Peter didn't know how long it took to walk home. He had lost all sense of time. There were polices cars parked at his door 'The police are here…guess May already knows.' Peter slowly opened the door and made his way to the living room. May was crying on the sofa while two police officers tried to comfort her, Peter's was filled with intense sadness at this sight.
"A-Aunt May…" Peter looked at the floor in shame.
"Peter! Oh, Peter!" May shot up and embraced Peter crying on his shoulder "It's Ben h-he…"
"I know Aunt May…I saw him in the street." Peter started crying as well "It's all my fault… he was looking for me. I never came home as I promised."
"It was not your fault Peter!" she let go of the embrace and stared deep into his eyes.
Peter started sobbing "It is! I should have been home! I promised him…I promised him I'd be here early today! I abandoned him to work on that stupid formula!"
"You didn't abandon anyone Peter! The one who killed was the man who pulled the trigger not you!"
"No! No! You don't understand I let the thief go! I saw him rob a store and I let him go! Uncle Ben tried to stop him, and he shot him!" Peter kneeled down, he didn't have the strength to stand anymore.
"And then what!? You would have been the one dead right now instead of Ben!"
"Maybe that would be for the better! You don't understand…I could have stopped him. You don't understand." Peter got up "I need to be alone…" May looked at him with deep sadness and nodded.
Peter slammed the door to his room and plopped down on the bed 'WHY!? WHY!? I was so worried about connecting to my father through Dr Connors that I forgot Uncle Ben! I wanted to connect to a man who abandoned me so bad I forgot my real father…Ben…I'm so sorry…'
Peter woke up the next day feeling extremely sick, he had a very strong urge to vomit, and his head was hurting. He turned on his phone '7:45 am. I need to get ready for school…' suddenly a notification popped up "You have 10 missed calls and a voicemail from Uncle Ben." Peter's stomach turned as the reality that Ben was dead struck him once again. The boy filled himself with courage and decided to hear the voicemail.
"Peter, my boy. I know you are young and young people sometimes want their freedom. I know you are excited to be working with Dr Connors and that you feel like you can connect with your father through him." There was an unsettling pause, "But you can't forget your responsibilities son…Your aunt and me we are worried about you. You promised you would be here for the party, but you never showed up. We waited for you, but you never showed up. I presumed you decided to work with Dr Connors and asked May to wait until dinner so we could celebrate together…but you didn't show up for dinner either. Your intelligence is your power Peter, and you have a responsibility to help people with that power, but you can't forget your responsibilities son. When you first started working with Connors you promised me you would never forget your responsibilities to this family…remember Peter…with great power there must also come great responsibility. We haven't celebrated yet. We are waiting for you. Please, Peter, come home to us, we will always be her."
Peter stared at his phone mouth open, he wanted to cry but he couldn't. nothing would come out, so he just stood there mouth open and contorted as if he was in deep pain. 'No…please… let me wake up. This has to be a dream! I want to wake up…oh god. WHAT HAVE I DONE! These past few weeks all I've done is push people away. I got so full of myself because I have all these powers, but they didn't make anything special. Uncle Ben was twice the man I am, he tried to help people even if it meant risking his life…what did I do? I stood there and watched, all out of stupid revenge for a bag of chips! I forgot about the party because I was so worried about completing the formula…I neglected my family. My father and my mother, Ben and May, oh god it's all my fault…I was irresponsible again Ben. I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!' Peter recalled Ben's last voicemail, his last memory of the man who was his father 'With great power there must also come great responsibility…I will never let you down again Ben, I promise. I will use my powers to help people. That is my responsibility.'
Peter got up with newfound determination, he had found his purpose for a long time he didn't know why he had gotten bitten by that spider. He thought his powers made him special he thought he was above the other people he knew. But now…now he knew, it was just by chance that he got those powers, but that was exactly why he had to use those powers to do good, to change the world and to honour Uncle Ben's memory.
"Peter!" He turned around just to find himself being suddenly hugged by Ned Leeds, his best friend "I'm so sorry man. I knew how much he meant to you. I'm so sorry." The students around them were pointing and whispering, 'How does everyone know?'
Peter hugged Ned back "Thank you…I'm sorry too, I've not been myself these last few weeks. I'm so sorry."
Ned's eyes lit up in happiness "C'mon dude let's get out of here."
Peter tilted his head quizzically "You mean cut class?"
"Of course, man! I don't want you to be around all these ASSHOLES!" he screamed the last word making sure everyone heard him "You need to relax…I mean at least I think you do."
Peter sighed before he flashed a weak smile "Did you bring your switch?" he whispered.
"Is that even question?" Ned let Peter peek inside his backpack "Of course I did."
"Let's go then. You are right I don't want to be here right now."
"Hey, Parker!" Peter and Ned both sighed exasperatedly, it was Flash Thompson who had called out to him.
Peter turned on his heels and grabbed Flash by the collar slamming him against the lockers. The corridor erupted into whispers and glances "What do you want Flash!" he roared, but then he noticed how bruised the other boy's face was. He released Flash and looked away in shame.
"I'm sorry man…I'm really sorry. Your uncle died I know. I'm so sorry." Much to everyone's surprise including Peter Flash hugged him.
Peter melted into Flash's hug "Thank you, man…thank you. I'm sorry too, I shouldn't have beaten you up."
"Nah I deserved it, dude. I was a jerk to everyone, including you." They both pulled away and Flash went on his way. Peter stared at his back with a grin on his face 'I don't feel good about beating in up, but maybe he needed it.'
Ned was staring at him his mouth wide open in shock "Th…Fla…Flash just hugged you, dude! This is like huge! We need to do a Star Wars Marathon or something, you know to celebrate!"
"We are cutting class! We can't go home and watch movies your mom would kill us!"
Ned squinted his eyes in disappointment "Yeah…let's just go hang out at that old junkyard where you like to skate." Peter nodded in agreement.
When they were just about to leave the school grounds Peter noticed was close to the entrance saying goodbye whom he recognized as Liz Allen, Gwen Stacy and apparently, she had noticed them too because she was coming up to them.
"Peter! Oh my god, I'm so sorry!" Gwen hugged him 'Three hugs in less than five minutes. That's gotta be a personal record.'
"Don't worry about me, Gwen…I'm dealing with it in my own way." Peter looked away. He couldn't maintain eye contact after how rude he'd been to her 'I was such a jerk to her. Maybe I should apologize.'
"Look Gwen I…I was rude to you, you were just trying to be nice, and I blew you off." His voice was filled with regret.
"Maybe I'll forgive you…" her expression turned mischievous "If tell me where you guys are going because you're clearly about to cut class."
"We are going to hang out at an old junkyard where Peter likes to skate." Ned babbled.
Peter sighed internally. Ned just couldn't control himself around girls even less when said girl happened to look like a supermodel. Gwen's gaze turned from Peter to Gwen.
"Is that so…" she said with a seductive voice. There was an awkward pause almost as if Gwen was contemplating something, "C-Can I you know…. G-Go with y-you guys." this time she sounded shy, and her face was getting redder.
"YES!" Ned blurted out instantly.
Peter looked at his best friend and snorted, "Yeah Gwen you can come with us." Gwen jumped from happiness and grabbed one of Peter's hands.
"Really!? Awesome!" she let go of Peter's hand blushing heavily, "Ahem! I mean…Cool dude let's get going then." Her voice sounded deep almost like a man's.
Peter couldn't even be embarrassed he just let out a snort before breaking into a fit of giggles. Ned shot him a knowing glance before following after Gwen with Peter joining him not much after.
"Again! Again!" Peter was showing Gwen and Ned some of the tricks he could do with the skate. Gwen looked very excited while Ned was playing Mario Kart on his switch.
"Eyo Pete! Is it cool if I use your phone to play some music!?" Ned grabbed Peter's phone without even waiting for an answer.
"Sure! Just make sure you play something good, maybe Pearl Jam or Nirvana!" he stopped in front of Gwen and Ned who were sitting on top of an old car. Peter wiped the sweat off his face with his shirt revealing his toned body to Ned and Gwen.
"Yo dude! What the heck! What have you been eating man!? You have a 10 pack or something! You never told me you started working out!" Peter gave Ned a half-apologetic smile.
He glanced at Gwen and noticed she was looking away shyly. Her face had turned into a red mess, and she had a wide grin. "What's up Gwen? You, okay?" he asked.
"Y-Yeah! I'm a-okay" she sputtered.
Ned had such a wide grin it looked like his face was about to be ripped apart "Little Gwendolyn can't handle seeing Peter ripped body?" he joked with a baby voice. Gwen twitched uncomfortably at his remark.
Peter felt himself blush 'Gwen Stacy thinks I'm hot!? Holy crap! She's like the hottest person I know! Hold up…she's dating Flash though. Better stop Ned before this gets out of hand.' Peter gave Ned a reprimanding look "Come on Ned leave her alone. Plus, you should know she's dating Flash."
"I'm not!" Gwen exclaimed looking panicked. Ned's brows shot up as he looked provocatively at Peter.
"Wait but you told him you'd cancel your date keyword: date…and I saw him with his arm around you!" Peter was the one blushing from embarrassment now.
"I was just going to help him study and he's the one who wanted to call it a date and about the arm thing he was starting to get too comfortable, so I shot him down." She said with an angry look.
Peter was about to speak when Black by Pearl Jam filled the air "There we go! We got some music now we just need this!" Ned took out a small plastic bag from his backpack.
"Ned…is that…weed?" Peter was looking at the bag with a shocked expression.
"Yep…I mean we never tried it so I figured we could do it…you know just once." Gwen was looking at the bag with a mysterious expression.
Peter sighed and ran one hand through his hair "I can't believe I'm about to say this but…if I'm ever going to try it it's today while I am emotionally vulnerable."
Ned beamed at him "Gwen you in?"
She squinted his eyes at him "You promise this is a one-time thing?" Ned nodded "Fine I guess I could try some. My father has me on such a tight leash I never get to try new things."
Half an hour later all of them were completely stone, Peter was once again doing tricks with his skate, Ned was talking to a truck tire he had named Mark and Gwen was staring curiously at Peter phone.
"Peter! W-What is this m-music?" she asked with a groggy voice.
"Hahahahah! Ned, I think my skate just talked!" Peter broke into a fit of giggles.
"Mark says it was Gwen!" he answered never taking his eyes off the tire.
Peter stared at Gwen for a long while "I thought you were my skateboard." They just stared at each other for a long while "That's grunge by the way it's a type of rock."
"I never heard it before…I love it." She said without breaking eye contact.
"Hey, Gwen!" Ned broke the silence "Mark says you are the hottest person he's ever seen." He nodded as if Mark was telling him something "He also says you lack the juicy roundness of a tire, but your curves are good."
"Mark should tell her she's intelligent." Peter blurted out making both Gwen and Ned jerk their heads in his direction "I mean that's her most attractive quality. I have been watching her these last few weeks, so I know." Once again silence settled Gwen was staring at Peter while Peter was staring at Ned who was staring at Mark who despite being a tire was supposedly staring at Gwen.
Gwen broke into a fit of giggles "I should head home…" she said shyly.
"What!? You are completely stoned! Your father is the police captain he will definitely notice! Or so Mark says." Ned looked at her in shock.
"Don't worry I'm starting to feel better if I walk home, I'll be fine by the time I get there." She jumped down from the roof of the old car.
Peter stood in front of her, they were just inches apart, she was so close he could feel her breathing "Are you sure you'll be ok going alone?" he asked, "I could walk you if you want."
She looked at the ground shyly "I'm a big girl I can walk myself home Pete…but thanks."
Peter smiled bittersweetly 'SHOULD I DO IT!? Last time I was barely conscious because of my illness but it was a good moment right!? Maybe she doesn't think that…maybe she thinks I was being a creep. Ahhhhhhh I don't care! I'm doing it!' he poked her forehead gently with his index and middle finger.
Gwen let out a surprised squeal and turned completely red "G-goodbye P-P-Peter." She said before storming off.
After a while, Ned joined Peter both staring at Gwen's ass while she walked away "We are being creeps…" Peter said ashamed of himself.
"Yep, and it's worth it. That was smooth by the way that forehead poke thing, I think he liked it."
Peter instantly lit up "You think!?" Ned nodded "Ok Gwen is gone…I have to show you something." Ned looked at him quizzically but before he could say another word Peter was already sticking upside down to the roof of the old building.
Ned's mouth opened wide in shock "HOLY SHIT!"