It was at times like this that Peter knew life was worth living. He was stuck in between consciousness and unconsciousness. He knew he wasn't quite awake, but he could still hear and process the outside world so it was obvious he wasn't asleep.

He was having a blast just drifting in the space of his mind, just peace and quiet.

"Vada! Vada!"

There it was! The inevitable end to his tranquility.

"Stiamo andando essere in ritardo!"

Peter cracked open his eyes which were crusted over and immediantlly rubbed them with a groan. He felt as if his limbs were tied down with million pound weights.

The sky was a light blue and the honking of cars invaded his ears. He could hear the clanking of metal pots in the kitchen as if they were speakers in a concert and water running through the pipes in the wall.

"What?" He yelled out weakly, yawning afterwards from the wake up call. Peter rolled off the bed and crumpled to the ground, letting out another groan of frustration. He really should've gone to bed earlier than 5.

"Hurry up! You're going to be late!" May's annoyed voice came from the kitchen which was giving off a strong smell of slightly burnt pancakes and oranges.

Peter craned his head up to look at his alarm clock and saw the taunting red numbers peer down at him.

7:28 a.m.

Peter scrambled off the ground with a surprised yelp and dived into his closet to put on some clothes last minute. A random dark hoodie and sweatpants he usually reserved for lazing around at home were what he chose. He didn't have time to actually try this morning.

"Why didn't my alarm go off?" Peter yelled as he yanked the old ratty shirt off his head and instead pulled on a plain grey t-shirt. He almost didn't recognize his voice as it was raspy and way to low to be his.

"The power turned off because of the storm, Mr. 5 a.m! Now hurry and get your ass in here or we'll both be chewed out for being late!"

Peter didn't take her words for granted as he fervently pulled up his sweats and threw on a hoodie. He gave a look at the bathroom and clumsily grabbed his toothbrush.

Peter quickly brushed his teeth, almost getting toothpaste everywhere before spitting it all out in a haste.

7:32 a.m.

The subway was about 10 minutes away if he sprinted and the ride was about 15 if they didn't run into any difficulties. That left him 3 minutes to get to his class once on campus as long as things went smoothly.

He could do this.

Peter spared a glance at the hair gel on the sink before shaking his head. He wouldn't have time.

He rushed out of his room in a daze and stumbled into the kitchen where May handed him tupperware with some cut up pancake that was still scorching against his skin.

"Bye May, love you!" Peter gave his aunt a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek before sprinting through the open door. It was harder than it looked when gravity seemed to be weighing him down 10 times more than usual.

It only took half a minute for Peter to get out of the building and run down the sidewalk like a madman. He yelped out multiple 'sorry's and 'excuse me's as he shoved through the crowd.

Peter felt his feet slam against the concrete and soon enough, he jumped down the stairs to the station.

Peter didn't have time to be nice as he pushed his way through the sea of people that crowded around. Most of them were students as well if the backpacks they wore were a hint.

He barely managed to scrape past the closing doors before they shut right next to his face. Peter had gotten lucky this time, he let out a sigh at that as he grabbed a nearby pole to hang on to.

He could only hope that they didn't run into any difficulties.

Peter wrenched his eyes shut as the murmurs in the cart stabbed into his brain. The squeaking of wheels and shaking of the cart made him sway a little.

Sometimes he really hated his senses. This was going to be a long day.

~~

True to his word, it most definitely was.

Even Ned noticed his bad mood and he didn't try to cheer him up. He was just there and that was all Peter wanted at the moment.

The day dragged on and all he wanted to do was go back home to kind, honest May.

All of a sudden he felt love for the woman swell in his chest. Peter truly loved May with all of his heart and bless her patience with his screw ups. He just wanted to hug her right now, all he needed right now was May.

Peter poked at his mashed potatoes as Ned cast a worried look at him. "Don't you have, like, a super fast stomach or something? You need to eat. Please?"

Peter just gave a mumbled 'I know' in response. It was unusual for him to be in a bad mood ever. It had only happened a few times!

"Hey Parker!" An antagonistic voice called out that made Peter want to bury his head in his arms.

"What do you need, Joan?" Peter sighed as he looked towards the tall teenager. Joan had a small group with him in the stereotypical way. Flash hung out in the back looking extremely uncomfortable.

"Just wanted to say you look like horse shit. More than normal, I mean." Joan tutted. "There's outta be something that brings Mr. Sunshine down. What would do that, I wonder?"

Flash looked as if he might've vomited at that moment.

Peter just felt a little annoyed. It wasn't anything huge, just his blood getting a little bit colder than before. Ned casted Peter a glance before facing Joan with furrowed brows.

"Hey! Leave Peter alone! He looks fine and he didn't do anything to you, so shut the hell up!"

Peter felt thankful for Ned in that moment, but he didn't deserve to have him fight his battles. The brunette merely sighed before snapping slightly. "What did you need again, Joan? Because last time I heard you already had someone else to do your work."

Joan tilted his head a bit, "Ah, so Parker finally decided to grow a pair!" He turned back at his friends who snickered a bit. Flash still looked like he'd rather be anywhere else then there at the moment. "Last time I checked I earned my way here like you did. I don't need anyone to do my homework."

"Well, unlike you I didn't have dear mommy and daddy pay my way in."

Ned looked in awe and a tiny bit of concern at Peter. God knows that the vigilante almost never really stood up for himself like this without the mask.

"Well unlike you," Joan mirrored.  It was at that moment Flash looked absolutely disgusted and turned his head away in shame. "I actually have a mommy and daddy."

It was a stretching silence and Flash's hands shook violently.

But Peter always knew this fact and looked up unimpressed at him. Orphan jokes? Hell, Peter used those on himself time to time.

~~
Peter hummed in thought. Ned looked a little impatient and Tony just looked amused as he was definitely going to lose the game due to being a billionaire and doing almost everything. 

"Never have I ever..."

Ned just waited in anticipation as Peter finally got it. "Never have I ever..been grounded by my parents."

Ned groaned and put one on his fingers down in sheer annoyance. "Every time! With the stupid orphan jokes!" Tony looked downright horrified.

Ned turned to look at Tony and scoffed at Peter. "He does this all the damn time! It's practically a trump card!"
~~

Peter just sighed at the teen. Joan looked confused at the fact that the comment didn't faze him.

"Really? Is that the best thing you got?" Peter asked unbelievably. From the look on Joan's face it was. "Oh my God, it really was!" He turned to Ned. "It really was!"

Peter looked back up at the group. "Man, I eat orphan jokes for breakfast! You're gonna have to try harder than that!"

He didn't really make them that often, mainly when he was in a mood for morbid humor.

Sometimes, the absence of parents affected him. Other times, like now, he just shrugged it off as something that was just as real as the sky being blue.

Of course he missed them. He would always wonder about his mom and dad in the midst of the night. How his mom complained about brushing her curly red hair as she walked out of the bathroom with a brush stuck to her head.

Or how his dad chugged his coffee and beat on his chest as his mom chanted 'do it!' from the other side of the kitchen as she held Peter.

But right now he repressed his sadness and stared down Joan.

He didn't seem to have any idea on what to do next and Flash looked like he had just been gifted the moon. Joan just stalked off somewhere and his lackeys followed.

Ned put a hand on Peter's forearm. "You okay, bro?" Peter glanced up at him with a thin but genuine smile. "Yeah man, of course. I just need to go home and then I'll be good."

Surprisingly enough, the rest of the day went smoothly for Peter. No one seemed to bother him at all, even the teachers!

By the time he got to his apartment he felt as if he would pass out but he could hear May's heartbeat loud and clear.

Peter swung open the door lazily and he didn't bother putting down his hood. He shuffled over to May who was looking at him weirdly.

"Hi honey, how was school?" May smiled from the couch. Peter didn't answer as he dropped his bag onto the floor and collapsed next to May on the couch.

"Rough, huh?" She carded her fingers through his hair and scratched his scalp. Peter felt himself melt into her side and May wrapped an arm around him. She layed his head on top of her heart and her head lightly rested against the side of his as she hummed.

"I love you, honey. Never forget that, okay?" May spoke gently. Peter responded with a murmur of agreement and closed his eyes.

It was true he didn't have his parents.

He didn't have his mom and all of her bad jokes and messy hair that scratched his face sometimes.

He didn't have his dad who somehow always smelled like coffee and laughed too loudly for anybody's liking but his mother's.

But he had May who screamed in Italian at the T.V when the news came on and who always knew how to comfort him in the most trying times.

And at the moment, May was all he needed.

Hey guys! So I really wanted to do a May chapter, mainly because I stan her. At the moment I am stranded with my aunt, uncle, and sister at a lake house in the middle of the woods because our car decided to break down. Worst part about it is that this place looks like somewhere a renowned murderer would live and there is no WiFi. I'll post this whenever we get to my aunt's house and I have the means to publish this. Anyways, byeeeeeee.