the speaker clearly. She started to pace around her room anxiously.

"Good actually. You?"

"Great! Hey I just wanted to call to see if you're still in New York!"

"Oh uh yeah I am. Why?"

"Well I'm here too!" he said, sounding excited. Dev was very confused. She continued to pace.

"Oh...why?"

"Remember my crazy uncle in London? Yeah, well my dad finally got some sense and sent me to live with my mum in North California. But she's here in New York for business."

"Oh."

"I think we're leaving in a few weeks though, and I wanted to maybe meet up?"

"Oh..." She sucked in a breath. "Sure."

"Want to grab a coffee?"

"Uh yeah, that's fine. I have a party tonight though."

"What about Saturday afternoon?"

"Yeah that works."

"Sounds great. See you!"

"Bye!" The phone clicked as he hung up. She threw her phone on her bed and felt her cheeks redden. Shit.

a/n

this one was a short one oops 

but yayyyYYyyy it's slowly getting spicyyyy

also that gif up there is so cute HAHAH

yeet yeet ok byeeeeee