When I get home, I check to see if my parents are asleep, and thankfully they are. Then, I run outside to my dad's shed, grab a ladder, and quietly set it up against the back of my house. I climb up it as fast as I can, wondering if I'm going to see what I hope I will when I get up there.
When I reach the top rung of the ladder, I see Spider-Man, waiting for me. He's fully dressed in costume, and kind of hiding in the shadows.
"Hi," he says, as I step onto the roof.
"Hi," I reply, much more nervously than him.
A moment passes.
"I don't do this very often," he says.
"Me either."
"What?"
"Talk to, you know…superheroes."
"Well, you've done it once before."
I chuckle. I guess he's right. "Kind of. But you were mostly unconscious."
I hear him laugh a little through his nose. I can't see his face, of course, but I definitely hear him laugh. I just made Spider-Man laugh.
"That's exactly why I'm here," he says. "To thank you. I…literally, I can't thank you enough."
I shake my head. "It's okay. You don't have to thank me. I…I just did what I had to."
"I know, but not many other people would have done that. I don't think anyone would have done that. You risked your life, more than once, I'm guessing."
I shrug. "Kinda." Now that I know he's my age, I can hear it in his voice. It's crazy to know Spider-Man is only teenager, especially when he's right in front of you.
"You saved my life," he says. "And that's something…I wouldn't be here, if it wasn't for you. If you didn't do what you did. It's not often…what you did was insanely brave. Ridiculously brave, and kind of crazy. And I'll never be able to tell you how thankful I am."
I don't know what to say. "Really, I just couldn't leave you like that. I knew…I knew what would happen. Either from the Goblin or the cops."
He nods. "How the heck did you do that?" he asks. "What did you do? I mean, I remember a little, but not much."
I think it over. "Well, right when the Goblin was hovering over you, I kicked one of his pumpkin bombs towards him. And it kind of blew up."
"Are you serious?"
"Yup."
He rubs his temples and shakes his head. "Wow. That's just…insane. And kind of hilarious."
I laugh. "I know. Tell me about it. And try being the one doing it."
"And then what?"
"I dragged you into a closet. And then when the coast was clear, I brought you into my room."
"And called MJ."
"Yes. Is that your girlfriend?" I can't believe those words just came out of my mouth.
"Umm…"
I hold up my hands. "No, it's okay. You don't have to tell me. I didn't—I know you probably don't wanna share that kind of stuff. I shouldn't have asked."
He laughs. "No, it's not that. You've already seen my face and you know my name. That cat is out of the bag. That cat is out of the bag and is now doing a tap dance on top of the bag. It's just that…it's complicated."
"What is? MJ?"
"Yes. She was my girlfriend, but she's not anymore. We're just…friends now. Kind of. I'm pretty sure she hates me. But I think we might be friends. Maybe."
"You also mentioned someone named Gwen."
He gets quiet. "That's even more complicated. Wow, I guess I wouldn't shut up when I was under that gas, huh?"
"No, you wouldn't talk much at all, actually. Pretty much all you would say were girls' names."
"Figures. Even when I'm mostly unconscious, I can't get my crap together."
I laugh. It's quiet for a moment.
"Is…is your name Peter? That's what MJ called you."
He thinks it over. "Yes, that's my name. Do you go to the school where me and the Goblin…?"
"Yeah. I'm a sophomore. What about you?"
"I'm a junior. But I don't go to your school."
"I figured. I've never seen you before. Where do you go?"
He thinks again, then laughs. "That's the one thing you don't know about me, so I think we should keep it that way."
Fair enough. "I get it."
It's quiet again. I can hear the crickets chirping.
He steps out of the shadows, and I can see him in the light. "Well, I guess I gotta…I should get going. But thank you, again. I wanted to make sure I thanked you in person. When I can actually, you know, speak."
I laugh. "Thank you, I appreciate it. But really, you don't have to thank me."
"No, I do. Is there anything, anything I can do for you? Seriously, just let me know. I need to pay you back somehow."
I think it over. "There is one thing." I look to my left. On the side of my house is the post office. It's a big tall building with a flagpole on top.
"Want to take me over there?" I ask.
The next thing I know, I'm swinging toward the post office with Spider-Man. He has his arm around my waist and is holding me close as we fly through the air. His other arm is holding a web, which is attached to the post office's flagpole. With the wind whipping through my hair, I eventually realize we are heading straight for the wall of the post office. But, when we hit it, Spider-Man sticks to it, just like I've seen him do in so many pictures online. With his arm still around me, he uses his one free hand and his feet to climb up the wall. It's the funnest thing I've ever done.
Soon we reach the top of the building and we are on its roof.
"How was that?" Spider-Man asks.
"Awesome," I reply, out of breath from how awesome that was. "I can't even imagine what it must be like swinging through the streets of New York."
"Just as awesome as you think it is," Spider-Man replies. "Actually, even more awesome." He looks around. "Pretty sweet view from up here, huh?"
I look around. We're on the tallest building in my neighborhood, the tallest building around for miles. Many of the nearby houses are lit, and the stars are shining.
"It is," I reply. "Gorgeous, actually."
We look around the view.
"Well, this is a two-way ticket, you know," Spider-Man says eventually. "Time to head back. You ready?"
He pulls me near and wraps his arm around me again. This time, he holds me closer. I feel his fingers squeeze my waist.
"Here we go," he says. He holds his other arm out, presses down his two middle fingers, and I hear a THWIP! sound. Grey and white webbing shoots from his wrist, and sticks to the roof right above my bedroom window. He grabs the webbing tight, runs to the edge of the post office, and we leap off.
After soaring down through the air, we swoop up again and right onto the porch roof. In a matter of seconds, we're standing outside my bedroom window again.
"Wow!" I say. "That was insane! That was even more fun than the first time!"
He laughs. "Good, I'm glad. It's the least I could do. I just hope none of your neighbors saw us."
"I don't care if they did. That was amazing."
I look back at the post office and laugh at how crazy that was. I know I'll never forget it.
"Well, I really should get going," Spider-Man says. "I stayed way longer than I thought. But thank you, again. I know I've said that a million times, but you saved my life."
I shrug. "I'm just glad everything turned out okay. I'm just glad you're okay."
He nods. He looks at me a long time.
"Well," he says. "If there's anything you ever need…I don't know how you would contact me, but…"
"Actually, I have your number in my phone. The one I called MJ on. I don't know if that's just a number the two of you use, or…?"
"No, that's a good idea, actually," he says. "That is a number just for the two of us, but that's good—that means no one else knows it. That way, if you ever need anything, you know how to get me. I think I can trust you. Even if I can't, I have no choice. You already know the number."
I laugh. "Don't worry, I won't use it if I need to. I doubt I ever will."
He nods. "Well, if you do, don't hesitate. You know. If you need something. I'll answer, and be here right away. Or wherever you need me. I still owe you."
"Okay."
A moment passes. I keep thinking he will swing off, but he doesn't. He just looks at me, like he wants to say something.
"Well," he finally says. "I'm glad I got to come by here. I'm glad I got to see you again, when I was in better shape."
"Me too," I say.
"Is there anything else you need?"
I realize how much I want to see his face.
"Can you…can you take off your mask?"
He thinks. "I don't know…I don't know if—"
"I just want to see you again. See what you looked like the other day."
He doesn't say anything for a moment.
"Okay," he says. "But come back here in the dark, in case anyone can see us. I already stayed here way too long, but come here at least near the window."
He steps backward toward the wall. I follow him. Soon, we're in the shadow of the roof. It's dark. We're close to each other, to make sure we're both hidden.
"Is that good?" I ask.
"I think so," he says.
My body is right next to his. We look at each other for a moment. He's taller than me, so I'm looking up at him. I can hear him breathing.
Finally, he reaches up with one hand and lifts his mask off his mouth. Then, pulling up, he takes his mask off.
I see the boy who was in my room the other day.
"There," I say. "That's who I remember. Except you look much better now, being awake and everything."
He laughs. "I can't believe I did that. I've never done that for anyone. Well, mostly anyone."
"Do you regret it?"
"No. Not at all."
A moment passes.
"I know you have to go," I say. "I don't want you regretting—"
Suddenly I feel his hand on my waist. He pulls me closer. His hand is on my back and he's holding me against him.
Leaning down, he kisses me. I'm shocked at first, but then I kiss him back. He pulls me even closer. He places his gloved hand on my face, then runs it through my air. I wrap my arm around his waist. It lasts a long time. It stars to get more intense, but then he stops.
"I'm sorry," he says. "I shouldn't—that's not…that's not why I came here."
"I know," I say, looking up at him. "It's okay. You don't have to be sorry. I was…I was hoping you would do that. I'm glad you did."
He laughs, shaking his head. "I can't believe I did that. I must be out of my mind."
"Me too," I say. "I just kissed a total stranger."
He laughs. "Well, before I do anything else incredibly stupid, I gotta go."
He pulls his mask down over his face and turns to the wall.
"Do you really think it was stupid?" I ask.
"Well, maybe not stupid, but reckless. I've never done anything like that before."
"Me either."
It's like he's in a rush now, like he came to his senses and needs to get out of here.
"Well, I'm glad you did," I say. "I'm glad you came here."
He climbs up the wall so now he's standing on the very top of my house. He looks down at me.
"I'm glad I did, too," he says. "And I'm sorry if I did anything…"
I shake my head. "Stop it. It was great. I saved your life, after all. It's the least you could do."
He laughs. "Well, I'm outta here. Do me a favor."
"What?"
"Don't go posting on Instagram or Twitter that you kissed your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, okay?"
I laugh, but I realize he's using a slightly different voice now. It must be the voice he uses when he's Spider-Man. He must be regretting what he did and is kind of trying to hide his identity, even though I'm sure he realizes it's much too late for that.
"I won't," I tell him. "Maybe Twitter, but that's it."
"How about Myspace?" he says. "That way no one will see it."
I laugh. As I look up at him, he extends his arm and shoots a web up at the post office flagpole again.
"Thanks, Lydia," he says. "For everything you did. I'll never forget it."
"Me either," I reply.
Then, with that, he jumps off my roof, swings toward the post office, and up onto its roof. He runs into the darkness, and then he's gone.
I stare up at the post office roof.
Holy crap. This was the best night of my life.
A week later, I'm sitting in the kitchen of the restaurant where I work. I'm on break, not-really-enjoying a not-really-great chicken caesar wrap. It's been an insanely boring night, one of those work nights that just seem like they won't end, and the restaurant has been pretty much empty all night. Desperate for anything to keep me awake and save me from this boredom, I check my phone—I'm hoping for some texts, but I'm so desperate, I'd even take a software update.
I don't have any texts, but I do see I have a notification on Facebook. It's a friend request. When I open it, I see it's from someone named Peter Parker.
I gasp, holding my breath. When I click on his name, my fingers start to shake. I see his profile pic is definitely him.
I also have a message.
HEY. I JUST COULDN'T HELP MYSELF. I KNOW THAT'S CRAZY, BUT IT'S AT LEAST NOT AS CRAZY AS WHAT I DID THE OTHER NIGHT. WANNA MEET UP AND GET A COFFEE OR SOMETHING? AS, YOU KNOW, NORMAL PEOPLE?
Oh my god. This is insane. I can't believe he did that. But I'm so glad he did. He must have went looking for me on Facebook. This is crazy.
Just when I'm about to click on the message to write back, the door to the kitchen opens.
"Lydia?" I hear someone say. I look up. It's one of my co-workers, Gina.
"Yeah?"
"Your uncle is here. He asked me if you were around."
"My uncle?" I ask. My uncle lives in Pennsylvania. I don't know why he'd be here.
"Yeah. He's at table 3."
I walk out of the kitchen and into the dining room. I see a man at table 3. He's dressed in a suit.
He's not my uncle.
I walk slowly to the table, confused. There's another man sitting at the table. This man is huge, like a body builder, with long brown hair.
When I get closer, I get a better look at the man in the suit. He has slicked-back hair and he looks familiar, but I can't place him.
When I reach the table, he smiles.
"Hi Lydia," he says. "Remember me?"
I recognize the voice instantly. It's the same voice I heard from the Goblin in my high school.
Still smiling, he pulls out a seat.
"Here," he says. "Have a seat. Sit down. Let's have a chat."
I look around the room. I can barely think straight. I can feel my breath getting faster and faster. What am I gonna do? Do I run? Should I run? Can I run?
"Come on," he says with a laugh. "Let's have a bit to eat. I wouldn't want to make a scene. Let's not make this any more…disruptive than it needs to be."
I look at him. He's smiling, but I can tell he's angry. I look to the other man with him, the huge man with long hair. He's just staring at me, completely serious. His eyes almost look like he's hypnotized.
"I'm not going to hurt you," the man in the suit says. "We just weren't properly introduced the other day. And I'd like to hear all about where you went with my little friend after I left."
I stare back at him.
"Come on, Lydia," he says. "I'm not nearly as scary without my mask. Am I? I just want to ask you a few questions."
I think it over. There's no one else in the restaurant. It's empty.
"Victor," the man in the suit says. "Go stand by the door so me and Lydia can talk in private."
The huge man with long hair stands and walks to the door, stopping in front of it. No one can come in or out. I'm trapped in here, with the Goblin.
"Sit down, Lydia," the man in the suit says. "I'm not asking again."
With my arms shaking, I sit down in the chair.
"Now," the man says. "My name is Norman. So we can get that out of the way." He opens a menu. "I'm going to have the grilled salmon. What would you like? My treat. We can eat while we talk."
He smiles at me again.
"Where should we start?" he asks.
