Disclaimer: No Spider-man action this chapter guys! Sorry, it's just that this is set three months later and I need time to settle the characters back to where they were.
Chris came down to the beautiful sun rise that cast it's shadow over the town of Antelope Meadows, he tapped down the stairs and quickly grabbed the orange carton, but Niecy grabbed it out of his hands.
"In case you've forgotten we use glasses in this house!" She said sternly blowing right past him with her nose held high, mumbling something about arrogant kids now a days.
Chris sat down next to his sister. "What's her problem?"
Jesse just shrugged. "I think she's still upset about Aidan leaving."
"Still?" Chris poked at his nearly frozen waffle. "With food like this around, no wonder he left!"
Julius Miles was not having a good morning, last night he had gotten into a fight with his arch rival Blaze and ended up in jail. But that wasn't why he felt crummy. He nearly fell down the stairs with how bad he felt physically, his mouth was dry like cotton from the 8 hour lack of water yesterday, his chest was battered and it was hard for him to breathe, his fist were covered in purple discolorations from punching that giant tire track of a boy! He had a black eye that was still swollen, and his bottom lip had a huge cut on it.
He slowly dragged himself to the table in a hilarious manner, while the Parker sibling just looked at him in shock. Jesse had the piece of toast midway up her mouth, while looking at him surprisingly, and poor Chris spilled milk all over his shirt.
Julius nodded at them. "Hi, good 'morrow to you both!" He said. Trying his best to imitate a Scottish man to lighten the mood.
"What the hell happened to you?"
"I got in a fight, Jesse." He replied.
Jesse bit her toast. "Oh...you lost right?!"
Julius rolled a aluminum foil in a ball and threw it at her. "Shut up!"
Julius and Jesse had once again gotten into their 'Well if you hadn't' fight while a small smile played across Chris' face.
As Julius and Jesse's fight amused Chris, Niecy, who was having a terrible headache was getting frustrated, at this moment she hated everybody, and everything., and that included laughter!
She barged in and yelled, "Shut up, you little monkeys!"
The three teens stopped and looked at her in terror. She just shook her head apologizing for her behavior. Chris turned to his friend.
"Dang Jay, we gotta do something."
Julius put the ice pack on his eye and sighed contently. "Yeah, were gonna need like, a sausage or something to bring Lassie home!" He said referring to his way warded brother.
"You are a moron! Your brother is not coming home and I can't blame him!" Jesse snapped.
"You know, he never left until you showed up, how do we know you didn't drive him away!"
Chris got in front of Julius as to not provoke a riot between the two. "That's enough you guys, look Jay, I think my sister has a point. We can't make Aidan come back if he doesn't want to, so let's just concentrate about making your mom feel better about this whole situation." Chris rationalize.
"From asshole to angel. I guess your over Riley." Jesse taunted.
Chris waved his fingers at her. "It's been two months we've all moved on, and thanks for bringing her up!"
Yup, it was true Chris and Riley only lasted for about six weeks before it ended tragically, we still have no idea how it ended. (A/N: and neither do I.)
Julius would of gotten up and slapped him in the back of the head, but he was hurting too much. "A rose by which we call any other name would still smell as sweet."
Chris stared at him. "What's that suppose to mean?"
"I'm just sayin' that maybe your still not over her yet....But, I'm just sayin'."
Chris than got a panicked look on his face. "Oh, I am so over her!" He than lean in closer. "Did she say anything?"
Jesse threw her hands up. "This ridiculous!"
Chris just pouted his bottom lip out. He wasn't liking this kind of attention.
At the city Aidan was currently frying bacon, he was wearing a white tank top and blue boxers, it felt nice that his mom wasn't around to tell him what not to wear, of course his roommate wasn't exactly a very good ...roommate. It was like he was afraid of something, every night he would leave and come back an hour before the sun would come up. Once, he found a chicken head still bloody in his left pocket, the sight made him nearly throw up!
"So, you cook." Aidan turned around to that familiar voice and saw his roommate standing, leaning at the frame of the door.
"Yeah, I've been cooking since I got here. You just haven't notice." He said uneasily. This guy always snuck up behind him, but he could never do that with him.
He grabbed a bacon from the pan and ate it. The sizzling noises could be heard as his skin crunched and blistered from the invading heat.
"Oh!" Aidan made a face and left disgusted and really distressed by mordacity of this guy!
As Aidan ran, his roommate just stared off and licked some oil off the corner of his lip. He looked down at his burnt hand, after a few seconds passed, the wound healed. He rubbed his palm on his shirt and smirked....
In a U of A classroom the teacher started chalking up one of his calculus problems as Chris came running through the door and gasped for breath.
"I'm so sorry!" He said apologizing, he strolled over to a desk and quickly took his stuff out as his classmates laughed at him.
The teacher coughed. "Well, if we can all continue now, this is your homework folks, and for those who just arrived." His eyes focused on Chris. "Looks like your gonna have trouble on my test tomorrow, considering you just missed the entire lesson."
Chris stressfully put his hands in his face. It wasn't his fault! He was driving here, using her sister's car and all of a sudden this maniac with a gun had to go threaten a bunch of innocent children on a bus stop!
A bunch of books dropped on his desk. When he looked up he saw a pair of emerald eyes staring at him, disappointedly.
"I don't get you sometimes." She sat down next to him. "First you tell me your late for practice because you had to study, than your late to your class?"
Chris sighed. "Yup, kills a story pretty quick, huh?"
Riley laughed. "Well, if you were honest maybe you wouldn't have to make up a story."
Chris looked down ashamed. "Look Riley, there's some things about me that I'm not ready to share with you . Or even the world! So, please make my life easier by telling me you won't butt in and go inspector gadget on me!"
Riley hit his arm playfully. "Lucky, we not dating anymore." She than got a look of concern on her face.
"Your okay with that, right?"
Chris pushed a strand of her blonde hair back and leaned in to kiss her on the cheek. "You bet. I can tell you weren't happy, so it was probably for the best."
Riley put on a fake smile. "Good."
Chris reads his book as Riley stood up and started to walk away. She made it halfway across to the classroom before she turned back to look at him. Her heart was sore.
Faster!" He pushed forward.
Aidan kept his distance from his brother as every time Julius got close to him in the run, Aidan would bolt and leave him in the dust.
The coach whistled for them to stop. "Alright, you got a five minute break, get some water, or something."
Chris grabbed his duffle bag, he turned and saw Aidan talk to the coach, they seem to be in deep conversation and Chris couldn't see what they were mumbling about. The coach looked around to spot if anybody was looking, so Chris had to turn his head. When he turned it back Chris saw the coach give Aidan some folded money.
"What the..." Chris exclaimed. He walked over to Aidan once the coach left. "What was that about?"
Aidan panicked. "You didn't see anything. Promise." He started to walk off when Chris grabbed his arm.
"You leave home, you don't talk to us for weeks and now your on welfare!"
Aidan turned around and punched him. "It's not like that, so just shut up!"
Once Chris regain his composure he followed Aidan to the weight room.
"Look I just want to check if you were cool, I mean you've been brutal to me all week!" Chris shouted.
Aidan grabs a weight and starts pumping. "Your sticking your head where it doesn't belong, so you well deserve it."
Chris sighed. "I understand if your under a lot of pressure to perform because of your dad-
Aidan snapped. "This has nothing to do with him! You know what? If you and Julius would get off your sorry bums and knock down shots than maybe I wouldn't have to carry you guys on my back!" He angrily threw the weight at him.
Chris easily dodges it and walks over to him. "What is your problem!?!"
The two boys were now nose to nose. "Right now: YOU!" He throws a punch at him.
Chris ducks under and puts both his hands under his waistband and flips him over. After they hit the ground they start punching and kicking each other.
The coach walks in. "Hey! Get off now!" He pulls an enraged Chris off of Aidan."You guys are teammates. As well as friends, what is going on!?!"
Chris points to Aidan. "Ask him." He leaves the two alone.
Coach ran after him. "Parker! You get back here and apologize right now, son!"
Chris turned to face him. "For what? Him being a total jackass around me?!"
Coach sighed. "Paker, he's going through some things right now and you need to understand that."
"Oh, I get that., and he'll be fine. As long as people like you keep giving him free rides. Ain't that right?" Chris accused.
Coach narrowed his eyes at him. "What do you mean?"
"I saw the money coach, you know I use to idolize you. Yeah, you were rough on us, but never once did you play favorites, not even when Aidan was out hussling us. Thanks for showing your true colors."
Coach grabs Chris' arms. "Son, I am mean cuss, and I'm the same mean cuss to everyone out there on the floor."
"But Aidan is just too damn special, right?" Chris mocked.
Coach blew his whisle. "Julius!"
"Yeah." Julius perked his head up.
Coach never took his eyes from Chris. "Congratulations son, your our new starter."
Julius looked shocked. "But I though Chris was-"
Chris' eyes challedged the coach. "This is my team, my call. Now Parker, you sit your ass on that bench and pray to god that were gonna need you for even thirthy seconds of the playoffs."
Chris sat down and Julius walked over to him. "C, what happened?"
Chris just made a face and stood up.
"Chris!"
The Coach breathed heavily when Chris started to walk out the gym door. "Parker you get back here!"
Julius stood up but he didn't go after him. "Chris, come on what's the matter?!"
"Paker!"
Chris answered the coach's plea by slamming the gym door open and letting himself out.
Aidan Miles quickly tiptoed himself back into his house. He went up the stair and started rummaging through his drawer.
"Hey, you." Aidan turned around to the soft voice of his mother. Niecy looked like she was about to cry.
"Hey." Aidan replied. "It's been a while.
Niecy put on a brave face. "Yeah, it has." She exhale noisily. "So um, you came back to get your gun?"
Aidan hid the pistol behind his back. "Yeah, look I'm not gonna shoot anyone it's just for protection."
"From who." Niecy asked concerned.
"Nothing mom. Don't fret."
"Well if you want you could always move back i-
"No mom!" Aidan yelled. "I'm not coming back. Ever."
Chris and Julius walked into the house.
"So you ever gonna tell me what happened?"
Chris sat down on the couch. "It's not important, forget about it."
"Chris, that starter position is yours, I can't take it." Julius pleaded. "Just apologize to coach and I know that he'll let you back!"
"Forget, I don't do bussiness with men like that!" Chris snorted. "Come on, you always dreamed to be somebody on that team."
Julius sat down next to him. "No, I always dreamed for YOU to be somebody on that team. Your my best friend C, that's enough for me."
Chris scoffs and extends his closed hand. "Thanks, man."
Julius takes it and bangs fist with him. "Always here for you buddy."
"But I'm still not gonna apologize."
Julius threw his head back and stood up. "Come on!"
Ding Dong
Julius went to open the door and there standing revealed Rick Miles.
"What are you doing here?" He said heartlessly.
Rick let himself in and looked around. "Wow, you guys really decorated this place, last time I was here."
"Cut the bull old man, and tell me why your here." Julius roared.
Rick looked at him in surprise. He looked over Julius' shoulder to Chris who was also sharing the same merciless look on his face. He sighed.
"I know. Okay, last visit it was all clear to me. I'm sorry, son. I'm sorry I didn't do right by you, to your brother, your mother."
Julius scoffed, there was no way this was happening.
Rick reached out to touch his cut. "Looks, like you've seen better days."
Julius slapped his hand away. "Don't touch me!"
Rick looked really hurt. "Julius, I loved you just as much as Aidan, I just never showed it. I know, okay I can't excuse that. But please. Please, give me one more chance."
"Forget it, dad. I know what this is about. Aidan told you off and suddenly you come over here and try to get a spare. Well you can shove it!" With that said Julius looked at his father in disgust and took off running.
Rick turned to Chris. "I just wanted to get to know him."
"Don't turn to me for sympathy." He alleged coldly. "You've been walking around all his life like he wasn't good enough for you. But in truth, you weren't good enough for him....You don't have Aidan anymore, Rick. And you never had Niecy or Julius. So I guess now, you finally get what you've always wanted. To be alone."
Rick's bottom lip fell as he put his head down and left.
Chris' breath quickened. Jesse, Niecy, Julius, Aidan, himself. It just wasn't fair how that one man ruined all their lives! Now that he finally left, for good. It was too late to turn back the hands of time and stop what was ruined!
"Dad." He whispered softly.
While on one of his patrols Chris spotted a child no older than three years old. He fell into a thorn bush and hurt his leg, but his dad quickly helped him back up. Just seeing this made him go numb.
Up above the mad rusts of New York, below the stars of the dark sky, across the valley of the living, Spider-man was sitting at the top of the bridge. His mask was gone and tears were slowly falling below, to the cars passing by.
Chris sniffed and lifted his head up. That day he knew that it was gonna be hard to recover from the lost threads of the past that haunted his future. But he made an effort, even today every night when he went to bed he could feel his body trembling from all the emotion inside.
He heard a light laughter after his last thought. "You always were a light sleeper."
When Chris turned around he was met by his father, Peter. He was wearing the same exact suit but it wasn't as colorful. He wasn't wearing his mask either, his face still looked young.
"Dad?" Chris asked astonished. "What are you doing here?"
"Heard you were in a jam, so I thought I should come by." Peter smiled innocently.
Chris sighed, he didn't know if he was hallucinating but whatever it was, it felt nice. "Thanks, that's very cool of you."
Peter jokes, "Well, I don't know if you've read the newspaper but I always was cool!"
Chris smiles, but it quickly gets serious. "I miss you."
Peter sighed and put a hand on his shoulder. "I know son, I miss you, too."
Chris groaned. "Than why did you leave? You didn't have to stop Rick's goons from robbing that bank, you could of stayed...with me."
"I did it for the same reason, you would of. I had a responsibility to those people,in my powers, and to myself."
Chris was silent, he knew that. He just wanted an excuse to try to make the pain go away.
"I'm your pain, Chris, the root of every dark tree you have in your heart. That darkness is there, until your ready to let me go." Peter explained.
"I don't want to let you go. It wasn't fair!"
Peter realized this was gonna be harder than he thought. "It's hard to let go of somebody you care about, went through it with my Uncle Ben, once." He put a hand on his shoulder. "But, you gotta keep moving on, it's the hardest lesson your ever gonna learn, kid."
Chris turned his head away from him. "I'm tired of learning."
"Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence. Keep your eyes open, son. And I'll see you later."
Chris turned around to debate when he realized he was alone. Again. His lips were quivering.
A/N: That it for now! By the way Peter's last line is a quote from Abigal Adams one of our most respectable female unsung heroes.
A/N: That it for now! By the way Peter's last line is a quote from Abigal Adams one of our most respectable female unsung heroes.