Peter Parker was just your everyday nerd, at 15 years old, he loved action-adventure and sci-fi series like Star Trek, Star Wars, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, and Doctor Who, he also had a knack for science, some would call him a super genius, although he didn't understand why. However, he also had a somewhat different hobby, one his aunt May and uncle Ben of course did not know about, but they would have to find out eventually, it ate him up inside to not show them his creativity, Peter was fairly certain that his academic career while making them proud, didn't fill them with joy.
Speaking of which, he was currently at his locker, leaning against it. He was focused on a sketchbook in his hands, drawing a very rough flower, trying his best to add minute detail along with a few water droplets, before crudely erasing things. He checked his watch, to see he had about five minutes before anyone started looking for him.
"Oh God, I'm not gonna be able to finish, damn, maybe next time." Peter huffed, frustrated. He quickly tucked away his sketchbook and prepared for his second class of the day.
As soon as he zipped up his backpack, the bell started ringing for the second period, 'English literature. Great, this is going to be easy,' thought Peter.
Until he ran into Eugene "Flash" Thompson, his erstwhile childhood friend, "I think, it's time I get going," he muttered to himself. Before he trips me up, he thought.
Peter tried to give Flash a wide berth to avoid the inevitable conflict. Sadly, nothing in life ever worked as intended.
"Hey, Parker!" Flash's gruff voice was domineering and very condescending as the junior varsity quarterback roughly grabbed Peter's favorite grey long-sleeve.
"Yes, Eugene?" Parker asked.
"You seen my lunch money?'' The jock asked in faux concern, rummaging through his pockets.
"I don't know Eugene, maybe try asking one of your maids?" The young man said nervously. He knew what was coming; Flash would attempt to make a pun before searching for his ATM, also known as Peter's wallet, thus acquiring the meager sum of money his aunt gave him for the week.
After having his money stolen and being dropped on the floor, Peter sighed in frustration and dejection.
"My first day back at school from winter break and this stuff happens, every day, five days a week, at the same time," Peter grumbled to himself, arms crossed, before picking up his backpack, and made his way to English Literature.
Mr. Jackson's class was in the process of reviewing The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet's second and third acts, much to the dismay of the students. The teacher's soft baritone voice said, "I expect a five-page essay on the impact you felt during the death of Romeo and the suicide of Juliet, extra credit if you pair up and collaborate. Now, before you write a rant about how stupid they were, please be as objective as humanly possible, the more time you spend analyzing, the better your grade will be."
"Man, this sucks!" Liz Allen, the most popular girl in freshman year, groused to herself.
"Hey Liz," Peter called quietly from behind the pretty youth, "I can help you if you want, read the tragedy multiple times," he stated.
"Thanks Pete," she said, not even looking at him, "but I'm going to be working with Flash."
Peter flushed, sinking into his chair and whispered, "Right… I forgot. Well, if you ever change your mind, you know where to find me. See you around, I guess."
Just then, the bell rang, signifying that they had five minutes to get to the next class, lest they face punishment. So the day went, listen to a lecture, follow the teacher's instructions to the letter, and repeat. Until fifth period, Biology, with one of the greatest scientists in New York, Dr. Curt Connors.
"Good afternoon, class, for the next couple of weeks, we will be studying spiders, some poisonous, some not," Connors said politely, before Flash raised his hand. After a moment of pause, he pointed to the quarterback and said, "I will answer questions in five minutes, Mr. Thompson."
Eugene, irritated at being ignored, lowered his hand. Dr. Connors then began a lecture on spiders and their purpose in nature. Five minutes had passed, and finally everyone could ask questions, the first came from Eugene, "Dr. Connors, why exactly are we learning about creepy bugs?"
Dr. Connors let out an exasperated breath, "Mr. Thompson, spiders are arachnids, not insects." He turned from a class of the PowerPoint before switching the slide to the picture of the building. He then asked, "Can anybody tell me what building this is?"
"OsCorp, Dr. Connors," Harry Osborne, son of Norman, CEO of the aforementioned company, stated in an uninterested tone.
"Correct, Mr. Osborne, you see, this class is going on a field trip in two weeks, approval was given yesterday and you must have your permission slip signed as soon as possible. We will be researching some exciting arachnids currently residing at OsCorp."
"What can be so exciting about some spiders?" Another student asked with a raised finger.
"I'm glad you asked, Miss Watson, you see, spiders have the integral job of keeping their part of the ecosystem balanced," Connors explained, surveying the room.
While the questions were being asked, Peter couldn't help but partially zone out, 'I wonder what aunt May is going to make for dinner…'
"Mr. Parker, please pay attention in class." Dr. Connors called out, shocking Pete from his stupor.
"Sorry, Dr. Connors," he said, rubbing the back of his head.
"Since you seem to be unable to pay attention, what is one of the deadliest spiders on the planet?"
"The Brazilian Wandering Spider, sir," Peter responded, staring at the teacher.
"Very good, can you please tell me one of the side effects of being infected with this particular spider's toxin?" The kind doctor asked with a tilted head.
"The toxins within the spider can cause the lungs to stop functioning entirely and cause death if not treated as soon as humanly possible." At the mention of a quick death, everyone sans a few students gasped in horror.
"Precisely, Mr. Parker, I guess you really were paying attention." Connors nodded.
Peter didn't react to the compliment, knowing that he was about to face some gossip. Especially from the JV team.
Two hours and a club meeting later, Peter saw his uncle Ben waiting for him, leaning against the passenger side door of his Oldsmobile Delta 88. With a great big smile, Peter ran up to his uncle and gave him a great hug. "Hey, uncle Ben. Hope I didn't keep you waiting."
"Just got here, actually," Ben explained with a small grin. He then made room to let Peter get into the passenger side as he took the driver's seat.
"I hope aunt May made something cool for dinner," Peter said with excitement as he got into the passenger side.
Ben chuckled mirthfully. "You didn't hear it from me, but I saw her making Al dente pasta, with garlic bread, chicken and shrimp. Again, you did not hear it from me."
Peter's eyes grew wide, she rarely made pasta anymore, because according to her, her boys were getting too fat. As if.
On the drive home, Ben and Peter struck up a conversation, "So, how is school going for you?"
"Great, if you consider being stolen from every single day good."
As soon as Ben heard this, he shook his head and exhaled deeply, "Thompson?"
Not bothering to look at his uncle, he said simply, "Thompson."
"I don't understand what happened between you two, you used to be such good friends."
"Used to be are the operative words, uncle Ben. Ever since he joined that stupid football team back in middle school, he forgot about me and Harry, even MJ for Christ's sake!"
"Don't use the Lord's name in vain, Peter," Ben chastised in a gentle tone, knowing it was better to let him vent.
"Sorry, uncle Ben, it just gets me so angry sometimes." Peter growled in frustration.
"I know, kiddo, let's just get to the house so we can enjoy some food, after the long day you've had. Try to finish your homework early so that you can go to sleep and get some deserved rest." Ben suggested with a wry grin.
"Do you know what? I think I might just do that." Peter and Ben looked at each other for a moment before bursting out laughing.
Ben wiped a fake tear from his eye and said, "I believe we've arrived."
They pulled into the driveway of their modest home. A two story building with white walls inside and out, hardwood floors and comfy furniture around the house. A simple life for three people, but it was something they equally appreciated.
Both men stood at the door, debating who was going to get the first plate. The argument got slightly heated until the door was opened by a lovely woman in a salmon cardigan, a white shirt and black slacks. Her hair was gray, in a pixie cut. She had her hands on her hips, and then said, "I hope you're not fighting over food, boys."
"Us? No, never!" Both Parkers said in sync.
She looked at them firmly before cracking a smile, and said, "Why don't I believe you?"
Once again, her boys acted in tandem and shrugged before entering the house. The family of three laughed. May looked at Peter, who was making his way up to his room and called, "Peter? What did you have for lunch?"
Peter froze mid-step, "Chicken salad!" He said quickly as he ran away.
"I'm glad you're making healthy choices, dinner shouldn't be long, fifteen, twenty minutes?"
"I'll have my homework done in five, thanks, aunt May!"
As Peter rushed to his room, May turned to her husband, "The truth please?"
"Thompson stole his money again, so he probably didn't have anything to eat at all," Ben said in an angry tone. At this information, May stomped her foot on the ground, equally as frustrated.
"Why can't that brute leave Peter alone? Why can't he leave our son alone?!" May's proclamation and the tears in her eyes stunned Ben Parker to his core.
"May, we never filed-"
May was quick to cut him off, "Oh come off it, Ben, you and I both know that's our boy, you never needed papers to say it."
Ben Parker let out an exasperated breath. When his wife was right, she was right. They had been raising him since his parents died. He was, for all intents and purposes, their son. The tension filled moment was ruined by the sound of the garlic bread being finished.
In a small breath she whispered, "I'm glad I made enough for three days, considering how much he's lost in weight, this will probably put him back to normal." She wiped away her tears and put on the brave smile she had for her baby boy.
Dinner was a joyful affair, talking about anything from possible scientific achievements, or a random football game the family managed to catch on TV. "I'm telling you, Peter, the Cowboys are going to win this year!" Ben said excitedly.
"No way, uncle Ben, it's either the Colts or the Chiefs, the Cowboys have been doing jack all, all season!" Peter refuted, flailing his hand wildly.
May Parker didn't really get involved in football games but she decided to chip in, "I don't usually say this, but I think the Ravens are going to win this year, call it a woman's intuition."
"Oh no, she pulled the woman's intuition card," Peter whispered conspiratorially to her husband.
"Dagnabit, and here I thought the Cowboys were going to win," Her husband of twenty five years responded.
She laughed heartily as her boys lamented the future Ravens victory at the Super Bowl. They ate their pasta in comfortable silence.
"So, Peter, anything exciting happen at school today?" May asked politely, curiosity etched on her face, despite the previous confrontation an hour ago.
"Not really. Got another two projects and nobody picked me, because why would they? So, it's just me."
"Oh? And what exactly are these projects?" Ben asked with a quirked brow.
Peter pinched the bridge of his nose and began his rant, "I have a five page English assignment on the decisions made by Romeo and Juliet. I then have to write an essay on three different types of spiders and the possible dangers of each species specific toxins. I find it ridiculous that I was given three of the deadliest spiders on planet earth, while everyone else got things like the long legs!" Peter nearly shouted at the end of his rant, letting out heavy breaths.
Ben and May looked at each other, and then to Peter; they both gave him loving and comforting smiles.
"You can do it, Peter," Ben said with a proud smile.
"Ben's right sweetie, you've been doing great since you started the school year. We received nothing but praise from your teachers. haven't missed a single assignment, always gets a perfect score on tests and projects, being a teenager is a tough time. We understand that, even if it's been nearly 40 years since those days." May said with a little bit of sarcasm at the end.
Ben laughed, followed shortly by his wife, while Peter looked confused. He then gave out a snort, "I guess I was being a little bit too dramatic. Thanks, I really needed that." Peter chuckled. His face contorted to one of thinking, until the lightbulb in his head turned on. "I almost forgot, there's a field trip in two weeks, and I was wondering if you guys could sign it."
Ben simply smiled and asked, "Where to?"
"OsCorp, apparently, they have some extremely rare spiders that are seldom found in nature," Peter said with excitement.
"And here I thought you were complaining about the assignments," Ben said jokingly.
Peter rolled his eyes, "It's not the assignment that frustrates me, it's just that nobody seems to want to work with me at all. I'm starting to think, maybe I did something?"
"Oh Peter," May crooned, trying to soothe the young man, "I'm sure you would've done great with a partner, but you already do better than most of your classmates."
"I know, maybe I'm just too standoffish? Although, that doesn't really make sense, the more I think about it." Peter started muttering to himself, confusing Ben and May. They were about to comment until Peter shook his head violently, before grinning.
The trio gave each other a big hug and went to their rooms, ready to enjoy some good sleep.