"Spider-Man, thank you for allowing us to interview you."

"My pleasure, Ms. Wells."

"So…Spider-Man…how did you get your powers?" She asked him.

"Uh…if you don't mind, I'm not really going to answer that. I didn't fall into a barrel of toxic waste, though. And I'm not an alien. Hopefully that stopped some rumors."

"Okay. Let's get to the question most of the ladies in this city want to know: Does Spider-Man have a girlfriend?" Amanda questioned encouragingly.

"Well…heh…Spider-Man doesn't even know that answer, really…there's one girl. She's amazing. She's funny and cute and smart. I've known her since…well…forever, really…and then there's another, one that I can't get out of my head. It's hard, really, because a relationship can't really work out for me. The girl would have to know I'm Spider-Man because I'd be running off all the time to 'save the day'. I did tell her…but I don't know…she doesn't like me very much…but I hope she can learn to love the man with and without the mask."

Amanda cleared her throat. She knew he was talking about her.

"Spider-Man…some people just can't understand why you do what you do. And that's probably why it won't last. Some people just don't trust you…and…"

She saw Spider-Man grabbing his shoulder.

"Spider-Man…is it true you were recently shot?"

"Yeah…yeah, that's true." He said, understanding what Amanda was saying about relationships not working.

"For an extremely stupid and illogical reason?"

"Yep." He nodded, slouching back in his chair.

The photographer took a picture, and Spider-Man felt his eyes go out of focus.

"Turn the flash off!" Jameson screamed.

"O…okay."

"Like you're not even there, huh, J.J?" Spidey laughed.

Amanda shook her head in confusion.

"Spider-Man…you were shot! And…after all this slandering and thrashing you've taken…why do you still do it? Why risk your life for…for strangers? People you've never even met? I mean, what do you do out there, search for a place to die? It's so dangerous…it just doesn't seem normal."

"I've asked myself that as well, Amanda. You don't know how badly I want to burn this costume and say this city isn't my problem. I want to so badly..."

"Then why don't you?" She asked. "We have cops to do this sort of thing."

"You see…police officers say that superheroes like me should mind their own business. They say we're not responsible. But the truth is, we are. We have the power to do something. And with great power comes great responsibility."

Amanda switched positions, thinking of another question. She hadn't made any before this interview. Bad idea.

"And another time, with Electro at the Baxter Building. We all know if Electro wasn't so…well…stupid, then you might not be here right now. Did that traumatize you in anyway?"

"Well, of course it did. I'm a normal kid under the mask, Amanda. And to think that my life was over, that I didn't do everything I wanted to, that'd I'd never see my friends and family again…I was scared."

They heard a click, and he knew that a photo had just been taken. That little click was annoying…

"Is anything the newspapers say true? About you collaborating with various villains?"

"No. none of it is true. And I want that in bold or italicized or something! I am not a criminal! I may have jay-walked a few times, but that's it."

Amanda laughed. "What would people say if they knew who you were?"

"They wouldn't believe it." He simply said.

"How so?"

"I'm not this funny or cool in real life. Only when the mask is on."

Amanda smiled.

"You are amazing, Spider-Man. But there are still some people who don't trust you. What do you say to them?"

"Don't believe everything you read. I don't bite. I mean…I'm just here to help."

Spider-Man scratched the back of his neck.

"Can you look at yourself and feel proud of everything you've done?"

"Yeah. I can. Because I know I'm helping people. And I don't care how many blowhards like Jameson, no offense, J.J., think otherwise. It may annoy me, but I mean, people have freedom of speech." The webswinger said, feeling very good about himself.

"Are you the person you thought you would be? I mean, the superhero? Did you see yourself as this…this 'Spider-Man' character once you had gotten your powers?" She questioned.

"No. Please. Me? A superhero? That's crazy. Let's see…when I started to get my powers I thought I was gonna die. It hurt so bad…and then…when I got them…it was like, Oh my god! I'm shooting freakin' webs outta my freakin' arms! I tried showbiz…that didn't work out at all. I lost someone very close to me. And that's what started me off, actually. The death of a loved one."

"Oh. I'm so sorry." Amanda said, unsure of what else to say.

"Because of me…because I was selfish and a huge jerk up in the spotlight…someone very close to me died. And I guess I just wanted to…to do something good, after what…what happened. I'm not who I thought I'd be, no. Hell no. I thought I'd be a normal kid with a normal life. Never in a million years did I think I would be wearing these tights. I'm trying to make the best and worst dressed lists at the same time!"

Amanda smiled. And looked at the clock. "Well, I don't want to waste anymore of your time Spider-Man, thank you so much."

"It was my pleasure, Ms. Wells, It was my pleasure. I have to head out now. I hope I helped you with your career of a reporter."

"Thanks. I hope so too."

He got up, talking quietly to Amanda so Jameson or the photographer couldn't hear. Jameson was busy screaming at the photographer for something he did wrong. Even if it was the fact he was dressed casually.

"Amanda…" Spidey said.

"I'm sorry. I just…I can't date the man who runs off to get his ass kicked every time something bad happens. Spider-Man is…I'm sorry. You're a great guy, but I can't be around him 24/7."

"Yeah…Sure."

"You're a great guy, and I love hanging out with you. I'm lucky to have a friend like you."

He looked at her, his head slightly slumped to the side.

"Me too."

And he was gone.

Jameson walked over and put his hand on Amanda's shoulder.

"Good job, Ms. Wells. I'll be sure to call you if there are any stories available. I know you're just a kid but…Dammit! Turn the flash off! I don't want to go blind, kid! What are you, addicted to pressing buttons and bright lights!"

Amanda shook her head. Thanks a lot, Parker! Now I'm stuck here, working for this crack-up!

But she really did thank him. Deeply.