MISSION NUMBER ONE. The words flashed across her phone screen, a message from Happy Hogan. Kaelyn had more or less refused to open the message. I'm busy! She told herself as the notification sat unopened. I'm at school for Christ's sake!

You're ignoring your phone, that is so unlike you. Beth's text lit up the screen. Kaelyn lifted her head to see the girl staring at her expectantly across the room. Things hadn't been the same in Spanish class since the teacher made them move seats. However, they both sat in the back now which made it easy enough for the two to communicate.

Kaelyn sighed and picked up her phone, still leaving Happy's text unopened as she responded to Beth saying, Got a mission. Scared to open it. Let me live!

The response was instant, Oh thank god i thought you were fighting with peter and i was gonna riot!! Another one followed shortly after: open the mission coward i wanna DO something!!

As she read the text the redhead shook her head, trying to hold in laughter as she made eye contact with her best friend. The girl watched her as she texted back, no!! I'm regretting my decision!!

sucks!! was Beth's ever-so-intelligent response. She gasped, playfully glaring at the girl across the room as they both completely ignored whatever the teacher was saying about past participle. Who needed verb tenses anyway? Certainly not Kaelyn or Beth!

She bit her lip. Part of her knew Beth was right and that putting this off would probably just put Peter in danger, which was something she never wanted. Despite their relationship being about two weeks old, she knew she cared for him and didn't want to see him hurt. Her whole job was to protect him, a human shield she remembered Tony calling her over the weekend. If she slacked off on her job, Peter could get hurt and that was the last thing she wanted. Her leg bounced anxiously under her desk as she stared at the unopened message on her screen.

Then, a new text from Beth popped up: open it! how bad can it be?

Beth had a point. Tony was already trying his best to keep Peter out of trouble, what harm could he be doing that he needed protecting from? Kaelyn was just being overdramatic, at least that's what she called it in a futile attempt to minimize and dismiss her feelings. It was normal to be scared when you were all of a sudden a teenage superhero, so why was she trying to convince herself that being scared like this wasn't okay?

After wiping her palms on her jeans, she texted Beth back, I can't.

She had to know the period meant business. Beth had to back off, there was nothing wrong if she just put this off a little bit, right? However, the thought of Peter hurt kept flashing through her mind because like usual, her brain hated her.

As if on cue, a text message from Peter popped up: geometry is killing me, come save me?

A deep sigh left her lips, happy for some relief and a conversation that wasn't about missions or superhero shit. She didn't think Peter, a fellow superhero, was going to be the one person diverting the conversation away from such topics, but she sure was glad he was.

Quickly, she tried her best to appear normal over text, which surprisingly, was harder said than done. bold of you to assume im gonna survive spanish!!

lame, was Peter's response. It brought a small smile to Kaelyn's face, which was something she was kind of craving. Her life had been hell lately, but at least she could count on Peter to make you smile. Simply, she liked Peter's text before telling him to pay attention so he can tutor her later. He sent back a little face with the tongue sticking out and she held in a small giggle. Without even knowing it he was cheering her up effortlessly. God, she was so grateful for that and for him.

"No telefono, Kaelyn y Beth," their teacher called them out, causing her to turn off her phone quickly and hide it underneath her desk, "Don't think I don't see it. Put it away before I feel like taking it."

Kaelyn sighed, a little sad she couldn't talk to Peter now. He used to be in her and Beth's class before some complications with Academic Decathlon and Band came up and his classes got moved around, which was unfortunate. After the teacher turned his back, Beth caught her friend's eye and pointed for her to check her phone. Quickly she saw the girl's text, just open it, i'm here for you as soon as you do. you're my tough bitch and now you're a badass superhero which makes you even tougher. you got this!!

Hesitantly, she turned towards her best friend and nodded. This motion earned her a big smile and a thumbs up from the girl across the room, which made her giggle. She loved Beth and her antics, always. Slowly, she clicked on the glaring, unread message.

Mission Number One:

Peter has released one of his tracking bugs and I have a feeling he's using it to track the people behind the arms deal in the forest. My data shows the bug is heading towards Maryland. Make sure Peter stays in town. If he goes anywhere, you need to be close behind. Don't let him get to Maryland. Stark.

So, Beth was right. It wasn't that bad. All Kaelyn was at heart was Peter's babysitter and she could handle that. All this freaking out for nothing. At least, that's what she was telling herself. Part of her knew she was awful for not telling Peter about all of this, but Stark would kill her if she did. God, the strain he was putting on her and at the very beginning of her first relationship. How unfair. Nothing could ever go right for Kaelyn. Even the good things were spoiled by secrets and constant pressure. She didn't deserve this, why did she go through with this? She should have said no. Why didn't she say no?

A text from Beth came through just as her mind began to spiral: as bad as you thought it was gonna be?

Regretfully, Kaelyn shoots back an i guess not before dropping her phone into her backpack. She needed to breathe for a moment, regain control of her mind and of her thoughts. She was okay. Holding onto her desk, she felt the polished wood underneath her fingers, one hand running a nail through all the ridges and over the pencil marks. She was here, she was present, and she was okay. Inhaling deeply, she held her breath for a moment before letting herself exhale completely. Everything was okay, everything is okay.

daily reminder that you're in charge of your emotions not the other way around and if you had a rough day, im right there with you and i love you and you got this!