Dear Diary

Chapter 5

Author's Note: Hi folks, sorry about the update lag but I have had a few MAJOR school issues (mock exams etcetera) anyway here is chapter 5. And Mark Raxton FINALLY puts in an appearance. Slight note the first part of this story (as in the movies) is M.J/Harry, but there's more M.J/Peter and a LOT more Harry/Liz later on. (And yes, I've written A LONG way ahead J) This chapter comes with a PROLOGUE!

Prologue:

Elizabeth-Allen-Osborn wasn't entirely convinced that reading her old high school journals was the best way to be passing her time; she should probably have been trying to tidy the wreck of the house or something.

But something about the old, care free life contained in those pages had drawn her to them, and while Normie was asleep she couldn't resist looking back at a time of her life before the troubles, before the pain, before the goblins.

Sunday:

M.J rang me to tell me about her party dress (pink with black hem and straps.) I took the chance to outline the whole 'Mark' situation to her. Fortunately she was reassuring.

'M.J?' I asked, 'What do you think about Harry?'

'For goodness sake Liz, just ask him out!' M.J shrieked down the phone. 'Next thing I know, you'll probably be hidden in a bush outside his house, watching everything he does through a pair of binoculars and recording it in a notebook.'

'Thanks for that M.J'

This afternoon the doorbell rang, when I went to open it there was Norman Osborn.

'Hey Elizabeth,' he asked, 'Is your father home?'

'Yes, Mr Osborn do you want to come in?'

'Thanks.'

I stepped aside, and smiling he stepped into the porch.

'Dad!' I yelled up the stairs. 'Mr Osborn is here!'

'So how's school going Elizabeth?' Norman asked keenly.

'Oh, okay. I'm looking forwards to graduation though.' He smiled and nodded.

'Do you see much of my son Harry?'

'A bit, yes, he's in my history class.' (Good answer Liz.)

At this point dad appeared and when the two began talking about golf or something I slipped away.

Monday:

I had an incredibly dull day, school was V-boring and we were given TONS of horrific exam prep. I REALLY cannot wait for graduation.

I also sent off my application to study journalism at Midtown University, so I'll have to start compiling a portfolio of my writing.

Saturday:

I spent all morning helping mom and dad set up the Catathe hotel, they finally (after about a zillion years of 'umming' and 'erring') to go for gold decorations. 50 of the guests are spending the night at the hotel including M.J, Norman and Harry Osborn, Mark, Peter Parker, The Charlstans, Jonses and of course US (me mom and dad.)

At about noon the doorbell rang, as mom and I were setting the tables. We heard voices and a few minutes later dad came in with my stepbrother Mark.

Mark was about 22, and around 6 feet tall; he had dark brown hair and was wearing a smart suit and dullish expression.

'Mark you remember Cassy and Liz don't you?'

'It's wonderful to see you again!' Exclaimed Cassy (Aka mom) hugging him. To my great relief he smiled and hugged her back. I think that he was really making an effort; all the same I still hung back awkwardly.

'Little Liz?' He asked turning to me. No I'm Godzilla, sheesh. 'I haven't seen you since you were 12.'

I smiled at him, and rather awkwardly we hugged.

'So?' Mark asked dad, 'what time does this party begin?'

'6' answered dad after glancing at his watch, 'And we've still got loads to do.'

Mum looked rather panicky.

'Is there anything I can do to help?' Mark offered gallantly.

'Oh no dear, you've had a long journey.' Mom replied.

'No, I want to help.' Argued Mark.

'Liz,' asked dad 'why don't you show Mark to his room?'

'Okay,' I replied smiling at my stepbrother and hoping I would get a chance to talk to him.

Mark was busy wheeling along one suitcase and had another on the floor next to him. I picked up the suitcase on the floor (which was kinda, no very heavy).

'Are you alright with that Liz?' He asked helpfully.

'Sure' I lied. 'You room is this way.' I led him out of the room. 'Unfortunately the lift is broken so we'll have to take the stairs, it should be fixed by this evening though.'

I grinned at him again and he smiled back, boy was that suitcase heavy.

'Are you sure your all right with that?' He asked gesturing at it.

'Yeah.' I replied, as always refusing to admit that I'm wrong, sigh.

He laughed slightly.

'Look Liz…' he began 5 flights of stairs later. 'I really want us to be friends, I know that we've had our differences in the past, but I've changed.'

We stood on the landing, and I smiled gain, Mark was one of those guys who makes you feel like smiling.

'I really want us to be friends too.'

We grinned again, and then continued our Everest esque climb.

'So are any of your friends coming tonight?' He asked as we finally reached his floor.

'Yeah, my best friend M.J mainly.' We carried on along the corridor, finally we reached his room and I opened it with the room card. Opening the door, I was finally able to put that wretched suitcase down.

'They've put you in the Edwardian suite.' I explained as we stepped inside. The suite's living room was huge with walls that can only be described as 'vomit green.' Dad had hung a 'Welcome Home Mark' banner across it.

Mark chuckled.

'Its great to be back with dad.'

I sunk into a chair, and Mark took the one opposite me.

'So are you going to stay with us?' I asked interested.

'For a while, yeah, probably. While I'm study science. I hear you want to do journalism?'

I nodded, 'So have you got a partner for tonight?' I asked changing the subject.

He shook his head. 'How about you?'

'Well not really, but there's a guy coming who…' But I trailed off. Mark looked interested.

'Come on Liz who is he?' I quickly glanced around, to make sure nobody was in earshot.

'Swear you won't tell mom or dad?'

'I swear, come on Liz who is he?'

'Harry Osborn.' I muttered finally. Mark laughed.

'The son of dad's billionaire friend?'

I nodded, my eyes going misty.

'We were in the same history class, we had to do a project together.' Mark rolled his eyes.

'Oh how romantic.'

'Shut up!' I giggled, lobbing a cushion at him.

'Glad to see you two are getting along.' We both spun around to see dad stood in the doorway, what if he had heard what I'd said about Harry! But I doubted it; he'd be teasing me by now if he had.

End Of Chapter 5

A/N: A few quick notes, just in case anybody was confused by that Mark Raxton was Liz's stepbrother in the comics, who after a freaky lab accident (yes another one) got turned into the Molten Man. Normie was Liz and Harry's son.

In the next chapter (part two of the party) Liz talks to Peter, there are a few hints of Peter/M.J and more than a few hints of Harry/M.J.