Chapter 3: Chat by the Bugle

A/N: This chapter takes place several weeks before the rest of the story (Peter is telling it to MJ, but I'm writing it as a flashback in third person format)

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Thwip!

Peter sighed. It'd been a rough day so far. Five robberies, two attempted murders, and the classic handful of muggings. And it wasn't even past noon. It seemed to get worse and worse each day it seemed, even with the Fantastic Four around. He'd only run into them once or twice, and that was as Peter Parker. He had literally crashed into the Torch once as Spiderman, but it was a brief introduction at best. Making a note to talk to them sometime, Peter continued to scan the ground below, focusing on the alleyways. Why was it that criminal enjoyed the allies so much?

Thwip!

Seeing nothing of concern, he continued on towards the Bugle. He made it a priority to avoid the towering building as much as possible while in suit, but sometimes a hero's got to do what a hero's got to do. Swinging high enough that he wouldn't be seen when he passed Mr. Jameson's office, he aimed his hand toward the sky…

RING! RING

The half ring, half buzz emitting from his pocket startled him so much that he barely had time to think as his body started a hasty decent to the ground. Having superhuman reflexes working in his favor, he attached himself to the side of the building he had intended on passing. Looking inside, he could clearly make out Betty Brant's startled figure, stray papers surrounding her desk.

RING!

Praying that Betty wouldn't get Mr. Jameson, Peter reached for the small pocket sewn into his suit, which could hardly be seen, and dug around for his conveniently thin phone. Looking at the caller ID, he wasn't surprised to see that it was MJ. Flipping the top up, he greeted her,

"Hello, MJ." He did his best to sound normal.

"Hey, Pete! I saw you on TV yesterday… That fire was horrible! You ok?" Peter smiled under his mask. Trust Mary Jane to check up on him.

"I'm fine, MJ. Thanks for asking." Peter said sweetly, his voice muffled slightly through his mask.

"Alright. Just making sure. Hey, we still on for tonight?" MJ asked, completely unaware to Peter's rather awkward situation as press workers gathered around the glass window.

"Yeah… 8:30… Uh, MJ, could you-"

"Pete? Pete, I can barely hear you. Are you wearing- Oh, gosh, did I catch you on the job?" MJ's voice sounded like an apology.

Oh great. Now Mr. Jameson was by the window, fuming and raging – and probably cursing, at Peter. He turned and said something that Peter couldn't make out.

"Eh… You could say that. I'm not really doing anything right now, but yeah, I'm on the job." Peter glanced at the mob surrounding the window. He would swing of somewhere else, but it was a little difficult to do so with a phone in hand, and he didn't want to hang up on his girlfriend.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Tiger! I'll call you back later- wait. Dang it! My phone's about to die! Listen, I have a production coming up – a big one… I'll tell you tonight…"

Even better. One of the Bugle's photographers was coming. Peter could see it now- A photo of Spiderman chatting on his cell plastered across the front page with some crazy, bold lettered headline of Mr. Jameson's making. That was just what he needed. It'd probably start another crazy rumor, about what, only heaven knew.

"Yeah?" Peter's voice urged MJ to talk quickly.

"Anyway, I told the director about you- he wants you to come and do some photo shoots for him at his studio- PhotoFine Studio, You know it?"

"Yeah, a few blocks south of Central Park, right?" Peter tensed as cameras flashed through the glass panes.

"Right! Can you come around three?"

"Sure."

"Great! Hey Pete, wh-"

"Look, I'm really, really sorry MJ… I'm about a hundred fifty feet above the ground…"

"Gotcha. I'll let you go. See you tonight, Tiger!"

"Ok, love you, bye!"

"You too, Pete."

Click! BZZZZ… Peter flipped his cell closed, shoved it into his pocket, and swung away before more pictures could be snapped.

On the other side of the window, Mr. Jameson continued to rage after Spiderman.

"Ha! Look at 'em! Running away again! He's just a great big coward! A menace! And one day I'll reveal him for what he is!" Turning to the photographers and the rest of the staff still staring at the window, he started back to his office, his booming voice still echoing through the room.

"What do you think you're doing? We've got pages to print! Money to make! Hudson! I need page 12! Brant, answer the phone! Robert- get me a light. Where's Parker?!"

"He's right here, Mr. Jameson." Betty escorted a tousled-haired Peter to Jonah's office.

"There you are! Some photographer! You just missed Spiderman! On his cell! Photo of the century! We'll put it on the front page, How's this? 'City Menace Plans Next Strike'" Mr. Jameson waved his hands in front of him, imagining the header for his next edition already.

"Mr. Jameson, Spiderman isn't a menace! He-"

"Parker! No one asked you for an opinion, did they? And where are my pictures? I want more of Spiderman and his cell- or better yet, find out if he's got a girl! Now out! Robert! Where's my light?!" Peter was promptly shoved out of his office. After Betty gave him a sweet, apologetic smile as usual, he made his way to the elevator. As he traveled to the ground floor alone, he sighed. He was in a hole and digging himself deeper.

That night after the photo shoot, Peter and MJ sat at a small, yet pleasant Chinese restaurant across from each other at a small window table.

"Thanks again for coming, Pete. I'm sure Mr. Talbot thanks you too, even if he didn't say it." Mary Jane gave him a sympathetic smile.

"It's fine. Don't apologize for others, Mary Jane. It's not your fault he's rude. I'm just worried that he'll be this way around you. When is your next break from shooting?"

"I don't know. Several weeks, at minimum. Like I said, I'll be out of town when I'm shooting, but feel free to call me. Unfortunately, they want me to leave ASAP, so this is the last time I'll see you until then… Tell Aunt may goodbye for me." MJ took a bite of her sesame chicken. Peter laughed.

"MJ, you're making it sound like you're going away for good or something. But alright, I'll tell Aunt May you said goodbye." After swallowing, MJ started to giggle.

"Oh, I just can't help it! You know that feeling you get when you leave home for the first time? Like for a summer camp or college?"

"Yeah, I guess so."

"That's what I feel like. It's weird. Almost like re-living 6th grade summer camp." MJ said thoughtfully. Peter wore a small smile.

"I think I remember that. Wasn't that the time that I got left in the river with an overturned canoe? Or was that 8th grade?" MJ laughed and patted Peter's hand.

"That was defiantly 6th. I felt so sorry for you! You were soaked to the bone when you finally turned up around camp…" She looked at him with a remembering look. "I think I remember your aunt yelling at that counselor… That poor man hadn't even been on duty for more than a month when your aunt attacked him." MJ Shook her head as Peter took a mouthful of lo-mien. MJ glanced up at the clock as she finished off her diet coke.

"Oh… I gotta go, Tiger. I don't want to be late for my ride. I need to finish packing, too." She and Peter rose at the same time, and she immediately stepped forward to give him a tight hug. "I'll see you in a few weeks?"

"Of course." Peter hugged her back, his shaped frame enveloping her slender one. "You need a ride home?" He asked, wishing that he could have a few more minutes of her time. MJ gave him a grateful look.

"I would love one, Pete, but unless you'd like to carry it home, my car has to get to my apartment somehow." MJ propped her chin up on his chest as she waited for his reply.

"Oh. Alright. Well, I guess I'll see you later. You need any help with anything?"

"No, I just need to pack up one or two things and I'll be good to go. Thanks, Pete, for tonight. And the photo shoot. And everything." She gave him one last squeeze and pulled back.

"Sure. Have a safe trip, ok?"

"Of course. See ya' later, Tiger." MJ leaned in to give him a kiss, and then left the restaurant after the waiter took their bill. "Love you, Pete." She gave him a wave as she closed her car door.

"You too!" Peter answered, watching her go. As he swung back to his apartment, he suddenly remembered that he hadn't told Mary Jane about the bugle earlier that day. That would make for an interesting story for later, he supposed.

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R&R, please! And 'PhotoFine Studio' is a name of my own creation. If you think it's weird and/or stupid, I'm sorry that you think that. REVIEW!