Severing Ties

Summary: Things are looking up for Peter. It had been a few months since Doctor Octavius passed away, and Peter was getting his life on track except for a few things that wouldn't let him be. That's all about to change as someone, somewhere, needs Peter, and he's going to be in for a wild ride.

Chapter 5: Lucky Duck

That week, being the last Peter had to make Jackie's grade come on, they'd started tutoring at the library everyday after Peter's class. The last day, Friday, Peter bumped into a familiar face while in the library.

"Mary Jane," he said softly.

"Peter," she replied coldly.

"I've missed you. I haven't seen you around. I tried to call but you didn't answer."

MJ just picked her chin up. "And that's a problem? You seemed to have replaced me very fast." The hurt was evident in her voice as the two pairs of eyes drifted to where Jackie was sitting, blowing bubblegum.

Peter almost laughed. "Mary Jane, I haven't replaced you! I'm tutoring her so that I don't fail Connors' class," he explained. Listen to me, please, Mary Jane, his heart pleaded silently.

"Then why did you take her to Columbia University's Science Department? I thought you weren't studying that right now."

"I'm not, but she is. She's younger. A freshman. Biochemistry to her like the French language to a German. I've been helping her with her report." Peter felt as if a knife was jabbed in his heart, and he could barely breathe.

"On what?"

"On how Spider-Man got his powers."

Her sarcastic laugh drew the knife down deeper, and made it twist painfully. "That's rich! I suppose she knows, then?" she asked loudly.

"Of course not." It sounded a bit like a whine to Peter's ears but he had to explain himself. "I didn't tell her. She dug so deep she knows about the wrestling and the tour a week before he was noticed. I have to be super careful…"

"You can stop lying to me, Peter. I understand completely. Can't stand the thought of the limelight so you won't even try to be there for me. All those times you called, I wasn't home. You could have called me when I told you I'd be home!"

Peter couldn't think of a reply. He could have smacked himself in the forehead for not remembering the times MJ was home. The limelight comment was uncalled for, but he couldn't deny it. Refusing the fact that he'd told Jackie who he was wouldn't deter Mary Jane from believing it. He just took a deep breath and hoped MJ wouldn't take his silence the wrong way.

"I knew it," she murmured.

Darn it.

"Pete," Jackie called softly. She motioned for him to go over by her. He obliged.

"What in the world is this?"

Peter was aware of MJ watching the two of them as he went into a long science talk. He'd forgotten about the normal words agreement, and used terms Jackie said she wasn't able to understand, but there she was, nodding her head like she comprehended every syllable of it.

Suddenly he asked, "Have any idea who Spider-Man is, exactly? Like his name or anything?" so that MJ could hear.

"I wish," Jackie said before she caught herself.

"Me neither," he agreed. "There's someone I'd like you to meet." He motioned for MJ to come over. Let this work, God, I'll do anything, he thought.

"What do you want?" she asked.

"MJ, this is Jackie Salvani. Jackie, this is Mary Jane Watson," he introduced as though nothing was wrong.

Jackie smiled at her. "I know you," she said admiringly. "You were in that play, It's Important to Be Earnest, or something, right? I thought it was great!"

"You did?"

"Yeah! You were awesome. Your picture is everywhere!" Jackie gushed.

MJ managed a modest shrug. "I hear you're kind of lost with Biochemistry," she said.

"Kind of? Try, I'm so lost a road map won't help me," the thin brunette corrected in a joking tone.

"And here we are, working on how to get you not lost," Peter added.

"What do you think of your tutor?" MJ asked shamelessly.

"Peter should become a teacher," Jackie said as though he wasn't right next to her. "He really explains stuff so that I can understand it all. Without him, I'd be failing."

"You still might be," Peter reminded.

"That paper's almost finished, though," Jackie whined.

"That doesn't mean you can slack off."

Jackie let out a rush of breath. "He's about as strict as a teacher, too," she added.

MJ almost laughed. "Can I talk to you, privately?" she asked her.

"Of course," Jackie agreed. She got up and followed MJ out of the room out the front doors.

"You do realize that I'm Peter's girlfriend?" MJ inquired.

"No," Jackie replied sarcastically. "The minute he saw you I could tell. His eyes went starry and he lost track of what he was doing. He was supposed to be finding the book, Genetics for Dummies, but then you showed up." She smiled like she did for Logan. "The poor little nerd," she said affectionately.

"Just making sure," MJ said.

"Don't worry about it. I'm pretty much not looking 'til I get back to my regular school," Jackie admitted.

"You mean you're not staying for the full four years?"

She shook her head. "I plan on turning this report in, staying a few weeks longer, and then heading back."

"Why?"

"Because I only needed a taste of college life. I didn't think it would be that different from my regular school, because I live at my regular school, but I found it to be quite different. Not to mention harder and larger classes." She laughed.

"Well, I'm glad I met you." MJ didn't know why, but she felt like she could trust this girl. "Now I don't have to worry about Pete cheating on me."

"Peter? Never. I can not see him doing that. Ever," Jackie said in defense.

MJ shrugged. "He can be late to a lot of stuff, though. Like, two weeks ago, my theater troop had this fundraiser. It was supposed to be the biggest event this year. It started at three. Peter got there at five."

A look of guilt flashed on Jackie's face. "I'm sorry. He was tutoring me that day. He didn't say anything about your event."

MJ nodded as though she already knew that. "It's in the past. Now, if you'll excuse me," she said with a sly smile, "I have to go reconcile with my fiancé."

Peter was looking over the books they'd been using. He had no idea what the two women were talking about out there, only that it was about him. When he saw MJ approaching with a large smile on her face and that look in her eyes, Peter knew she'd forgiven him. He stood up to meet her. He made to hug her, but she moved in that instant and pulled him into a passionate kiss.

"If you ever forget anything again," she said while taking a breath, "I'll make you pay." She crushed her mouth to his, again.

"Okay," he said against her lips.

"Guys! This is a library! Not a hotel room!" Jackie interrupted.

They broke apart, muttering apologies.

"This weekend, Tiger, you're moving in. Don't forget," MJ grinned as she walked away.

"Oh, I won't," he said to her retreating back.

"Lucky duck," Jackie mumbled.

"What'd you say?"

"I said 'lucky duck,'" she repeated.

"Why?"

"What I wouldn't give to be in love like that, right now. To just…feel like everything else is so insignificant, and the only thing that would ever matter is him. To be able to get lost his eyes, and not worry about finding my way out." Jackie wrapped her arms around herself. "To hear him say that he'll be there for me." She started rambling again. Peter felt like he could relate. He was that frustrated before he'd become Spider-Man, and had no idea what lay beyond observing and wishing.

"I think we're done for today. Tonight, reread over the material we went through today. Try not to get distracted, and add a bit more to your paper. We've got three days to perfect it, and it'll be fine as long as we work on it every day until it's due." He hated to bring her out of her reverie, but reality could not be shunted to the side for daydreams.

Jackie nodded and gathered up her stuff. "See ya tomorrow," she promised, and left, her trance-like state still obvious. Knowing what she was about to get herself into, Peter discreetly followed her as Spider-Man. Sure enough, an armed thief decided to try to take her out.

"Don't get trigger-happy with that thing," Spider-Man warned as he hit the gun out of the thief's hand. He grabbed it and flung it into the road, where a car ran over it. He dodged as the man took out a knife and started swiping. He was still moving when he noticed the knife fly out of the guy's hand. It was in the air, bending and twisting as though some force was doing it. Then Spider-Man looked at Jackie. Her arm was up, perpendicular to her body, with her palm open and facing the sky, her eyes closed. Suddenly, the knife flew to her hand. Before the thief knew what was happening, the knife was in his arm.

"If you're lucky, you'll only lose a bit of blood, and have to wear a sling for a few weeks," Jackie commented, power radiating from her. A lightening bolt clapped in the sky as a strong wind blew the man away from the two.

If Spider-Man didn't have the mask on, Jackie would have seen a look of confusion on his face. "What was that?" he asked.

(A/N: A cliffhanger! Hoorah! Take that! -hehehehe, just kidding. XD I've got reviewers! Ah! I'm so happy! You all rock!!!

Quiet Escapist: Welcome back! I'm glad you like everything! I didn't notice that I had action and all that...I just wrote my ideas down...I'm not going to answer those questions...You'll see for yourself within the next chapter or two. Hope you enjoy this chapter! Thanks for reviewing! And I like reviews long! Really!

Darth Zelda: Yay! You like it! Yay! Jackie learns a lot from this...and not just talking about academic stuff. XD

MM: Happy, now? They can be happy with other people. And Spider-Man's a super-hero, there's bound to be some friction with something somewhere. Thank you for reviewing...hope you won't cut this story out of your reading once you know the plot. That would be sad.

laurajslr: Those were the results of his unfortunate week...but what happened to make him have the kind of week? Don't know? Then I'll just leave it for later to let you know about. Thanks for letting me know that you're not going to be there...neither am I! I'm going on vacation, again! After I just got back from Florida...but that's okay...this story will still be here when we get back...I hope...:-p lol. Thanks for reviewing!

Freakonature: Glad you like it. Hope you like this chapter! Thanks for leaving a review!

DiabloDude1: Ding ding ding! We have a winner! Of course I like MJ -shifty eyes as the Spider-Man poster on the wall gets the MJ half torn off- XD He could do a lot better...Thats awesome that you love this! Here's my update! And thank you for leaving a review!!!!!! XD

Ahhh I love people...:-) Have a nice day.)