#oc: ashe pullano

[httpwarmth]

until the world comes crashing down // two

words: 1602 0.1  0.2  a/n: this chapter is actually disgustingly cute but i love it so much. enjoy!

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Peter racks his brain for the remaining of the class. He can’t be bothered to listen to Mrs. Salgas introduce the rigorous class and ignores her warns about the difficulties that comes along with this class. He could make it through, he practically lived, breathed and slept science. He spent most of class wondering if he should turn around and talk to Ashe at the end of class. 

His nerves told him that Ashe probably didn’t even remember who he was. That third grade was so long ago and the year that they become best friends was a memory that she blocked. A different part of him reassured him that there’s no way Ashe could just forget him that easily. They had a bond and she didn’t seem like the type to just forget. 

His mind already in jitters by the time the bell rang, dismissing first period, he let his nervousness take over and his body went on autopilot. He gathered up everything in a whirlwind, throwing his notebook and pencil into his back, no doubt that he was going to lose his pencil in a mere few hours when he would be too lazy to dig through his backpack. 

“I see that you finally cut your hair.” A familiar voice rang out from behind Peter. A voice that could stop oceans from raging, and cause mountains to bow for her. As for Peter, he automatically froze and his head whipped over to Ashe who was putting a pair of wire rimmed glass into a case. “Did you finally start cleaning your room too?” She stared up at him with a smirk, snapping her case shut and dropping it into the backpack. 

Now, that he could actually stare at Ashe, he could see how much she had grown in the years the two were separated. Of course, Peter had grown too but that was probably due to the superhuman powers he was given. She didn’t wear her hair in a sleek ponytail anymore. It flowed in soft waves down to her shoulder and bounced every time she moved her head in the slightest. It was the deepest ebony Peter had ever seen and they seemed to match the darkness of her brown eyes. All in all, it looked like she cared about the way that others saw her. She took care of her appearance and took extra time to make herself presentable. 

“You remember?” Is all that Peter can manage out, practically gawking at her. The nervous butterflies in his stomach have settled themselves down back into somewhat of a hibernation. 

Her eyebrows furrow for a second before a smile grows on her face. “Of course! How could I forget a face like that?” She teases. 

Peter can feel his own face start to flush and he opens his mouth, probably to stutter out some lame response but Ned cuts in before Peter can embarrass himself even more. “You two know each other?” Ned had made his way over to Peter’s desk. Probably to collect the boy and shoo him off to his next class. 

“Yeah,” Peter finally tears his gaze away to look over at Ned who own eyes were focused mainly on Ashe. His lips parted and a confused expression sat on his face. “We, uh, went to elementary school together.” 

“Just third grade though.” She reminisces, and throws Ned a quick stellar smile that seemed to make both boys melt. She throws her backpack over one shoulder. “But what a pair of third graders we were. Ashe and Peter, they couldn’t separate us. We were ready to take on the world.” 

“You were ready to take on the world.” Peter reminds her, his voice still a little hoarse and shocked. He couldn’t believe how easy Ashe was talking to him, as if the two never stopped being friends. Peter’s throat was so dry, he couldn’t remember what it was like to be able to swallow. “I was just along for the ride.” He mutters. 

Peter can feel Ned’s gaze on his profile, as he had finally stopped looking at Ashe. Peter, however, couldn’t break eye contact with the girl. She shrugs her shoulders and sends him a lazy grin. “Same thing.” She mutters before starting to walk away backwards. Her phone dings and she quickly pulls it out of her back pocket, unlocking it with one hand. She staggers for a moment, staring down at her phone. For a mere moment, a frown crosses her face but when she looks back up at the duo, the smile is back. “I’ll see you around Peter?” She asks before her eyes focus on Ned. “And Peter’s friend?” 

“I’m Ned.” Ned mutters quickly. Still with the dumb shocked expression on his face. 

“And Ned.” She confirms with a nod of her head before spinning around on her heel and leaving the classroom, back on her phone. The two can hear her heels clacking for a split second before they’re mixed in with the rest of the students, trying to get to class. 

“Gentlemen?” Mrs. Salgas calls out. “Don’t you two have a class to get to?” It was now the teacher’s planning period and her classroom was now stagnant, Ned and Peter the only two left. 

Coming back into focus after what seemed like a dream, Peter nodded and grabbed his backpack, taking Ned with him. 

“Do you think you and Ashe are going to be friends again?” Was the first question out of Ned’s mouth when Peter saw him after school. His hands gripped at his backpack straps and his eyes were wide, curious. This was apparently, as big of a deal to Ned as when he found out that Peter was Spiderman. 

Peter shrugged his shoulders, trying to appear nonchalant. On the inside, he was wondering the same thing. Of course, he wanted to be friends with Ashe again. He wanted to see how Ashe had become and if she was still able to think up responses lighting fast. Ashe was a spunky third grader who let her mouth run a little too much, and Peter was always there to clean up the mess she left behind. Was she still the same? Or did she know when to bite her tongue? Had she grown up and matured too quickly? “Maybe.”

“Peter!” He heard someone call after him and the clack of heels caused his stomach to drop. It was a good drop though, it was like a weight was lifted off his shoulders as he knew that voice and those heels. When Peter slowed down and turned around, a smile couldn’t help but appear at the sight of Ashe’s chunky black heels speed walking their way down the practically empty hall. The few stragglers who remained in the hallway couldn’t get less about the group of three. 

She had her wire rimmed glasses on the top of her head, pushing back most of her hair except for a few strands but seemed to fall in her walking over. She held a stack of different colored papers in her hands, even though she had a perfectly good backpack right there. She made looking like a mess look amazing.

“Do you know any good places to eat around here? I’m starving.” She inquiries, staring up and him. Ned’s suddenly gone quiet but still stays stuck by Peter’s side. 

Peter pauses for a second, trying to rack his brain for the best place that she could eat. “Uhh.” He mutters. He wanted to tell Ashe of a good enough place that would be suitable for her. 

“The thai place, Peter.” Ned quipped up, slightly bumping into him. “Their food is amazing.” He tells Ashe. He seems to have warmed up to her quickly, compared to this morning when all he could do was stare at her and sputter out his name. Peter, on the other hand, was still having some troubles. 

“Do you like thai food?” He turns back to the girl who nods vigorously. 

A smile spreads across her face. “Do you two mind taking me there? I have no sense of direction anymore.” She asks. 

Peter’s heart races for a quick moment as he glances over at Ned. Ned’s already staring at him and the two share the same look. Ned turns back to face Ashe. “I actually have somewhere to be. You two go, though. It’ll be fun.” He rambles before shooting Peter a quick smile and turning away. 

Peter watches him go. Him and Ned did not share the same look, instead they were on two opposite ends of what the look meant. Ned meant it as the two of them should just go and Peter meant it as he needed Ned there with them. 

“Come on, Parker.” Ashe grabs his hand, causing Peter to turn back and face her. His hands immediately clam up as her soft hand holds his. She’s stronger than she looks. “Show me around the town, I can’t wait for the food.” She looks up at him and he’s frozen. He stares at the fact that he’s holding her hand and he forgets how to breathe. His face flushes because this rarely happened in the third grade. It was just that one time when Ashe laughed until she had no more giggles left in her. Now, it was Ashe’s first day back and Peter can’t count on one hand how many times he’s been dumbfounded over this girl. 

Her smile is contagious though as he finds himself smiling. Maybe Ashe being back will help him. Or she could completely end him. 

“Come on.”