Three's a Crowd

The time for the Billy Joel concert was drawing nearer and nearer, and the three friends were still exploring the festival grounds. At this point, Peter, Ned, and Michelle had made their way into a large tent that housed dozens of local vendors that sold all kinds of thing: jewelry, clothing, pieces of art, little trinkets and knickknacks that were sure to warm the hearts of the most sentimental of souls. Michelle was interested in some of the artwork, while Peter and Ned entertained themselves with the knickknacks and fancy sunglasses. At one point, Peter picked up a pair that reminded him of the kind Stark would often wear. Michelle thought it looked similar as well and explained their reasoning to Ned.

"She got to meet Tony Stark and I didn't!" Ned exclaimed, trying not to project his voice so loudly. He really wanted to meet Stark, and after knowing Peter's secret for almost an entire year, he would have thought to have done so by then. But he didn't, and Peter's face felt a quick heat knowing that was one thing she had over him in the spider secret. Michelle just smirked and playfully mouthed "oops" to Peter. "I promise you; it wasn't planned."

"No, it wasn't" Michelle confirmed in a very unenthusiastic tone, as if she didn't wish to meet Stark that night in the hospital. But things happened, and it so happened that Michelle was the first of Peter's friends to meet his one connection to the Avengers. Ned eased up a bit at this news and Peter promised he would hook him up with a meeting soon. Ned smiled for that, even though it didn't take much for him to smile. Peter then slipped the glasses over his face to test them out. He looked into a small mirror nearby to how they looked, and he thought they weren't too bad. He looked to his friends for their opinion. Ned stayed as optimistic as possible, but Michelle's reaction was clear. The whole side of her face scrunched together as she cringed, and Ned soon followed. "Really?" Peter questioned, thinking that they looked okay.

"They're okay" Ned started, "but... I don't know. They're just..."

"Not you" Michelle cut in. The two boys looked to her for an explanation. "They make you look like your trying to be someone that you're not."

"Yeah, that's it. Your great the way you are, dude!" Ned added, agreeing with MJ's opinion. She nodded to Ned's words, and Peter slipped the glasses off, warming up to their meaning. He nodded with an appreciative smile and placed the glasses back on the display table. "Thanks, guys. You're probably right."

"Of course, we are," Michelle said, slinging her arms around both boys and guiding them to another area of the tent. They were starting to get hungry and there was a food truck nearby that they had been keeping an eye on throughout the day. "You guys wanna get some food?" Peter asked. Ned was quick to answer, "I thought you were never going to ask! I could really go for a burger."

"You guys go ahead," Michelle said, "I wanna check this stuff out." She lurked over to a large display of jewelry that she thought looked fascinating. Peter nodded and asked if she wanted anything. "Just get me some cheese fries or something."

"Cheese fries got it!" Peter said, giving a thumbs up. He and Ned soon walked out of the tent and took their spot in line. Michelle kept her attention to the many rings, necklaces, and earrings; finding something different in each of the ways they were crafted. She primarily picked out the pieces that had a dark or gothic look to them. She found a ring that seemed decently made. Not like a plastic rip-off you would find in a grocery store dispenser, nor like an authentic 24-karat specimen in high-class jewelry stores. Something that was durable, but wasn't classy, something Michelle always looked for whenever she was shopping for herself. It didn't matter if it was top of the line. She only cared if it spoke to her existentially and if it would last with her for a good stretch of time. Michelle liked this ring a lot, but it seemed like the woman standing a few feet to her right was also interested in the ring.