Part V of What is Left Behind

The window to Peter's bedroom slid open and Spider-Man flopped down onto the rug. He tugged off his mask and gloves before crawling to his bed and clambering onto it. He stared at the ceiling for a long time, watching the fan there slowly turn in the moon light.

It's amazing really, so much shit can happen and in the end, I just go home, wake up the next day, and go to school. It's crazy.

Peter wanted to lie on his bed and sleep until the next winter solstice, but he forced himself to get up. He trudged to his bathroom and flicked on the shower. Discarding his suit on the floor, Peter stood in the cold spray of water, letting it wash away the soreness in his bones.

Max didn't deserve what happened to him, whatever it was that did happen to him. How the hell does someone get electric powers?

He shut off the water and got dressed for bed. By examining his suit, it was obvious that it would need extensive repairs.

Martha Connors can probably patch this up for me. I'll have to commission her.

Peter flopped on his bed again, already closing his eyes. He wasn't allowed to sleep yet, however, as his phone buzzed angrily on his night stand. Peter groaned and looked at the bright screen. It was a text from Gwen.

"Thinking of you. My place tomorrow night?"

Peter smiled and typed a quick reply.

"I'll be there."

Well I guess things could be a whole lot worse.

J. Jonah Jameson wasn't an overall impressive man. He wasn't large, or strong, or even particularly smart, but he was however very loud. That seemed to do the trick most of the time.

"Who the hell are you!?" He asked jamming a finger into Peter's chest.

"Uh Peter Parker, I have photos for you."

"For me?" Jameson rolled his eyes. "Aw you shouldn't have." He took the envelope from Peter's hands and deposited it straight in the trash. "Thanks for the visit." Jameson waved towards the door to his office.

"But I…" Peter pointed at his envelope in the bin. "Those are Spider-Man photos. Mr. Robertson told me to give them to you."

"Wait a minute. What?" Jameson retrieved the envelope and dumped the photos onto his desk, before spreading them out with his hands. "What the hell, kid. How did you get these?"

"I was on the roof."

Jameson picked up a depiction of Spider-Man swinging up Oscorp tower.

"The roof huh? You got initiative, Pecker. I like that."

"Parker…"

"Whatever, I'll take the whole lot," Jameson wrote a slip. "I don't usually like hiring kids, but if Robbie vouches for you, then I can't pass up these photos." He handed the paper to Peter. "Tomorrows front page: Spider-Man's Attack on Oscorp."

"What? No, Spider-Man was trying to help." Peter was taken aback.

"Doesn't look like it to me," Jameson made a big show of turning the photo upside down as if trying to examine it. "Get out of here and bring me more photos." He waved towards the door again.

Peter bit his tongue and turned on his heel.

"On second thought, I have another job for you." Jameson stopped him.

Peter turned back.

"What is it?

"Our main photographer is still out of town covering my son's shuttle launch…"

"Wait your son is John Jameson? The astronaut?"

"Yeah, interrupt me again and I'll fire you. Anyways, I need you to get some photos of a new museum exhibit opening next week. Apparently, it's a whole big thing blah blah blah." Jameson was in the process of lighting a cigar. "Get to the museum at 5-o-clock sharp on Tuesday evening and bring me back some photos. I'll pay you."

"Alright, you can count on me!"

Jameson waved one last time at the door and Peter made his exit. Outside, he handed the slip to Ms. Brandt and she wrote him his check.

"So, what do you think of Jonah?" She asked, smirking.

"You know, I think he likes me."

Peter stepped out of the Daily Bugle and into the sun. It was warm on his skin. He basked the little bit of warmth, the last few weeks of autumn before winter set in. He suddenly had the urge to go spend the day swinging across the city, enjoying the afternoon sun.

If only I hadn't had to give Mrs. Connors my suit.

He stuffed his hands in his pockets and started down the street. Aunt May wouldn't expect him home until later tonight. He had gotten Doctor Connors to vouch for his location again. Pulling out his phone, he checked the time.

Is it too early to go to Gwen's? I don't really know where else to go though.

He decided to call her, quickly dialing her number.

"Hey." After the events of the previous night, her voice was a welcome reprieve.

"Hey, what's up?"

"Just doing some homework. When are you coming over?"

"I was actually going to ask you that. I'm free now."

"Yeah, come over now. I could use your help with this biology sheet."

"Okay, I'll be right over."

When he got to her apartment, it was Captain Stacy who opened the door.

"Peter," He said. "How's it going? Gwen's in her room."

Peter stepped past him.

"I'm going good. How about you?"

"Can't complain." The captain nodded, then disappeared into the kitchen, rather suddenly.

Guess he doesn't feel like talking.

That was fine with Peter, who was left to navigate to his Girlfriend's bedroom.

"Hello there." She said when she saw him, smiling. "Close the door."

Peter stepped in and flopped onto the bed next to her, causing her to bounce a few inches into the air. She laughed and they kissed.

"So, Biology huh?" Peter asked.

"Yeah," Gwen sighed. "I think Dr. Connors is doing his best to make my senior year hell."

"I wouldn't blame him. He's been having a rough year too." Peter thought of the Lizard.

"I guess," she pointed to her desk. "Grab my laptop, will you?"

Peter jumped up and snatched it before returning to the bed. He flicked it open and found a news article open on the screen.

"Another… Oscorp attack?" Peter asked, casual. Gwen nodded.

"Last night, several people died. And Dr. Octavius was injured, it sounded terrible."

"Dr. Octavius is alive?" Peter scanned the article. Apparently, the doctor had been rushed to hospital in critical condition. "What do they say caused it?"

"They haven't released a statement yet and dad's not talking. If you ask me, I think Oscorp should be shut down."

"Why?"

"It's just too dangerous. A massive facility full of dangerous experiments in the heart of our city, they just don't seem to be able to keep things under control. I mean, the Oscorp Massacre, the murder of Miles Warren, and now this?"

"I thought you wanted to work at Oscorp one day."

"I really don't know," Gwen turned back to her book. "Are you going to help me or not?"

There was a knock at the door and Captain Stacy popped his head in.

"Your mother and I are going to the store. Make sure to get your homework done, okay? We'll bring back something to eat." He said.

"Okay," Gwen looked at Peter. "You should stay for dinner, it'll give you time to finish all that homework you're missing." She nudged her boyfriend.

"Oh, give me a break." Peter joked back. It wasn't his fault he barely had time to sleep, let alone study.

Captain Stacy stiffened, his eyes turning oddly pensive, and he stared at Peter with a sudden interest. Peter felt uncomfortable under his gaze.

"We'll be back in a bit." Stacy abruptly shut the door behind him.

What the hell was that about?

They heard the Stacy parents leave the apartment and sat in silence for a few minutes. They turned to each other, looking into their partners eyes for a split second before reaching for each other. Any textbooks and papers were knocked to floor as they fell back on the bed spread. Eventually they broke apart, resting their foreheads together.

"What about our homework?" Peter asked.

"We could… not do homework." Gwen responded.

And they didn't.

When Peter finally left the Stacy apartment later that night, Peter could help grinning like a complete idiot.

Gwen.

Everything about this city seemed suddenly brighter, from the stars above, to the lights below, and even the people seemed list harried. It was as if he had been seeing everything through a pair of sunglasses for the last 17 years, and someone had finally taken them off. Peter didn't even mind when a rather strongly-scented gentleman fell asleep on his shoulder during the train ride home.

Leaping up his front steps in a single bound, Peter was greeted with the sound of music from within his home. He opened the door and followed the sound into the living-room. Seated at the piano was Aunt May, her delicate fingers dancing over the keys. Next to her was a girl Peter had never seen before. She had shiny red hair and a slender frame. Peter thought if she were to stand, she'd probably barely reach his shoulder.

Peter didn't know whether to slink backwards and up the stairs to let them practice in peace, or to stay, and watch his aunt and the red-haired girl.

"Peter, there you are."

He turned to find Anna Watson, their next-door neighbor, sitting on the couch.

"Uh, hi." Peter greeted.

The music stopped and both Aunt May and the girl turned at the voices.

"May, was just giving MJ her first piano lesson." Anna Watson continued.

Aunt May stood up from the bench.

"Peter this is Mary-Jane, Anna's niece." She introduced.

Mary-Jane.

Mary-Jane Watson stood up and smiled.

"Nice to finally meet you, Peter." Mary-Jane had vivid green eyes.

"Nice to meet you too."

END OF WHAT IS LEFT BEHIND