MJ and her roommate, Louise, were leaving the theatre after their morning dress rehearsal. They were busy discussing the fine points needed for their grand opening in a few nights. This new play consumed them as it brought great promise of moving up to Broadway taking the main characters with it. MJ's biggest dream was having her name lit up on Broadway.

The actresses were so deeply engrossed in their new venture that they failed to notice the commotion up ahead at the electronics store, until someone nearly knocked them down getting there.

"Hey!" yelled MJ, "Watch where you're going."

"Sorry," came the reply as the young man rushed into the store.

That's when MJ caught the picture of Spiderman plastered over the huge display plasma TV sitting in the front window. She noticed several people running into the store as the television now showed what looked to be a newswoman with a still picture of Spiderman in the upper corner.

"I wonder what he did now to cause such a hubbub," she said to Louise. "He's always in the news, but I have never seen so much attention paid to it before."

Just then a young woman, with tears in her eyes came out of the store and ran into a friend of hers. Between sobs, MJ could hear her tell her friend, "He's dead. Spiderman's dead."

Mary Jane's jaw just dropped as she stood frozen in place. The two women remained locked in front of the display window watching the soundless news broadcast. Louise broke her trance first and tugged at her friend's arm, "C'mon, MJ, we are only 2 blocks from home, we can turn on the news there."

Although Louise didn't know the identity of Spiderman, she was aware of a special bond between them. MJ had been plastered all over news with the Green Goblin and Doc Ock incidents, so Louise knew that he had saved her life several times. She also received hints of other occasions that something may have happened, but MJ was mute on those. She even suspected at times that MJ actually knew who Spidey was. But no matter what, Louise did know that the news hit MJ hard. She gently, but firmly grabbed Mary Jane's upper arm and forced her away from the thickening crowd. Suddenly the sidewalks seemed packed with people as she tried to get MJ home. They were being jostled and pushed and felt like they were salmon swimming upstream against an impossible current.

When they reached the front door to their building, the doorman tipped his hat and opened the door for them. "Good day, ladies. By the way, did you hear the news about…?"

Louise abruptly answered, "Yes, we did," and hustled MJ through the door and to the elevator. They lived on the 21st floor and the silent ride lasted for an eternity. Louise was worried for her friend, who seemed in a fugue.

"Maybe they're wrong," she said trying to get MJ to focus.

"Maybe" was all the response she got.

When the elevator finally opened, she guided MJ to their front door, unlocked it and went in. Louise left her roommate to follow behind as she headed straight for the television. She quickly surfed through several channels trying to find something on Spiderman and ended up on Channel 4. She sat down on the sofa and MJ just stood behind her.

They listened as the newswoman reported:

"Recapping our top story, Spiderman is dead. The News 4 helicopter obtained this exclusive footage of the event. After being severely wounded by the sniper, Spiderman valiantly continued the fight rendering the gunman unconscious. After which he immediately succumbed to his own injuries falling several stories into the river. The shooter has been taken into custody and is apparently a college student who admired the massacre at the University of Texas 10 years ago and wanted to get his name into the history books. A total of 23 people were injured but there was only the one fatality. Once again, Spiderman is dead after saving numerous people from a sniper."

The two women watched the video. It was taken from far enough away as to encompass both the bridge and tower within the same frame. Just as Janine did, MJ thought that Spiderman was unhurt at first, but then quickly realized otherwise. She turned away from the screen when he plunged to his watery grave. She slowly turned and headed towards her bedroom turning back when Louise called out, "aren't you going to watch any more?"

"I'll turn on the TV in my room and watch it in there." She closed the door behind her.

MJ stood for a moment. Her mind was empty, but full at the same time. She was confused. She was in denial. When her legs gave out, she landed on the bed and buried her face in the pillows. Barely a sound was heard, but the heaving of her shoulders gave away that she was bawling. She didn't want Louise to hear her cry. She didn't want to appear more upset than she should be. Unfortunately now was when MJ needed to put on her best acting. After all she was supposedly enamored by the young hero for saving her life. She would need to look the part of someone who lost a rescuer, not a lover, fiancé and future husband.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

By late afternoon Mary Jane has cried herself dry. She sat on the edge of her bed still in shock. She didn't know if she should tell her friend that the man who died today was also her fiancé, Peter. It would explain how she was acting, and his identity being a secret was a moot point anyway. But, she clung to the thin web of hope that maybe he still was alive, thus still needing to keep the secret. Not to mention, she didn't need the media attention of being Spiderman's woman. Not right now. She went to her makeup mirror and stared at the sallow figure looking back. She can't look like this in two days, not for opening night.

She rubbed her temples.

Placing her hands on the vanity, looking at all her makeup, the everyday stuff and her heavier theatrical paint, she decided to try to put on her best performance now. She could still be upset, but she needed to tone it down to fit the "he rescued me" love for Spiderman. Mechanically, she started with foundation and applied an even light coating and continued from there. When she had finished she looked at the sallow figure again in the mirror. "Humph!" she thought to herself, "the makeup didn't hide a thing, I still look awful." She took a deep breath, got up and left her room.

She found Louise sitting with the TV off, reading a book. "Feel like going out for a bite, Lou?" she asked. "I need to get some fresh air."

Yeah, sure thing, MJ, just let me put on a fresh face and decent clothes.

The two friends headed out for an late lunch or early dinner, however you wanted to look at it, and started to walk automatically to the Chinese restaurant which was MJ's favorite. But she stopped suddenly, remembering that was the last place she and Peter ate. "Let's try something new and exotic. There is a new Azerbaijani place that opened up just a few blocks from here." Louise was agreeable to anything right now, just to please her close friend.

At the table, conversation had been very superficial, nothing like what Louise and MJ usually share. With her plate half empty and pushed aside, MJ was playing with her drink. Studying it as if it contained the purpose of life. Then without thought and unable to hold back, she blurted out. "He kissed me. Did you know that?"

Louise didn't know whether to respond or just remain silent. She chose silence.

"I had just finished trying out for a soap opera, on my way home, when I was attacked by a gang of thugs and he saved me." She looked up from her glass and into Louise's eyes. "I called him my superhero stalker," she said with a sad smile. Gazing back down into her drink she continued, "He was hanging upside down."

She paused.

"I pulled his mask off…."

She paused.

Louise was so unprepared for that, she exclaimed, "You took his mask off?! What did he look like?"

MJ looked up at Louise, and hesitated. She was ready to tell her that it was Peter, but held back. That thin webbing of hope. "I didn't take it off, I only removed enough to expose his mouth."

She took a deep sigh. "It was pouring rain and we were both soaked to the skin. It was the sexiest kiss I have ever had."

A tear rolled down her cheek.

Louise took one of MJ's hands into both of hers and held tightly. "I understand. Do you know if he felt the same way?" she asked.

MJ started to nod 'yes' then just kind of swiveled her head and said, "I don't know. I fantasize that he did."

Louise just held her hands for a while, not knowing what to say with this new revelation. She wanted to ask for more details, but decided that now wasn't the time. After sitting in silence for a few minutes, she said, "Listen roomy, it's almost 6:00 and we have a lot of work still to do to get ready for the show. And with that puffy face of yours it would be a very good idea if you get to bed at a decent hour tonight. Let's say we go home?"

Mary Jane looked at her good friend and agreed.

MJ was feeling exhausted when they got home and thought early to bed was the best offer of the day. She turned to Louise and said, "I'm going to work in my room for a while, then hit the sack early. See you in the morning. Oh, and by the way, thanks."

Louise nodded and Mary Jane headed towards her room.

She gasped when she opened the door.