Chapter 5
Peter went into the cafeteria to have some lunch before he went home. His classes for the day were over. Today was one of the short days for Peter, which he looked forward to. He sat down alone at one of the round tables, placing his try on the table. He sat back and moaned as his body was begging for sleep. He had been up late comforting a broken down Mary Jane who was depressed about being out of a job.
Peter picked up a fork and took a bite of the meatloaf when he noticed the student at the table next to him had a copy of the Daily Bugle. There on the front page, he could see a picture as him as Spider-Man rescuing Mary Jane and another actress from the burning theater. What was going on here?
Peter's confusion was quickly solved when he remembered the man who took the picture in the auditorium. That man worked for the Daily Bugle. Suddenly, his appetite vanished and he stood up. He had a stop to make at the Daily Bugle.
* * * *
Peter was walking through the pathway between all the cubicles on the way to J. Jonah Jameson's office. He saw that same shaved head man in the office with him that he saw in the theater last night. Robbie stepped in front of Peter before he could walk into the office.
"Peter, I would think twice before going in to see Mr. Jameson. He would not be happy about you being here right now. He's given you two weeks off. I really stuck my head out there as it was to keep him from firing you. If he sees you now, I won't be able to stop him this time."
Peter respected Robbie. They were good friends and Robbie had really taken Peter in as a mentor like figure. "Who is that man in his office? Is he the one that took the picture of Spider-Man last night?"
"Yea, amazing isn't it. He is the first one ever to get such a close up shot of him since you arrived. That's Eddie Brock."
"Thee Eddie Brock?"
"Yes, the man he pushed down to a free lance photographer and gave his job to you.
Peter remembered hearing his name a few times before, especially when he was in competition for the full time photographer position. He had never ran into Eddie Brock during that time, put there was a short time Peter felt guilty about steeling his job. "How did he get that shot? I mean, how did he get there in time to take this picture?"
"I'm at a lost," Eddie shrugged his shoulders. "He won't tell, but it's impressing Mr. Jameson to no end. I wouldn't worry about it, Peter. Take your time off and get things figured out in your life."
Peter looked at him with an amazing look. "How did you know I had personal issues?"
"I was young once, too!" Robbie smiled. "I can see it in your eyes, Peter. You are stretched out too thin. Something has to give. Figure out what direction you want for your life, and then I'm confident you'll be back here doing what you do best."
"I'll do that, Thanks Robbie!"
* * * *
Peter walked out of the revolving doors letting out a deep breath. For once, he was lost at what to do. He actually had some free time, but so much things to take care of, he didn't know where to start. Perhaps he should go back to his apartment and study and work on getting his grades back up to par? On the other hand, Mary Jane was still a wreck from last night and perhaps he should spend time with her? Again on the other hand, crime was on a slight up rise since he had been spending less time playing Spider-man as he should be?"
Peter felt a hard slap across his back, nearly causing him to stumble forward. Walking up to his side was the very bulky body of Eddie Brock. "So, Parker, I hear your pictures as of late have not been up to par recently."
"Well yea," Peter shrugged. "I have a lot of things on the plate right now. I just need some time to figure things out."
Eddie threw a cigarette into his mouth and pulled out a leather from his leather coat pocket. He lit the cigarette and took a deep puff before pulling the cigarette away and blowing the smoke out of his mouth. "You didn't seem to have too much trouble when you were trying to steel my job from me."
"I am truly sorry about you loosing your job," Peter turned to him politely. "I never meant to put you out of business. I don't understand why Mr. Jameson couldn't keep us both."
"You're naïve kid, either that or just plain stupid," Eddie took another puff of his cigarette. "Mr. Jameson is the cheapest man alive. He never buys anything over five dollars for his own wife. On valentine's day, he only buys one artificial rose for his wife. For Christmas bonus, he only gives his employees coupons for McDonalds."
Eddie laughed as he took another puff on the cigarette. "But let's keep the old man out of this. This is between you and I. You stole my job, and I want it back. Make that, I'm going to take it back."
"Listen, I need this job. It's the only thing that is keeping me in college. I have a girlfriend who I am considering to propose to."
"I think we're having a miscommunication between us," Eddie again slapped him hard across the back. "What have I said that made you think that I even care about what happens to you? You can rot in the Lincoln tunnel for I care. As for your girlfriend, perhaps she would be better off with me than a loser like you."
Peter hid his clenches fists, barley able to keep himself from knocking him out cold. It appeared that his attempts to try to make amends with Eddie Brock was not going to work out. He was out to destroy him and his life.
"Enjoy your time off, because while you're off, I am moving in on your job. Your job is as good mine. I'm going to destroy your life as you have mine. Take it easy." Eddie laughed as he walked off.
Peter went into the cafeteria to have some lunch before he went home. His classes for the day were over. Today was one of the short days for Peter, which he looked forward to. He sat down alone at one of the round tables, placing his try on the table. He sat back and moaned as his body was begging for sleep. He had been up late comforting a broken down Mary Jane who was depressed about being out of a job.
Peter picked up a fork and took a bite of the meatloaf when he noticed the student at the table next to him had a copy of the Daily Bugle. There on the front page, he could see a picture as him as Spider-Man rescuing Mary Jane and another actress from the burning theater. What was going on here?
Peter's confusion was quickly solved when he remembered the man who took the picture in the auditorium. That man worked for the Daily Bugle. Suddenly, his appetite vanished and he stood up. He had a stop to make at the Daily Bugle.
* * * *
Peter was walking through the pathway between all the cubicles on the way to J. Jonah Jameson's office. He saw that same shaved head man in the office with him that he saw in the theater last night. Robbie stepped in front of Peter before he could walk into the office.
"Peter, I would think twice before going in to see Mr. Jameson. He would not be happy about you being here right now. He's given you two weeks off. I really stuck my head out there as it was to keep him from firing you. If he sees you now, I won't be able to stop him this time."
Peter respected Robbie. They were good friends and Robbie had really taken Peter in as a mentor like figure. "Who is that man in his office? Is he the one that took the picture of Spider-Man last night?"
"Yea, amazing isn't it. He is the first one ever to get such a close up shot of him since you arrived. That's Eddie Brock."
"Thee Eddie Brock?"
"Yes, the man he pushed down to a free lance photographer and gave his job to you.
Peter remembered hearing his name a few times before, especially when he was in competition for the full time photographer position. He had never ran into Eddie Brock during that time, put there was a short time Peter felt guilty about steeling his job. "How did he get that shot? I mean, how did he get there in time to take this picture?"
"I'm at a lost," Eddie shrugged his shoulders. "He won't tell, but it's impressing Mr. Jameson to no end. I wouldn't worry about it, Peter. Take your time off and get things figured out in your life."
Peter looked at him with an amazing look. "How did you know I had personal issues?"
"I was young once, too!" Robbie smiled. "I can see it in your eyes, Peter. You are stretched out too thin. Something has to give. Figure out what direction you want for your life, and then I'm confident you'll be back here doing what you do best."
"I'll do that, Thanks Robbie!"
* * * *
Peter walked out of the revolving doors letting out a deep breath. For once, he was lost at what to do. He actually had some free time, but so much things to take care of, he didn't know where to start. Perhaps he should go back to his apartment and study and work on getting his grades back up to par? On the other hand, Mary Jane was still a wreck from last night and perhaps he should spend time with her? Again on the other hand, crime was on a slight up rise since he had been spending less time playing Spider-man as he should be?"
Peter felt a hard slap across his back, nearly causing him to stumble forward. Walking up to his side was the very bulky body of Eddie Brock. "So, Parker, I hear your pictures as of late have not been up to par recently."
"Well yea," Peter shrugged. "I have a lot of things on the plate right now. I just need some time to figure things out."
Eddie threw a cigarette into his mouth and pulled out a leather from his leather coat pocket. He lit the cigarette and took a deep puff before pulling the cigarette away and blowing the smoke out of his mouth. "You didn't seem to have too much trouble when you were trying to steel my job from me."
"I am truly sorry about you loosing your job," Peter turned to him politely. "I never meant to put you out of business. I don't understand why Mr. Jameson couldn't keep us both."
"You're naïve kid, either that or just plain stupid," Eddie took another puff of his cigarette. "Mr. Jameson is the cheapest man alive. He never buys anything over five dollars for his own wife. On valentine's day, he only buys one artificial rose for his wife. For Christmas bonus, he only gives his employees coupons for McDonalds."
Eddie laughed as he took another puff on the cigarette. "But let's keep the old man out of this. This is between you and I. You stole my job, and I want it back. Make that, I'm going to take it back."
"Listen, I need this job. It's the only thing that is keeping me in college. I have a girlfriend who I am considering to propose to."
"I think we're having a miscommunication between us," Eddie again slapped him hard across the back. "What have I said that made you think that I even care about what happens to you? You can rot in the Lincoln tunnel for I care. As for your girlfriend, perhaps she would be better off with me than a loser like you."
Peter hid his clenches fists, barley able to keep himself from knocking him out cold. It appeared that his attempts to try to make amends with Eddie Brock was not going to work out. He was out to destroy him and his life.
"Enjoy your time off, because while you're off, I am moving in on your job. Your job is as good mine. I'm going to destroy your life as you have mine. Take it easy." Eddie laughed as he walked off.