The next day, at school, the first class was once again English, and, once again, Andrew sat near to Amber and Josh while I sat near Erasmus.

Ms. Wyatt let everyone read their text. Andrew's was "too superficial", Amber's was "really good", Josh had "forgotten his copybook".

Amber seemed to be the scholar type (not as much as Killian Maddox though, a guy who looked like a proper nerd, who wrote a two pages essay) while Eramsus seemed to be the struggling type, just like me.

I felt pretty dumb the whole time I read my text, and I wondered how Andrew felt, given how many times I wrote his name in there.

Somehow, all I could think about was that afternoon, when Evelyn and I were going to watch Spider-Man.

Ms. Wyatt said my text was "okay" and that I could have "written a bit more", but honestly that's all I needed.

As long as it wasn't bad, I didn't really need it to be good.

When the bell rang and we walked out of the class, I put my glasses on the collar of my shirt.

"Hey Pete!" Amber approached me through the hallway, all smiley.

"What's up?" I wrinkled my eyes to focus my glasses-free vision.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked, clearly noticing what I did.

"It's because I can't see much without glasses..." I felt my face blushing.

"So why don't you put them on?" She rightfully asked, looking at them staring vertically at her from the collar of my shirt.

"Because I'm afraid to look stupid..." I felt nothing but embarrassment.

"That's nonsense!"

"Go tell everyone that made fun of me," I said with a muffled smile.

"So why don't you try contacts?" She asked, putting her freezing hand on my shoulder as we kept walking through the hallway.

"I can't put them on. They're too complicated to..." I sighed, "You know what? I actually never even tried. I'm scared of trying new things. Whether it's an activity or food or whatever. And I'm scared of looking stupid while struggling to put them on the first time." I don't know why I said all that. She looked like someone I could trust. Someone I could talk to.

"Jesus, boy. You care too much about what people think of you."

"Yeah," I said, nervously touching my glasses, still on the collar, "I can't help it."

"How about Carpe Diem, uh?" She looked at me with her brown eyes. They inspired desire to live and get drunk and do crazy shit in me, somehow, "That's kind of how I live."

"So Kafka is but a last name for you, uh?" I said with my timid voice.

She giggled and reached for Josh.

I stared at her from behind for a bit. Her hair was crazy, but unique. She was wearing a black leather jacket and some tight black pants.

I must say, she did have a nice ass.

While in this meditation, I was approached by Andrew.

"Stop it," he said to me, "Now."

"Stop what?" I asked, a more masculine and deep voice took the hesitant voice's place.

"Talking to her," he explained, trying to sound intimidating, "She's mine."

Everyone entered the class, I was about to, but I stopped right by the door, impeding the way for Andrew too, and I said, "Listen, mister. I'm not hitting on her. I'm just trying to make some friends. Besides, she's not yours. So stop being such a pain in my ass."

His eyes got bigger somehow, and I saw him closing his hand in a fist.

"I'll make your life a living hell, Peter," he almost whispered, "I swear to God. You don't want that."

He walked past me, hitting me with his shoulder in the process.

I walked into class too, putting my glasses back on my confused face while walking to the back, where Erasmus was sitting as usual, feeling a constant pressure in my gut.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

– Ok, you ready? Is yours at 0:00 minutes?

I asked Evelyn.

– yup. u count down.

– Alright.

We were about to finally watch Spider-Man together, that afternoon. I gave her my Netflix password, since she didn't have an account and I had one only for myself.

– 3...

I waited a few seconds.

– 2... 1... Play!

I quickly switched from one tab to the other and hit the play button.

The Columbia Pictures intro brought some nostalgia into me, while I was excited for her.

When I heard the sound of a new message coming from the Facebook tab, I realized it wasn't going to be easy to both watch the movie and comment it.

– you didn't tell me it was a cartoon!

I wrinkled my brows.

– It's not!

– well this sure don't look like a film.

I went back to the Netflix tab and stopped the movie.

– Wait. Which movie did you select?

– it says "ultimate spider-man"

I slammed the palm of my hand to my face and smiled at the same time.

– That's the Disney animated series! You had to put simply "Spider-Man".

– aw fuck it. hahaha

After some twenty minutes of getting synced on the same minute and going through the opening credits one more time, we managed to do this.

I could say that she talked too much during the film, but I loved answering all her questions.

The credits were rolling and I yawned and typed:

– So what did you think?

– i fkin loved it! when r we watching the second one?

I got a little too excited, as usual.

– Whenever you want, girl.

– oh man! the last fight scene with the goblin was simply uncanny!

– I know right? And what about that kiss with Mary Jane!

– that was incredible! i wanna read those comics tho now

I got even more excited. I got one girl to actually enjoy something that I enjoyed and, furthermore, enjoy it with me.

– Would you give me your e-mail address?

She gave it and asked what for, but I was already going through all my documents on the hard drive by then.

I found the digital edition of Amazing Fantasy #15, the first appearance of Spider-Man ever, and I selected it along with the first six issues of Amazing Spider-Man and attached them in the e-mail to her.

– Check your inbox.

I typed, all excited.

– oh myyy! you're da best!

I was literally cheering at this point, when I got a new message from Amber.

– Hey Pete! Big news! :D

Her way of showing up out of nowhere was kind of adorable. But it made me think about school. The past few hours I distracted myself by 'hanging out' with Evelyn, and I tried not to think about what Andrew said to me. But as soon as Amber contacted me, Andrew's words started to run back in my head, causing a weird feeling in my chest.

– What's up??

– Josh and I kissed!

I didn't really know how to react to that, although I felt a weird sensation in my stomach.

– Woah. Really? When did it happen?

– I'll tell you all about it tomorrow! Gotta go now :D

How did she do it? She had known Josh for about three days, and they already kissed. Why didn't these kinds of things happen to me?

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See you next Friday with the next chapter!

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