Peter Parker walked home from the Daily Bugle building later that afternoon. He had received another big check from Jameson for his pictures in Times Square. Times Square...he hated that place. As he was walking down the cement sidewalk, he had come to a conclusion. God hated him, and he hated his life. It was that simple.

Peter yawned, his brain fried from trying to figure out why Venom had winked at him. And trying to figure out how Electro had escaped and managed to get two of his deadliest foes together. And why he never, ever had a day off.

Peter felt like falling asleep, exhausted after the day's activities, but realized he still needed to help Aunt May and buy her a Mother's Day gift.

That's when he bumped into Amanda Wells at the bus stop. His face brightened up as he spotted her. Finally, he'd been thinking about her all afternoon, besides the whole evil trio that had just been formed.

"Amanda! Funny seeing you here."

"Not really. Lots of kids take the bus."

"Okay...fine...well, anything new?"

She shrugged and got off the bench. "What do you know about Spider-Man?"

"I don't know...he swings around in ski leggings?"

She laughed. "No...I mean...I saw him at my house...stalking me."

"Really? Well, he is an egocentric superhero. How do you know he was stalking you?"

"He was looking through my windows."

"Maybe he wanted to make sure you weren't being robbed." He shrugged.

She laughed. At least she thought Peter was cool.

"I don't know, Peter...I just don't trust him. He's cute and funny, but I see him, and I see evil. I see...I guess I just..."

"I kinda know him. He's a nice guy. Has a weird personality." He said, cutting her off.

"Isn't it weird, though, how he just saves people? No profit? In today's world, people are only interested in money."

Peter smiled. "I think he's a regular guy who's trying to do something good."

"I hate him. I just do."

Peter smiled even bigger, trying to take her attention off Spider-Man. Amanda noticed. "What?"

"Are you busy tomorrow night?"

"Why?" She asked, smiling now.

"Would you like to come over for dinner?"

"I...sure. That'd be swell."

"My house is right down there, and..."

"I know where you live. We're at the same bus stop."

Peter felt really good inside as he walked off towards his house. Score! Aunt May wouldn't mind, especially if he helped her a lot today. She would be happy he brought home a friend, and even more so, a girl. High school was hard enough for him, being a smart guy who was still known as a nerd, even with his transformation after the spider bite. But having a girlfriend...ah...that meant you were a real high schooler.

He never got over his break-up with Mary Jane, though, not really. He couldn't risk her being hurt, after she found out he was Spider-Man. He tried dating another superhero after, a member of the X-Men, but that didn't work too well either. But this time he wouldn't tell her, no, she wouldn't know he was Spider-Man. Maybe that'd save the relationship. If it ever got started. He really liked Amanda Wells, though. The question was, did she like him?