The sight of Brock smiling like that startled Urich for a second before he got himself together.

"Haven't seen you in a week? What happened?"

"Decided to take a little break. You know, take a break from the hectic face of a metropolitan newsroom." Brock said pleasantly

"Does Jameson know about this?" Urich asked

"Don't worry about Jameson, I'll take care of it. Although I'm sure he'll understand and besides I wasn't on the company dime when I left."

Urich wondered why Brock was talking like this. For a guy who was so driven to be a top journalist and suddenly take a break. It didn't make sense and the answers he was giving added to the mystery. He decided to ask Brock flat out about what's going on.

"Are you feeling okay?"

"No I'm fine. In fact after that vacation I feel great."

Urich figured he would weasel his way around the question. But it didn't hurt to ask.

"I'm going tell Jameson and then get back to work. By the way heard about that homicide in the Bronx."

"Where did you hear that?"

"Post"

"I see"

"I'd better get going. Us journalists can't slow down, the truth must be reported." Brock said. He then started towards Jameson's office.

Urich thought Brock was being strange. He'd expect Hunter Thompsonesque answers from other reporters but not from Eddie Brock.

Peter Parker was working away at updating the Bugle website when he looked and noticed a man coming right by him. It took him a second to realize that it was the guy he saw in the warehouse bounded by rope. The man didn't say anything as he walked by Peter's cubical but he was giving him a look as if he knew who Peter was. The gaze was unsettling and seemed as if he knew all of Peter's secrets. Suddenly a hand went down on Peter's shoulder.

The shock startled him and he turned to look at Editor-in-Chief: Robbie Robertson.

"Peter, I want you take a look at the links and check them for viruses."

He noded. "Will do Robbie," Peter thought about answering this question and then realized he had to know. "Uh Robbie who was that guy who just walked by hear?"

"Which one?"

"He went by here, looked like a football player in casual clothing."

"Oh you mean Eddie Brock. He just came back from a week absence."

That name instantly registered with Peter. Eddie Brock was the one who wrote that "SPIDEY SMACKDOWN" story and he was the guy who was in the warehouse that night.

"So that's Eddie Brock."

"Yes Peter. Is there anything else you wanted to ask me?"

"No, no that's all."

Robertson walked away and back into the fray of working on a city newspaper. Leaving Peter Parker to wonder how Brock could have made it out of a warehouse disaster.

What Peter Parker didn't know was that Eddie Brock knew everything there was to know about Peter Parker. And that when the time was right, Brock was going to show how he felt about Parker. Actually it wasn't him personally him it was someone else.





A few hours later Peter Parker was with his girlfriend Mary Jane at a pizza parlor near his home. They were enjoying their dinner immensely and it wasn't just the cheesy bread, Peter gave the guy an extra two bucks for.

"So it's back to red and blues?" She asked

"Could you ask that a little louder?" Peter told her.

"Why did you have a different costume?"

"It's hard to explain and it can only be expressed in a film done by Lucus with Keanu Reeves playing me."

Mary Jane laughed.

"I'll go into it with you later."

"You get some strange ideas, tiger."

"Well it's all part of being a senior in a major metropolitan high school."

"Where's your glasses and phone booth?"

"In the basement with my butler Alfred."

Peter and Mary Jane irrupted into laughter so loud that a couple of costumers were looking at them.

One of those costumers came to their table. Mary Jane looked over and recognized who it was. It was Gwen Stacey.

"What's so funny?" She asked

"Nothing you'd find funny."

"Come on. I'm open to it."

While Peter and Mary Jane were trying to explain themselves to Stacey. The front door to the pizza place open and a man walked inside. He went straight to the counter and ordered something.

When Peter looked over from Mary Jane. he instantly knew who it was. It was Eddie Brock and of all the pizza places in the city. He came here.

Mary Jane noticed he was looking over to the guy at the counter.

"Who's that, Peter?" she asked

Peter had to think of a good lie but all he could come up with is. "Someone from work."

"Who?"

"Eddie Brock"

"Brock?" Stacey said to them

"You know him?"

"Not me, but my dad is familiar with him. Doesn't like dealing with reporters and Brock is no exception."

Peter nodded and went back to his conversation with Mary Jane. While he went on with about the usual things that came with being a teenager. He kept one eye opened on Brock. He had the feeling that they might meet again. And when that happened it would not be very friendly.