Chapter 84 [Upstairs—Still at Smallville High]
Peter walked about the room. He collected discarded handouts. He shook his head. These kids don't know how good they have it. He straightened the stack and placed them on the front desk.
"For what it's worth, this was really well done." Mr. Sanders flipped through his handout. "A few of them kept their copies. Can I ask a favor of you?"
"Of course." Peter didn't feel nary a tingle from the Spider Sense.
"If you have the file, can you bring it on a drive or email it to me? I can convert it to a digital copy and upload it to the school's server. At the end of the term, the students will want it. Now they're thinking of their lattes and getting home." Sanders slipped the document into his binder. "I said this to Miss Stacy yesterday. I'm sorry about Dr. Connors and what happened with your internships. I'm glad Mr. Luthor's working with you. We'll do our best to get you an experience for credit."
"I know she appreciates that. I do too. I just hope he's feeling better soon. He does have a serious health condition. Occasionally it flares up. He just needs rest and he'll be fine," Peter explained trying to cover for his friend and yet (somewhat) satisfy Sanders.
"That sounds awful for the poor man! Well I hope he'll be better soon. If you speak to him, please give him my best. How's Smallville treating you?" Sanders erased the board.
Peter shrugged. "I have to say it's better here than I thought it would be. The town's got a lot more going on than I thought. People are really nice. Mr. Luthor's sure been great. If I'm not doing the biochem research, I'll have more time for tutoring here and journalism."
"That's right. You're a freelance photographer for a newspaper back east." Sanders nodded. "You do have many layers."
More than you know. Peter nodded. "Eventually I need to focus on a career other than freelance photos. Don't get me wrong. I like it. It's just that I also need to think about the future too. Mrs. Donnelly's agreed to let me sit in on her class and do the assignments. Mr. Reynolds was really cool about that."
"I can understand that. Your internship is about personal and career development, Mr. Parker. You know the old saying, 'when one door closes, another opens'? That's what's happening with you two. You have a fork in the road. You have two paths that offer potential." Sanders held up the binder. "Both of you, I think, have the makings of fine teachers. The story you co-wrote with Chloe Sullivan was well done. You'll have your chances in here. That's what I told Miss Stacy yesterday as well."
"She's really excited about the opportunity. So am I." Peter motioned to the handouts. "What do we do with these?"
"Save two or three. Recycle the rest unfortunately." Sanders frowned. "See you tomorrow. Hope you don't mind watching for a while. You'll get your time."
"That's fine. I'm learning. Thanks, Mr. Sanders." Peter heard his cell phone buzz at him. "Sorry."
"We're good. Take care. The door's locked so just close it behind you when you leave." Sanders pulled on his beige coat and hat. He carried his binder out the door and took off down the hall.
Calling me during school hours? Who would? Peter put the phone to his ear. "Hello?"
"PARKER!"
Peter grimaced. Guess who just found out the *great* news? He rolled his eyes. "Hi, JJJ! How's everything back in New York?"
"How's everything? You're sitting on news stories and YOU'RE COMPLETELY OBLIVIOUS TO THEM!" Jameson snapped. "Did you know about what that so-called 'Princess' is doing?"
"I may have heard something after the fact. Did the sale go through?" Peter braced himself.
"DID IT GO THROUGH? OF COURSE IT DID! YOU WEASEL! YOU DIDN'T WARN ME? AFTER EVERYTHING I'VE DONE FOR YOU?" Jameson kicked a trash can.
"You know…you really need to think about how to talk to people…like foreign dignitaries. You insulted her. She complained to her consulate. They complained to the State Department. She wants fair news. All right? Your tirade against Chloe Sullivan upset Princess Jasmine as well." Peter gnashed his teeth.
"Oh I hurt the little girl and the spoiled harem girl, did I? WELL TOO BAD!" Jameson barked.
"The so-called 'harem girl' owns a third of the Bugle," Peter reminded him. "I *might* be a little nicer to her."
"HRUMPH! NICER? SHE STOLE THOSE STOCKS!"
Peter shook his head. He rubbed his temples to deal with the impending headache. "You do know that's slander. Right? She bought them, Jonah. This isn't like you badmouthing Spider-Man. He can't unmask. She doesn't have that problem."
"MY PROBLEM IS TWO BIT TRAITORS WHO ARE SLACKING OFF SO THEY CAN PLAY SCIENTIST! YOU WORK FOR ME! GOT IT? IF NOT, I DON'T NEED YOU! ONE MORE THING, PARKER! ONE MORE THING HAPPENS AND WE'RE DONE!" Jameson slammed the phone in his ear.
"Have a nice day too." Peter frowned. He looked around the room. Seeing that everything was in order, he turned the light out and walked down the hall. Doc Connors and the LexCorp biochem research are gone. The Coven and the Rider are out there. Now the Bugle's being shaken up. Jonah's ready to fire me. What's next? He walked down the cinder-block lined hallway. For some reason, he felt the hairs standing up on his neck. Chill went up and down his back.
His Spider Sense blared in his ears.
I just had to ask? He ground his teeth. He sprang out of the way just before a sorcerous blast impacted with the tile.
"Ye shouldna ask such if ye really don' wanna know, Spider," a low grating voice rasped across his ears.
Peter bit his lip. Great. Now this! "Just a sec! Mom'll get really annoyed if I wreck my school clothes!" He backed into the Men's Room. He stripped off his clothes, pulled his gloves and mask on. Dread and Annoyance sped up his pace. The Parker Luck is really working overtime today!
"IF YE RUN, IT'LL BE WORSE ON ALL OF THEE!"
Yeah, yeah. I don't doubt it. And the Kents were going to tell me more about this creep. What are you doing? Spider-Man webbed his street clothes into a web pack and slung them onto his back. He edged out of the bathroom into the dimly lit hallway. Now I'm glad it's after school. Nobody here. Nobody here. His Spider Sense buzzed at an insane rate. I know. I know. He pulled up his shirt a little to allow his belt's crimson floodlight to sweep the darkened area.
"Ye came back. Good." The silhouetted tall hat and cape stood out against the darkened area. As the spider-crimson light swept over it, the Rider's features came into view. The fangs in its shark tooth smile glinted. Canary and even Orange glinted in its eyes.
Spider-Man's eyes went wide under the mask. "You're channeling some inner cat, Rider? I mean you went poof. Didn't those poor people suffer enough?"
The Rider snorted. "People? Aye…the magistrate's prisoners. Mather did his work well! A darker force was at work, Spider! Those fools were lambs to the slaughter! NO MORE! NO LESS!"
Spider-Man curled his lip. "You're sick."
"Nay. Ah serve somethin' greater now! Mah master saved me from that fate!" The Rider growled low. "Those lambs' sacrifices allowed mah love an' her followers to escape! Not even that prattling fool, Doom, or the arrogant Moondragon knew, Fool!" His boots clinked against the tile.
"Meaning Nightmare Annie's mother? Oh yeah! Real prize! Guess you really left her hanging? DIDN'T YOU?" Spider-Man fired back.
The Rider's eyes glowed red. "YE INSOLENT BUG!" He fired another dark fiery burst.
Spider-Man couldn't evade this one. The fire seared and chilled him. "AAAHHHH!" He somehow managed to land on the floor and brace himself. Shivers shook his body. His mind and heart felt like they were on fire.
"DON' INSULT MAH REBECCA OR MISTESS ANNE, SPIDER!" The Rider cornered Spider-Man. It made sure there was nowhere to go.
Trapped.
When the Parker Luck was going, it went into overdrive….
