A/N: Hello, reader. This is my first attempt at fan fiction. The premise is that the entire story will only span half-a-day of Spiderman's life as Peter Parker, starting 12:37 P.M. It's set in the Ultimate universe. I hope it entertains. Additional chapters will follow. Critiques are very much welcome. Thanks.

Disclaimer: All characters are property of Marvel. Or whatever is it that I'm supposed to put here.

Chapter 1: 12:37 P.M.

Peter slumped on his desk; his hands were folded on top of his copy of a T.S. Eliot compilation entitled Inventions of the March Hare. He was about twenty minutes early for his literature class and was alone in the classroom. He finished lunch early – the roast-beef sandwich his Aunt May made him didn't take much of his time. And with the library closed for the afternoon due to renovations, he went straight to class instead.

He gazed at the wall clock, watching its arrow-like hands tick-tock its way to 1:00 P.M. Peter tended to daydream and this time, his thoughts were filled with Kitty, his new girlfriend. He wondered where she was.

She's probably with that Bobby guy, Peter thought. God, I hate that guy. Ugh. Why is he even in the X-Men? He's just a creepy guy with creepy ice powers. Man, I swear, if he makes a move on Kitty…

"Peter!" A voice Peter knew all-too-well broke his reverie.

Peter turned toward the voice and sees Mary Jane or MJ as her friends called her. Peter noticed MJ's new haircut. It was short, not reaching past her ears.

"Hey," Peter managed as he sat up. "I like the new do."

"Yeah, right! I bet you hate it!" MJ's cheeks flushed as she ran her hand across her auburn hair. She was wearing a brown corduroy jacket over a green blouse and a pair of worn denims.

"No, no, I really like it. It suits you." Peter was being honest. He did like it. She looked older, a bit more mature.

But what if the new hairdo was a sign of MJ finally moving on? Peter asked himself.

Peter, though he would never admit it to Kitty, still cares for MJ. But he can't be with MJ. Not with him being Spiderman. He began to wonder if MJ still loved him or if he was right about the hair cut theory.

"Peter? Hello? You're spacing out again. As usual. "

Peter caught himself before he spiraled deeper in monologue. He returned to the conversation. "Sorry. I was just – "

"What?"

"Um, nothing."

"Anyway," MJ drawled out. "What are you doin' here?"

"Um, class."

"Yeah, I know, but you're a bit early."

"Yeah, just had nowhere to go," Peter adjusted his seat towards MJ. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, I was walking by when I saw you." MJ paused then continued with a sort of hesitation in her voice. "And I was just wondering if you were going with anyone to the fair this Friday."

Peter suddenly wanted to break-out through window and swing away.

"Um, yes. Kinda. Yes. Kitty." Peter averted his eyes. He felt stupid. He felt terrible. He felt stupid, terrible and somewhat like a villain. If feeling guilty over having a new girlfriend was how villains felt.

"Oh, right." MJ looked away.

"Yeah. You?" Peter asked. He already knew the answer but he just couldn't find anything else to say.

"No one yet."

"Oh."

Two of Peter's classmates entered the room and sat some chairs away.

"Hey, your classmates are here. I better go." MJ ran one hand across her hair again before rushing to the door. "Bye."

"Yeah, bye." Peter watched MJ hurriedly leave the classroom.

Peter slumped on the desk again. It's going to be a long day.