[Word count: 2,200]

| chapter - two |

\ bow down to the drama queen /

The next week had arrived, and Bambi was ever so carefully holding the project her and Peter had so respectfully worked on, together. Though, she was a little bit on the tired said as she was up for a lot longer than she should've last night.

Finch and Bambi had the occasional movie night, and perhaps that wasn't the greatest idea. Especially when the next day was 'project due' day. But hey, fun is fun.

She tried her best to keep her balance. But that didn't last long at all, as a locker opened out of the blue and she was unfortunate to run right into it. Giving a grunt and smacking right into that little metal door.

Bambi nearly had a heart attack over the fact that she was about to lose this project, and would fail the segment of her class and so would Peter.

But speak of the devil. Sometimes the devil was a lovely surprise. Someone was quick to catch the other side, keeping the project from falling.

His head popped out from one side of it and lo and behold, it was Peter Parker.

She breathed out steadily, "Nice catch, Parker."

"Yeah, well." The boy shrugged with a smile. "You're welcome." He allowed her to regain her grip on the project before letting it go.

Peter then added as he wiped his hands on his jeans, "I apologize, I didn't see you. Hope you aren't hurt." Scratching the back of his neck, looking a little guilty.

Now it was Bambi's turn to smile, "No biggie, it's just heavy, but that's about it."

Peter didn't even hesitate, "I can carry it if you want?"

"Wait, what?" Bambi was a little surprised.

"Yeah," He nodded. "I mean, the bell will ring for classes soon. And besides, we're partners in this."

"Are you sure?"

Peter smiled again, "Totally. Trust me, I'm stronger than I look."

Bambi felt grateful because she didn't think she could hold it for that much longer, and so, he finished up with his locker situation and the project was entrusted onto him.

And he was correct, he clearly was stronger than he looked. He held the project like it was as light as a feather, which surprised her. But she was impressed as well.

Just as expected the bell rung, they both head on over to classes along with everyone else.

"Wow..." A voice exasperated in awe. "Now that's a project, if I've ever seen one."

Peter cocked his head towards the shorter girl next to him, "Thanks to her."

Bambi expressed a lot of energy as she looked between both boys, "Me? Oh, no, I wouldn't give myself the credit. It was both of us."

"You're right." Peter nodded. "But it wouldn't have been finished in time had it not been for your creativity, I mean, you did sketch out the whole thing and shared your concepts with me." He explained. "Whilst all I really did was add a few little things and helped you bring it to life."

Bambi twirled a small bundle of hair from the ends with her fingers, as she couldn't tell whether the reason she was blushing was because of those pesky butterflies in the pit of her stomach or it was the fact that he was always so nice to her. And other than Arlo, Finch and maybe their two next door neighbors who were kind enough to bake them a 'Welcome to Queens!' styled cake, within the first week of them moving there.

For as long as she could remember, Bambi had always been the lonely fawn of the world. She was left to fend for herself with a step-sibling of a different ethnicity, her mother deer wasn't proud and left.

It was always hard for Bambi to make friends. That was one of the only things that Finch often worried about, her fitting in. Almost everyone she attempted a friendship which would end in them either calling her a 'freak' - which soon turned into her forbidden word - or they would judge whether her eyes were a little too almond shaped, or not almond shaped enough.

Time and time again, she'd stare at her vanity, just moments before it was her cue on stage of her Aerial Silks performance. Messing with her eyelids, pulling at them, making them wider. Was it offensive towards them or did it only apply to her and others like her? Was what she would ask the mirror on the wall.

She would always wonder how'd she look if the flaws everyone pointed out were 'fixed', and if she'd be treated like a normal person then. She was even sort of ashamed to admit that when she was younger, she'd sometimes put some tape on the lids of her eyes and push them up to stick, so they'd look how everyone wanted them to look. It always hurt after a while and she'd take it off, but it was so annoying.

"No, Lù, no." Finch would sigh after catching her from time to time, bending to his knees as she sat in that makeup chair. "You need to stop doing this, it isn't healthy." He would be concerned. As he peeled off the tape and rub at her eyes to smoothen the sticky residue.

Which only caused her to flinch and push his hands away, "Is it the kids at school, again?" He would ask. She was quiet, so she'd only nod.

Finch would give a sigh, "Don't listen to them, all they are, are liars. Leaching off of others due to their own troubled insecurities."

"But... my eyes..." Bambi would mumble.

"Hm?" Finch would hum, raising his brows. "What about your eyes? I don't see anything different; they look normal to me. How about mine?" She looked into his large ones in which were similar to the rest of them. "If you ask me, I'm the one with the weird eyes, not you. I mean look at them," He motions up to his face with a scoffed chuckle. "they're practically bulging out of my own skull every time I attempt to look shocked."

Bambi played with the idea.

"No, really, look." Finch purposefully made a fool out of himself by pretending to be shocked and widened his eyes the biggest they could go. "Now that's weird."

That earned a slight breath snicker from Bambi.

Finch was about to leave the room so Bambi could get ready for her moment on the stage, "You know what their problem is? I bet you I know what it is."

She looks up to him only for him to answer with, "They don't have a big brother to cook them their favorite dishes almost every night, that's what's wrong." He proudly referred to himself.

Bambi gave a small chuckle and squinted, "The Baozi." She reminded him of the incident.

Finch held his hips and sighed, "Okay, okay, so I accidentally burned the Baozi, but that was only one time."

He saw that look she gave him, "Okay, ten times. BUT." Bambi laughed now with allowed a smile to grow on his face. "Beginner's make mistakes. I know how much you miss your mothers cooking, and I know I'm not Chinese. But, I'm trying my best. I'll get better in time. Annnd," He dragged out. "Next time I will make sure to not burn the Baozi. Promise."

Bambi was lost. She was dragged through the mud and forgotten. Not even realizing that she lost track of reality.

"Bambi?" When she suddenly hears fingers snapping.

She blinks rapidly and Peter's face comes into view. Remembering that she was in the school hallway with Peter and his best friend, Ned Leeds. It was like a dead zone, the hallway was empty and the class rooms were occupied.

She didn't even realize that she was staring at Peter this whole time with that pathetic little smile of hers. How embarrassing. She cringed.

"Are you okay?" Peter didn't seem to care that she was staring, he had a concerned expression.

"Yeah," She nodded. "Sorry, my mind slipped into lala land I guess."

"Yeah." Ned spoke up, as both teens looked to him. "And we're about to be sent to lala land for real, if we don't get to class. We're late."

Turns out, Ned was right. They were written up for being late, but, at least Peter and Bambi got a good grade on their project.

***

"I'm a failure Bambi!" Arlo inhaled until his chest was as expanded as it could get. "A failure, I tell you! Failure!" As he then slumps over the lunch table and lays his forehead against the table, in which probably hasn't been cleaned in who knows how long.

"Your hair is getting into your ketchup, Arlo..."

"Who cares anymore." His voice was muffled.

Bambi tilted her head towards his direction, "Was it really that bad?"

Arlo muffled more words but she could not understand, "People are staring, did Flash at least help a little bit at the last second?"

The boy hesitantly sat back up and shook his head, "I wasn't lying when I told you that I was duped." He flailed his arms, feeling hopeless. "This is a disaster."

"Arlo..." Bambi aligned her eyes with his. "Is History and math kicking your a**?"

He didn't want to admit it, squinting his eyes he mentally gave a warning, only for Bambi to win, because she always wins this game.

He groaned, "Yes. I guess theater is the only thing I'm actually good at, everything else is a f*cking dumpster fire!"

Bambi chuckled, grinning with entertainment.

But the day only got eventful when a boy randomly made an appearance, and quickly sitting himself at their table.

"Pardon me, mate." His voice cooed. "Er - mates." He looked to both of them. "I am currently being stalked by a bunch of girls over there-" He motions with his finger, both Bambi and Arlo saw a table of gossiping white girls. "-because apparently, they've never heard an Asian with a flavored voice, if you catch the drift."

Bambi knew she heard an accent lacing his vocal cords, she just didn't want to point it out just in case he found it offensive, but looked like she didn't have to, which made her feel better.

"So I hope you both don't mind me staying with you for a while, because that's too much attention for my liking."

Arlo shrugged whilst Bambi nodded, "Sure." She smiled.

"Cool." The boy returned the smiled. "I'm Mǐ luò-Chi," He introduced himself in the most formal matter. "But, you can just call me, Milo."

"Lù Nǚhái." She decided to be just as formal, since he was doing the same. "But, everyone just calls me, Bambi, because it's easier for them."

Milo noted the detail.

Meanwhile, Arlo looked between the two. "What just happened?"

They looked to him, and Bambi piped up, "What?"

"In my many years of knowing you," Arlo crossed his arms. "I've never seen you act so formal." The boy then sat in a certain position in his seat that he once saw in 'The Godfather'. "Just don't steal my best friend and we'll be on good terms, got it, buddy?"

Milo averted his eyes - which, she took note that they were hooded like her own, which made her feel less alone in Queens - towards her, "Don't worry, mate, I'm just trying to be friendly is all. Rather sit at a table with friends than strangers, yeah?"

"Alright, good." Arlo gave an accepting nod. "You're just lucky that I agree with the statement you just made, that's good advice there, Milo. If that is your real name."

Bambi sighs, "I'm sorry for Arlo, he's a theater kid and loves improv to practice his skills." Now she crosses her arms. "And sometimes he-" She looks to her best friend now. "-can just be very over dramatic."

"Ahh," Milo nodded. "Got it. Arlo the drama queen, I like the sound of it, it's catchy." His eyes naturally squinting lightly with his contagious smile.

"Ooooo." Arlo cooed, sitting up, and rubbing at his chin where facial hair didn't even exist. "'Drama Queen'," He repeats in quotes. "I like that!" He quickly brings out his phone and types it into his notes to not forget. "Bambi, looks like your favorite person in the whole wide world got a new improv name." The boy smirked sheepishly.

She rolled her eyes, but a smile did appear when a chuckled accidentally escaped.

"Okay, so maybe you're not so bad after all. Milo." Arlo looks to the boy, leaning in. "May I call you Milo? Keep this up and I may just promote you."

Milo was trying so hard not to burst out laughing, Bambi shrugged the boy off, "He watches too many movies and shows, it heavily influences him. As you can see."

Milo didn't seem to mind though, he found it entertaining, in fact. Alro was right, theater really was something he was good at. And she hoped he never changed.

------

Here's chapter two!

What was for favorite part of this chapter? :)

Xoxo <3