Disclaimer: Spiderman belongs to its Creator Stan Lee. Set during Spiderman 2
- Zero to Hero -
This is my story of how I became a Hero. My name is Annabelle Johnson, my story doesn't begin with me being a Hero no it begins at the time I was known as a Zero.
In high school I was a book geek, I lived in the shadows of others and always wore clothes that basically shouted geek. I wore the stereotypical geek clothes and I had glasses, although there's nothing geeky about wearing glasses but with the clothes I wore it did come off as geeky.
I always did well in lessons except sports, I hated having to work with people at least in other lessons they make me do all the work and leave me alone. I was always last to be picked for teams and even then I wished they would forget about me and not pick me.
Now you might be saying to yourself how did a geek like me end up a hero.
In high school I never tried to find something I was good at, only at home in my room I let the true me out.
I believed in dreams I believed in destiny and sometimes that can be the same thing but most times its not. A dream only becomes destiny if you never give up your dream.
What I didn't know was what my destiny was except maybe graduating with high grades. Which I ended up doing, my parents weren't there and they told me to pack my things and find a place and job in New York.
I wasn't shocked they told me to leave, they being 'important' people and me a geek. Well I kind of did refuse to get married to a complete stranger just because he had a lot of money which my parents wanted; hmm I wonder why I angered them oh yeah because I refused my parents, never had anyone refused anything from them or refused an order.
Well I packed my things and left without a regret ok maybe one such as how the hell am I going to live in a place like New York it's crowded with people.
Four years later and I am living in an apartment with the money a distant relative gave me in their will. It wasn't much but it gave me enough to get a better apartment than the dump I was living in for the past four years.
I paid the rent on the last apartment by working at the Science Museum. I still work there I love working near where I live. Also I love looking at all the different spiders and the genetically altered one that has each D.N.A from each of the spiders.
As well as working at the museum I loved making theories so when I learnt about Spiderman New York's Hero. I came up with a theory that eventually made sense.
He could cling to walls, he has superhuman strength, a sixth sense ("spider-sense") that alerts him to danger, perfect balance and equilibrium, as well as superhuman speed and agility. Which are all the aspects that the altered Spider had but in a spiders body instead of that of a human body.
It made sense but what I couldn't get is how did he get the aspects of the altered spider?
When I asked myself this question I couldn't think of the logical way Spiderman got those aspects even though the answer was simple. But I was thinking too much and I didn't think about simple ways he could have got those aspects meaning he had the same D.N.A.
All weekend I thought about it and never got the answer I wanted.
- Third POV -
Monday found Ann at work organising files and papers like she usually did. Ann may have good grades but she never went to college because she had to work.
In those four years Ann had changed a lot in some ways; she never wore the type of clothes she used to wear but instead she wore jeans and blouses. She could now talk to more than three people without becoming extremely nervous. With the money that was left from buying food and paying the rent she went and got self defence classes knowing the danger in New York. After all she had been on the receiving end a few times when in a bank and walking the streets.
One time she ended up in hospital with a stomach wound because she tried to defend herself. Tried being the word but she never was good at that kind of thing.
At the end of the day she started her first self defence lessons.
- Nine months later -
Ann was still working at the museum and her lessons on self defence only just ended a few days ago it took her longer than others because her instructor told her she had to become a bit more fit before starting the lessons properly.
At the beginning she had a bit of a stomach but by the end her body was toned and her stomach flat but she was not thin and no way skinny she was average.
By the end she always asked herself why didn't she enjoy sports when she enjoyed this.
Her friends at the museum where happy for her and could see the change in her, instead of being the shy girl who liked to keep to herself she was more confident and actually smiled.
She still never figured out how Spiderman got the D.N.A but then again she put that to the back of her mind just being glad he did have it because otherwise New York wouldn't be as safe as it was.
It was a Friday when her friends Jess invited her to a party that John Jamison and his Fiancé were having.
Ann nearly declined but then said "Fine."
So after work she went to the shops and found a dress she really liked. It as a black strapless dress that was tight at the top but then flowed out at the bottom and it had and slight open back in the design of ying and yang.
She bought it then when she got to her apartment she went and placed the newly bought dress on her couch.
Then she went and got ready putting only slight make up on mainly being mascara and eye liner and eye shadow. She then got her graduation shoes which were black stilettos placed them with her dress.
When she was dressed and ready she grabbed her camera, handbag and pad and pen thinking she could write something during the weekend to get rid of all the time she had spare.
When she was ready she grabbed her coat put it on and placed the final touches to her hair. It was long black hair with red streaks and had small clips holding one side out of her face while the other side framed her face. The clips had small fake crystals that went with her hair and her eyes that always had a spark to them.
She walked out of the building and headed off to where the party was being held never noticing some thugs following her.
She noticed them eventually and decided to make them think she didn't know they was there and that she would try to lose them by going a different way she knew to the party.
After ten minutes she thought she had lost them but they ended up being in front of her.
Even though she had self defence lessons she was never prepare for this. She started backing up only to bump into someone, without turning she brought her elbow back full force and hit the guys stomach.
With him distracted she ran past him and ran as fast as she could to the party hoping she would get somewhere where a lot of people where.
She stopped only after a few minutes and ripped her shoes off her feet and just managed to start running again before the thugs caught up to her.
She managed to lose them but when she was about to put her shoes back on she noticed a piece of glass, so she went to the closest store and bought some bandages and disinfectant.
When she bandaged her foot and cleaned it she put her shoes back on and headed for the party. With every step she was wincing but she promised her friend she would come and she never backs down from a promise.
When she got there she saw her friend and smiled, Jess saw her and then was smiling from ear to ear.
Jess came up to her and said "You look amazing."
Ann then replied "Thanks so do you."
Jess noticed her bandaged foot and said "Ann what did you do?"
Ann then explained what happened to Jess and then Jess said "Oh you poor thing, maybe we should go in so you can forget about what happened."
Ann nodded then Jess showed a pass to the guy at the front and said "She's with me."
Ann noticed the pass to be a pass from The Daily Bugle. "Jess I didn't know you worked for the Daily Bugle."
When they got inside Jess finally answered her and said "I work at the science museum for the extra money that's why you don't see me in there often."
Ann nodded and said "So what do you do?"
Jess looked at her and said "I get the extra gossip for the gossip column. There's a new opening in the paper coming up the advice columnist is retiring. If you think you can do the job write some advice to this person." With that said Jess took out a piece of paper which had some anomalous people asking for advice. Then she gave it to Ann and said "When you're done come down to the Daily Bugle and hand it in but make sure before next Tuesday that's when the job will be posted with these questions in the Daily Bugle."
Ann nodded then said "But won't he be suspicious."
Jess looked at her and said "When you come in I will go with you to hand it in."
Ann nodded yet again and said "Thank you."
Jess then said "The advice column is in the paper on Tuesdays and Fridays. So Jamison will pick an advice columnist by Thursday and post the advice column by Saturday." Jess looked around and spotted someone then she said "I'll introduce you to the Bugles photographer Peter Parker."
With that Jess dragged Ann over to Peter and said "Hi Peter, I want to introduce to you a friend of mine from the science museum who also wants to become the new advice columnist for the daily Bugle. Peter this is Annabelle Johnson. Ann this is Peter Parker."
Ann put out her hand to shake his and said "It's a pleasure to meet you."
Peter smiled and said "It's a pleasure to meet you too, so the science museum with genetically altered spider."
Ann smiled widely and said "Yes it is I love looking at all the different spiders and the altered one. Have you been there?"
The man next to peter came forward and said "Me and Pete went there when we were in school. I'm Harry Osborn it's a pleasure to meet such a lovely looking lady." With that he took her hand and kissed it.
Ann blushed and said "It's a pleasure to meet you to Mr. Osborn."
Harry smiled and said "Call me Harry please it sounds too formal Mr. Osborn."
Peter looked at Harry and said "It's a formal party Harry."
Ann laughed slightly and Jess said "Is Ann the shy girl laughing oh my. But I'm glad you're laughing I bet you forgot all about your foot."
Ann looked at Jess and said wincing slightly "Thanks for reminding me."
Jess then said totally forgetting Peter and Harry were there "Well it's your fault for running in New York without your shoes on."
Ann also forgetting about the two others present said "I was running from bloody thugs and had to take my shoes off because I couldn't run in them. I am just bloody lucky I slowed one down."
Jess sighed then realised that they were ignoring Harry and Peter so she said "Typical New York isn't it."
Harry nodded and said "I'm surprised Spiderman didn't come to help you."
Ann sighed and said "First of all Spiderman was probably saving someone else, second of all why do you talk like you hate him."
Harry then said "Simple he killed my father."
Jess then gasped and said "You're telling me that the Bugle is right about Spiderman."
Harry nodded and Ann said "Are you sure he wasn't just bringing him home so he wouldn't be lying in the gutters somewhere I mean Spiderman isn't the bad guy, he stopped the Green Goblin for heavens sake. Or has everyone forgotten that the Green Goblin never turned up again."
Peter was shocked to say the least.
Ann was still angry and tried calming down, she did see Peter's reaction and wondered about it.
Jess looked at Ann and said "Ann you've only been in New York for a while."
Ann looked at Jess and said "I have been here for nearly five years and when I came here Spiderman wasn't even here so I think I know what I'm saying."
Jess put her hands on Ann's shoulder and said "Everyone has their own opinion."
Ann knocked her hands off her shoulder and said "And the Bugle is only going by Jamison's opinion and that is wrong, some people ended up believing his opinion so don't even say everyone has their own opinion when their opinion is being changed by a piss ass paper."
Then Harry said "I thought you wanted to work for that paper."
Ann looked at him and said "Advice column which has nothing to do with swaying people's opinion on Spiderman."
Jess then nodded and said "She does have a point." Then she looked at Ann and laughed then said "You have just had a proper conversation I think without getting all shy and trying to be invisible. Although the red streaks do attract attention so wouldn't be able to be invisible."
Ann smiled and said to all three of them "Sorry."
Jess shook her head and said "How did we start talking about Spiderman?"
Ann looked at her and said "You really are a blonde aren't you."
Everyone chuckled at that until Jess said "Hey."
Ann looked at her watch and said to Jess "I better get home if I want to start on the advice thing."
With that Ann said goodbye to all three of them and left the party. She looked at all the lights around her and said "New York at night never gets old."
In the parks the light would sometimes look magical; New York could be classed as the city of dreams. It shows how hard it is to pursue a dream and it shows dreams really can come true. The place was filled with people but at times you would still feel completely alone.
When Ann got home that's exactly how she felt, she may not have regretted leaving when she left but now more than ever she wished she had a mother to talk to and to confide in, Also father to protect her and embarrass her when she has a boy over.
She knew it was silly for if she never left she would never have started to grow out of her shell she may even had gone further into her shell for protection and for the fear of never finding someone who may come to love her.
Her parents may have loved her but they never truly would, for her refusing to marry a stranger they made her leave and that doesn't show love. That was the day she saw who her parents really are.
When Ann was in more comfortable clothes she took out the paper Jess gave her and read it. Ann was going to try and get the job, but she saw her past and thought one thing 'What advice have I to give except be true to yourself and don't do something you don't want to for you may regret it.'
She read every single thing on the paper again and again but could not think of any answers.
But when she wrote down what she thought earlier she smiled for she gave advice without knowing it. She was about to go through the paper again when her phone went.
She picked it up and said "Hello Ann Johnson speaking."
"Hi it's Jess."
Ann frowned and said "What's up Jess?"
Jess sighed on the other end then went to explain herself "I have to work at the bugle tomorrow is there any chance you can finish that piece by then because I won't be in next week."
Ann didn't speak for a few seconds and said "I don't know what to write so far all I have is be true to yourself and don't do something you don't want to for you may regret it. But that's the easiest advice someone could give."
Jess laughed and said "Chic as long as its advice and makes the column Jamison won't mind, unless it's the same thing every week. You could always bring some photos of Spiderman and if they're better than peters then yours would be in the paper."
Ann sighed and said "I will try but I am not a person who gives advice even if I just did."
Jess sighed again and said "Ok I have a friend who is shy and…"
Ann interrupted Jess before she could carry on "Do have to keep telling me that."
Jess then started again "I have a friend who's shy and who's afraid of trying new things what can I do to help?"
Ann thought for a second and said "If your friends shy then you should get your friend to go out more gradually and eventually the friend won't be as shy. If your friends afraid of trying something new then help them, encourage them and most of all tell them that if they don't try how can they ever know what they're good at."
Jess chuckled a bit and said "That's not good advice."
Ann then said "It was good advice."
Jess then said with a bit of a laugh "Say that again."
"It was good advice."
Jess would be probably smiling on the other end when she said "See you can give good advice."
Ann had to calm her breathing before answering "I gave good advice."
Jess then said "I will ask Jamison the same question tomorrow and then you answer and you will more than likely get the job, A because you thought about the advice B because you gave the advice from the heart. I'll see you tomorrow chic."
Ann smiled and said "Thank you and goodbye."