Peter and I looked over at each other with nervous energy.
"And the winners of this year's fair are…"
A tense silence fell over the crowd of high school students and judges.
"Mrs. Phillips and Mr. Parker."
My heartbeat sped up exponentially. "We did it!"
"Heck yes!" To my surprise Peter pulled me into a tight hug. I melted into his embrace, smiling brightly.
I get to intern at Oscorp.
Peter finally pulled away when Mr. Osborn beckoned for us to join him on the platform. Students clapped us on the back, saying things like, "Congrats!" and, "Way to go!"
Peter hopped onto the platform, smiling like a giddy school boy, then he helped me up next to him. Mr. Osborn shook hands with each of us, handing Peter an official-looking certificate with gold trim and fancy handwriting.
"Thank you, Mr. Osborn." I could barely talk, so it was a wonder the words came out at all. It was all so surreal, like a dream. Oh no. This wasn't a dream, was it? "Peter, pinch me."
"What?"
"Pinch me so I know this isn't just a dream."
"Okay." He shrugged and softly pinched my arm, chuckling softly.
"Thanks. This is definitely happening. Wow. How...? Wow…"
Peter smiled at me. "How? Cause you're smart."
"And cause you're smart."
"Okay. We're both smart."
He hugged me one more time. Tears were starting to come to my eyes.
This was really happening.
A buzzing went off in my head.
Oh no. This is really happening.
Peter looked around warily.
"What do you think-"
I didn't have time to finish my question. Peter and I both threw ourselves to the ground as glass came showering down on us. Screams rang throughout the room as a woman, short in stature, rode in on a motorcycle. She wore a lime green suit with a mask that hid all of her features but her green eyes.
When she spoke, it almost sounded robotic. She probably used a voice modulator, I guessed later on.
"Everyone will do as I say unless they want to do this the hard way. And I would rather not take that route." She stood from her motorbike and strutted to the microphone Mr. Osborn had been speaking into. Norman didn't budge from his spot. "Excuse me." She sent him a piercing glare almost worse than his own. He still didn't move.
Meanwhile, Peter had gotten to his feet and helped me to my own.
The lady in the green suit grabbed Norman's wrist. He screamed in agony.
What is she doing to him?
She shoved him away and he staggered back, clutching his wrist to him. She had left a burn on his arm. I glanced over at Peter, expecting him to sneak off and become Spider-Man. This was a villain. Spider-Man could handle her, right?
"Cover for me?" He whispered.
Cover for him. How was I supposed to cover for him!? I had to do something fast, so I did the first thing that came to my mind. I charged to the front of the platform and kicked the mic stand over.
Great plan, Trish.
But it did work as a distraction, despite the stupidity of it in my mind. In my peripheral vision, I saw Peter stealthily hop behind the platform.
"How dare you!?" The new villain scoffed.
I didn't think this all the way through.
"Uh...how? Like this." I kicked at the air.
She was giving me the death stare now. I tried as best I could to prepare myself to get beat up, or else book it. In other words, I gulped.