My morning routine is very much like anyone else's at Midtown High School. Every day I wake up, make myself look presentable, and eat my breakfast while studying for my upcoming big test of the day. Then I go stand outside and wait for my bus to come. Like any other high school boy, I have a crush. Her name is Mary Jane. We've lived next door to each other our whole lives, we're Juniors at Midtown. Of course, she's never spoken a word to me. I'm a little bit on the nerdy side. And by a little bit, I mean a whole lot. Today at school we're going to OSCORP Industries to view some of the best modern-day technology that is exclusive to New York. My best and only friend, Harry Osborn are planning on talking to Mary Jane there, maybe impressing her with some of my amazing knowledge on spi-
"Hey! Wait!" I call. While tying my shoe, my bus driver decided he didn't see me. Same routine every day, chasing down the bus. "Stop! Please! I can't be late today!" I call out while banging on the side of the bus.
"Stop it!" I hear from the inside of a bus. It's the voice of a girl. "He's been chasing us for three blocks now, you really want to tell me you didn't notice him?" And suddenly, the bus stops. I step inside and see a girl, I start to study her briefly. She's a bit shorter than me, which is considered bad for my gender, average for her. Her light blonde hair is styled in bangs with a black headband. She's wearing a blue, long-sleeved sweater, a skirt black, and high white socks. "Thank you." She says, sounding pleased to herself to the bus driver.
After that the bus ride was nothing short of awkward. I didn't know the girl, so I didn't go sit next to her. I probably should've thanked her. I walked down the isle, looking for an empty seat. Once I had found one, I sat. There, the daily jeers and beating of me would start.
"Hey Parker!" Called a voice, Flash Thompson. "Late again? Too busy trying to bring back your parents with your chemistry kit?" I stood up, I didn't know why. Even though Flash insulted my parents, I could never fight him. I didn't need to, there were two arms pulling him down from the seat.
"Flash! Stop it!" It was an angelic voice I had heard before, she arose from her seat. Mary Jane. "What has Peter ever done to you? You owe him an apology." She stared at him. Had I mentioned that the prettiest girl was dating the school bully? Nothing about them matched up. Her flowing red hair, pulled back in a ponytail, definitely resembled the anger she felt right now. Why was she standing up for me? The two stared, then Flash gave in.
"Fine. I'm sorry, Parker." He said, snarling, but it was good enough for Mary Jane. "MJ, lets sit down now," he said, kissing her forehead. Her stern look quickly turned into a smile, a smile that looked painful. The two's bodies lowered, a few seats above, the blonde girl stared back at me. I looked at her for a few seconds, she finally smiled, then turned around and went back to what looked like a small book.
I rummaged through my backpack, I didn't need much for this field trip, just a notebook and my camera. I needed to take pictures for my school's newspaper. Photography is one of the only hobbies I have, besides sucking at basketball with Harry. For my birthday a few years ago, my Aunt Mae and Uncle Ben, my guardians, helped me out to buy a camera I had been looking at for quite some time. I haven't really gotten too many that I like yet, mainly school pictures for teams and clubs, but I guess that's nice too.
The bus pulled up to the school, the bell wouldn't ring for homeroom, where we would check in, then leave for the field trip for another thirty minutes. We all got off the bus, and I waited by the street for a few minutes, until a black Corvette pulled up to the street and parked. Out came Harry Osborn, hair styled in his usual pulled back, look. He wore a leather jacket and ripped blue jeans. Out of the driver's side came a man in a suit who very much resembled Harry, only aged much more. I smiled and waved.
"Hi Harry. Excited to go to OSCORP?" I asked. I knew he wasn't, he practically grew up there. OSCORP is run by his family, the Osborns, thus the name, OSCORP.
"You know how it is Peter." He said, he then gestured to the man next to him. "I don't believe I've introduced you, Peter this is my father, Norman." I held out my hand.
"A pleasure to meet you sir." I said, probably too excitedly.
"Oh the pleasure is mine Peter," he said. "Harry has told me many things about how much you've helped him through high school. It's astounding to meet one of today's great minds. You have a place at OSCORP if you so wish." I felt my whole face grow hot, blushing. "Your parents must be very proud of you Peter." He looked me in my eyes, I stared back into his green eyes.
"My aunt and uncle are. My parents died over ten years ago."
"I'm very sorry Pete, really I didn-"
"It's no trouble." I stopped him.
"Well alright!" Harry interjected. "We've gotta get to class, I'm sure we'll see you at OSCORP dad?" He said it hurriedly, like he wanted his father to leave.
"Ah no, sorry boys, I've got a presentation today and an idea that may change the world forever. You'll be with Doctor Connors however. Good day!" He said, walking over to his car. He shut the door and left.
"Your dad's a nice man." I said to Harry as we walked to class, I adjusted my glasses.
"You could say that." Harry said, not looking at me. "He things you're the greatest thing since sliced bread."
"But we've just met...?"
"Doesn't matter. He's heard, from me, about all you do for the school... and me."
"Gosh Harry, I didn't know you liked me so much." We laughed and got to the school building. We opened the doors to the usual World War Three. Papers flying, fists swinging, lockers slamming, the classic. We walked to our homeroom, we were getting incredibly lucky. Usually by now we'd been threatened by someone or been 'accidentally' punched by someone. And by we, I mean me. Harry was my backbone, standing up to bullies for me. I owe him a whole lot.
"Hey Parker!" I heard as I felt my body hit a blue locker, my shoulder hurt from the impact. Suddenly, I was eye to eye with Flash Thompson.
"Morning Flash, nice day? Excited about the field trip?" I said, scared out of my wits.
"You got lucky this morning, if it weren't for MJ, you'd still be cleaning up your glasses pieces from the bus floor." He took my glasses off my face.
"Hey! Those are all I have!"
"Knock it off Flash!" Harry called out. "Give him them back!"
"You think you're safe behind your friend Parker?" Flash taunted. "You can live this time." He pushed my glasses back onto my face, he and Harry stared down as Flash walked away. "Your ass is grass tomorrow at P.E. Parker!"
"Oh great..."
"Your glasses okay?" Harry asked.
"Yeah," I replied. "No bends this time."
"You gotta start standing up for yourself, Pete. I'm not always gonna be there for you. And what would you do if it was me in your face?" He said, almost angrily.
"Where's this coming from Harry?" I asked.
"I, I dunno. I'm sorry. I guess all this going to my dad's business has got me stressed. Sorry I snapped Pete."
"It's no problem, so hey the weirdest thing happened to me on the bus today..." I went on to tell him about the blonde girl on the bus as we got into homeroom and our teacher checked attendance.