The thing that brings Peter back into consciousness is the feeling of somebody tugging on his mask. And within 5 milliseconds he's jumped up and away from the pulling, which came from a curious person leaning out of their window. His brain catches up in about 3 seconds and, leaving the poor owner of the fire escape behind (probably in shock), he swings towards Harry Osborn's house, feeling like the biggest fool.

Of course it was Harry, how could he not see? And how could he think that keeping Gwen away for a few days would save her? The Osborn kid had obviously created this enhanced version of himself at Oscorp the other night, probably having planned it for months before - or at least an Osborn had. The effect seemed way too precise, way too particular, for it to have just been a lucky guess.

Damnit, why hadn't he been smart and warned Gwen? Why hadn't he told her what was going on so she could be safe? Why hadn't he kept his promise to her father and just let them lead their different lives? Why had he been so selfish?

Now she was in serious danger, all because he'd been stupid.

...

"Peter Parker, I don't care what you're doing. You get home right this second - I cooked you a graduation meal especially for tomorrow." Aunt May wasn't happy, and she'd rung about 20 million times.

G - Please tell me you're okay. - P x

P - I'm fine. You coming over tonight? - G x

Breathing out a sigh of relief, Peter halted his travels and turned back. One hour and he'd reveal to Gwen about Harry. He'd reveal to everyone and everything would be okay. He could still solve this without upsetting his Aunt.

He could.

He would.

...

P - Mom's forcing me to have a long discussion with her about graduation and you and things like that. Probably best if you don't come over. I'll see you tomorrow. - G

There was still a chance that Harry didn't know Spider-man's identity. There was a chance that he had just been lucky with his attacks. There was a chance that he only knew that Gwen had a crush on the masked vigilante, and that's why Harry had focused his attention on her. It could be that Harry was completely in love with Gwen, and that's why she had spent the afternoon there.

There were a multitude of reasons that meant Gwen would be safe. But Peter refused to accept any of them, jumping out of his seat the moment Aunt May had swallowed her last bite of meatloaf (even though it wasn't Peter's favourite, they had to have it at least once a week and they shared a sad smile over Uncle Ben each time) and running out of the house.

Luckily he'd managed to heal himself before he got home - whatever had coated Harry's weapons hadn't had much of a lasting effect. So now he was back to full strength, which meant it only took his usual 2 minutes 30 seconds to get to his girlfriend's. And, just like he had done months ago, before they had gotten together and when he was still desperately trying to stay away from her, he perched on her fire escape and waited to see her face.

He didn't have to wait very long, as moments later she wandered it with a thunderous look on her face and tears streaming down her face. The second she locked eyes with him her expression changed completely. Not that that was new, usually she grinned at him or looked happy. This time, she just looked sad, resigned to something.

"I told you not to come over, Peter." She didn't even bother with the pleasantries as she opened the window, and she didn't even open it enough for him to slip in like he usually did.

"I hadn't seen you in ages... and I wanted to..." He tried to be all sweet, tried to bring a smile to her face, but it didn't work.

"Well maybe I didn't want to see you. Maybe my mother found out about you and I'm trying to act like I'm going to dump you. Maybe I've had a tiring day and maybe, just maybe, I'm going to see you first thing tomorrow and I wanted to get an early night tonight." She snapped, refusing to look at him and instead finding the floor much more interesting. She was back to being angry, though he didn't want to believe that it was actually his fault.

"I'll see you tomorrow, then..." He mumbled, hoping that she might try to convince him to stay. But that didn't happen and he was forced to leave.

At least she was okay, that was something. At least Harry hadn't harmed a hair on her head.

...

"You're just doing this to please your Mom, right?" He wondered how on earth he managed to get those words out without stumbling, how he managed to stay upright when his whole world was crumbling, how on earth he managed to hold onto his control when he was practically clutching at straws. All because of a few sentences.

Harry hadn't been at the graduation ceremony - thank goodness, Peter wouldn't be able to stop himself from punching the guy. Gwen had shown up, with her mother and brothers, and smiled in Peter's direction. He knew that she wouldn't bring her family over- that was risky business in such a public place. Aunt May had waved back, before messing up Peter's hair, claiming that she was sorting it out. He'd received his diploma, listened to the various speeches (he felt a little sorry for Gwen - she'd tried so hard to become valedictorian), and thrown his cap up in the air with everybody else.

And then he'd been talking to a few of his classmates when she'd asked to speak to him for a moment.

"There's no easy way to say this." She wasn't even looking at him, but her eyes were getting big like they always did when she cried. "Peter, these past few months have been amazing and I've loved every second of it. And I will never tell anyone about your secret, you know I wouldn't put you in danger like that."

That's when he'd realised what was going on. "We can keep it secret - us, I mean. Or I can sit down with her and I can explain it. I'll explain that I never hurt your father, that it was lizard. I'll explain that I tried to keep away from you but I love you too much-"

"Peter, stop." She broke in, putting her hand on his arm in what was supposed to be a reassuring gesture, but just made it all hurt even more. "It isn't about my Mom. It isn't about anything except us. I don't-" Her voice wobbled, and she visibly swallowed.

"Don't say it." He whispered, tears now forming in his own eyes.

"I don't love you anymore." She exhaled, removing her hand from him and stepping back a little. "I'm so sorry." Was this happening? Was this some kind of nightmare? "I'll send someone over to pick up my stuff." Peter's ears were ringing, was that a normal response? His ears were ringing and his eyes were blurring and his body was shaking - his whole body. "Be safe, bug boy." He thought he heard her sob before she walked away but that could just be his delusion.

Just like everything else.

...

He doesn't give up. In fact, he refuses to believe that she's just suddenly stopped feeling everything. Saying that she doesn't have those feelings once doesn't erase the times when she said she did. Whispered against his lips as they shared a kiss goodnight. Murmured as he kissed her forehead goodbye when she was half asleep. Shouted as a result of the exhilaration she felt when they swung across the city. Mentioned as part of everyday conversation.

Over and over she said it. That's why he's now waiting on her fire escape again. Waiting for her to come back and see him and tell him that earlier was just one stupid misunderstanding, that she had to make it seem convincing for her mother. Or something. Anything would make it all go away and he'd forget that the past few days had happened. He'd tell her about Harry (because of course Peter hadn't forgotten about him) and she'd let him protect her.

But it doesn't work out like that.

She walks in to the room, sees him but doesn't let that stop her from pulling someone into the room with her. Pulling that person in for a kiss, eyes locked with Peter as her lips move across someone else's.

He can't look away, not even when Harry ends the kiss with a smirk, mutters something. She tells him to shut up and they're kissing again.

The parallels might be the death of him.

...