Peter looked up as he felt the bus slowly come to a stop. He looked around the place they had driven an hour to arrive at - Needless to say, Ned owed him 20 bucks.

It was a big hotel, looking like it was way out of the schools budget. Of course, Peter wasn't complaining. It certainly looked nice.

The teacher stood up at the front of the bus as it stopped, nearly falling over. Kids snickered a little.

"Alright, kids. As you can see, we've generously been allowed to stay at this nice hotel for the trip. There are just a few rules that you need to follow. First of all, don't..."

Peter basically blocked him out after that. He looked the hotel up and down and then looked down at his phone. Nothing. What was the point of being so hopeful anymore? They weren't going to respond.

"Alright. Two boys to a room, two girls to a room, and we will meet up to start the actual reunion at two o'clock, giving you plenty of time to settle in and explore.  Without being disruptive."  He shot a look at Flash, who wore an innocent grin.

"Besides that," he said as he stepped back into the row of seats, "have fun."

Everyone quickly stood up and practically ran off of the bus, dragging their stuff behind them.  Ned and Peter stayed as a pair as MJ walked briskly past them, brushing into Peter's shoulder.

Before Peter could pout or anything, Ned rested a hand on his shoulder as they entered the building.  "Roommates?"

"Heck yeah. Except... which rooms are we in?"

"205 through 211, I believe." Ned pressed the elevator button and they waited, having to hear Flash complaining behind them.

The elevator doors opened and after a group of people left, Flash pushed through them and got into the elevator first, pushing the closed door button before Ned and Peter could get on.

"That immature five year old," Peter muttered as he pressed the elevator button again.

When they eventually reached their floor, two of the doors to their designated rooms were open. They shared a look before entering the first one, room 205. There were two keys on the shelf by the door inside. Ned grabbed one and put it in his pocket, Peter doing the same with the other.

It was a larger room. Two beds, a kitchen area, a tv, all that. It was great, but Peter was not in the mood.

Peter threw his duffle bag onto one of the beds before plopping down beside it with a sigh. Man, he could already tell this was going to be a great trip.

"Come on, Pete! Cheer up!" Ned sat on his own bed. "It won't be that bad. Plus, this place is nice! It's got an indoor pool! We can go swimming."

Peter sat up. "I don't know... I mean, I brought my swimsuit because it was on the list, but you know how I feel about being shirtless around people."

"Yeah, but Peter, no one is going to judge you." Peter gave Ned a look. "Okay, so Flash might, but he's already the worst.

Peter was about to protest when he felt his phone buzz. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and saw a notification. He got hopeful before opening it and seeing it was from MJ.

MJ
Some of us are going to go down to the pool for the rest of our free time. If you are able to come and not be an hour late, then you are welcome to come join.

Peter sighed and showed Ned the text.

"See? They're all already going!" Ned's voice softened. "Look, Peter. You don't have to stay or swim very long. I just think that you should at least try."

Peter sat there in silence before grabbing his duffle bag. As soon as he opened it, he saw his Spidey suit. He hesitated before pushing it aside in the bag and grabbing his swimsuit instead.

Guess Peter was going swimming.

——————

Peter took a deep breath as he and Ned walked into pool room. MJ, Flash and some of their other team members were already swimming. The Decathlon kids had taken over the pool. Ned didn't hesitate to jump in, immediately splashing everyone.

He fidgeted with the hem of his white tee. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. Maybe he should just go back to the room.

"Peter!" MJ called from the pool. "Too late to leave."

Peter sighed and nodded. He slowly grabbed his shirt and pulled it off.

He felt so insecure.

Scars collected from the past three years of fighting crime were on display. He noticed the brief silence that followed. Taking a deep breath, he ran to the water and jumped right in.

It didn't take long for Peter to get into it.

Soon, MJ and him were splashing each other and Ned. Flash would - well, be Flash. He would make some snide remark - about Peter and MJ, about his scars, about a lot of things. Peter and MJ would quickly respond with a splash in Flash's face.

Sometimes, mysteriously, Flash's feet would get stuck to the floor of the pool and he wouldn't be able to move. That's just karma, I guess. Peter definitely didn't have his web cartridges hidden with his things on the pool chair.

Eventually, people started doing flips into the water. He watched as Flash did an unsuccessful flip that ended with a bellyflop. MJ did a surprisingly graceful front flip into the deep end.

"Your turn, Pete!" Ned said with a grin.

"Yeah, c'mon, Pete." MJ nudged Peter's arm.

She seemed much happier with him now that she had in the past few days, which Peter was relieved about. It was nice to not have her giving him a disapproving look whenever he spoke.

"Alright, alright." Peter laughed and swam to the edge of the pool. He got out, ignoring Flash's jeering comments. Slowly, he walked over to the 12ft end of the pool.

This shouldn't be too hard, Peter thought. Just do a simple flip. You literally do them all the time.

And a flip he did.

He did a back flip into the pool. He landed in the water, touching the bottom of the pool. He was about to launch himself back up to the surface when he felt something on his foot. He opened his eyes underwater and his eyes widened as he saw what looked like a web. His web, attaching him to the ground of the deep end.

It must have been moved from the last time Flash had gotten stuck somehow. Now, karma had come for Peter, who was now stuck with no oxygen.

He thrashed around, trying to break free from his web. It was no use. Why did it have to be here? He had never made Flash nearly drown! Just temporarily inconvenienced.

He went slightly limp as his mind went to Sokovia. Him falling through the air and falling into the water, where he stayed until Tony saved him. Only, he didn't have Tony to save him now.

He felt arms around him. He looked up and with his blurred vision- partly from the water, partly from the fact that he was about to pass out- he saw a figure holding him and trying to swim up. MJ, possibly?

She pulled and with the help of Peter's thrashing, they broke the webs and finally resurfaced.

Peter took in a deep breath as he finally reached the air. With help from MJ, Ned and what looked like Abe - another decathlon kid-, they got Peter out of the water.

He propped himself up with his arm as he doubled over and tried to take deep breaths.

"What the heck happened?" MJ asked, a worried look on her face. "How did you get stuck?"

Really not thinking this was the place to tell her that he was Spider-Man, he just spluttered, "I- I don't know."

Ned got Peter a towel and wrapped it around him. Peter accepted the towel and quickly stood up, making him slightly lightheaded.

"I- I think I'm gonna go to the hotel room. I need to... to..." He shook his head and grabbed his things before heading out, ignoring MJ and Ned telling him not to and to wait.

Shivering and dizzy, he stumbled through the hotel and to his room.

He couldn't stay there. He needed to get out for a while. He'd miss some of the actual reunion, but he didn't care. He needed to go far from there.

He ruffled through his duffle bag until he found his suit. He pulled it on over his trunks, dazed.

He heard the door unlock and soon saw Ned walk in. He looked shocked to see Peter in the suit.

"Peter, please don't tell me you're planning on going out."

"Look, Ned. I... I'm sorry. I just... need some fresh air." He put on the mask and opened the window.

He looked back at Ned as he sat on the window ledge.  "Please don't tell them that I skipped.  Tell them I was... feeling sick."

It wasn't too much of a lie.  He was sick from being stuck underwater.  He wasn't really lying... right?

The look on Ned's face was unreadable.  A mix of emotions were obviously running through him.  Worry, maybe?  Eventually, he just nodded.

"Thank you."  Peter took a deep breath, looked back at Ned again, then shot a web at the nearest building. 

He was out of there.

A/N: Guys!  I'm so sorry I didn't get this out earlier!  My phone has been acting up, and thanksgiving and-

I'm rambling.  The thing is: I'm sorry.  Hopefully, now things will come along more smoothly.  Thank you for reading. ♥️