The End 13- I Tried So Hard and Got So Far

I don't feel like myself…

As much as she hated to admit it, Piper Checker former anti prom campaigner was excited, not to mention ready for possibly what may be the highlight of her high school year. She was far too excited about the dress she bought. She had never been excited about wearing a dress before.

Flashback

Piper had been walking around the mall for hours looking for a prom dress. She felt like she had tried on hundreds at different department stores but none of them matched up to what she wanted. In her opinion there were far too many ugly ones. Some too short, some too clingy, some would have looked better in a different color, some too poofy, she couldn't find one that seemed 'just right'.

Piper didn't have a lot of experience wearing dresses; she hardly ever wore them even when she was little. She also absolutely refused to wear tights, or panty hose or whatever they were; it was too uncomfortable and made her skin crawl. Plus most of the dresses required her to wear a strapless bra, something that she was also not familiar with. When she first looked a one she wondered if a band of fabric around her chest would be more comfortable. It wasn't like she had that much anyway.

The blonde-haired girl walked out of the lingerie store empty handed and disheartened. She shouldn't have waited this long to get a dress and 'accessories'

There were two department stores left that she could check in but she felt rather hopeless. Piper entered the next one; it was rather large and it took her a few moment to find the part were the dresses were displayed. She browsed somewhat uninterestedly through the sea of sequined gowns. She saw an older woman helping a younger girl pick out a dress that flattered the girl's tiny figure. She felt a tinge of jealousy, for a moment she wished her mom was there to help her pick out something girly!

Her combat boots heels click on the title floor, and she stopped near a mirror attached to the wall. Faded jeans, a blue sweatshirt, black combat boots- she felt inadequate. Especially compared to Mary Jane

"Piper?" a voice called?

"Huh?" she snapped out of her introspection.

"Hi! It's me, Kris! Are you shopping?" as soon as he had asked it he wished he could take it back, of course she was in a store! D'oh she was shopping!

Piper didn't seem to notice his faux pas though, "I've been looking for a prom dress and what not, but I haven't been able to find anything! Not shoes or necklaces or any girly stuff I need!"

"Maybe I can help?" Kris offered somewhat shyly.

"I can't bother you; you must be buying a tux." She responded, she bet guys had a much easier time picking out tuxes.

"Oh no, they're much too expensive to buy, especially if I'll outgrow it." He responded. Piper looked pretty distraught.

"What? If you don't wear a tux what do you wear?"

Kris laughed out loud, "guys usually rent a tux, didn't you know? And actually I'm working right now. I have a part time job at this store, so I wouldn't mind helping you find something at all- it's my job" I'd love to help you Piper, can't you see?

"In that case, sure I mean- I help you out just about everyday!" Piper agreed feeling significantly more cheery and like she had a better chance of finding a dress.

Kris's face nearly faulted. He hoped she would never find out after the first day he had started jamming his own locker. "The prom dresses are over here, I think I can help you find one you might like. Do you have an idea of what you want?"

A half and hour and several dresses later, he was right, he did find her a dress she liked. He brought her a few dresses to try on and led her to a dressing room to model her favorites. He hadn't expected her to come out and ask his opinion though.

"Do you think this is too poofy?" she asked smoothing out a sky blue strapless dress. She looked into the four way mirror and did a little twirl.

"Maybe a little bit" he said honestly "I think you should try on that red one though." He pointed a dress hanging on the door. It was also strapless dress in a deep shade of crimson. The silky crimson part had a short sweeping bunched hem that swooped down over a white layer of taffeta underneath; it had slightly puffy material under it.

Piper went to try it on, just unzippering and pulling it up she knew it was going to look amazing. There was a problem though. She couldn't zipper up the back by herself.

"Kris could you help me for a second?" she called from the dressing room. She held the dress up with her arm and turned around, "could you zipper this for me?"

The teenage boy nearly turned bright red. "Sure…" As he zippered the dress up, Kris noticed a handful of red new scars on her back. "Ouch, that look like it hurt" he commented.

"You're telling me…" she muttered.

When she finally turned to view the dress, she was stunned. This was the dress she was going to get. "I love it" she smiled happily.

"It looks really good on you" Kris smiled, she was beautiful… "I can help you find shoes, and a necklace to go with it"

"Thank you Kris!"

End Flashback

She finally put the dress on, her heart fluttered about nervously, almost as if it wanted to leap into her throat and mess up her words. She was thankful Kris had helped her pick everything out; it made her a whole lot less nervous. He was so patient while she kept trying on pairs of shoes! He even gave her a discount on the dress.

That shopping trip had taken everything stressful off her mind. "I didn't even think about Peter once" she stopped in thought for a moment. Had she been so obsessed that she completely forgot about her own personality? Had her mind completely gone to mush because of a stupid dance? Piper began to ponder the current situation her feelings had but her in, but she didn't have time to think about them, Peter would be arriving any moment now.

She looked at the tickets on her dresser, she was prepared, and she fully heard the knocking on the door and knew how to move her feet toward it down the hallway, even how to open the door. What she could not do was speak; no, speaking was definitely out of the question when she saw him.

He was smiling and he looked happy. All her thoughts and words deserted her.

"Well OF COURSE he is, why wouldn't he be?"

"Hey" Was all Peter Parker said as Piper made a vague gesture with her hands conveying that he should come in.

"Oh yeah, you might want this." He said holding out to her something he had been holding in his hand that she had not noticed. It was a corsage. Not just a little one with little cheap carnations, but an absolutely gorgeous one with red fairy roses and Queen Anne's lace. Piper tried to dismiss the fact that it was probably picked out by Mary Jane, but just that he had considered this age old tradition of giving flowers to a girl ogled her mind.

He tied it around her wrist and smiled "What do you think?"

Piper gulped trying not to portray any emotion on her face "Why can't I speak?"

"Its great," she finally managed to get out "Thanks" she said as she managed to speak a little

"Don't look so shell-shocked Pip." He responded casually to her unusual shyness

"Don't call me Pip!" She answered slightly annoyed creasing her eyebrows.

"There you go, now you're warming up." Peter joked.

"Ha, ha."

Her Dad ushered Peter and Piper into the kitchen and set out some appetizers for all of them to snack on. He put out some of Piper's favorites, like the mini quiches with spinach and cheese. Piper squealed with delight upon seeing them and resisted the urge to stuff two them in her mouth at once. She felt too dressed up and proper.

Ed couldn't believe it. His daughter was wearing makeup and a dress; she looked radiant and positively happy. He never thought Piper even had any interest in a prom or other girly things for that matter. When she got her period it had practically killed her to ask for tampons. And now, she was delighted to be in a dress! Lately she had seemed distant from him and moody, but maybe now she would finally be happy with her new home. I'm happy for you Piper…I really am.

After promising her dad not to come back at an unreasonable hour of the morning she was set to go. Peter being the gentleman, geeky nerd he was even opened his car door for her which she thought to extraordinarily considerate and never had anyone done that for her before. As she lifted up her dress to get in the car, Peter gave her an odd look.

"I can't believe you! You wore THAT under your dress?"

Piper cringed slightly, obvious he saw she was wearing the legs of the Spiderman costume "Well you never know…" she trailed off "Yeah, I have the top and the gloves in my purse…" she let the corners of her mouth creep into a smile.

"You're too much like me…." he responded rolling his eyes.

"You mean you have it on TOO?" Piper laughed

Peter nodded guiltily, "Yep, guilty as charged. It's under my tux."

Piper grinned "Cuuttee."

Piper wasn't exactly sure what happened that night; as far as she was concerned it could have been a dream. Every feeling she had suppressed was probably now guiltily showing upon her face (though Peter Parker didn't really notice) never had she felt more secure then when she was dancing, with her arms around his neck, every unpleasant thought was so very far away, if this was bliss Piper Checker had most certainly found it. She didn't even care about the horrible job the decoration committee had done or that most of the food was practically inedible all that mattered was that he was here with her.

She could pretend that he was always with her now and she didn't have anything to worry about, she was living a dream, her dream. She never found before she had so much to say; she talked about her mother and details about her life she'd never really told anyone and he listened to her. She clung helplessly to his every word. Her words made her seem as if her normal characteristics were but a façade and she didn't mind her that heart was on her sleeve. All her life she had wanted to experience such an emotion but never could, until now and it was wonderful, Piper allowed herself to drink in every single feeling, the world was hers and there wasn't anyone who could tell her differently.

So, as he held her hand and led her very gentlemanly like up to her apartment after such a wonderful night, she started to remember the world she had momentarily she left behind.

"Peter, I had such a great night!" she said to him wearing a dazzling smile, one such as had been attached to her face the whole night.

"If I didn't know any better I'd say you were a different person." He joked.

"It makes me not want to go back to reality." She replied sounding somewhat cryptically to Peter.

"Well, reality is what you make it after all." Peter responded trying to sound equally philosophical.

"You're right? Why just dream when you can make it real." she said aloud almost breathlessly. She knew what was going to happen, he knew what was going to happen and she embraced the moment willingly in one kiss so passionate it almost seemed surreal to Piper.

Mary Jane saw it, she almost didn't believe her eyes, and no, this wasn't real…but it was. She stood at the corner of the street as Piper walked back into her apartment. He stood there for a moment looking slightly bemused. They wouldn't know what she had seen. Mary Jane bit her lip, suddenly she felt as if she had, had an utterly pure hearted intention that was maliciously cruel as if all along she had been giving the message 'Well, he's mine but I guess I can let you see him for a night'

But that lip locking hadn't seemed so innocent, it looked as if the exploration of each other's mouths had been thoroughly enjoyed by both parties. Mary Jane could only wonder what she had done or how he felt as she went back to the outside of the complex of apartments waiting for Peter, who would have never known she was there.

For about the millionth time, Piper was unable to sleep she was far too excited to go to sleep. In her perspective she had felt love, some who was so like her connecting with her. She was sure he felt the same way, he had to have! There was no way Mary Jane could understand him the way she could, they way she could protect herself, and the way she felt. "You're being stupid." Her inner voice told her, she didn't want to believe it, even it if it was right, what was so bad on acting how you feel? She ignored her thoughts and quickly dozed off into a peaceful dreamless sleep.

Piper lounged on the couch that morning after breakfast in a post blissful haze and absent-mindedly turned on the T.V. looking for something entertaining to watch. She flipped to a news station, they seemed to be talking about something important, and it was on almost every channel. She stopped to see Beth Hammond on the T.V. and snorted, still she listened to she what lies she had to share now mildly interested.

But instead of the news reporter speaking they went straight to a video clip of a woman. The woman had a smirk upon her face as she toyed with her raven black hair almost casually. "Super heroes?" she laughed, "let's see if you can save everyone now." Piper's attention was immediately caught, this didn't sound good.

"I've got two buildings enclosed with bombs, one in New York the other in Boston, no one gets in or out. The buildings are equipped with an outside motion sensor surrounding a ten foot area around the entire building. If anyone crosses it the bombs will detonate" the camera switched to the scenes of hostages enclosed in a building panicking and crying hysterically. "Turn yourselves into me…you've got to decide which one lives. Otherwise they both go in exactly three hours from now." Piper gasped as she dug her nails into the side of the couch. Just as the clip ended showing the inside of building in Boston, Piper saw a face in the building that she knew…that building was where her mother worked…it was her mother, and it looked pretty clear to Piper she was trapped in there with the others.

Beth's voice came upon the air "Hilary Dunn is a person who was recently convicted for several other serial bombings and has managed to eluded the police and now taken two buildings hostage with the intention of bombing them, government officials are trying to negotiate with her but with no success so far, on behalf of New York and Boston, please Spiderman help us."

Piper turned off the T.V…. three hours to help solve this…and her mother…but only one building? There had to be a way to save both. She was also angry, not only because she felt helpless but because they had said "Spiderman help us" no mention of her, she would show them what she was worth…or die trying.

The End 14- But in the End it doesn't even matter

Her first thought was to go to Peter. It seemed like a good idea but she wondered if that's what she should do. Especially since her Dad wasn't going to let her out of the house. She wondered if Peter was even home. What would he do? What would she do?

She didn't have time to think about this! Piper dashed to her room and rummaged around in a box under her bed for her costume, which she quickly stuffed in her back pack. She shut the door to her room and prayed her Dad wouldn't go in.

She bit her lip, I'm sorry again Dad, maybe someday I'll tell you…

And she slipped out the window unnoticed.

The rest of New York City however, was in a panic, there seemed to me a huge amount of fear and uncertainly. What was Spiderman going to do?

Beth Hammond was still in her office; Max hadn't come into work that morning. "I can't believe she would do that!" It made Beth completely furious. All that time they had spent working together, and Beth laughing at Max's stupid jokes and she up and left! And now this psycho person was running around, didn't Max know it wasn't safe to go and film this? She had gone to the site around the building filmed for the news station even though Beth had expressly told her not to!

"Oh, Alex will be there." She had told her.

Alex! Hmp!

"What are you in a huff about? Got your undies in a twist?" Piper let herself through Beth's office window in her costume.

"You!" Beth cursed, "What do you want? To laugh at me because my partner left me?"

"Huh?" Piper said. This lady never made any sense.

"I'm sorry about that, but you owe me a favor." Spidergirl finally had found a use for this reporter.

Beth cheered up a little, "An exclusive…" she mentally thought.

"And what do you want from me?" Beth raised an eyebrow.

"Well, Miss Beth, we're going on a little trip and you're going to help me."

"What?" but because she could say more Piper grabbed her and they swung other the window.

Peter had already gotten a head start on her though. He used a clever little trick to get inside, his old favorite habit of navigating sewers had finally paid off, and he knew just how to get in. As soon as he had pulled himself out of the dingy sewer and up through a drain on a bathroom floor (he had to widen the hole quite a bit with a metal pipe though) he made his way into the lobby.

A cheer rose up from the people trapped inside as he entered. Peter felt just as encouraged by them as they did by him.

"Don't worry! You're going to get out safe and sound" he just had to find Hilary but more importantly he had to disarm the motion sensors first to get the people out.

A smile flickered across the lips of Hilary as she watched from the security room. Peter made his way cautiously from camera to camera in black and white. This was going to be fun…

Piper let Beth down in front of the building which was marked off by yellow hazard tape and police officers. Piper didn't think any one of them would stop her though. Just as Beth was grumbling about the web slinging a certain red-head caught her eye. "Max!" she yelled. The red-head was standing next to an equally red-haired attractive male.

Max resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She thought her curly haired friend might come here. Piper and Beth made their way over to the cameramen.

"Goodie now that we're all here," Piper began "could you put those down? This is more important!" both Max and Alex put their cameras (unwillingly down).

"Now that I have your attention, where are these motion sensors? How can they possibly surround the building?" she folded her arms across her chest.

"How would we know?" Beth started, but Max interrupted her.

"Actually I think I know, or well Alex has a theory."

"And?" Piper asked

"I think it's the outside security cameras, if any of them detect motion then it triggers. At least that's what I think…I'm not sure…"

"So if we can take out one, we could enter?"

"WE?" Beth nearly screamed.

"Well you do kind of remind me of what a chicken with black curly hair would look like."

The reporter fumed.

"It's okay, I don't think we would help you much inside, but I think we can help with the motion sensors, at least disable enough to get in" Max nodded to Alex "That's right." He responded.

"But what if?" Beth trailed off.

"Don't you have any faith in Max?" Piper asked the reporter, "It's the best we have to go on. We have to try!"

Beth had to reluctantly agree, "If anyone can do it, Max can."

The red-headed girl smiled. "All right, this is how it's gonna work…"

The Camera experts went to work; actually it was a bit stupid how they agreed to solve their problem. "All we have to do is cut the power supply…it might affect a couple of blocks but this building doesn't have a generator, and so you should be able to get in"

Piper laughed "You guys are the best".

"Alright, as soon as you see the power go out, go in as quickly as possible, we don't know if Dun will be able to find a back up source." Alex explained gravely, Piper nodded, "Don't worry."

A crowd of people had begun to gather from behind the caution tape, the city had heard Spiderman and Spidergirl had begun to make their moves and they had come to see what would happen. They must have had some faith to come see this at a building that might explode. Law enforcement tried to fend them off, but it still didn't' seem to affect the morale of the crowd.

Max gave Piper the signal, as soon as the lights of the surrounding businesses began to flicker and then turn off, Piper drew a deep breath, held it and dashed towards the front door "This is could be the stupidest idea I ever had"

However, much to her relief, she was able to enter the building with out any explosives going off.

It worked! She took in a breath of relief.

The people in the lobby looked confused, were they able to escape? And the lights had all gone out; the only source of light now was the sunlight in the tinted windows.

"The power was cut, get out while you can!" she exclaimed.

"Spiderman's already here." she heard a man near her say.

What? That….self righteous…

"Right, I'll go have a chat with him…" and she took off up a flight of stairs. The hostages took no time at all to swarm the exits.

After going up several flights she stopped to heave a breath. She had no idea what to do now…

"Piper!" a voice said from behind her.

Piper nearly jumped. "MJ! What are you doing here? Go back downstairs! And call me Spidergirl!"

"I can't let you do this by yourself." MJ reasoned.

Piper fumed, she had it up to here with this girl. She was the superhero here! MJ was the damsel in distress. Piper had no need for putting up with her girl anymore. How dare she say something like that! She did not have to put up with this. This was the breaking point for Piper.

"I don't need you! Leave me the fuck alone! I've hated you since the moment I met you! You're a stupid ditz of a girl who doesn't deserve to be loved so completely by Peter! Get out of my way!"

Piper exploded at Mary Jane. She hadn't meant to add the last part but she wanted to more than anything to hurt that stupid perfect girl. She shot a web at Mary Jane's mouth and then several move leaving MJ stuck to the wall. Piper left without her.

She was going to show everyone that she could do this by herself.

Mary Jane stood there in shock as Piper bounded away, hurt and confused. She pried at the sticky web from her mouth with her shoulder. Did Piper really hate her that much? She couldn't the angry words the blonde haired girl spat at her out of her head. You don't deserve to be loved so completely by Peter! Was it true? Peter loved her? Not as a friend?

"You're wrong Piper; I don't know why you hate me but as you are now how will you make it out alive?"

Mustering up all her courage Mary Jane struggled against the sticky web that held her. Even though she didn't know why, she felt like she had to. The things the girl had said hurt, but why had Mary Jane hurt her? Because of Peter? She couldn't let Piper do anything rather. Eventually after much struggling she was able to free herself from the wall.

Mary Jane went up several flights, wondering which way Piper or Spiderman had gone. She had to tell Spiderman at least that Piper was here. She didn't have to wait long to find them, with a deafening explosion and burst of hot air and smoke she figured out where they had gone.

The security room was down the hall, scorched carpeting and shattered walls told her she was close. She heard voices in the next room.

"Destroy the remote Spidey! If you get that she can't activate the explosives!" it was Piper. Mary Jane heard another explosion and shattering glass, what was that?

She peeked from a burnt hole in a wall. The three of them were in the room; Hilary had a massive gun over her shoulder, a…rocket launcher?

"Got it!" Spiderman yelled. Mary Jane inwardly cheered. They would be okay, like always!

"No!" Hilary screamed louder. Mary Jane heard a series of clicks. Hillary fired multiple rockets at the ceiling, and smiled as it came down on her.

Peter watched in horror. They had won, but the ceiling rapidly began collapsing. They would all be killed! Piper and Peter needed began to dash to an open hole in the destroyed wall. That is until they heard a scream. There was no mistaking it. Mary Jane.

Time seemed to freeze for Piper. She followed her. Piper was closer than Peter…she would be able to reach Mary Jane. But she could turn around and leave with Peter…it was her dream all over again. She could….she couldn't do it. In all it was a split second decision. With all her strength she shoved Peter behind her at the opening and flung herself towards the helpless girl. "Get the fuck out Peter!"

Piper embraced Mary Jane. The ceiling was coming down heavy with fire and smoke all around her; huge pieces besieged her entire body. Piper had nothing on her mind but her mind to save the girl. She flung the girl at Peter just as a massive chunk of ceiling slammed down on her.

It was so quick that just as MJ was handed off to Peter the ceiling came down on her.

"PIPER!" Peter screamed. Peter webbed the piece off her as more kept coming, each piece bounced off her making the parts of her body it hit twitch violently. Peter webbed Piper and pulled her to him as he launched another web to stick to a near by building. He webbed them out of there.

The whole events took less than a minute but it felt like a lifetime to Mary Jane. Piper…saved her…why? In that split second she chose someone she hated should live.

Peter quickly lowered them to the ground.

"We need medical help! Somebody! Anybody!" he felt so helpless and on the verge of tears.

A team of paramedics swarmed the scene almost at once. It was too much confusion! Too much going on! They ripped off her mask to be replaced it with another so she could breathe. It was too ironic. They lifted her on a stretcher. Peter and MJ could only watch in horror. Alex, Max and Beth had rushed to them as soon as they saw Spiderman land.

"Oh my God." Beth was too hurt for words, a teenage girl…battered. Was she even alive?

The people of the crowd gasped in horror of the girl they saw loaded into the ambulance. This was the end…the brutality of life. Whispers of "That poor girl…" and "tragedy" went through the crowd.