Reversal Roles: Mary Jane's Story
CH 8
Gwen Stacey stood looking up at the small television that was positioned up in the corner of the kitchen while she munched on the breakfast that the help had prepared. She had recently taken up slight interest in what was going on with her uncle's business OsCorp during the rivalry with Aeroquest. She felt slight concern over the fact that her uncle was sleeping in late again. He had done so the past couple of nights and she wasn't sure how she was supposed to feel about that or if it was a good thing. He worked so much, obsessed so much over his work that he did miss a lot of sleep. She began to think to herself that it had merely taken its toll on him and he was making up for the much needed sleep. She directed her attention up at the screen once again but her attention was held indefinitely this time as the news had focused on the smoky ruins of the Dry Lake testing grounds. That was where Aeroquest held some of their base of operations, or from what she had heard from others, where they had been testing out a new weapon that they had been developing a mech of some sort that had some strange animal name that no one seemed to remember. Her eyes widened as she realized that this had set back her uncle's competitor a good amount if not indefinitely.
"Miss Stacey, you'll be late for your practice graduation if you don't hurry." The chauffeur called from the doorway. Gwen reached up and switched the television off, grabbing her gown in one hand and sprinting out the door with a large smile on her face. She, Gwen Stacey, was graduating high school that day, and not flunking. It was all thanks to her best friend's help, Mary Jane Watson. Oh she had some grand plans for she and Mary Jane after graduation that she couldn't wait for her friend to hear.
Mary Jane was melancholy through out the ceremony. She had just lost her Uncle Ben, how was she supposed to feel. Joyous, excited? Someone inside she felt those things but the numb feeling of loss had overwhelmed her and she hadn't realized when they called her name. She felt a sharp pain in her ribs as the person next to her jabbed her to get her attention. Immediately she stood up feeling embarrassed and clambered onto the stage to accept her diploma, her face almost matching the deep hue of her hair. She accepted her diploma and shook hands with the superintendent of the school, her eyes scanned the other seats briefly and she locked eyes with Peter Parker. He turned his head to the side slightly as he held the gaze with her knowing why she was hurting so much. He returned a painful look and he mouthed the words "I'm sorry," before she stepped off the stage to return to her seat. However, through out the rest of the ceremony her glances would go over towards Peter as she watched him through the rest of the time. She felt sad that this was the last time she would probably be around him. Peter Parker was going places, he had talent and charisma; something Mary Jane felt that she lacked. She was glad to be out of high school and away from the people that who would torment her daily but she would struggle through it again if it meant being around Peter again.
'Remember where these thoughts last got you? You wanted to get money to get that car and remember where you went to get the money? You remember what happened in result of one stupid mistake, idiot? You can't let your heart rule your head or someone else will get hurt.' She frowned through her thoughts but was interrupted as the Principal had stood in front of the microphone again and introduced their graduating class, signaling all the seniors to stand.
MJ posed for her aunt with her plaque she had received and smiled politely blinking blindly after the flash shined in her eyes. She shook her head clear and laughed hugging onto her aunt. Gwen ran at MJ and tackled her in a hug holding her tightly. "We made it, girl. Can you believe it? I did it! Can you believe that I graduated? I can't, I wouldn't have if it weren't for you. Thank you." She said swinging her. "We have the place all settled in NY, the loft. You still want to do this?" She grinned at her friend. Before MJ could respond Norman Osborn stepped up behind Gwen and cleared his throat. He extended his hand to his niece and she accepted his hand shaking it as if it were a purely professional shake.
"You did it, it's not the first time I've been proven wrong." He said and then smiled at her. Gwen blinked back tears and leapt forward on the tips of her toes grabbing her uncle into a hug burying her head into his chest. He blinked for a moment with widened eyes. Norman Osborn was not a man of affection and he was never used to anyone trying to give him affection and he stood awkwardly with his niece's arms around him. Slowly his slipped his arms around the young girl and embraced her as family. She lifted her head and smiled up at him through her tears.
"Thank you for coming Uncle Norman. I was worried that you weren't going to show up and I would be the only one without someone there for them."
Norman patted his niece's head. "There, there. We won't have any more tears now, right Gwen? Of course I would come. My niece was graduating high school, a break through. I'm hoping you'll go on into the OsCorp business eventually. I wouldn't miss it." Gwen smiled and let go of him stepping away. Norman then walked over to Mary Jane very impressed by what she had accomplished. He shook her hand as well. "So the Science award, huh? That's terrific Mary Jane." He said smiling, truly impressed. Gwen frowned feeling a tinge of jealousy as her uncle had quickly left her and gone to lavish Mary Jane with how impressed he was with her. Mary Jane smiled meekly and nodded in reply. "I know this has been a difficult time for you," Norman began, placing a hand on her shoulder. "But, I want you to try and enjoy this day. Commencement, the end of one thing, the start of something new." He said holding out his arm and clenching the fist as if he were making a grand speech.
Gwen began to wander off slightly not wanting to hear anymore out of her jealousy and spotted Peter and Allison standing at the end of the seats. She moved forward enough to be able to hear what they were saying. Allison's face was red with anger and her features were twisted in both anger and sadness as she struggled not to cry. She shoved Peter's class ring into his outstretched hand and whispered vehemently at him. "Fine, you don't want to date me anymore?! That's fine! It's your loss anyways. I'm the best you could ever do and your little trash family can't help you now." With that she turned her back and stomped off. Peter sighed and shoved his ring in his pocket turning his back to everything. Gwen smoothed her graduation gown slightly and took a deep breath. She wanted to do what she could to comfort Peter. She looked over her shoulder for a moment seeing that Mary Jane was still preoccupied with Norman and took a step forward approaching Peter.
"Heya Pete." Gwen smiled sweetly as she placed her hands behind her back nervously.
"You're like a sister to her, that makes you family and if you ever need anything just give me a call. Ok?" Norman said giving Mary Jane one last pat on her shoulder.
Mary Jane and her Aunt May drove home in silence. Neither one was able to say a word because both felt the sorrow in their hearts for the loss of Ben but the joy in Mary Jane's graduation. Stepping inside Mary Jane shrugged out of her jacket and hung it up and began walking to the stairs immediately wanting to head for her room.
"Would you like something to eat, Mary Jane-dear?" Her aunt asked kindly, the look on her face was worried as she took off her hat.
Mary Jane gave a weak smile that couldn't make it past the trained eyes of May Watson. "No, I don't feel hungry. Thank you though." She nodded and disappeared up the stairs quickly. She hadn't eaten much the past few days. Her appetite was deteriorating and just nothing sounded edible. She'd feel hungry one minute, think of something to eat and not find anything sounding appetizing and thus not eat. It had gone on like that for a while.
Night fell and Mary Jane remained sitting on her bed her thoughts on her uncle and what happened that dark night she had wrestled in the arena. The tears stung her eyes as she tried hard to hold them back. She felt completely shitty, it was her fault, completely her fault that her Uncle Ben was not standing there with her aunt to see her graduate that day. It was her fault that Aunt May now went to bed at night alone, with no one to lay beside her to keep her safe. She heard her door inch open and felt her aunt sit down beside her on her bed. May reached over and gently wiped away the tears falling from her eyes and stroked MJ's long beautiful hair.
"I missed him a lot today." Mary Jane sniffled.
"I know, I missed him too but he was there." May said wrapping her arms around Mary Jane. MJ leaned her head against her aunt's shoulder taking in a shaky breath. "I can't help thinking about the last thing I said to him. He tried to tell me something important and I threw it in his face."
"You loved him and he loved you. He never doubted the woman you'd grow into." She said meaning every word of it. She kissed Mary Jane's forehead and gently rocked her as if Mary Jane was a little girl again crying in her arms. "How you were meant for great things. You won't disappoint him." She said matter-of-factly. With that she gave her a gentle squeeze and rose to her feet leaving the room to give Mary Jane her privacy closing the door behind her. Slowly MJ lifted her head and glanced behind her at the closed door. Something seemed to click on in her mind automatically and the vision of her costume from the wrestling arena appeared in her mind but it was more than just that. It was the thoughts of never letting what happened to her uncle happen again if she could help it. She got off her bed and crawled over to her desk pulling out the drawer. She drew out her over shirt with the webbed insignia and then the notebook sheet drawing with the picture of the costume she had pulled from her imagination. It was ten times better than what she was able to create on short notice for the arena. Thoughts began to work together, and the cogs began to turn in her mind while her uncle's voice echoed in her mind as a reminder.
'With Great power comes great responsibility. Remember that, MJ, remember that.' Hearing those words again MJ knew what she had to do...
888 8
A/N: I wanted to get this part finished so I could prepare for the new chapter eventually without a hitch. I'm spending three days out camping with my friends though so don't worry about me never updating again ;). Thank you for all the support and great reviews that everyone has left me. I truly appreciate them and they do inspire me and help me along the way to write more and to want to better my writing.
Can you believe how well Spider-man 2 is doing? I'm so enthused! It's wonderful!
CH 8
Gwen Stacey stood looking up at the small television that was positioned up in the corner of the kitchen while she munched on the breakfast that the help had prepared. She had recently taken up slight interest in what was going on with her uncle's business OsCorp during the rivalry with Aeroquest. She felt slight concern over the fact that her uncle was sleeping in late again. He had done so the past couple of nights and she wasn't sure how she was supposed to feel about that or if it was a good thing. He worked so much, obsessed so much over his work that he did miss a lot of sleep. She began to think to herself that it had merely taken its toll on him and he was making up for the much needed sleep. She directed her attention up at the screen once again but her attention was held indefinitely this time as the news had focused on the smoky ruins of the Dry Lake testing grounds. That was where Aeroquest held some of their base of operations, or from what she had heard from others, where they had been testing out a new weapon that they had been developing a mech of some sort that had some strange animal name that no one seemed to remember. Her eyes widened as she realized that this had set back her uncle's competitor a good amount if not indefinitely.
"Miss Stacey, you'll be late for your practice graduation if you don't hurry." The chauffeur called from the doorway. Gwen reached up and switched the television off, grabbing her gown in one hand and sprinting out the door with a large smile on her face. She, Gwen Stacey, was graduating high school that day, and not flunking. It was all thanks to her best friend's help, Mary Jane Watson. Oh she had some grand plans for she and Mary Jane after graduation that she couldn't wait for her friend to hear.
Mary Jane was melancholy through out the ceremony. She had just lost her Uncle Ben, how was she supposed to feel. Joyous, excited? Someone inside she felt those things but the numb feeling of loss had overwhelmed her and she hadn't realized when they called her name. She felt a sharp pain in her ribs as the person next to her jabbed her to get her attention. Immediately she stood up feeling embarrassed and clambered onto the stage to accept her diploma, her face almost matching the deep hue of her hair. She accepted her diploma and shook hands with the superintendent of the school, her eyes scanned the other seats briefly and she locked eyes with Peter Parker. He turned his head to the side slightly as he held the gaze with her knowing why she was hurting so much. He returned a painful look and he mouthed the words "I'm sorry," before she stepped off the stage to return to her seat. However, through out the rest of the ceremony her glances would go over towards Peter as she watched him through the rest of the time. She felt sad that this was the last time she would probably be around him. Peter Parker was going places, he had talent and charisma; something Mary Jane felt that she lacked. She was glad to be out of high school and away from the people that who would torment her daily but she would struggle through it again if it meant being around Peter again.
'Remember where these thoughts last got you? You wanted to get money to get that car and remember where you went to get the money? You remember what happened in result of one stupid mistake, idiot? You can't let your heart rule your head or someone else will get hurt.' She frowned through her thoughts but was interrupted as the Principal had stood in front of the microphone again and introduced their graduating class, signaling all the seniors to stand.
MJ posed for her aunt with her plaque she had received and smiled politely blinking blindly after the flash shined in her eyes. She shook her head clear and laughed hugging onto her aunt. Gwen ran at MJ and tackled her in a hug holding her tightly. "We made it, girl. Can you believe it? I did it! Can you believe that I graduated? I can't, I wouldn't have if it weren't for you. Thank you." She said swinging her. "We have the place all settled in NY, the loft. You still want to do this?" She grinned at her friend. Before MJ could respond Norman Osborn stepped up behind Gwen and cleared his throat. He extended his hand to his niece and she accepted his hand shaking it as if it were a purely professional shake.
"You did it, it's not the first time I've been proven wrong." He said and then smiled at her. Gwen blinked back tears and leapt forward on the tips of her toes grabbing her uncle into a hug burying her head into his chest. He blinked for a moment with widened eyes. Norman Osborn was not a man of affection and he was never used to anyone trying to give him affection and he stood awkwardly with his niece's arms around him. Slowly his slipped his arms around the young girl and embraced her as family. She lifted her head and smiled up at him through her tears.
"Thank you for coming Uncle Norman. I was worried that you weren't going to show up and I would be the only one without someone there for them."
Norman patted his niece's head. "There, there. We won't have any more tears now, right Gwen? Of course I would come. My niece was graduating high school, a break through. I'm hoping you'll go on into the OsCorp business eventually. I wouldn't miss it." Gwen smiled and let go of him stepping away. Norman then walked over to Mary Jane very impressed by what she had accomplished. He shook her hand as well. "So the Science award, huh? That's terrific Mary Jane." He said smiling, truly impressed. Gwen frowned feeling a tinge of jealousy as her uncle had quickly left her and gone to lavish Mary Jane with how impressed he was with her. Mary Jane smiled meekly and nodded in reply. "I know this has been a difficult time for you," Norman began, placing a hand on her shoulder. "But, I want you to try and enjoy this day. Commencement, the end of one thing, the start of something new." He said holding out his arm and clenching the fist as if he were making a grand speech.
Gwen began to wander off slightly not wanting to hear anymore out of her jealousy and spotted Peter and Allison standing at the end of the seats. She moved forward enough to be able to hear what they were saying. Allison's face was red with anger and her features were twisted in both anger and sadness as she struggled not to cry. She shoved Peter's class ring into his outstretched hand and whispered vehemently at him. "Fine, you don't want to date me anymore?! That's fine! It's your loss anyways. I'm the best you could ever do and your little trash family can't help you now." With that she turned her back and stomped off. Peter sighed and shoved his ring in his pocket turning his back to everything. Gwen smoothed her graduation gown slightly and took a deep breath. She wanted to do what she could to comfort Peter. She looked over her shoulder for a moment seeing that Mary Jane was still preoccupied with Norman and took a step forward approaching Peter.
"Heya Pete." Gwen smiled sweetly as she placed her hands behind her back nervously.
"You're like a sister to her, that makes you family and if you ever need anything just give me a call. Ok?" Norman said giving Mary Jane one last pat on her shoulder.
Mary Jane and her Aunt May drove home in silence. Neither one was able to say a word because both felt the sorrow in their hearts for the loss of Ben but the joy in Mary Jane's graduation. Stepping inside Mary Jane shrugged out of her jacket and hung it up and began walking to the stairs immediately wanting to head for her room.
"Would you like something to eat, Mary Jane-dear?" Her aunt asked kindly, the look on her face was worried as she took off her hat.
Mary Jane gave a weak smile that couldn't make it past the trained eyes of May Watson. "No, I don't feel hungry. Thank you though." She nodded and disappeared up the stairs quickly. She hadn't eaten much the past few days. Her appetite was deteriorating and just nothing sounded edible. She'd feel hungry one minute, think of something to eat and not find anything sounding appetizing and thus not eat. It had gone on like that for a while.
Night fell and Mary Jane remained sitting on her bed her thoughts on her uncle and what happened that dark night she had wrestled in the arena. The tears stung her eyes as she tried hard to hold them back. She felt completely shitty, it was her fault, completely her fault that her Uncle Ben was not standing there with her aunt to see her graduate that day. It was her fault that Aunt May now went to bed at night alone, with no one to lay beside her to keep her safe. She heard her door inch open and felt her aunt sit down beside her on her bed. May reached over and gently wiped away the tears falling from her eyes and stroked MJ's long beautiful hair.
"I missed him a lot today." Mary Jane sniffled.
"I know, I missed him too but he was there." May said wrapping her arms around Mary Jane. MJ leaned her head against her aunt's shoulder taking in a shaky breath. "I can't help thinking about the last thing I said to him. He tried to tell me something important and I threw it in his face."
"You loved him and he loved you. He never doubted the woman you'd grow into." She said meaning every word of it. She kissed Mary Jane's forehead and gently rocked her as if Mary Jane was a little girl again crying in her arms. "How you were meant for great things. You won't disappoint him." She said matter-of-factly. With that she gave her a gentle squeeze and rose to her feet leaving the room to give Mary Jane her privacy closing the door behind her. Slowly MJ lifted her head and glanced behind her at the closed door. Something seemed to click on in her mind automatically and the vision of her costume from the wrestling arena appeared in her mind but it was more than just that. It was the thoughts of never letting what happened to her uncle happen again if she could help it. She got off her bed and crawled over to her desk pulling out the drawer. She drew out her over shirt with the webbed insignia and then the notebook sheet drawing with the picture of the costume she had pulled from her imagination. It was ten times better than what she was able to create on short notice for the arena. Thoughts began to work together, and the cogs began to turn in her mind while her uncle's voice echoed in her mind as a reminder.
'With Great power comes great responsibility. Remember that, MJ, remember that.' Hearing those words again MJ knew what she had to do...
888 8
A/N: I wanted to get this part finished so I could prepare for the new chapter eventually without a hitch. I'm spending three days out camping with my friends though so don't worry about me never updating again ;). Thank you for all the support and great reviews that everyone has left me. I truly appreciate them and they do inspire me and help me along the way to write more and to want to better my writing.
Can you believe how well Spider-man 2 is doing? I'm so enthused! It's wonderful!