CHAPTER TWELVE; HOMECOMING

❝ the silence we share says everything we ever needed it to ❞

[ songs to listen to during this chapter ]

❝ it's called: freefall, rainbow kitten surprise / idk you yet, alexander 23 / the kids aren't alright, fall out boy / hope youre okay, olivia rodrigo ❞

･ ｡ﾟ☆

❝ washington hotel [ last night ]❞

"I WAS LOOKING EVERYWHERE FOR YOU DRANGANOV," Connor announced as he stood behind Alina who was sitting on the edge of the roof. Once Michelle had fallen asleep Alina still felt unsettled and unable to sleep so she went right back outside.

The brunette turned looking over her shoulders to say, "Should've given me a heads up, I'm a lot better at hide and seek when I know about it."

Joining her at the ledge leaning with his arms against it grateful the height was tall enough for him to do so. "Seriously though, what are you doing out here," he asked looking out to the same city as her.

"Just needed some air," she answered him briefly.

"Can I ask you something," he began suddenly. Alina nodded believing he wouldn't ask anything insane. She watched as he climbed to sit on the edge with her, once he safely was situated he asked, "Alright, so, I have to ask –– are you and Peter a thing?"

The question made her eyes widen as she stuttered, "Um..."

"I don't mean to pry," he assured holding out his hands, "You don't seem like the type to like people who pry, but you two seem so close."

Shaking her head she turned in towards him, "No, we're not dating and I don't believe we ever will. Peter is just the only person I can really be open with."

"Good," he replied unaware of how it sounded till he saw the wary stare on her face, "I mean good you're not dating him not that he's the only person who you trust. That's bad, well not bad as in, somethings wrong with you, nothings wrong with you I'm just gonna stop talking."

"Why is it good, that I'm not dating him at least," Alina asked chuckling at how he tripped over his own words.

Connors cheek flushed as he admitted, "Well maybe because I had this really extravagant plan to ask you to homecoming and I wanted to make sure I wasn't––"

Cutting him off she repeated, "You were gonna ask me to homecoming?"

"Jesus. I can't stop myself from saying too much in front of you," he laughed looking out a the city trying to avoid his embarrassment.

Alina reached out putting her finger under his chin lifting his face to look at her, "I don't mind," she said pulling her hand away.

"So if I were to ask you," he pondered with a challenging grin.

Alina chuckled as she answered, "You have to take me on a real date, away from everyone first."

Connor leaned in saying, "So you're saying I have a shot."

The enhanced teen shrugged telling him, "A small, tiny, little one."

"I think I like my odds," he said leaning further in. It wasn't until that moment Alina realized, this would be her first kiss. She didn't stop him as his soft lips met hers, Alina was stunned before she found herself kissing back. His hand found the back of her hair pulling her in closer which made her reach out doing the same. Connor could taste her strawberry chapstick on her lips as they glided over each others. Alina could feel her heart racing with every movement, with their slight touches of their nose her beats went faster.

Abruptly the brunette pulled back still resting her head on his the comfortable silence filling the space between them. "That was––" Connor went to say as she finished, "Nice."

"I've been waiting to do that since that party," Connor said.

Alina chuckled saying, "And I thought you'd never work up the courage to even ask me out."

. * ✦ . ◍ ∘ . * ✦ ‧ ∘ ⊹

❝ washington hotel ❞

"Peter didn't come back last night," Were the first words that flew out of Neds mouth as Alina exited her room.

Shutting the door careful for Michelle not to hear, Alina lead him off to the side, "What do you mean he didn't come back? He didn't call you?"

Shaking his head Ned declared in his panic, "No. But he said you had a way to find him, so can you?"

"Do you have any of his stuff," she asked knowing she needed it to find him. Ned nodded confirming her question but before they even had a chance, Mr. Harrington approached them.

The two immediately dropped their conversation as he said, "Alina, Ned come on. The bus is leaving, where's Peter?"

Alina glanced to Ned who clearly never would be a good liar, he looked like a dear in headlights. "He's not feeling well, kept throwing up," Alina answered. seemingly honest.

Mr. Harrington slumped, "Does he need anything? I hope the kid is okay, maybe I should check on him."

"No," Alina protested a little too loud making him look at her strangely. Casually she added on, "I went to the hotel store and got him some stuff. He just wanted to sleep, it took him forever to even get sleepy."

The older man pondered for a moment before saying, "Alright, well then you're taking his spot Alina. I know your new but just follow everyone else's lead and answer the questions you know. You'll be great!" Before she could protest, Mr. Harrington was walking away gathering the rest of the students.

"I'm gonna kill him," Alina mumbled not wanting to take his spot. Looking to Ned she said, "We don't have time for me to do it here, I can try to do it after the meet. I'll stall them, can you grab something, anything of his, like a shirt."

"Okay, I'll be right back," Ned said running back to his room.

. * ✦ . ◍ ∘ . * ✦ ‧ ∘ ⊹

❝ academic decathlon ❞

Alina had hoped she'd get a chance to preform the spell to find Peter but she was immediately rushed from the bus to the stage, "We have now entered sudden death," said the moderator. Everyone's anxiety seemed to be going off in waves, it was almost unbearable. Until she felt Connors hand underneath the table grab hold of her hand.

Her head turned seeing him offering a smile, "You're doing great," he told her. She had answered more questions than he, or Gwen, but not more than Michelle. Though, as she sat there she wondered if Michelle ever stopped answering.

Alina gave him a smile as they all readied themselves to press the button. Trying to be calm she took a deep breath as the moderator said, "The next correct answer wins the championship. After protein preparation, charge of nickel atom is converted to what?"

Not hardly a second after the words stopped Alina pressed the button. She could feel everyones eyes fall to her, "Midtown Tech?"

"Zero."

"That is correct. Midtown takes the championship," before the words escaped fully the teens broke out into cheers. Everyone slammed into Alina from all sides hugging her tightly. It forced a smile onto her face as she struggled to keep herself safely in the chair.

. * ✦ . ◍ ∘ . * ✦ ‧ ∘ ⊹

❝ washington monument ❞

"We won, I can't believe we won," exclaimed Sabrina as she playfully shook Gwens shoulders as they approached the monument.

Liz, who was leading them to the door smiled back at all of them saying, "You guys, I am so proud of you. Especially you Alina, your first one and you helped us win it!"

Alina smiled her mind still looking for a moment to track Peter. Flash couldn't help but remind everyone, "Told you we didn't need Peter."

Ned, who had been walking by her defended, "Flash, you didn't answer a single question."

Just as they entered the monument Alina heard Malik begin, "Unlike this one who was on fire!" Playfully he lifted her up spinning her making Alina squeal, "Our champion Alina was." He put her down rather quickly telling. her, "Honestly, thanks. You have no idea how many college applications you helped with today."

Though the thoughts of Peter still lingered for this brief moment Alina was grateful to have experience what she had. She finally understood why Peter always was bending over backwards to help her. "Seriously, what's your secret," wondered Sabrina.

Adding on Gwen agreed, "Honestly. Whatever it is please help me study."

Before Alina answered her eyes caught sight of Ned off to the side on his phone. Hearing Peter's voice on the other end she looked back to the group awaiting her answer, "Years and years of isolation and only having books is the key," she answered with a semi realness no one understood.

She quickly excused herself seeing Ned telling Peter where they were going but before he finished she grabbed the phone, "Peter, is that you?"

Peter almost choked knowing he had disappeared for 24 hours after specifically telling her he wouldn't do anything crazy. "Oh, hey Lina."

"Hey Lina? That's all you're gonna say," she scolded, "How about I'm sorry for doing exactly what you told me you wouldn't? How about sorry for not using the necklace I gave you to have me come get you? Or how about sorry for making you the last minute substitute for the Decathlon, one I helped you guys win by the way. Where are you? You sound like you're still swinging? Are you still swinging?"

Just making it to the grounds of the monument Peter rushed out, "Yes! I'm coming to you guys now. Ned has the device in his bag, it's a bomb!"

Alina looked over her shoulder seeing Ned in the elevator already. "I'lll call you back," she said putting her phone through the security clicking catching up with everyone.

She entered just in time to squeeze herself next to Connor and Ned. Her voice extremely low she said, "Give me your bag." Ned didn't question her, he simply handed it over.

"Hey, Mr. Harrington, can I be the one to tell Peter he's expelled," Flash asked still clutching the trophy.

Rolling her eyes Alina argued, "For what? Being sick? Flash you really got to let your obsession with Peter go."

As she spoke she was digging through the bag while the elevator continued moving. "You good," asked Connor peering over her shoulder seeing how intently she was looking.

Alina glanced up to Ned answering quickly, "I thought gave Ned my portable charger but I don't see it."

Trying to help Connor pointed at an obvious grey portable charger, "Is that it," he asked.

She forced a laugh saying, "Oh, yeah. Thanks." As she lifted the cube she saw the glowing orb hiding underneath glowing brighter and brighter. The world seemed to still, Alina realized if she wanted to save everyone, she might have to expose herself. She could hear the tour guide speaking and voices chatting but in the spilt second of fear she had, the core erupted with light breaking through the top of the elevator.

The core burned through the bag causing her to drop it with a wince making everyone look to her. Outside the monument Peter had just arrived seeing  tip of the monument cracking. "No, no, no, no, no, no. Karen, what's going on up there?"

"The Chitauri core has detonated and caused severe structural damage to the elevator," she informed The spider suit provided Peter a view inside the monument, and was shown that several people were gathered inside the elevator.

Seeing the building collapsing, Michelle came up behind spider man saying, "My friends are up there!"

Stunned to hear her voice he turned around uttering, "What?" Quickly deepening his voice he added, "Uh... Don't worry, ma'am. Everything's gonna be okay." Peter ran through the crowd, "Excuse me, excuse me," he said moving around them, before he leaped onto the side of the monument, and crawled up it,  "Oh, my god, that's tall."

The elevator began filling with smoke as Malik pointed out, "Oh, my god. Look at the ceiling."

A glowing, red crack cuts across the elevator ceiling. Trying to assure them all, but mostly herself Liz said, "Just stay calm, everyone."

Abe, who did not share her sentiment said, "Oh, we are all going to die here."

"Can you do something," Ned whispered.

Revealing her hand that she kept hiding at her side she answered her struggle clear, "I already am, why do you think we're not falling."

Gwen groaned gripping her brothers hand panicking, "We're totally freakin' screwed."

The tour guide drones on in order to calm the students, "Okay guys, I know that was scary, but our safety systems are working. We're very safe in here."

"Are. you sure about that," Alina snapped taking deep breaths. From helping the elevator systems from failing, to being stuck in a small cramped space moments from possible death she wanted to scream at the lady for even suggesting they were in a safe situation.

Much to her relief she heard the sound of the doors sliding open and people standing on top of the elevator. But the seance they touched down Alina felt it grow weaker. "They're making it worse," Alina whispered to Ned who was doing his best to keep her upright.

"Can't you just fix it," Ned wondered.

Alina shook her head, "If I knew what to fix, right now all I got is a bandaid for a bullet wound. They have to move fast." Park rangers opened the doors to the elevator shaft. The tour guide opened the hatch in the ceiling of the car, and looked out before pulling herself out first.

She held out her hand pulling Cindy out, then Sabrina, following Malik, then Gwen. Much to her own protest, she didn't want to leave her brother who forced her to go ahead. He wanted to help the others first given he was taller and could help them more than the others. He immediately helped Abe out next, he peered down the long elevator shaft grateful to be leaving.

Mr. Harrington, who had been clinging to the side the whole time asked, "Okay, who's next?"

Liz grabbed, Connor and Mr. Harrington's shoulder, preparing to climb up but Flash shoved Liz to get out first, and refused give up the trophy. "Me, it's my turn," he said giving them the trophy first before saving himself.

Ned, who had still been covering Alina's efforts said, "Flash, seriously? What are you doing?" He ignored everyone telling him to leave the trophy as he climbed through the hatch in the ceiling of the elevator, and the car shook making them all scream.

Through the yet unbroken window, Peter was watching the students panic. The suddenly jolt of Flash going out caused Alina to fall to her knees breaking the spell. With an officer aiming his gun in Peter's direction from the helicopter Peter knew he didn't have anytime left. He climbed to the top of the monument as fast as he could to the other side hidden.

Peter jumped toward the closest helicopter and extended his web-wings, gliding over the menacing helicopter blades. He shot a web at the skid, and swings toward the window shouting, "Break!" Upon his finale impact the window shattered into pieces as he swung  in, and the roof of the elevator was ripped off.

The force of the fall wouldn't allow Alina to get back up as they all screamed. She felt hands wrap around her lifting her up off the ground, it was Connor. He'd somehow managed to fight it and make it over to her.

Above them Peter used his webs to grab hold and stop it before it could fall all the way. As to stopped they were are jostled in the elevator each of them to frozen to move out of the way. Not a second later it fell again this time pulling Peter down into the elevator onto the floor. The impact broke off a wheel and the car started to drop again. Peter shoot a web through the hole in the ceiling, stopping the elevator's descent.

This time leaving him hanging upside down with his feet braced against the ceiling of the elevator, Peter grabbed on to the strand of web, and tried to make his voice sound different as he helps his friends calm down. " Ahem. Hey, how you doing? Don't worry about it. I got you."

Alina sighed grateful he was there as Ned threw his fist up in the air jumping a bit as he cheered, "Yes! Yes!"

His movement made the whole elevator wobble and Peter warn, "Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, big guy, quit moving around."

Ned immediately stopped, "Sorry, sir. So sorry." With his web attached to the ceiling high above, Peter slowly pulled the elevator up the shaft until they reached an upper floor.

As soon as they had the Park Ranger could he held out his hand helping up the others. First Ned, then Mr. Harrington, Connor and Liz. Realizing she wasn't behind him, Connor held out his hand, "Alina come on."

Before leaving she had to ask Peter, "Are you gonna be okay?"

The metal elevator ceiling starts to bend under Peter's feet, "I will, now go, go, go!" Alina caved reaching out her hand trying to grab hold of Connors as he pushed through grabbing Alina by her wrist before she could fully fall. But in the moment of certain that death was waiting at the bottom of the elevator shaft, something desperate grew inside. Something desperate to pull from anything in order to survive.

Rising form within was this poison thing pooling into the palm of her hand pulling something else, something cold like metal liquid found its way inside her. The longer she gripped on the more she felt pooling into her, flashes of  life not hers, skills she never learned feeling like she'd always known them. All of it coming from Connor, and all of it was too much for either of them. 

Neither of them could hold on much longer as whatever poison was infecting Connor was doing worse to Alina. Their hands relented and Alina began to fall down to the bottom of the elevator shaft. In the spilt second she floated in the air, Alina saw shards of metal, moving forming almost a rope, to her. It only stopped once Peters web had grabbed hold of her stopping her from having to save herself publicly. The whole thing happened in about four seconds but it felt like forever. She looked up seeing the Spiderman mask looking down assuring, "You're okay. You're okay."

Gently Peter pulled her up by the web using it until he could grab her hand. "Come on up. Come on, you guys, stay back. Come on in. Come on in." As soon as she was close Mr. Harrington and Connor grabbed her pulling her safely back onto the ground. 

Getting to see them all safe and sound he asked, "So, uh, is everyone okay?"

Everyone nodded as Alina and Peter shared a silent understanding. Even while Gwen. and Connor hugged her tightly grateful she'd survived, she was still looking at him, "Thank you." Suddenly, their eye contact was broken as the web. holding him snapped. She, along with the other rushed to see his fall, but he was already gone.

Flash peered down the shaft, "Are you really friends with Peter Parker," he shouted.

Immediately he earned a smack from Sabrina, "That's what you're concerned about right now!?"

"Are you okay," asked Connor inspecting Alina for any wounds with his eyes.

The brunette nodded confirming she was, she couldn't speak. Of course those around her thought it was from shock but it wasn't. It was confusion, she had seen the metal bending and forming into something it couldn't on its own. As she looked around at everyone she wondered who it could've been, and how she hadn't sensed them until that moment.

Just as quickly as they'd exposed themselves, they were hidden again. Reaching out Connor touched her arm and for the first time since they'd met, he felt different. Not just his emotions which were pretty much all fear, but him. She could feel a lingering tingling radiating from his fingers, seeing the look in her eyes Connor realized what she was doing. Almost instantly, the feeling had gone away and he felt like he always had. 'It was you,' Alina realized not saying a word about it. She wanted to ask him but it all seemed insane, he couldn't have tried to save her, could he?

alina's outfit next chapter