A simple action can change a destiny. This is my take on a different course of events that take place. I have been itching to do something with this group of characters.

Proof of Existence

A scattered hope that's like a broken puzzle. A broken puzzle that's like a scattered hope. Nothing seems to be clear to me anymore. I want to line these pieces up. Yours... and mine.

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Chapter 1: Shattered Ties

"I can't lose you."

"So just because you can't lose me we can't be together? Who does that work out for Peter?"

She couldn't believe him.

Here she was outside of a restaurant trying to talk some sense into him, into Peter. The man who was constantly saving people, the man who was constantly risking his life every day, the man who she had fallen in love with. The man who was Spiderman.

Here he was doing it again. He was trying to distance himself from her. It was all because of that promise, that unbearable promise that ruined everything. And she wanted to hate her father for placing such a burden onto Peter, onto her. How could he? How dare he?

But she knew she'd never be able to resent him.

It was more nerve wrecking that she couldn't bring herself to resent Peter for accepting it either. It was her father's dying request and he had chosen to give her father peace before he'd passed on.

"Maybe those are the best kinds?"

Weren't they passed that phase already? Weren't they never going to touch that topic anymore? Wasn't he okay with breaking that promise? Weren't things going to be fine now?

A part of her then, knew the prospect sounded too naive, too foolish. Yet she wanted to blindly soak up his words, wanted so badly to return him, and so it's what she had done. Because she'd missed him. She had missed his laugh, his smile, his touch. It felt so blissful to hear exactly what she wanted to hear.

Now the signals she had so carelessly ignored on that day had resurfaced with such a cruelty. They had come to haunt her, to mock her. To remind her of how all this could've been avoided had she just heeded the warnings.

Stubbornly, or perhaps foolishly, her resolve didn't waver. Across from her and only about a feet away Peter stood; his expression broken. He looked lost. And she needed to believe, to hope, that he wasn't heading down this path again.

No. Not again. Please not again.

She refused to believe it. He wouldn't break up with her.

Because maybe, the same naive part of her continued repeating. Because maybe, because maybe, because just maybe!

"I can't. I'm sorry Gwen."

And just like that it all came crumbling down. She could've sworn she heard her resolve fall to the floor and shatter as if it were mere glass. It was at that moment when clarity had struck her, abruptly and painfully. Something in her had snapped, like a chord breaking from an old guitar.

This would never work.

"Wow..." She faced away and shook her head before shooting him a cold look. "You have done this to me again and again, Peter. I can't live like this."

Things couldn't continue like this anymore.

"I'm breaking up with you." No more. Gwen was done. Done with all the pain and heartbreak that came with loving Peter Parker. If felt almost surreal to say those words. At the same time it felt as if the shackles were loosening their hold. "I'm breaking up with you."

The second time was to reassure herself. The first time she'd said it felt as if she'd never said it at all.

His shoulders slumped and his expression remained broken. One could clearly see the pain etched in his face. His eyes reflected such a sadness that made her heart clench.

But Gwen couldn't turn back.

It was too suffocating. Things would only continue repeating themselves like some sick, never-ending Ferris wheel. If he couldn't bring himself to overlook the promise then there was nothing she could do. She couldn't make his decisions for him. It was clear he'd made up his mind. A stinging realization.

Perhaps they were simply never meant to be. Perhaps it was better this way.

Glancing at him she took in his features one last time before returning to where her family was eagerly waiting for her.

"Took ya long enough!" Howard joked as she took her seat.

"Honey, you wouldn't happen to know where Peter is would you? He seems a bit late." Her mother asked.

Gwen noticed Peter was glancing at her from outside the restaurant. She frowned before returning her mother's gaze. "He won't be coming."

"Oh... I see." It appeared as if her mother knew something was up. Thankfully she chose not to address it and simply began a casual chatter. No longer was Peter standing outside much to her relief.

The food on the table that she'd been craving suddenly didn't seem so appealing anymore. It made her feel awful in the inside. This was supposed to be a fun night with her family but it was anything but that. The mood had been ruined and her appetite had faded away.

Her brothers continuously praised her for graduating and her mother wouldn't stop mentioning how proud she was. All this should have made her happy. This should have satisfied her. Unfortunately her night had already been broken beyond repair.

But not for them.

They all seemed genuinely happy for once. This wasn't the most common thing for them given all they had endured. There were smiles plastered in each of their faces. And Gwen couldn't ruin it, wouldn't allow herself to ruin it. There was an air of absolute tranquility that would only be snuffed out if she were to babble about her inner turmoil.

And so with a forced smile she said, "Well, shall we eat?"

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Gwen was relieved to be home. Vaguely she wondered how she managed to feign through the entire night. The food she'd eaten earlier was making her nauseous now. After putting her younger brothers to bed she made her way towards her room for some much needed sleep. She crashed onto her bed and instantly knocked out; completely unaware of the red and blue figure staring from outside her window.

The next morning it had been quite the task to wake up. The poor alarm by her bedside had been slammed the second it rang. Gwen was in no mood to do anything especially head to work. With a frown she shook her laziness off and stood upwards. It infuriated her how much Peter affected her mood.

"Enough already," she berated herself and tapped her hands across her face as if to repress all the constant thoughts of him. "No more Peter Parker."

"Gwen, sweetie, aren't you going to have breakfast?" Her mother called out as she appeared in the kitchen.

"Uh no thanks mom. I'm running kind of late so I'll just skip out."

"Well at least grab an apple from the counter."

Gwen sighed before chuckling. "Sure thing mom." Fetching quickly for an apple she dashed out the door. Something felt off as she made her way towards Oscorp. It felt like there were eyes on her. She looked over her shoulder before shrugging it off. Again she missed the brief flash of red and blue.

Luckily she'd managed to arrive at the building just at the right moment. In front of her she could see the elevator.

"Hey hold that!"

"I got it!" The man inside replied.

He held it just in time for her to reach it. She made her way inside and blew a sigh of relief.

"Thanks! You're a real gentleman. Most people would've just let this close."

"Yeah well most people don't notice other people."

Gwen couldn't agree more with that one.

The man coughed awkwardly. "I'm uh... Max. Max Dillon."

"Gwen," she replied with a smile. "Nice to meet you."

The two turned their attention towards the screen currently showing Spiderman saving some people from a burning building. Inwardly Gwen worried about his well-being. She couldn't help it.

"You know I met Spiderman." Max suddenly spoke causing her to turn to him. "He saved my life. Out of all the people in the world he chose to save me."

Gwen noticed how the man spoke with such admiration when referring to Spiderman. His eyes practically sparkled at the mere mention of him. It's as if he worshipped the ground he walked on.

As if further proving her theory he turned and smiled at her. "You know he told he needed me."

"Must be a good feeling." Gwen murmured eyeing Peter as he rescued another civilian. Her trance was cut short when the elevator dinged signaling she'd arrived to her floor. "Well it was nice meeting you Max."

Max was stunned as she exited the doors. "She remembered my name?"

Once in her work area Gwen was finally able to relax. Burying herself into her work would help get her mind off Peter and all the troubles that came along with it. This will be her first steps into getting over him once and for all. She couldn't dwell on him forever. Time was moving on without her and she couldn't continue to stand still. Nothing came from standing still.

Time to move on with her life. Time to think of life without Spiderman.

Author's Notes

There you have it for the first chapter. I plan on taking the events that happened in the movie in a slight different direction. Hope you enjoyed. Drop a review would you kindly :D