Confrontation

It's Saturday, and I decided to put off talking to Gwen to talk to T. I'm sure he already knows about Brian, but he's always been a big brother figure and I've always been grateful since he actually let me out the game without much problem, so I'd hate to see something happen to him.

Arriving at his same old place, I knock, give him a unique code that was very different from the rest, and he lets me in as I'm assaulted by the typical smell.

"So why ya here? Want to get an eighth?" He asked as I chuckled and sat down on a sofa as he sat beside me on it.

"Come on man, can't I just visit you? And you know I quit."

"Yeah, yeah. You went on the straight and narrow, but anyways, why you here?"

"It's about Brian man, I-"

"Trust me, I know, I've been in this longer than you kid, and Brian's always held a grudge since I let you out." T said, nonchalantly while leaning back despite the fact that there is a real chance he may die, but I still don't really believe Brian would do anything like that.

"I just don't want to see you get hurt man."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Is that why you came?"

"Yes, but also to catch up, you got pack?"

"You know I always do! Now you speaking my language!" He said with an infectious laugh and smile.

(Monday)

Alright yes I waited till Monday to talk to her, but to be honest I'd also rather not deal with her dad giving me a death stare. So right now I was sitting down across from Gwen.

"So..." I said awkwardly, fuck.

"So?" She asked with a confused but amused look, probably having an idea of what this is about.

"So Aunt May told me about, how we knew each other."

"So you did forget?" She asked, now very amused.

"Well, things happened, and I got busy. So, it might've passed my mind in passing years." I said sheepishly.

"Yeah I bet, don't worry about it though, I could tell how hard losing your uncle was for you guys." She said, causing me to slightly wince at the mention of Ben.

"Yeah, you don't know the half of it." I mumbled to myself.

"Anyways, why'd you start coming to school here? I never got to ask you."

"Oh. Well it came as a recent opportunity, that I really had no reason to reject, ya know? This is MidTown after all, elite of the elite." She said in a grandiose way at the end, getting a chuckle.

"Yeah, doesn't seem that way sometimes though when you have idiots like Flash here for sports." I said getting a chuckle from her now.

"Speaking of." I say lightly, seeing him drag a scrawny kid out the lunchroom with Kenny.

"Sorry I'll be right back, have to stop idiot 1 and 2 from their not so common actions nowadays." I say while getting up before following them. I catch up to them in the bathroom about to give the poor kid a swirly.

"SO, Eugene." I say aloud, as he visibly flinches before letting the kid go.

"Peter! Buddy! What are you doing here?" He asked while instantly turning around before going for a hug which I stop with one hand.

"What did we talk about Eugene? You too Kenny, what would Gloria think?" I said asked causing them both to instantly hang their heads.

"Now, Flash unless you want me to call Eddie and Gloria for you Kenny, get out." I said in an authoritative voice as they instantly leave, leaving me with the poor kid who's still on the ground.

"Hey bro, come on and get up." I said bending over slightly towards him and offering him a hand, but he ignores me.

"C'mon, Aleksei, right? You always come in either second or third each year. Never got to talk to you really, but props to you, it's not easy to stay in top three." I say after sitting beside him.

"...Why do you care?" He asked.

"Well, to be honest I pity you. Because it could've been me in your place if I didn't meet certain people. Everyone's circumstances is different, and no one should be bullied at the one place where you're kinda meant to make your friends." I explained honestly.

"Yeah? Well I don't need your pity."

"No, but you do need a friend that'd be able to keep people Flash off your back. What you say? I'm top 1, so we're both smart, and I'm sure we'd find something to bond over. What's your favorite anime?"

"And why would you assume I watch anime?" He asked, finally looking at me with a raised eyebrow, while I only raised one back till he sighed.

"One Piece." He stated.

"Cool, for me it's Dragon Ball." Which only got me a weird look.

"I thought you guys couldn't read. How are you so smart? Do you cheat?" He asked matter-of-factly.

"Haha. Anyways let's stop socializing on the bathroom, no matter how clean it looks." I dried laugh and said before getting up. Offering him a hand yet again which he actually took this time. We then went on our way to the lunch room.

"Your not annoyed by the fact that I could only be your friend for the benefits?" Aleksei asked along the way.

"Nope. Cause eventually I'll convince you enough to actually see me as a friend. I'm great after all! Everyone loves me eventually!" I yelled the last part, causing him to start shushing me.

"SH! Shut up dude! You want to get us in trouble?!" He asked while slightly panicking to which I only laughed.

"It'll be fine man. Lighten up, it's High School, not a 9-5 box office job. Live a little!" To which he only gave me an annoyed look as I chuckled.