Paul believed things were going to be fine after his mother officially met his girlfriend, but things took an interesting turn. Just after that happened, they ran into someone he wasn't expecting. It was none other than his old school friend and old girlfriend Jean Gosmin.

"Jean... Wow... This is a surprise." Paul said as he wasn't sure what else to say since he hasn't seen her in so long.

"Yeah... I wish I could say the same, but you're always somewhere." Jean said.

"I do have to say you look great for someone who I haven't seen in so long." Paul said, and she really did with a new look. Brown leather jacket, jeans, boots with heels, green shirt, and her blonde hair was tied back. Still, this was a little awkward for both of them. Luckily, Sabella stepped in.

"So, you're his old friend. My name is Sabella." She introduced as she held out her hand with Jean shaking it.

"Hi..." Jean said with her unsure what else to say. "Okay, this is a little awkward."

"Yeah." Paul agreed. "I haven't seen or heard from you in so long. What you've been up to?"

"Well, that alone isn't what I meant." Jean said. Just then, another guy with blonde hair came running in with a couple hot dogs.

"Sorry about that. The guy thinks he's an artist when it comes to his hot dogs." The guy said as he handed one to Jean and she took it. He took a moment and even he could see that something was a little off with this situation. "Everything okay, babe?"

"Babe?" Paul questioned as he certainly didn't expect to hear that.

"Paul, this is James Woods. He's my boyfriend." Jean introduced. "James, this is Paul Porter." When she introduced Paul, this James was a little astonished to hear that name.

"You mean this is the infamous Paul I've heard about?" James said. "Wow, it's nice to finally meet you. Jean's told me a lot about you." He said as he held out his hand to him.

"Can't say the same." Paul said as the two shook hands. "This is the first time I'm hearing about you. I didn't know Jean was dating someone. Anyway, this is Sabella and she's my girlfriend."

"Sorry. Paul and I haven't been in touch for a long time." Jean said.

"By long time, you mean a few years, she wouldn't be wrong." Paul said.

"But I would like to catch up with you, Paul." Jean said like she was trying to defend herself. "How about the four of us meet up later? We can catch up with each other, you can get to know James, and I can get to know Sabella here."

"Sounds good to me. How about we meet at a nice restaurant later tonight?" Paul offered.

"Yeah, but we'll try to be patient. I know how you are. Sometimes you "swing" by later than sooner." Jean joked. Since reality was altered, a lot of people forgot that Paul was Spider-Man, but Paul still thought of Jean as a close friend. That's why her memories of his identity are still there. Jean and James parted ways with them with Paul seeing them off. This wasn't exactly how he pictured seeing Jean again.

"I believe the saying is "that could have gone better"." Sabella claimed.

"Yeah..." Paul said as that whole thing was rather awkward. It would seem that there's unresolved matters with them. "You're okay with going to dinner with them, are you?"

"Of course. I would like to know more about her." Sabella said.

"Why are you so interested in my ex-girlfriends?" Paul said.

"Knowing you, I have a feeling they'll be around a lot. Rather than fight it, I'm learning to deal with." Sabella said with Paul thinking that was pretty mature, but Sabella is a mature woman. "Also, call me a little cynical. I like them to see what they let getaway. If they also try something, I'll know how to handle them." Sabella teased with a smirk. That had Paul rethink what he was thinking earlier.

...

Jean

That encounter wasn't easy for Jean either. She wasn't expecting to run into Paul like that, and certainly not when he has a new girlfriend or when she was with her boyfriend. She would have liked to see him again, but something always stopped her. When she got back to her apartment, she dug around her stuff and pulled something out she attempted to bury before. What she pulled out was a scrapbook that contained some photos of her with her old friends. Some of them were from when she and Paul dated, even the good times they had in high school. Paul was someone important to her, but meeting him like that had her think of all the great times they had, and what they could have had.

"Hey." She looked up and saw James in the doorway. "Just making sure you're okay. Looks like you got a little rattled back there."

"It just awkward, that's all. I haven't seen Paul in a long time." Jean claimed. "He and I have some history that was left...unsettled."

"Well, maybe tonight could be a good way to settle things. That's assuming you really do want to go." James said.

"I do. Paul's a nice guy, so I'm sure everything will be fine. I guess I do have a few things I would like to say to him." Jean said as she was looking forward to this.

...

Later

Later that night, all four of them got themselves ready for what might happen. They went to a nice restaurant with them all dressed in nice suits and dresses. Jean and James were the first to get there. James was in a nice suit with a red shirt and Jean was in a red dress with the short sleeves and collar transparent. The two of them had a seat and waited for Paul and Sabella to show.

"You sure you're going to be okay? You look rather nervous." James asked.

"I told you I'm fine. It's just been a long time since I've seen Paul." Jean said as she tried to get her to do this. Just then, Paul and Sabella came walking in. Paul with him wearing suit with a blue shirt and red tie. Sabella was wearing a white dress that showed off her legs with thin straps. Seeing her, Jean felt a little insecure. "Okay, I might be a little jealous. She is gorgeous."

"I'll say..." James said, but Jean glared at him for that. Paul and Sabella had a seat. When they did, they ordered their drinks and their food. Meeting earlier was a little awkward and rough, but it looks like it's going on rather well. They got to do some real talking and there haven't been much problems. They shared some fun stories about the past, their lives, and other moments.

"Oh man. Amanda sounded awful." James said as he laughed. "Jean told me about her, but I didn't think it was that bad.

"Yeah. She thought she was the queen bee and didn't like it when people challenged her." Paul said.

"She would have thought differently with me." Sabella said with confidence. "Unlike her, I do more than just talk."

"I do have to say that I love your accent, Sabella. Where are you from?" Jean asked.

"A small country called Symkaria." Sabella answered. "However, I have had business in New York before, until I could finally settle here. The truth is that Paul and I have known each other for a long time, but we couldn't exactly make the relationship work. The wait was worth it." Jean certainly agreed with that.

"How long have you two been dating?" James asked.

"About six months, and we're living together." Sabella said.

"Six months, and you're living together!" Jean said as she was surprised to hear that. That's farther than the two of them have gone.

"What about you two? How long have you been together?" Paul asked.

"Four months, but we're not living together. Sounds like you guys took a big step." James said. He seems to be having a good time, but Jean is starting to get rather uncomfortable about it. Paul noticed it himself. After having some of his food, Paul rushed to the restroom. Washing his hands, he looked in the mirror and thought about how this all went.

'Jean... I know we broke up, but I thought we were still friends. What's really going on with you?' Paul thought. Just then, James came walking in the bathroom.

"Hey, man. That stuff flows right through you, doesn't it?" James joked as he stood over a toilet. "Hey, can I ask you something?"

"Sure, I guess." Paul said as he thought the timing was off.

"Jean told me about her old friends." James said. "She certainly talks about you a lot. Did you two use to date or something?"

"Uh... I'm not sure I should really answer that." Paul said as he didn't think it was his place to say to her current boyfriend.

"So, that's a yes." James said as he caught on easily. "It's just that she told me she use to be a spoiled cheerleader, but she changed and ended up becoming proud of her brains because of you. Even today, she said there were things left unsettled between you two." Hearing that last part got to Paul as he thought things were fine between them before.

"Okay, yeah. Jean and I went to school together and she developed feelings for me, but we didn't really date until a few years ago. That only lasted a few months, so you're probably doing better than I did." Paul explained. "We broke up because she thought I was still in love with this other girl I went out with since Jean and I started dating not long after that break up. I thought we ended things on good terms. She was the one that broke up with me, but she hasn't really talked to me."

"Maybe things didn't end as well as you think." James pointed out. It certainly has Paul doing some thinking. Meanwhile, the girls were doing some talking of their own.

"So, you and Paul have known each for a long time?" Sabella said.

"Yeah. Truth is that I use to be part of a group that gave him a hard time, but that was back when we were just kids. Now look at how things are. His bully ended up becoming one of his best friends." Jean said. "I do have to say that you got yourself a great guy."

"You don't have to tell me. Meeting him changed my life for the better." Sabella said.

"I know the feeling." Jean said. That was right when the guys came back.

"Hey, Jean... Mind joining me at the bar? I would like to talk to you in private." Paul said.

"Sure." Jean said as she got up and followed after him while James sat down. "Sabella seems like a great person."

"So does James, but he did tell me something interesting in the bathroom." Paul said. "He told me that things were left unsettled between us." Jean was afraid of that. "What does that mean? I thought things ended fine between us."

"It's nothing." Jean said as she tried to brush it off.

"I don't think so. Jean, I can read you like a book." Paul claimed. "Something is clearly bothering you. I haven't heard from you in years and you can barely talk to me."

"Well, it's not easy. That's what happens when you break up." Jean said.

"So? We ended things on good terms, at least I thought we did." Paul said. "What exactly is the problem?" Jean tried to hide it, but she couldn't really anymore.

"Fine. Do you remember why we broke up in the first place?" Jean asked.

"Yeah. You thought I was still in love with Monica." Paul said.

"Some people thought our relationship was just a rebound." Jean said.

"We dated a few months. I wouldn't really call that just a rebound." Paul said. "Besides, I thought we were still friends."

"Either way, we broke up." Jean said. "It wasn't easy for me, but I felt like it had to be done. Even though we did, a part of me had hope... I thought maybe one day... Maybe one day we could be more than friends again."

"You thought we might still get back together." Paul said as he saw where this was going.

"What can I say? You're like catnip to women." Jean said. "I thought, after some time passed, we would, but it never happened. I couldn't keep waiting and I had to move on."

"Okay, but I still don't see why you just cut me out of your life." Paul said.

"I'm sorry, but I had to move on. That meant I had to put some distance from you." Jean said as she was getting upset. "I couldn't keep holding on to something that could be nothing more than a fantasy."

"Okay, you moved on, and I understand." Paul said. "What I don't understand is why you still never got in contact with me. If you moved on, why didn't you ever try to just be friends with me."

"Well, you have your other life. What do you need me for?" Jean said, but Paul didn't get it. "I want to be a part of your life, even if we are just friends, but it's hard to do when you're always taking off. What you do might be important, the city needs you out there, but what do you need me for?"

"What the hell does that have to do with anything?" Paul said as he wasn't getting it.

"Everything, Paul!" Jean said. "You're a great guy, Paul, but don't go blaming me for anything. I did love you, Paul, but you really don't have a clue. Don't blame me because you aren't there." Jean seem to really let Paul have it, making it look like it's his fault.

"Well, if it is my fault, how could I fix it if you don't talk to me? I thought we were still friends, Jean, but if you don't want me in your life, that won't be a problem." Paul said. Clearly there are things left unsettled between them. Not wanting to do this anymore, Paul decided to get Sabella and leave. Two former lovers see each other again after so long, but now it seems like they're farther apart than before.