A/N: I. Am. So. Tired. (part of why im publishing this at 12 am and now normal human hours)

Anyway, so life still sucks and school is still hell but Pelosi ripped up Trump's SOTU in front of the entire country and made my week so here I am :)

This chapter is longer than usual!! *cheering in the background* I know the chapters have been short lately, but I'd rather publish something versus nothing lol but y'all get more content with this one. Yay!!

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"We thought you were a

drug dealer when we first met you."
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"Hi. I'm Captain America. Whether you're in the classroom or on the battlefield..."

"Do you know him too?" Ned whispered to Peter. They were sitting on the bleachers in gym class, watching the old tv as it played a clip of the super soldier teaching them fitness while standing in a green screen locker room, completely decked out in his suit.

"Yeah, we met," Peter whispered back, eyes trained on the tv. Ned's eyes widened and his jaw slackened. He couldn't believe it. Both of his best friends had met the Avengers. And they didn't even know about each other! He didn't think he was going to be able to keep in a secret as big as this in for much longer.

"...fitness can be the difference between success or failure," Steve continued. Peter glanced at his best friend.

"I stole his shield," he bragged, feigning nonchalance.

"What?" Ned whispered in awe.

"Today, my good friend, your gym teacher..." Captain America said, pointing to his right. Everyone looked to the right to find no one standing there. And then they looked to the left to find their new coach standing there. He waved. Coach Stiles had been fired after he was found stealing the staff's lunches and they replaced him with Coach Wilson. Hopefully, he didn't have a powdered doughnut addiction.

"...will be conducting the Captain America Fitness Challenge," Steve said and gave them a quick salute before the screen transitioned to picture of a patriotic eagle with text that read Station I: Sit-ups.

"Thank you, Captain," Coach Wilson said, "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. Let's do it."

Then he blew his whistle.

—————

Gym had become slightly more tolerable.

Considering that they didn't have a freak for a coach, Adelaide didn't find it as painful to suffer through. As Steve had ordered them in the Captain America Fitness Challenge, everyone was doing different stations. Adelaide was doing situps as Michelle held her feet down while reading a book. She sat up, glancing at the cover. The Human Bondage. Weird.

"Which part of me made you think I was Flash?" Adelaide asked as she sat up. Michelle didn't look up from her book.

"I don't know. Will you let it go?" she sighed.

"Was it the hair? Cause I can shave it off," she said with a frown, doing another situp. They were supposed to be counting these, but whatever.

"Adelaide," Michelle sighed, "Let it go."

"Why Flash of all people, though?" Adelaide huffed, sitting up again. Michelle finally pulled the book away from her face, glaring at her.

"Let. It. Go," she groaned. Adelaide studied her for a moment, thinking about something.

"It was my jacket, wasn't it? I'm going to burn it," she said and Michelle groaned, hitting herself with her book.

Meanwhile, Ned wasn't done with asking Peter questions. He was holding his feet down as Peter did situps, asking him a question every time he sat up.

"Do Avengers have to pay taxes?" Ned asked.

"Shh!" Peter grunted, sitting up.

"What does Hulk smell like?" Ned said as Peter sat up again.

"Shh!" he said angrily.

"I bet he smells nice," Ned said to himself. Adelaide hadn't let him ask her all these questions before so now he was pouring out all of his curiousness to Peter.

"You have to shut up," Peter groaned. Ned didn't even hear him.

"Is Captain America cool, or is he like a mean, old grandpa?" Ned said.

"Ned, just, shh, okay?" Peter begged.

"Hey, can I be your guy in the chair?" he suddenly said. Peter sat up, giving him a strange look.

"What?" he said.

"Yeah. You know how there's a guy with a headset telling the other guy where to go?" Ned explained. Peter scrunched his nose.

"Like, like if you're stuck in a burning building, I could tell you where to go," he continued, "Because there'd be screens around me, and I could, you know, swivel around, and...

"Ned, shut up," Peter sighed.

"...Cause I could be your guy in the chair."

"Ned, I don't need a guy in the chair," he huffed, lying down again.

"Looking good, Parker," Coach Wilson said and Peter glanced at him with wide eyes. He hadn't realized how fast he was doing his situps. He pretended to be out of breath, as if the situps were really taking a toll on him.

Over by the bleachers, Liz and her friends were having their own conversation about the Avengers.

"Now, see, for me, it would be F Thor, marry Iron Man, and kill Hulk," Betty Brant said.

"Well, what about the Spider-Man?" Charles said.

"It's just Spider-Man," she shrugged carelessly. At the sound of his name, both Ned and Peter turned around to look at the bleachers to see them talking.

"Did you guys see the bank security cam on YouTube? He fought off four guys," Liz said. Peter's eyes went wide. Holy crap. Did Liz just compliment him?!

"Oh my God, she's crushing on Spider-Man," Betty sighed.

"No way," Charles laughed.

"...Kind of?" Liz winced and Betty groaned.

"Ugh, gross," she said. Ned and Peter both shared a wide-eyed look before turning back to Liz and her friends.

"He's probably like, thirty," Betty continued.

"You don't even know what he looks like," Charles said, "Like, what if he's, like, seriously burned?"

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

"Peter knows Spider-Man!" Ned suddenly shouted and the entire gym went absolutely silent.

Peter's mouth fell open. As if it had just completely detached from his jaw.

He could not believe Ned just said that.

He quickly scrambled up from his position, with Ned following suit. Adelaide and Michelle both shared a look before turning to watch what was going on. Well, Adelaide wasn't watching — Michelle went back to reading her book as if nothing was happening.

"N-No, I don't," he stuttered, feeling a panic rising in his chest, "No. I...I mean..."

"They're friends," Ned said, but it didn't make things much better. Adelaide pushed herself off the floor, taking a cautious step towards them. Why did Ned keep saying that? Did he know...?

"Yeah, like Coach Wilson and Captain America are friends," Flash said, jumping down from the climbing rope to join their conversation.

"I-I've met him. Y-Yeah. A couple times. B-But it's, um...through the Stark internship. Mm-hmm."

Peter turned around, looking over his shoulder to glare at Ned. Ned winced apologetically before Peter turned back to Liz again.

"Yeah, well," he started, "I-I'm not really supposed to talk about it."

"Well, that's awesome," Flash grinned and Peter knew he was going to say something to irk him, "Hey, you know what? Maybe you should invite him to Liz's party. Right?"

"Yeah, I'm having people over tonight," Liz said, tucking her hair behind her ears, "You're more than welcome to come."

"H-Having a party?" Peter stuttered. His eyes slightly widened. Adelaide rolled her eyes, crossing her arms across her chest.

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

"Um..." Peter said. Everything was moving so fast, he didn't know how make sense of the conversation. He wished his spidey senses told him what someone was about to say. Adelaide wanted to pull him aside and ask him what the hell was going on and she would have — if this scenario had happened three months ago.

"It's okay," Liz said, swooping in to save him, "I know Peter's way too busy for parties anyway, so..."

"Come on," Flash said, walking over to Peter to clasp his shoulder rather firmly, "He'll be there. Right, Parker?"

Before Peter could answer, the bell suddenly rang.

Liz caught Peter's eye and gave him a small nod before walking off while her friends and Flash followed her. Once they were out of earshot, Peter turned around, throwing his hands up in the air. He glared at his best friend for selling him out. Adelaide watching them, just out of earshot.

"What are you doing?" he hissed. He was so caught up in his anger that he didn't see

"Helping you out," Ned said, lowering his voice as he glanced around, "Did you not hear her? Liz has a crush on you."

Peter hesitated, trying to find a remark.

"Dude, you're an Avenger," Ned continued, "If any one of us has a chance with a senior girl, it's you."

Peter turned the idea over in his mind.

"Take a picture, it'll last longer," Michelle mumbled and Adelaide turned around to find the curly-haired girl standing behind her with her nose still in her book. Adelaide glared at her.

"I'm not staring," Adelaide grumbled. Michelle carelessly lifted a shoulder.

"Eavesdropping is unethical," she said.

"I can't hear them," she argued. Michelle shrugged again without looking up.

"You want to," she said. Adelaide narrowed her eyes at the girl.

"And you've never eavesdropped on anyone?" she asked her. Michelle didn't look up, but her eyes paused on a word on the page.

"Not to anyone's knowledge," she mumbled and then walked away. Adelaide rolled her eyes at her hypocrisy and turned around, only to find Peter and Ned both gone. She sighed to herself.

What had Ned been talking about?

—————

Lunch was boring when there was no one to talk to.

Michelle wasn't the chattiest person alive and Adelaide didn't even bother trying to make a conversation. They were standing in the lunch line and Adelaide watched Michelle somehow fill up her tray while reading her book. Then she walked away to her usual lunch table and Adelaide grabbed a napkin before following her with a sigh.

Her eyes flitted to the banner hanging on the wall.

HOMECOMING!
It's almost here! Are you ready?

Adelaide scoffed to herself. As if she'd go to some stupid dance with a bunch of hormonal teenagers. She couldn't understand what all the fuss was about with the dates and dresses and dancing. Maybe if her main concern wasn't finding a job or paying the rent, then she'd worry about finding a date.

"Ella!" someone called.

Adelaide frowned to herself before she remembered that she was only Ella at her apartment complex. With a sigh, she began walking towards her usual seat.

"Ella!" someone said again.

She looked behind herself to find the black-haired girl from her apartment complex standing there talking to Liz. What the hell was she doing here at Midtown High? Adelaide tried to remember her name as she walked towards them. Violet? Vanessa? Damnit.

"Ella?" Liz said, glancing between the two of them curiously.

"It's a nickname," Adelaide covered. Her neighbor beamed.

"I didn't know you went here too!" she exclaimed. Adelaide could practically see the exclamation point at the end of her sentence. Did she have to be so excited about everything?

"Yeah," Adelaide mumbled.

Of course she goes here. Of course she does.

"You two know each other?" Liz asked. Adelaide didn't answer. She didn't want to add fuel to whatever idea that was growing in Liz's head. She had a feeling it would require her to socialize with...Venus? Whatever her name was, Adelaide didn't want to have to socialize with her.

"Yes!" the girl said cheerily, "We're neighbors."

"That's great!" Liz smiled. Adelaide prepared herself for the blow. Liz would drop it on her any second now. "Adelaide can catch you up on everything."

And there it was. The Liz Allen trademark. Forcing people to socialize since...well, since 2014.

"What's...everything, exactly?" Adelaide asked. She had a feeling she'd hate the answer.

"The decathlon," Liz said brightly, "We were just talking and I think she'd be a great addition to the team since Peter isn't coming. She would ace the language section – she speaks so many languages!"

"Oh...I don't know about joining the team," her neighbor said unsurely, "We just moved in and there's still so much unpacking we have to do..."

Yes. Exactly. So much unpacking. The decathlon would be so very much inconvenient. For once, she agreed with...Victoria! No, not Victoria. What the hell was her name?

"Adelaide will help you! You said you were neighbors, right?" Liz chimed in.

She had never so badly before wanted to kill someone. Which was really saying something. She closed her eyes, focusing on breathing through her nose.

"You will?" her neighbor asked in a small innocent voice that would have made Adelaide look like a complete bitch if she refused. Adelaide let out a sigh. Someone had to contain Liz and her kindness. It was really starting to get in her way of sulking and being alone.

"Sure," she breathed through gritted teeth. Liz beamed happily.

"Great! So glad to have you on the team, Vivian!"

Vivian!

"Thank you, Liz," Vivian said sweetly and little Miss Perfect gifted them one more smile before walking away.

Adelaide internally groaned. She was going to have to do something about Liz. She was too...nice and smart and pretty. It was stepping on Adelaide's whole grumpy mean bitch vibe. No wonder Peter loved Liz. Who didn't? They'd be perfect together. Absolutely goddamn perfect. Nice and nicer. Polite and politer. And she could be on the side by herself, holding her own hand.

Adelaide realizing she was scowling.

"So do all your friends call you Ella?" Vivian asked, facing her. Adelaide grumbled something under her breath, pulling herself out of her thoughts.

"Just call me Adelaide if you have to," she sighed.

"It's a very pretty name," Vivian complimented with a polite smile.

"Thanks...I guess," she mumbled.

"Do you mind if I sit with you at your table? I don't really know where else to sit," Vivian said shyly. Adelaide had to physically hold herself back from rolling her eyes.

Sure, why don't you move in with me, too?

"Fine," she sighed, leading her to the mostly empty table (minus a curly-haired girl sitting at the end). Adelaide sat down two seats away from Michelle and Vivian sat across from her.

"Hi, I'm Vivian," she greeted Michelle. The girl looked up from her book.

"Michelle." And then she went back to reading.

Adelaide stared at the pathetic tray in her hand. Nothing looked appetizing. Not even the granola bar she had brought from home. Now she couldn't even have Mr. Delmar's leftover subs. All her cabinets had were crackers and granola bars that she didn't remember actually buying. She'd have to stock up on groceries soon.

"It's such a coincidence that you go here too," Vivian said with a smile. God, did she ever stop smiling? What was there to smile so much about?

"Yeah," she mumbled, "Big coincidence." Adelaide preferred to call it bad luck. She began regretting her decision to come back to school. There was no Delmar's anymore anyway. She wouldn't have to worry about losing her job if she just never came back.

But, of course, she couldn't just drop out. She just...couldn't. It would be a dumb and reckless idea.

"The weather's nice today, isn't it?" Vivian said to her, looking outside. Adelaide glanced at her.

If you call pouring rain nice.

"If you call pouring rain nice," Michelle said without looking up from her book.

Adelaide froze. Was she turning into Michelle?

No. No way. It was just a coincidence. Nobody likes pouring rain.

"Nobody likes pouring rain," Michelle said and Adelaide's concern suddenly changed to wondering if Michelle could read her mind. Probably not. She was probably just crossing the line of grumpiness that Michelle lived at. It felt nice, though slightly unnerving.

"I do," Vivian said with a polite smile. Adelaide realized she was going to start looking for more adjectives to describe her smiles. She must have a whole library of them. "I think it's peaceful."

"Oh, yeah, me too," someone said, sitting down beside her.

Adelaide looked to her left to find Ned sitting there with a biggest smile on his face. He hadn't even noticed her sitting there.

"I-I'm N-Ned," he greeted. Vivian smiled (her smile just widened because she never actually stopped smiling to begin with).

"Vivian," she said.

"H-How come I haven't s-seen you b-before?" Ned stuttered. Adelaide watched him suspiciously with narrowed eyes as she chewed on her oatmeal, chia seed, peanut butter granola bar (it had a whole fifteen grams of protein and not to mention the complete lack of flavor).

"I just moved in yesterday," she answered, tucking her black hair behind her ears shyly, "Today's my first day here."

"Wow..." Ned sighed as if she'd just told him that she had won the Nobel prize.

Adelaide rolled her eyes. She knew exactly what Ned was playing at and she wasn't going to be a part of it.

"M-Maybe I could sh-show you around?" Ned asked, leaning forward to rest his chin in his palm. He could have been mistaken for being hypnotized.

"I would love that!" Vivian smiled, clearly not having a clue, "But maybe in a few days? Adelaide's actually helping me unpack—"

Adelaide closed her eyes.

"Wait—you know Adelaide?" Ned asked, looking at her with the widest eyes. She might as well have grown a horn on her head with the way he was looking at her.

"We're neighbors!" Vivian grinned.

Adelaide was really going to kill someone.

Stop! Telling! People! We're! Neighbors!

"Neighbors?" Ned asked, "Huh. That's so cool." Adelaide avoided his gaze and focused on the chia seeds in her granola bar. They looked so wonderfully unappetizing. Any hunger she had before had vanished from the sight of this stale bar. Her annoyance, however, had only heightened. Vivian was a friendly monster, specifically designed to make life a living hell for antisocial people like her.

Ned cleared his throat.

Adelaide cleared her throat.

She took a big bite of her bar so she couldn't answer even if he asked her a question. Her nose wrinkled at the taste. Why the hell was she still eating this, again?

"Oh, I almost forgot! I have to meet with the counselor for my schedule," Vivian said, standing up as she checked her watch. She smiled at them politely. If only Adelaide had a dollar for every time that girl smiled, she'd never have to find another job. Adelaide gave her the most forced smile anyone had ever forced before in the history of the universe. "See you guys."

"Bye, Vivian," Ned sighed, waving. As soon as she left the cafeteria, Ned was onto her.

"Adelaide, you have to—"

"No," she said immediately. Ned frowned.

"But why?" he whined. Adelaide sighed