Chapter 1
To recap, my best friend hates Spider-Man, Gwen is still with Harry and I am practically aloneā¦I guess the only way to go from here is up, thought Peter Parker as he was swinging his way to school.
It had been nearly a month since the Green Goblin met his end against the Web-Head and while the city was at peace, Peter's mind was far from it. After breaking up with Liz Allan and essentially isolating himself from everyone, he had practically given up on a normal life, instead opting to heavily continue his crusade as Spider-Man. Plus with Dr. Warren out of town for the next few weeks, nearly as soon as school ended, he couldn't get changed into his costume any faster.
Swinging from building to building was the one thing that made him feel free, the one thing that he still enjoyed despite all the changes that happened to him. Free to think about everything. As he was patrolling the streets, he heard sirens coming from the east of him and proceeded to follow the noises.
"Time to go to work!"
Hours later, he returned home after stopping a robbery that was in progress. As he walked in the front door, he was greeted by Aunt May.
"Oh, Peter dear, right on time. How was school?"
Peter put on a smile as he was putting his things away and said, "The usual Aunt May."
"Did you talk to Harry and Gwen today?" she asked.
Peter put his head down and said, "Not yet."
May knew Peter was going through a rough patch but she didn't think it was this bad.
"Oh, well that's alright. Would you like something to eat?" she asked.
Peter not really in the mood to eat lied and said, "I ate on my way home, I think I'm just going to crash for the night."
As he was heading upstairs, May watched as the shadow of her nephew went to his room.
Enough is enough, May said to herself, as she picked up the phone and called the one person who might be able to help Peter.
As Peter woke up, the aroma of Aunt May's famous French toast made his stomach groan, he had not eaten anything since lunch yesterday. After getting ready for the day, he made his way downstairs, oddly enough hearing chatter in the kitchen.
Now who could that be, thought Peter.
As he turned the corner into the kitchen, he was greeted by Aunt May and to his surprise Mary Jane Watson was sitting at the breakfast table laughing with Aunt May.
"MJ!" said Peter shocked. "What are you doing here?"
Before Mary Jane could answer, Aunt May interjected.
"Now Peter is that anyway to greet a guest? I invited Mary Jane over for breakfast."
Subtle Aunt May, Peter couldn't help but smile. Mary Jane might have been the one person in the world who Peter was not awkward around. Well, more awkward than he already was.
As the three shared breakfast together, Aunt May and MJ were particularly engaged in a conversation about her future. Peter on the other hand was disengaged, eating his food, and replying only when spoken to. Mary Jane noticed how Peter was really not himself, even at school he had essentially distanced himself from everyone. When Aunt May called, she sounded worried, so MJ decided to keep her eyes on Peter.
As Breakfast was wrapping up, Peter noticed the time.
"MJ, we better get going, we gotta catch our subway!" said Peter.
"Sure Tiger. Thanks for everything May!" said MJ and she grabbed her stuff and went out the door with Peter.
May sighed as they left, hopefully today will be different.
As they just narrowly made their train, MJ and Peter were sitting across from one another, sitting in silence as Peter had his nose in his book.
"So, Pete, where have you been?"
Peter looking up from his book and said, "What do you mean?"
"Come on Peter, you come to school, you sit in the back of class and almost as soon as school ends you disappear. You don't hangout with Gwen or Harry and Gwen told me you would barely show up for your session at ESU."
Peter paused for a minute to think and said, "MJ its more complicated than that. I lost Gwen, Harry doesn't support me taking pictures of Spider-Man and I broke up with Liz. Its just easier if I keep my distance from everyone."
Mary Jane looked down, she knew that things were tough for Peter since Harry's dad died, but she had no clue it was that bad.
"Tiger, I'm so sorry. I didn't know," said MJ.
Peter, feeling better but also bad said, "I'm sorry too."
After a brief silence, Peter spoke up again and said, "Thanks for letting me vent. I guess I needed to explode."
MJ smiled, "Anytime Tiger."
The train ride was then filled with chatter as they caught up. Their conversation was eventually cut short as they arrived to school. Peter stopped MJ and said, "Thanks again for this morning, I needed it."
"Of course, Peter," said MJ.
"Any chance we maybe make it a regular thing?" Peter asked.
MJ beamed at Peter and said, "Anything for you Tiger."
Smiling the two parted ways, but Peter was left in a better mood than he had been in a long time.
