BENEFITS — CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE!

Called Liz as she knocked on their hotel door. "We're going to be late!"

"Okay, hold on! Hold on!" Ned shouted back before scrambling out of the room, his hair a mess.

[Y/N] looks at Ned confusedly as he shuts the door behind him, "uhm, where's Peter?"

Neds eats turn a bright shade of red as he fumbles over his words. Trying to explain (poorly) the reason why Peter was missing. "He... Uhm went to study and err... Didn't come back?" Ned explained, though his tone was questionable.

Liz sighed as she shuffled through her notes anxiously. "We can't wait around for him any longer." She announced, "Flash, looks like you're in for Peter again."

Flash high-fives Harry triumphantly as Mr. Harrington gives him the spare jacket. "Come on guys, we better get downstairs."

The students chatter amongst themselves excitedly. Some of them quizzing each other on the way. [Y/N] brushes Harry off as he tries to talk to her, instead marching over to Ned, who was talking to Betty Brant.

"Ned. We need to talk." She said in a tone that he knew he couldn't deny. The colour from his face drained as he let people pass them. "You're going to tell me where Peter is — no bullshitting me 'cause I can easily tell when you're lying."

"He went to study and didn't come back." Ned says slowly, his lips set in a straight line as he avoided her eyes.

"Liar!" [Y/N] shook her head, "where. Is. Peter?"

"I. Don't. Know!" Ned replied, flaring his nostrils. He hated yelling at people but [Y/N] was being annoying. Couldn't she tell that this wasn't any of her business? She'd made her bed — with Harry — so, she could go lay in it. Ned and Peter had been through more together than Ned and [Y/N]. Therefore Ned's loyalty lied with Peter over her.

"Ugh, look, I don't want to argue with you but you're lying. You know where Peter is and what he's doing but you just don't want to tell me. Why?"

"Like I just said, I do not know where Peter is nor do I know what he's doing." Ned sighed, looking back over at a confused Betty. "Now if you'll excuse me..."

[Y/N] stood in place, baffled, as Ned walked back over to Betty. "Are you okay? What was that all about?" Harry asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.

Shrugging him off, [Y/N] shook her head. "Nothing. I'm fine. Let's go win this thing."

"We have entered sudden death," the moderator announced, peering at the teams mischievously. "The next correct answer wins the championship."

Maybe it was stress or maybe it was fear but whatever it was, it made [Y/N]'s mind go completely blank. She hadn't even heard the question properly when Michelle chimed the bell.

She stared down the table, Flash had sweat beading down his forehead as Michelle cleated her throat. "Zero?" She asked, her face lacking emotion once again.

The moderator hesitated, her eyes flickering from team to team. Her lips curled upwards, "That is correct. Midtown takes the championship!"

The students cheer, Ned hugs Michelle and surprisingly the girl smiles. "We did it!" Harry cheered, wrapping his arms around [Y/N]. Before she could say anything, he kissed right on the lips. Right in front of everyone.

His gesture took her by surprise. She stood there like a stunned mullet for a moment before kissing him back. For some reason, the kiss had lost the special feeling their first kiss had given her. She frowned against his lips, slowly pulling apart. "Come on." She shouted over everyone, tugging at his hand so they could celebrate with their team.

After many celebratory hugs and cheers, the students and Mr. Harrington visit the Washington Monument. "We won!" Abraham called excitedly as they walk through the crowds.

"You guys, I'm so proud of you." Liz beamed at them, her shirt skirt blowing in the wind as she jumped up excitedly.

From beside her, Flash piped up. "See, I told you we didn't need Peter," he commented, stroking the trophy he was holding. How he'd gotten to hold the trophy was beyond [Y/N].

Ned rolled his eyes, "Flash, you didn't answer a single question."

"Yeah, at least do something useful before putting Peter down." [Y/N] added, earning a glare from Ned. He was still a bit annoyed at her persistence.

Flash sulks, hugging the trophy tighter as the students walk through the front doors. Just as Ned went to put his things through the X-ray, his phone rings.

Peters familiar contact photo lights up his screen, "oh Ned! You're alive!" Peter shouts through the phone, he sounded out of breath.

Whispering, Ned replies. "Peter, are you okay?" He asks, worried about his friend.

"Ned, Ned, where's the glowy thing?" He questions worriedly.

Ned shakes his head, "Don't worry, it's safe. It's in my backpack." He assures Peter, at the same time placing his bag on the conveyor belt for an X-ray.

"No, Ned, listen! No, no, Ned, the glowy thing is dangerous." Peter cries but at the same time, Ned continues speaking.

"You missed the Decathlon. I covered for you." Ned sighed, at the same time [Y/N] and Liz line up behind him.

"Ned, listen to me!" Peter exclaims.

"We're at the Washington Monument now. You gotta—" Before Med could finish, Liz took his phone.

"Peter? Is that you?" She asks, frowning.

"Oh, hey Liz." Peter says, "please put Ned back on the phone."

Liz shakes her head, "You flake! You are so lucky we won. You know, I want to be mad, but I'm more worried. Like, what is going on with you?" She sighs, looking over at a frowning [Y/N].

"Liz, I have to talk to Ned. It's really important!" Before Liz could say anything [Y/N] takes the phone.

"Peter Benjamin Parker! Where the hell are you?" She exclaims, "I know there's something you're hiding, okay? I heard you guys talking on the bus. Who's Happy, huh? We're going to have a really long and honest talk next time I see you. You understand?"

Hanging up, she hands Ned his phone back. "If you won't tell me then Peter can." She mumbled, picking her bag off the conveyor belt.

"Hey, Mr. Harrington, can I be the one to tell Peter he's expelled?" Flash's asks as they all crowd inside the elevator. Both [Y/N] and Ned glare at him.

As the teacher lets out a sigh, their blonde tour guide starts telling them about the monument. "The Washington Monument is 555 feet, 5 and 1/8 inches tall. Notice how the marble and granite are cut around the stone."

But then, Neds backpack started glowing purple. The Chitauri Engery core erupts with light, the impact breaking the glass around the elevator. Ned rips his backpack off, and smoke emits from it.

WRITTEN: 10/09/19

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WORD COUNT: 1172

p.s. i go offline for a month and we almost have 18K reads?!?!?!?!? wtf how