The continuous dread of the cycle of classes kept popping up in Thea's mind. Her mind was already chock full with missions, but now, Thea had to worry about what to do for homework and how to study.

Thea sighed, her eyes followed the same path they had a million times before and glanced down at the time on her phone. 11:59 it read. As soon as Thea read that, the bell rang, signaling the end of yet another period. Thea exited her classes, backpack full and heavy with books. She looked around at the quickly crowding halls before she searched for her schedule tucked away in her binder. She looked at her schedule that she got from her first period, the one with her friends, Peter and Ned. The next period was....'lunch'. Thea sighed a feeling of relief to herself. Thea didn't even understand half the material taught in the classes. But she still tried her best with it all.

Thea walked out of her last classroom, World History with Mr. Fischer, and immediately set her sights on her new locker. Her locker was next to the Physics classroom across the hallway and on the second row of lockers. Meaning that she didn't have to crouch down in order to open it. But before Thea could open her locker and put her new books in she heard someone call out her name from down the hall. "Hey, Thea!"

Thea turned to the source of the call and saw none other than Peter Parker and his good friend Ned Leeds walking towards her. "Hey Parker, hey Leeds," Thea called back at them.

Maneuvering through the busy hall, Peter and Ned both managed to make it to Thea. They stopped right in front of her locker and Thea waited for what they needed.

"Since you're new here I was wondering if you wanted to eat lunch together," Peter said over the loud chatter of the hall. "I-I mean not t-together together but like you, me and Ned." He said trying to make it less awkward.

"Yeah that would be great Peter, although I don't really know where to go for lunch, so I guess that's where you two come in." Thea chuckled half-heartedly.

"Ned and I can show you around the cafeteria and where we sit, just to warn you we aren't exactly popular during lunch...or during any other time," Peter said sheepishly.

"I expected as much but I don't care; as long as I have friends to hang out with then I'm fine wherever," Thea assured back. "So...where to?" She asked walking ahead of both of them. Thea walked forward but didn't realize that Peter nor Ned was following her.

"Peter, you have to keep her with us. This could be the way we jump up the food chain!" Ned exclaimed.

Peter still in awe said back, "I know she's great."

Thea turned around only to find that both Peter and Ned were almost half a hall down from her. "Come one you guys!" Thea shouted, "You guys are my chaperones in this school!" Ned and Peter both looked up from each other and began to walk toward Thea. Once they finally got to Thea, she asked, "So what took you so long? Gossiping about me?" She jokingly asked.

"Uh no, no we weren't," Peter said back. "We were just talking about our... our" "The test we just took in Spanish." Ned chimed in. "Y-yeah our test in Spanish," Peter confirmed. "It was a doozy, I mean what's the difference between imperfect and preterite right?"

"Righhhhtttt...." Thea said, not fully understanding what was going on.

"You two confuse me sometimes."

~~~~

As the trio entered the bustling cafeteria, Thea stopped and looked in awe, taking all of it. The large room filled with chattering teenagers; the smell of grease and axe body spray harassed her nose. "So where do we sit?" Thea implored, now looking over at the boys.

"Oh we usually sit in that empty back table in the corner," Ned said while pointing over at the corner of the room.

"Let's hurry up then, I'm starving." As Thea said this her stomach growled. She began to walk towards the line where food was being served.

"Oh no, you don't want the food here, trust me." Peter stopped Thea from moving any further.

"Eating here won't cure your hunger; just make it worse because you'll throw it all up after," Ned added while nodding.

Just as the trio was about to make it to the table, another guy, shorter than them, with a look of arrogance to his face, began to walk beside Thea. As soon as he did this both Peter and Ned got a look of disgust and hatred on their faces.

"Hey, I haven't seen you around here before, are you new here?" He asked haughtily. "You know, maybe we could go get some dinner together." He added with a wink.

"Maybe you should ask someone their name first before you try to hit on them next time," Thea rebutted. Her hands placed firmly on her hips as she stood her ground.

"Well, I'm Flash, Flash Thompson. And you are?"

"Thea, Thea Quinton; but guessing by your face you already knew that didn't you?" She snapped back. Thea stopped in her tracks and looked down slightly at Flash while crossing her arms.

"You caught me, but I still don't understand why a girl like you is doing with them," Flash emphasized the disgust on 'them' in the sentence.

"Maybe it's because they are actually nice people who don't just want to hit on me, unlike you Flash." Thea hissed.

"Fine, but just remember if you want more fun in your life, just find me and we'll have all the fun in the world." He said as he left Thea.

"Yeah don't plan on being friends with douchebags any time soon." Thea retaliated. Thea let out a breath and sighed out.

"Jesus Christ that guy was an asshole."

She turned around to see both of the boys with their jaws open and eyes wide.

"I can't believe you just stood up Flash," Ned said in disbelief.

"Flash has been a pain in our back ever since middle school," Peter added on.

"Well I don't like bullies, especially ones who think it's okay to hit on women at any time," Thea admitted and walked over to the boys. Both of them nodded at what she had said. Without another word Thea lead the group over to the empty table in the corner.

"So," Thea said finally getting to sit down at the table, "what's up with that Spider guy?" She tried to break the ice while also collecting information. Peter's eyes went wide but Thea failed to notice it.

"I-um you mean Spider-Man, the superhero in Queens? That Spider guy?" Peter said shakily.

"Yeah I mean, I'm new to this entire superhero scene. Here in New York, it seems to be swarming with them."

"Spider-Man is just a pest to the city don't you think? I mean he isn't an Avengers and all he does is stop robberies." Peter answered.

"I don't think he's a pest, I mean he helps people when they need it. Avenger or not he is good and knows what's right. Unlike that one girl Dark Matter." Thea rebutted to his answer.

"Yeah but no one has seen her in years. I think the last time anyone has seen her was back in 2012." Ned replied.

"Even then I don't think she's bad," Peter reassured Thea. "I think she's misunderstood. Yes, she's powerful but that doesn't mean she's not human too. We all deserve a second chance, especially superheroes." Peter professed.

This statement made Thea's eyes widen and her mouth parted in shock. "That's a way to put it," Thea said, regaining her stoic expression. "But with the Spider-Man, no one knows who he is and why he's here. I mean, he just kinda showed up out of nowhere right?" Thea asked. She leaned against her palms and looked over at Peter, who was seated next to Ned.

"I-I um think it's for the best that no one knows who he is, cause if they did he wouldn't get to live a normal life outside of being Spider-Man." Peter objected.

"But how do we know he even has a life outside of being Spider-Man," Thea asked and she furrowed her eyebrows.

Ned, who was out of the majority of this conversation inputted saying, "Well, even if we know him what would we do with that information?"

"I guess you guys are right, I'm just curious." Thea finally said, ending the conversation.

"You know what Thea, as soon as I found out who this Spider-Man is I'll let you know ok?" Peter assured her.

"Thanks, Peter, I can always count on people like you," Thea said, smiling at him.

The sudden ringing of the bell shocked Thea. She visibly jumped at the new noise and let out a sigh of defeat.

"I guess that means it's time to go," Thea said, not wanting to go to another unless class. Thea picked up her bag from the floor and pushed herself off of the seat.

"What class do you have now?" Peter asked while also getting up.

"I have physics now," Thea mumbled, walking forwards to the cafeteria doors.

"Yes," Peter muttered to himself. Thea looked at Peter in confusion. Clearing his throat he then said, "I mean Ned and I have that class next too."

"Come on you two let's get going already," Ned begged, not wanting to be late for class.

"Oh alright you crybaby," Thea said teasingly, her eyes squinting at Ned slightly, in a playful manner.

~ Author's Note ~

All rights to Spider-Man and original plot goes to the Marvel franchise and their fantastic movies and comics. I own new story lines and new characters, like Thea Quinton.

Don't worry everyone; the next chapter will bring together Spider-Man and Dark Matter. It'll be worth it believe me.

I hope you enjoy this story so far too; I really want this to be a fun and exciting story. Although it will be a semi-slow burn for Peter and Thea. But it will all be worth it in the end, believe me.

Also, do any of you guys have a clue to her past? I would like to know your theories.