Chapter 7: Mj and Flash
Next day
MIDTOWN HIGH SCHOOL.
I yawned because I didn't get enough sleep after last night's activities. "I wish I had unlimited energy so I wouldn't feel sleepy or need to sleep at all."
I walked through the school gate, still feeling some pain in my shoulder. Yes, it's healed, but it left a mark that will disappear in a few days.
Just as I was getting ready to open my locker, I heard a girl shout from behind me,
"Hey, Pete, hold on!!" I glanced back to spot a panting MJ.
A young girl with striking red hair and an attractive face was accompanied by a group of popular kids, including Flash Thompson, Liz Allen, and some other minor characters that I couldn't care less about.
"Where have you been?? Peter?!.." she inquired, noticing me as I opened my locker.
"WAIT!!.. Don..." Before she could say something, I dodged something that came from my locker, tilting my head sideways using my quick reflexes.
I frowned and stared at her with my questioning gaze when suddenly Flash, the foolish bully, yelled, "Did you enjoy Dickhead??" He approached me yelling and flaunting his physique, attempting to scare me, but it didn't succeed and just seemed silly.
"Oh, here comes the Flash, the asshole," I said, my mocking tone causing his face to flush with embarrassment, as it was the first time Peter Parker, whom he used to insult whenever he wanted, stood up to him.
Other students appeared surprised as well; I could see their reactions. It seemed they had never seen Peter in this way, and a concerned MJ was silently pleading with me not to go against him as he might hurt me badly.
But I had enough of it; I already had not gotten enough sleep. Now this dumb fuck has come here to bully me.
."What happened? Did you swallow a dick?" I stared at Flash, who just punched me out of nowhere, which I avoided, and he hit the hard locker as he yelled in pain.
"What happened? Dumb Fuck? you can not even punch me?" I smiled coldly as I saw him embarrassing himself in front of his friends and classmates.
"PETER!!!.." Flash growled in frustration when suddenly the bell rang,
"Too bad for you." I laughed at him when he exclaimed.
"MEET ME OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL!" as if I would heed his command as he turned away, lacking the courage to face his friends at that moment.
"Wow!! Peter, what made you do that? Now he and his buddies are coming for you! "Mj gazed at me with concern,"
"Let them come. I don't mind, to be honest! "I brushed them off and gazed at her astonished expression, noticing my indifferent demeanour."
"Peter, you've changed!.." she quietly said to herself as I recalled that MJ and Peter were good friends when they initially met.
MJ is carefree and outgoing, with aspirations of becoming an actress; this reflects her present demeanour, especially since she conceals the abuse from her alcoholic father effectively.
The original Peter struggled with confidence as he watched her gain popularity because of her beauty and ability to make friends effortlessly, leading him to feel insecure and excluded.
"Geez, Peter ..." I mumbled and brushed off those thoughts, turning to her. "Regardless, I'm okay, thanks for your concern, MJ. Now you should return to your cool friends," I teased her and then walked off.
Although I would enjoy chatting and making an impression on her, I have other important stuff to do.
It appears that this body still carries some of Peter's emotions and, man, that boy's crush is strong.
"Anyway, where's the library? It's time to put my high IQ to good use," I grinned, knowing I didn't have to attend many classes since the original Peter excelled effortlessly in every subject.
I walked into the library and saw a blond librarian seated on a chair with a book open.
The young librarian, who had blond hair and wore glasses, glanced up as I approached her desk and displayed the pass.
I admired her when she remarked, "Are you new here?... Is this your first time here?" She inquired.
I lifted my eyebrows, wondering why she was asking, but I still answered, "Yes, I'm here to read some books related to my subjects."
"Alright, keep it down and sit at a distant corner," I replied, as I also required some solitude to ensure no interruptions during my study of books.
I began exploring the books from primary to secondary education, including physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, and social studies.
"Wow..!!" I whispered to myself since I could recall all I had read and grasped their concepts effortlessly.
"Peter is truly a genius;" I clicked my tongue in amazement at why Peter never utilized his remarkable intelligence.
Had he used it, he might have been alongside Tony Stark or one of the top scientists.
I let out a sigh, then began to browse the language books—French, Mandarin, Japanese, and a few others. After reviewing all of them...
I could claim that I'm multilingual now... I smirked, and then I abruptly sensed someone gazing at me through my heightened intuition and spotted the same librarian.
She probably thinks I'm just toying with books and squandering time, but honestly, who cares?
I wish there were college-level books available for me to learn more. After leaving the library, I went to my final class, which was history, and noticed the room packed with students before I sat beside Gwen.
Gwen: "Where have you been??.." she questioned me the moment I sat next to her.
"Um, I was at the library..." I shrugged, glancing around to spot Flash Thompson and wait. Is that Harry? I was truly astonished. However, it appeared that these two jokers were attempting to impress MJ, as usual, but she was ignoring Flash and focusing on Harry.
"Had no idea you were that nerdy!!.." she joked while glancing at me,
"you're the same as well; don't deny it.." I grinned..
"And I love knowledge regardless of anything.." shortly after, the teacher arrived, and the dull lecture began.
....
.....
Once school ended and I bid farewell to Gwen, I started to walk away when Flash and his gang of bullies encircled me.
"Peter!! Now you have nowhere to hide!?" He strode ahead and behaved like a typical asshole. I just looked at him speechless "Seriously?"
"Are you here to punch again?..." I mocked him again when he erupted in anger, seized my t-shirt, and struck me. Which I evaded effortlessly.
"Eh?.. I guess some people need a bit of sense," I said, feeling sorry for him.
In an instant, I clenched his neck quicker than he could react and stared into his eyes,
"I hope you remember not to mess with me next time..." I tightened my grip, nearly choking him out of breath.
"Ggrrrrmmm..." Flash fought to escape but couldn't break free from my hold.
However, one of his friends shouted in fear, astonished at how effortlessly I lifted Flash off the ground by his neck.
"Let me show them a good performance !!" I smiled coldly when I felt the crowd and students, such as Liz, Allen, Betty, and MJ, observing the situation with various expressions, though mostly shocked.
I gripped his neck tightly until he gasped for air, then I slapped him forcefully, leaving his cheeks red and bruised then pushed him to the ground while he coughed in agony, "Ugh...." He remained there while his friends lifted him and fled in fear.
I exhaled, "Here comes the trouble."
I wasn't keen on doing it until I received some strong support since Flash is wealthy, and it's true that when you're wealthy, everyone accommodates you, 'but anyway, I'll handle it.'
I wasn't aware when I became aggressive. I need to manage my anger so I don't do something stupid in future.
Most of the time, I prefer not to be controlled by my emotions.
I preferred being a cold and calculative person. As I engaged in a self-reflective dialogue, which took me only seconds, due to my fast thinking.
I heard MJ calling me from behind and turned around to find her shocked face.
"PETER!!.." YOU..." she intended to speak but hesitated and inhaled deeply. "You have truly transformed and... strong." She appeared to still be taken aback by my actions, as the old Peter would never act this way.
"Gosh!!.. It's great that you're okay, I was worried..!! She breathed a sigh of relief.
"What? You thought I'd be beaten by him?" I laughed softly at her expression.
Mj felt uncertain upon encountering the new Peter, who now appeared to her more as a stranger than the friend she once knew. "Uhm…"
I don't care; she can believe whatever she wishes, it's her choice.
"There's no need to worry; I've grown tired of their harassment," I comforted her and headed to the railway station for the Chikara dojo, a location to learn martial arts, though it has some disadvantages.
Sometimes, you have to take risks no matter what, and I don't mind getting in trouble, especially with my future enemies.
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