6

On their way to school the next morning, Peter and Ned passed the wreckage that used to be Dalmar’s. It was cordoned off with police tape, and so was the destroyed ATM booth. Cops and Damage Control agents were everywhere, including the director—Hoag, the one Peter saw on TV at the restaurant.

Ned barely noticed. He was too focused on the story Peter had just been telling him, about how he became Spider-Man. “That’s how it happened? You got bit by a spider?” Peter nodded. “Can it bite me? Wait, did it hurt? Whatever—even if it hurts, I would do it. Probably. How much did it hurt?”

“Sorry, man,” Peter said. “I’m pretty sure that spider’s dead.” He didn’t want to talk about it anymore.

Finally, Ned noticed all the destruction they were passing. “Whoa. You were here? You could have died.” He got serious, but it lasted for only a second, until the next weird idea floated into his head. “So, do you lay eggs?”

“What? No! And stop asking so many questions. Someone’ll hear you.”

“Okay,” Ned said. But he didn’t. In history class, he leaned over and whispered, “Can you communicate with spiders? Are tarantulas as chill as they seem?”

Peter shushed him. But walking to chemistry class, it came up again. “Do you tend to linger in high corners and under the sofa?”

“What?” Peter had no idea how to answer that question. He couldn’t even fit under a sofa.

In gym class, they sat watching a video of Captain America talking about physical fitness. “Do you know him, too?” Ned whispered.

“Quiet!” Peter whispered back. But then, because he couldn’t help himself, he added, “We’ve met.” He wanted to tell Ned about how he’d grabbed Cap’s shield in Leipzig, but he couldn’t. At least, not yet.

“Whether you’re in the gym or on the battlefield,” Cap said, “physical fitness means the difference between success and failure. Today, my friend, your gym teacher, will conduct the Captain America Physical Fitness Challenge.” Cap gestured off the screen. Coach Wilson, who was standing next to the screen and half zoning out and half waiting for his cue, stepped forward.

“Thank you, Captain America. Let’s show ’em we’re more than a math and science school.” He blew his whistle, and the class started the exercises in the challenge. Midtown didn’t really have any jocks, so Peter had to be careful not to do his sit-ups too fast. He had to fit in and do his sit-ups the way he used to before the spider bite.

Next to him, Ned said, “Hey, can I be your ‘guy in the chair’?” Peter looked over at him. He had no idea what Ned meant. “You know how there’s always a guy with a headset looking at a bunch of screens and telling the other guy where to go?”

“Ned, I don’t think—”

“Looking good, Parker!” Coach Wilson said as he passed them.

Peter realized he was doing the sit-ups too fast. He slowed down and started to grunt with fake effort.

Nearby, Betty and Liz were talking about Spider-Man. “Did you see that bank security cam on YouTube? He fought four guys.”

“She’s crushing on Spider-Man,” Betty said to another kid on the Academic Decathlon team, Seymour.

“Kind of,” Liz admitted with a dreamy smile.

Before Peter could stop him, Ned blurted out, “Peter knows Spider-Man!”

“Ned!” Peter yelled.

The girls looked at them. So did Flash and some of the other Decathlon kids. The gym got uncomfortably quiet.

“They’re ... friends,” Ned explained, still unable to help himself.

Flash rolled his eyes. “Yeah, just like Captain America is friends with Coach Wilson.”

They were all looking at Peter, who felt trapped. He had to say something, and he didn’t want to make Ned look stupid. “I sort of know him through my Stark internship.” With an angry and meaningful look at Ned, he added, “I’m not really supposed to talk about it.”

“Wow, that’s awesome, Parker,” Flash said sarcastically. Clearly, he didn’t believe either Peter or Ned. “You should bring him to Liz’s party.”

Peter looked over at Liz. He hadn’t known about any party. “I’m having people over tonight,” she said. “You’re totally welcome to come.”

Flash grinned. “It’s gonna be lit. And you should totally invite your personal friend, Spider-Man.”

Liz shot Flash a look. “It’s okay. I know Peter’s too busy for parties anyway.”

Peter wanted to sink into the floor. He knew he’d disappointed Liz by bailing on the Washington trip. But what could he do about it? The bell rang and everyone started walking out of the gym. As soon as it was just him and Ned, Peter said, “Ned, what are you doing?!”

“Helping you out,” Ned answered. He saw Peter didn’t totally agree and added, “Weren’t you listening? Liz has a crush on you.”

Oh, Peter thought. He knew they were talking about Spider-Man, but wasn’t he technically Spider-Man? Sure, Liz didn’t know they were the same person ... But she did have a crush on him.

Peter couldn’t help smiling at the idea. “I guess I’ll just ask Mr. Stark for the night off,” he said.

“Right, the internship,” Ned said.

“No, remember? The internship isn’t real,” Peter said. For a smart kid, Ned was refusing to learn this part of the Spider-Man gig. “I was—never mind.” whjiNRa6O/2K7bk6Ugv3V1aaWAE7OQLWGaY7AzbsiE/pBo2JWHXmxVBN5GbfBSpV