I love you all. Thank you for reading and giving me such an amazing response.
Thank you thank you thank you!
Without further a do, I give you CHAPTER 2. (Rhymes. Anything is cool if it rhymes...)
Disclaimer: I do not own anything Marvel or Spider-Man related. Although I wish I owned Andrew Garfield in that Spider-Man suit :-(
Today was the first day Gwen had talked to Peter since she went to visit him the day after her father's funeral to have him tell her he couldn't be with her anymore. Gwen hated herself for caring so much for Peter when he visibly wasn't concerned as much for her. Gwen knew that her father never would have made Peter make a promise to stay away from her if he'd have seen how miserable it made Gwen. She couldn't bring back her father but she hoped that with some miracle, Peter would come back to her. He would forget that impractical promise and show up at her window again late at night because he missed her, wanted to feel her lips against his, and wanted to say he was sorry for leaving her alone to grieve for the last month.
The rest of the students of the school laughed, talked, and walked the halls freely. The halls were filled with the sound of backpacks being zipped loudly, shoes scuffling against the floor, and the slamming of lockers. There was absolutely nothing better than final bell and realizing that you finally get to go home after a long, dreary day.
Peter's mind was elsewhere the entire day; sometimes it was on Gwen, sometimes on the man. Hoping to see the man again, Peter decided he should check to see if he would be there again at the apartment building. He needed to figure out what it was about that man that gave Peter such an odd feeling. Of course Peter decided he would stay in his normal everyday clothes so if he did see him, he'd be able to investigate more inside.
Pushing past all the students filling the hallways, Peter stopped at his locker to put some things away. "Hey, Parker! Going to the big game?" Flash asked as he walked past in a basketball uniform.
"Hey. I-I don't know. Busy," Peter called back. Flash nodded and saw the rest of the basketball team motioning to hurry as they walked to the gym.
"See you later," Flash called out as he jogged up to the rest of the team.
Peter stared at Gwen as she walked past him. He shut his locker quickly, and was jogging up to meet her by her side. She ignored his presence as they walked amongst other students pushing their way through the hallway. Gwen sped up.
Peter stared at her as they walked, trying to read her face.
"Gwen. This morning-"
"I have to go," Gwen replied quickly.
Peter grabbed her wrist. "Gwen, stop. Wait."
They moved beside the lockers.
He spun her around as she removed her wrist from his grasp and crossed her arms around her book.
"What do I mean to you, Pete? Do I still mean anything at all?" Gwen said, trying her best not to look up at Peter.
"Gwen," Peter sighed.
"I need to get to Speech and Debate."
Peter watched her walk away as his heart fell down to his stomach and broke, longing to run after her and comfort her. He leaned against the lockers and hit his fist against them in frustration.
He couldn't give into the urge, the need to break his promise to the Captain. All this time he thought Gwen wanted nothing to do with him. He foolishly believed that Gwen wasn't hurting, that she was perfectly fine. Peter realized she wasn't. Peter realized also, that he was hurting just the same.
Peter walked amongst the sea of heads until he reached the front of the school. He pushed open the door. Walking down the steps, he pulled his hood over his head. Placing his skateboard on the floor, he rode it all the way to the apartment building two blocks away.
Looking around for the Cadillac, he saw no sign of it anywhere, or the man. Peter hesitantly walked through the door of the building. It was nicely decorated. White marble, potted plants, nice furniture, and decorated to taste. He saw people gathered in front of the elevators, a grumpy desk concierge, a woman reading a magazine in the lounge, and Harry Osborn amongst the group waiting for an elevator.
Harry called out to him. "Peter?"
Peter waved shyly. He scratched his head. Harry walked over to him his backpack slung across his shoulder.
"What brings you here?" Harry asked.
Peter shrugged. "Uh…I had nothing to do. I was wondering if you wanted to hang out," Peter asked. With relief, he figured that was a good enough excuse. Right?
Harry grinned. "Come up to my place."
Peter returned the smile and followed behind Harry to join the group entering the elevator.
"21," Harry told the man against the buttons on the wall. Peter took this chance to search the faces of those in the elevator more carefully for what he was there for in the first place. Somehow, Peter knew that he'd know who the man was if he was near because of the feeling the man gave off to Peter.
Arriving on their floor, Harry led the way to Apt. 18 on floor 21. Harry pulled out his key opening the door, revealing almost the exact same room design and structure as Gwen's apartment just one floor down. He wondered if she was home.
"Welcome to my humble abode," Harry told Peter.
Pulling his backpack in front of him, he unzipped a small pocket that held his phone. Checking the caller ID, he flipped it open and motioned for Peter to follow him. He was led to a large, nicely decorated room with a long couch, a TV, and a window with a great view of the city.
"Hey dad. No, I walked home. Yes. It's not that hard to walk home," Harry's voice echoed off the high ceiling, "No. I know you've been busy with work lately. Yeah. See you tonight."
Harry shut his phone, placing it in his front pocket.
"My father's been busy running his company so I haven't seen him much. He doesn't have time to give me a ride to school so I've been walking. He says he's working on a new life-changing project of his, but he thinks every new discovery of his is life-changing," Harry said.
"His company?" Peter asked. Peter put his backpack down on the floor as he sat himself down on the couch.
Harry nodded. "OsCorp."
"Oh," Peter said. No wonder Harry's last name sounded so familiar. His father was Norman Osborn, the founder of OsCorp.
Turning on the television, the news was covering a story about the latest good deeds of Spider-Man helping out citizens.
"That dude is crazy," Harry said.
Peter nodded, chuckling under his breath. Harry flipped through the television channels.
Peter's face went blank as he got that feeling again. The feeling crawled up his spine, emitting it all throughout his body. He had to find the man and follow him. Quick. Peter quickly grabbed his backpack and stood up from the couch.
"Peter, what's up?" Harry asked as he followed Peter.
Peter stopped in front of the door turning to face Harry. The feeling was stronger, the strongest it's been. It was like something was crawling up Peter's back.
"I have to go. I forgot to uh-" Peter started, but was interrupted by the door opening.
Harry and Peter stayed quiet as the man stepped through and closed the door behind him.
Peter knew that this was the man from the night before. It was him. He was right in front of him in Harry's apartment.
"Dad, you're home early," Harry said. Harry's father put his keys on the table beside them. He looked tired, exhausted. He was just a bit taller than Harry, very intimidating, and obviously fatigued.
It was Norman Osborn, Peter realized. The man that got out of the Cadillac the night before was Harry's father.
"Who's this?" Norman asked staring at Peter.
Harry swayed side to side nervously. "Oh! Dad, Peter Parker. Peter, Norman Osborn," Harry introduced. Peter extended his hand to have it be ignored by Mr. Osborn.
Norman nodded. "I have to finish some things. If you don't mind," he said as he walked past them to a room which Peter assumed was his office. Harry stared. The door was shut loudly.
"I'll see you later, Harry," Peter said as he opened the door.
Harry nodded. "See you around."
Peter left the apartment building wondering where to go from here. He needed to figure out what it was about Norman Osborn that made his senses tingle with curiosity and uneasiness. For today, he thought he should go home. He needed to catch up on some much needed sleep. Peter decided he didn't need to add any new wounds to the many that worried Gwen. He was sure New York City could go one night without Spider-Man. He just needed to do one more thing before he could go home.
Gwen sat there in her bedroom working on her English essay. She tried, with fail, to take her mind off Peter. She wondered where he was, what he was doing, if he was trying to be more careful like she told him to.
Every single thought of hers was consumed by Peter Parker.
She hated Peter for doing this to her. She hated him for knowing she was hurting but not doing anything about it, and for being so set on keeping his promise.
She hated the feeling he gave her, the way the butterflies in her stomach floated around making her nervous and the way her heart leapt out of her chest for joy.
As she pulled open her bedroom door to greet her mother who was calling her for dinner, she heard a noise outside her window. She turned to see the fire escape rattling, a blue and red flash disappearing out of her sight.
She hated how she felt like a little kid on Christmas day like she just got the best present in the world.
She kind of loved it too.
