Mary Jane stepped into the doorway of the Parker house feeling
extremely groggy. Her head was aching and the rest of her body felt like
she had been dropped onto cement from a high ledge. Oh wait, that's right,
she smashed into a billboard only a few hours ago. She stopped inside the
kitchen finding a plate wrapped up for her with a note on top of it from
her Aunt, "Mighty Mouse, you can heat your food up in the oven."
She slowly swallowed as she looked around at the freshly painted room. She
had forgotten about her promise to help her aunt and uncle paint the
kitchen. She felt like kicking herself, she was usually very responsible
and always stuck with her word.
Running a hand through her hair she turned around and yanked a full trash bag out of the can and went out the back to toss it out.
~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~
~
He tried to ignore the yelling and the screaming that was going on in the kitchen but when it was right around him it was impossible to do. The dish shook in his hand as he stared at the hot water pouring from the faucet. His hands had frozen in place as he just stood there listening to his father yell at his mother and tear her down. He dropped a dish into the sink watching as it shattered. His father jerked and glared at him being distracted from his wife.
"Nice going dumbass! You broke the damn plate now pick it up! I swear both you and your mother are useless!" He yelled. Peter bit the corner of his lip and began to scrape the shards into his hands. His mother began to yell back trying to defend herself. Anger boiled inside of him again and he dropped the remaining shards into the sink once more.
"Stop yelling! I'm so sick of it, isn't there anything better you can do!" He yelled turning from the kitchen and walking out.
"Get back here little boy and do the dishes!" His father yelled out after him. Peter walked as fast as he could from the house and slammed the door standing around in his backyard. He rested his hands against the sides of his face sighing deeply. He was really tired of all the fighting in his family. It was embarrassing; all their neighbors could hear the screaming that went on within that house night and day. He kicked at the dirt with his sneaker his anger still burning inside of him. Movement caught his eye and he glanced up quickly, hugging his coat tightly to himself spotting the neighbor girl Mary Jane Watson at the trashcan on the other side of the fence.
"You weren't listening to that.were you?" He asked, feeling slightly embarrassed by the display that his parents had put on. Mary Jane froze in her spot looking like a dear in headlights. Her blue eyes were wide with both confusion and slight fear as he spoke to her.
"N-no. I just went to take the trash out and I..I heard yelling." She stuttered.
"I guess you're used to that, huh? They're always yelling." He said sighing.
"Well.everybody yells, I guess." Mary Jane said trying to comfort him as she stepped up to the gate a little bit. Peter watched her from across the way and slowly stepped over.
"You're aunt and uncle don't yell, Mary Jane. In all the years I've lived here I've never heard them yell." He said with a dry smile.
"Ohh, trust me, they scream pretty good." Mary Jane chuckled, her cheeks flushing slightly in memory of all the times she had gotten in trouble. "Hey..I just uh..want to apologize for what happened at school today-" She began.
"You freaked us all out today, MJ. That was.well that was just not normal. Er..sorry I didn't mean it like that. Sometimes I'm just not very tactful." Peter said running a hand through his brown hair.
"I'm not normal." Mary Jane half whispered.
"What?"
"It was nothing. How is Allison? Is she okay?" She asked feeling true concern for her. Peter arched his brow surprised since Allison had always terrorized Mary Jane since they were all little. He didn't understand how someone could still show concern for someone who didn't deserve any.
"Ahh she's fine. She's glad that you didn't give her a black eye and a swollen lip for graduation. Don't mention it to her, but it was kind of funny to see her ego get set back a bit for once." He grinned. His grin widened as he watched her blush. "So, speaking of graduation, where are you headed afterwards?" He asked with general curiosity. He never had this type of conversation with Mary Jane before, and he often wondered why he never did. Well.other than being caught in public talking to her when he could have just caught her outside sometime and talked. He felt bad for never really getting to know her a little. She didn't seem all that bad.
"I'm hoping to go into the city. Maybe go to college and get a job as a photographer? That's something I'm good at so why not take it to use? What about you?" She asked leaning an elbow on the fence finally relaxing while speaking to him.
"I plan on going into the city too though. But I have this dream to." he stopped himself feeling really dumb and naïve as he looked at her. Did he trust her enough to open himself up and talk about his future dream? "Naw, forget it. Not important."
"No I want to hear. What is it?" She asked leaning closer her blue eyes sparkling with interest.
"Well.don't laugh. But I want to.y'know. act. Be an actor." He rubbed his neck shyly as he wasn't sure what else to do.
"That's great! You'll do great, I just know it. I almost cried hysterically when I saw you play Prince Charming in Cinderella and the male lead in The Taming of the Shrew." She grinned.
Peter began to laugh slapping his forehead. "You do remember that those were done in both first grade and eighth? There's a big difference."
"Even so, Peter. Sometimes you just know with someone.you can see it. See their future. You're going to light up Broadway and take the screen by surprise!" She exclaimed.
"Alright..what do you see for yourself then?" He smirked as he moved closer.
"I'm not so sure anymore." She glanced down at the ground in fear.
"You know.you're really cute when you smile." He whispered leaning in close. Mary Jane jerked her head up in surprise, her face blushing and eyes wide with utter surprise.
"Sometimes I just don't know how to smile." She whispered back.
"You should smile more often, Mary-Jane." He said her name slowly as his blue eyes focused in on hers. Off in the distance a loud horn honked jerking Peter away from the fence like he had been caught doing something indecent. A gorgeous silver convertible pulled up sporting a giggling Allison in the front seat.
"See what daddy got me!" She cried honking the horn.
"Wow! It's awesome!" Peter yelled running through the alleyway to the car and climbing in the front seat as if his conversation with Mary Jane was immediately over. As it pulled away all Mary Jane was able to do was watch as the boy she had been in love with for years faded off into the distance.
"Now that's a spiffy car." She muttered under her breath. * * * * * * * * * *
A car was spotted in the auto ad, another ad had been spotted as well, "Make $3,000 dollars for 3 minutes in the wrestling ring," and an eager Mary Jane had begun to design herself a wrestling costume. Sure she was a girl, so what. There were plenty of female wrestlers out there, and none with a costume that would look as spiffy as hers. She had finally designed a suit that was red and blue styled with a webbing design from head to toe and two oval shaped eyes for the eyeholes with a black spider emblem on the chest, which reminded her of the spider that bit her. However she wasn't able to get her actual costume to look just like that but oh well she was a poor high school student after all. She raced down the stairs with her backpack and a pull over on heading towards the door.
"Bye I'm heading to the library!" She yelled trying to not get caught for questions.
"Hey I'll drive you there." Her Uncle Ben stated as he got up from his seat.
"No that's okay it isn't that far-"
"No it's okay. Besides I could use the exercise." He said grabbing his keys and his coat. Mary Jane frowned, her plans being foiled.
"Okay." She said reluctantly and went out the door to wait for him.
* * * * *
* * *
The car ride hadn't gone quite as either one had expected. It was pure silence not including the music being played from the radio. Ben parked the car across the street from the library and Mary Jane immediately reached for the handle ready to vault out. Ben grabbed her shoulder and stopped her in place.
"Just a sec, Mary Jane. We should talk." He said with a grave look in his gray eyes.
"Can't we just talk later, Uncle Ben? I don't really have time for this." She sighed almost ready to jet across the street.
"No we can't talk later Mary Jane. With you it's always later. Your aunt and I barely know you anymore. You're putting off chores, the weird experiments in your room that you won't talk about, your sleeping habits, starting fights at school." He said looking her square in the eye.
"What?! I didn't start that fight Uncle Ben!" Mary Jane protested.
"I know, that Allison girl must have done something to deserve it but it doesn't give you the right to go beat up whoever you want."
"What do you want me to do, run away?!"
"No, don't run away. Just-. I don't know. You're changing. You're aunt and I had gone through it ourselves at your age like you."
Mary Jane couldn't help but laugh. Sure they went through the same thing she did at her age. Being bit by a genetically engineered radioactive spider, receive the powers of web slinging and unbelievable agility along with a type of spider sense? "Haha, not exactly Uncle Ben."
"These are the years when a woman becomes the woman she's going to be for the rest of her life."
"You think I'm going to turn into some kind of criminal?!"
"I didn't say that. Just be careful who you change into. You're feeling this great power, Mary Jane, and with great power comes great responsibility." He said his voice becoming more serious than before. Mary Jane's jaw began to set in annoyance. This talk was aggravating her, he had no idea what was going on with her and never would. It wasn't like he also knew what sort of hell she had been put through most of her life so what gave him the right to say all of this to her?
"If something is different then I'll figure it out! Stop lecturing me! You don't know me!" She yelled holding back tears.
"I don't mean to lecture. I know I'm not your father-" He began ready to finish his sentence.
"Then why don't you stop trying to pretend that you are him!" She yelled, slamming her fist against the seat. She instantly regretted saying that, the look on his face devasting to her. Ben's face-hardened looking away from her immediately, he was hurt immensely by her words.
"Ten.I'll pick you up here at ten." He said, his voice hard. Mary Jane climbed out of the car and before she was able to say another word Ben drove off quickly, his Oldsmobile disappearing off into the traffic. With a sigh and not giving it another thought Mary Jane darted across the walkway until there would be no sight of her from her uncle's point of view and disappeared into the Wrestling Arena ready to win that prize she so desired. Even though her real prize was winning Peter Parker.
* * * * * * A/N: [Ending it early here because I have class in the morning and I wanted to get this posted for those who really wanted me to update. I really am sorry for how long this has taken me. I've been thoroughly distracted and just felt the want to write this up. My next one will be a little delayed too as I am getting ready to head down south for Thanksgiving and need to impress the mother of my boyfriend and keep my sanity of getting along with her. -_- oiye. I'm also having some harsh feelings towards the Army for taking away my bf.so..bear with me.I'm quite moody..]
Running a hand through her hair she turned around and yanked a full trash bag out of the can and went out the back to toss it out.
~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~
~
He tried to ignore the yelling and the screaming that was going on in the kitchen but when it was right around him it was impossible to do. The dish shook in his hand as he stared at the hot water pouring from the faucet. His hands had frozen in place as he just stood there listening to his father yell at his mother and tear her down. He dropped a dish into the sink watching as it shattered. His father jerked and glared at him being distracted from his wife.
"Nice going dumbass! You broke the damn plate now pick it up! I swear both you and your mother are useless!" He yelled. Peter bit the corner of his lip and began to scrape the shards into his hands. His mother began to yell back trying to defend herself. Anger boiled inside of him again and he dropped the remaining shards into the sink once more.
"Stop yelling! I'm so sick of it, isn't there anything better you can do!" He yelled turning from the kitchen and walking out.
"Get back here little boy and do the dishes!" His father yelled out after him. Peter walked as fast as he could from the house and slammed the door standing around in his backyard. He rested his hands against the sides of his face sighing deeply. He was really tired of all the fighting in his family. It was embarrassing; all their neighbors could hear the screaming that went on within that house night and day. He kicked at the dirt with his sneaker his anger still burning inside of him. Movement caught his eye and he glanced up quickly, hugging his coat tightly to himself spotting the neighbor girl Mary Jane Watson at the trashcan on the other side of the fence.
"You weren't listening to that.were you?" He asked, feeling slightly embarrassed by the display that his parents had put on. Mary Jane froze in her spot looking like a dear in headlights. Her blue eyes were wide with both confusion and slight fear as he spoke to her.
"N-no. I just went to take the trash out and I..I heard yelling." She stuttered.
"I guess you're used to that, huh? They're always yelling." He said sighing.
"Well.everybody yells, I guess." Mary Jane said trying to comfort him as she stepped up to the gate a little bit. Peter watched her from across the way and slowly stepped over.
"You're aunt and uncle don't yell, Mary Jane. In all the years I've lived here I've never heard them yell." He said with a dry smile.
"Ohh, trust me, they scream pretty good." Mary Jane chuckled, her cheeks flushing slightly in memory of all the times she had gotten in trouble. "Hey..I just uh..want to apologize for what happened at school today-" She began.
"You freaked us all out today, MJ. That was.well that was just not normal. Er..sorry I didn't mean it like that. Sometimes I'm just not very tactful." Peter said running a hand through his brown hair.
"I'm not normal." Mary Jane half whispered.
"What?"
"It was nothing. How is Allison? Is she okay?" She asked feeling true concern for her. Peter arched his brow surprised since Allison had always terrorized Mary Jane since they were all little. He didn't understand how someone could still show concern for someone who didn't deserve any.
"Ahh she's fine. She's glad that you didn't give her a black eye and a swollen lip for graduation. Don't mention it to her, but it was kind of funny to see her ego get set back a bit for once." He grinned. His grin widened as he watched her blush. "So, speaking of graduation, where are you headed afterwards?" He asked with general curiosity. He never had this type of conversation with Mary Jane before, and he often wondered why he never did. Well.other than being caught in public talking to her when he could have just caught her outside sometime and talked. He felt bad for never really getting to know her a little. She didn't seem all that bad.
"I'm hoping to go into the city. Maybe go to college and get a job as a photographer? That's something I'm good at so why not take it to use? What about you?" She asked leaning an elbow on the fence finally relaxing while speaking to him.
"I plan on going into the city too though. But I have this dream to." he stopped himself feeling really dumb and naïve as he looked at her. Did he trust her enough to open himself up and talk about his future dream? "Naw, forget it. Not important."
"No I want to hear. What is it?" She asked leaning closer her blue eyes sparkling with interest.
"Well.don't laugh. But I want to.y'know. act. Be an actor." He rubbed his neck shyly as he wasn't sure what else to do.
"That's great! You'll do great, I just know it. I almost cried hysterically when I saw you play Prince Charming in Cinderella and the male lead in The Taming of the Shrew." She grinned.
Peter began to laugh slapping his forehead. "You do remember that those were done in both first grade and eighth? There's a big difference."
"Even so, Peter. Sometimes you just know with someone.you can see it. See their future. You're going to light up Broadway and take the screen by surprise!" She exclaimed.
"Alright..what do you see for yourself then?" He smirked as he moved closer.
"I'm not so sure anymore." She glanced down at the ground in fear.
"You know.you're really cute when you smile." He whispered leaning in close. Mary Jane jerked her head up in surprise, her face blushing and eyes wide with utter surprise.
"Sometimes I just don't know how to smile." She whispered back.
"You should smile more often, Mary-Jane." He said her name slowly as his blue eyes focused in on hers. Off in the distance a loud horn honked jerking Peter away from the fence like he had been caught doing something indecent. A gorgeous silver convertible pulled up sporting a giggling Allison in the front seat.
"See what daddy got me!" She cried honking the horn.
"Wow! It's awesome!" Peter yelled running through the alleyway to the car and climbing in the front seat as if his conversation with Mary Jane was immediately over. As it pulled away all Mary Jane was able to do was watch as the boy she had been in love with for years faded off into the distance.
"Now that's a spiffy car." She muttered under her breath. * * * * * * * * * *
A car was spotted in the auto ad, another ad had been spotted as well, "Make $3,000 dollars for 3 minutes in the wrestling ring," and an eager Mary Jane had begun to design herself a wrestling costume. Sure she was a girl, so what. There were plenty of female wrestlers out there, and none with a costume that would look as spiffy as hers. She had finally designed a suit that was red and blue styled with a webbing design from head to toe and two oval shaped eyes for the eyeholes with a black spider emblem on the chest, which reminded her of the spider that bit her. However she wasn't able to get her actual costume to look just like that but oh well she was a poor high school student after all. She raced down the stairs with her backpack and a pull over on heading towards the door.
"Bye I'm heading to the library!" She yelled trying to not get caught for questions.
"Hey I'll drive you there." Her Uncle Ben stated as he got up from his seat.
"No that's okay it isn't that far-"
"No it's okay. Besides I could use the exercise." He said grabbing his keys and his coat. Mary Jane frowned, her plans being foiled.
"Okay." She said reluctantly and went out the door to wait for him.
* * * * *
* * *
The car ride hadn't gone quite as either one had expected. It was pure silence not including the music being played from the radio. Ben parked the car across the street from the library and Mary Jane immediately reached for the handle ready to vault out. Ben grabbed her shoulder and stopped her in place.
"Just a sec, Mary Jane. We should talk." He said with a grave look in his gray eyes.
"Can't we just talk later, Uncle Ben? I don't really have time for this." She sighed almost ready to jet across the street.
"No we can't talk later Mary Jane. With you it's always later. Your aunt and I barely know you anymore. You're putting off chores, the weird experiments in your room that you won't talk about, your sleeping habits, starting fights at school." He said looking her square in the eye.
"What?! I didn't start that fight Uncle Ben!" Mary Jane protested.
"I know, that Allison girl must have done something to deserve it but it doesn't give you the right to go beat up whoever you want."
"What do you want me to do, run away?!"
"No, don't run away. Just-. I don't know. You're changing. You're aunt and I had gone through it ourselves at your age like you."
Mary Jane couldn't help but laugh. Sure they went through the same thing she did at her age. Being bit by a genetically engineered radioactive spider, receive the powers of web slinging and unbelievable agility along with a type of spider sense? "Haha, not exactly Uncle Ben."
"These are the years when a woman becomes the woman she's going to be for the rest of her life."
"You think I'm going to turn into some kind of criminal?!"
"I didn't say that. Just be careful who you change into. You're feeling this great power, Mary Jane, and with great power comes great responsibility." He said his voice becoming more serious than before. Mary Jane's jaw began to set in annoyance. This talk was aggravating her, he had no idea what was going on with her and never would. It wasn't like he also knew what sort of hell she had been put through most of her life so what gave him the right to say all of this to her?
"If something is different then I'll figure it out! Stop lecturing me! You don't know me!" She yelled holding back tears.
"I don't mean to lecture. I know I'm not your father-" He began ready to finish his sentence.
"Then why don't you stop trying to pretend that you are him!" She yelled, slamming her fist against the seat. She instantly regretted saying that, the look on his face devasting to her. Ben's face-hardened looking away from her immediately, he was hurt immensely by her words.
"Ten.I'll pick you up here at ten." He said, his voice hard. Mary Jane climbed out of the car and before she was able to say another word Ben drove off quickly, his Oldsmobile disappearing off into the traffic. With a sigh and not giving it another thought Mary Jane darted across the walkway until there would be no sight of her from her uncle's point of view and disappeared into the Wrestling Arena ready to win that prize she so desired. Even though her real prize was winning Peter Parker.
* * * * * * A/N: [Ending it early here because I have class in the morning and I wanted to get this posted for those who really wanted me to update. I really am sorry for how long this has taken me. I've been thoroughly distracted and just felt the want to write this up. My next one will be a little delayed too as I am getting ready to head down south for Thanksgiving and need to impress the mother of my boyfriend and keep my sanity of getting along with her. -_- oiye. I'm also having some harsh feelings towards the Army for taking away my bf.so..bear with me.I'm quite moody..]