Chapter One

Jade White was used to many things in life. She was used to the neighbours upstairs waking her up every morning at 6am as they played their radio way too loudly, and how her mother consoled her over this fact by bringing her the usual hot chocolate in bed before she got ready for school. She was used to meeting her friend Anna Mitchells as she got off the subway, the two dodging around early morning practice on the football field before entering Midtown School of Science and Technology. She was used to going home, eating, doing homework and going to bed. Then repeating it all over again.

Jade White had a routine in her pretty normal, average life, and she was tired of it.

"Don't you ever wish for something a bit…more?" she asked Anna, the two walking to their lockers that were conveniently placed next to each other. They stopped, both inputting their locker combinations and taking out their books for their first period.

Anna rolled her eyes with a smile, pushing her hand against her friend's shoulder to jostle her out of her mood. "Can't you ever just be happy with what you've got? I mean, we're high school students. Wishing for more is normal, especially for more hot guys at school," Anna answered, smiling as a guy in her calculus walked past, throwing a wink in her direction.

Jade shook her head, unable to hide her grin at her friend's antics. She turned, and gasped as a wall of muscle slammed into her, knocking her and her books everywhere.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry! Ar-are you okay?" a voice panicked, mumbling as they offered a hand to Jade. Anna picked the books up as Jade laughed, taking the outstretched hand.

"I'm fine, don't worry about it," she said, letting go of the hand and turning to take her books from Anna. She smiled at the boy who was still apologising. "It's fine, really. Peter, right?"

Peter Parker had never felt so bad, especially as the girl in front of him was clearly going to have some bruises after he stumbled into her. He nodded, only just realising that a beautiful girl was actually talking to him.

"I'm Jade, this is Anna. I think we have a few classes together. You're always late," Jade commented, laughing as he blushed sheepishly. Peter stood in awe as she spoke, Anna trying to grab her attention as the first bell rang. "Well, we gotta go. See you in biology!" Jade shouted, waving as Anna grabbed her arm and dragged her to class. She smiled as Peter waved unsurely, before realising he had to get to class and rushed off.

"Why are you nice to the ones who are weird?" Anna questioned, Jade shaking her head at the question.

"Hey, he seemed nice. Besides, I'm pretty sure he's the one Flash torments, so lay off him," Jade told her, and Anna promised she would after grinning at the mention of Flash.

"Anything to get back at your ex," Anna said, and Jade grimaced at the reminder.

"God, don't remind me," Jade mumbled, Anna chuckling as they walked into their first class.

Peter and Ned sat next to each other at lunch later that day, the two watching Liz laughing with her friends. "Did she do something new with her hair?" Peter asked, his hand on his cheek as he dreamily gazed at his crush.

"No, it's 'cause her fringe is pinned back, that's why it looks different," Ned answered, his interest perking up as two girls entered the cafeteria. Jade and Anna both stopped to say hi to Liz as the two boys sat up straighter. "Isn't that the girl you crashed into this morning?" Ned asked, and Peter was about to deny the crashing until Jade noticed the two, smiling and waving before saying bye to Liz. "Are they coming over here?" Ned asked in disbelief, Peter beginning to stutter as Jade and Anna stopped in front of them.

"Hey Peter, mind if we join you?" Jade asked as Anna studied the boys with her usual judgmental frown.

"Er, y-yeah of course," Peter managed to say, almost rising to stand and pull the bench out as the two girls joined them. "This is Ned," he introduced, looking to Ned who was staring at the two girls with an open-mouth.

"It's nice to meet you, Ned," Jade said, smiling as Peter kicked Ned's leg under the table.

"You're the one who has Lego obsession," Anna stated, surprising the others. "I saw you researching the number of pieces in the library the other day," she explained, and Ned grinned in excitement. "My cousin has one, it's pretty amazing. I've helped him build it like five times now," Anna admitted, blushing as Jade felt pride swell for her friend being nice to the boys. Jade shared a smile as Ned began asking tons of questions about the mechanics of the pieces, Anna replying with a smile to each one.

"I'm sorry again about this morning. I was running late, and Flash nearly ran me over. Again," Peter admitted quietly, and Jade smiled knowingly.

"Peter, it's fine. It was an interesting way to make a new friend I guess," she teased, Peter laughing quietly. "And ignore Flash, he's…" Jade trailed off, not knowing how to finish that sentence.

"You're friends with him?" Peter questioned, taking a sip of his drink. Jade tucked a strand of dark blonde hair behind her ear, shaking her head.

"I'm kind of his ex," she answered. Peter spat his drink out, only just missing Jade who was sat in front of him.

"Yo-You're his ex?" he asked, Ned and Anna stopping to listen in. "But you're so…"

"Different?" Jade supplied, as Anna shook her head.

"More like polar opposites," Anna muttered, smiling when Jade elbowed her.

"I agree," Ned said, smiling in Anna's direction as Peter was still staring at Jade with surprise.

"You're so…nice, and he's not," Peter said, glancing to the side as he noticed Flash stealing chips off his friend's plate without them noticing. Jade followed his gaze and sighed.

"Yeah, he was nice to start with but then…" Jade trailed off, shrugging as she turned back to face the table.

"He cheated," Anna explained, and Jade glared at her.

"I'm sorry," Peter said, and Jade smiled softly.

"It's in the past. Besides, Anna was happy because she got to punch him," Jade said, laughing as Ned fist-bumped the girl.

"Bad-ass," Ned praised, Anna beaming as they continued to talk till the end of lunch.

"We've got biology, right?" Jade asked Peter, the two of them waving bye to Anna and Ned as the two walked to the library together for their study hall.

"Yeah," Peter answered with a smile, stopping by Jade's locker to get her books first. "Hey, I just wanted to say thank you."

"For what, having biology with you?" Jade teased, stacking her books up and shutting her locker. Peter chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck.

"No, not that. It's just, a lot of people avoid me and Ned and even though you didn't have to, you and Anna have been nice to us," Peter said quietly, and Jade smiled softly.

"You and Ned are good people, Peter, I know that, and I've only known you for today. Other people, they tend to ignore the good guys," Jade said, the two entering their class. Peter smiled at her words, the two parting to take their seats.