Harry left the kitchen angrily after blowing up on me. Gwen came in a few minutes later as I was rinsing the pans Aunt May had used for making supper.
"Thanks Pete." Gwen said.
"For what? Doing dishes?" I asked. Gwen laughed and handed me a few plates which I placed in the sink.
"No silly." Gwen smiled, "For talking to Harry." Gwen said.
"Oh… that. Don't thank me, I really just seemed to repeat myself a lot and besides… he didn't listen." I said washing the new plates. Gwen leaned against the counter watching me. My heart sped up a little.
"No… he might not have been listening, but it was worth a shot. He's been moody and dark lately, I'm glad you were able to talk to him as his friend." Gwen smiled.
"Doesn't change the guilt I feel." I said scrubbing the pan, "I keep thinking, I could have done something. I mean I was there… I…" Gwen flicked me in the forehead.
"Stop it. You blaming yourself isn't going to change the fact that Harry's dad was messed up taking the same thing Harry was. You don't need to blame yourself. Even if you could have done something, or Spider-Man could have done something to save him, Norman would still have been taken away in another sense." Gwen said. I sighed.
"I guess that much is true." I responded.
"Don't worry so much Pete." Gwen smiled. Harry walked in and saw us his fists seemed to tighten.
"Gwen, your dad says he's leaving, you can catch a ride back with me, or if you'd like we can all go together now." Harry said.
"Ok, tell him I'll be there in a minute." Gwen said. Harry nodded. I dried off my hands and Gwen looked at me.
"Stop blaming yourself." Gwen said simply, and for a moment I could almost swear she knew. Then she gave me a quick hug and I walked her out to the door. Harry took her hand and gave her I kiss wrapping his arm around her and Gwen smiled uncomfortably. I bit my lip and ignored it.
"Bye Pete." Gwen waved. Harry just nodded.
"Bye Gwen, bye Harry." Harry gave a sort of salute.
"I'll see you in class tomorrow." Captain Stacy said.
"Sure thing Captain Stacy." I said. The group left. I sighed and went back to Aunt May who was clearing the remnants off the table.
"Aunt May!" I said taking the plates from her, "Don't worry about this I got it taken care of." I said.
"Heavens Peter I am capable of taking plates to the kitchen." Aunt May said.
"Capable or not I can take care of it. It's nearly seven. Go on to bed, I got this. I won't be out late. Just a kick ride downtown, I'll probably get a drink at the Silver Spoon or something." I said.
"Oh alright, but you tell me when get home. Don't worry about waking me up." Aunt May said. I nodded.
"Alright." I agreed.
"Night Peter dear." Aunt May said.
"Night Aunt May." I smiled. No matter how you looked at it, she's an amazing woman. I turned back to the kitchen taking the plates and washing them quickly. I then rinsed the suds off and placed them on the rack to dry. I gave the kitchen a quick once over with the rag before draining the sink and turning the lights off to the kitchen.
I passed Aunt May's room the light was still on. I knocked on the door and waited for her to respond.
"Come in." Aunt May said, I opened the door and peeked in. Aunt May was sitting in bed reading a book.
"I'm headed out Aunt May. I won't be long, a couple hours at worse." I assured. Aunt May nodded.
"Be careful Peter." Aunt May said. I nodded.
"I'll be fine." I smiled. Then I closed the door and turned to leave.
(Time lapse: After the internal rant in the first chapter)
I landed stealthily in the yard quickly changing back to my regular clothes behind a tree I'd gotten pretty good at the costume changing thing over the past year… almost two years. I entered the house silently and walked up the stairs pausing at Aunt May's room. The light was still on. I knocked and received no answer so I pushed the door open. Aunt May had fallen asleep on her book. I took the book from her and book marked the page before gently shaking Aunt May awake.
"I'm home Aunt May." I said. Aunt May looked up.
"Oh Peter, I must have drifted off." Aunt May said. I smiled.
"That's ok. I'm going to bed now." I smiled. Aunt May nodded and laid back down. I turned off the lights in Aunt May's room and went to my own room. I clicked on the light and closed the door taking in the messy space.
There were clothes strewn all over and a couple cans of air fresher to hide the smell of web fluid. There was a small fortune just in those. I sighed and kicked a few articles of clothes out of the way and picked up an empty can of air freshener throwing it into the trash can. I sighed pulling my shirt off and standing there in my spider suit and pants. I threw the shirt to one end of the room then pulled off my pants and my Spider-pants standing there in my underwear and boots. I threw those in a pile then pulled off my Spider-shirt before wiggling out of the boots.
Ahhh, the draw backs of tight stylish crime fighting outfits. I collapsed on the bed with a groan. While no action was nice so I could get to bed on time that also meant no pay check for Spidey pics… at least not now. I laid perpendicular on my bed my head hanging off as I stared at the disaster of a room upside down. I'd have to clean it soon being upside down didn't change the mess. I yawned and rolled over letting my arms join my head off the bed as I laid on my stomach.
What Gwen said really got to me. I had been blaming myself, and yes I knew I could have done more to save Norman… hell I launched him towards his death. I just hadn't been thinking. My only thoughts really had been to end it… just not like that. But Gwen had a point as did Captain Stacy, even if i had found a different way to beat him he would be in jail, probably with no way to contact Harry and Harry would still blame me for it… well not me… but Spidey… so still me. On the other hand Norman was a slippery eel and could probably have found a way to get out of it.
I sat up holding my head in my hands. Still, if I hadn't been there, if Spider-Man hadn't stopped the Green Goblin, Norman dead or not, countless others may have died. I rubbed my face looking around the room groaning. My room wasn't the only thing that needed to be cleaned up.
I sighed then threw back the covers before standing up and turning the lights off. I laid down in bed and stared at the dark ceiling.
Maybe it was a good thing I was there, but that still didn't change the fact I killed my best friend's dad.
(Sweet ride, does the sun roof come standard?)
I winced as Liz sent me a hateful glare, I was going to be getting a lot of those in the future. I sighed then turned to go to my locker. I opened it and piles of paper fell out a notice quite a few rude saying and colorful words.
"Hate mail, how mature." I sighed. I picked up the paper and deposited them in the garbage. Seriously what were we, in kindergarten? I rolled my eyes and pulled out my books. My spider sense was triggered and I bend backwards landing on my hands bent over backwards my feet still in front of my locker. A small explosion of water to my left informed me of the wet mess my head probably would have been if it weren't for my spider powers. I looked over at Flash who was holding a few more water balloons.
"Wow… really original aren't you?" I asked standing back up. Flash just laughed that annoying laugh of his.
"Since you were dating Liz I was going easy on you, but since you broke her heart I now have a reason to hold back." Flash warned. I shrugged.
"Great, tell me when you get on that." I said annoyed. Flash started throwing more water balloons which I was not in the mood to take. I took my notebook out of my locker closed it and continued to class.
"Wow Pete, that was pretty amazing." Gwen said walking beside me. I blinked having just reacted on instinct and not really thought about it I must have been dodging the water balloons as I spaced out.
"Oh… yeah, sadly I've had lots of practice." I shrugged. Gwen laughed.
"Yeah, I know that's true." Gwen smiled. Harry waved at her, "See you in class Peter." Gwen said. I waved.
"Yeah, see you later Gwen." I waved. I then continued onto class.
(PANTS! Yeah I'm bored so sue me)
School out and over to ESU, I kind of missed the Connors, too bad they had to move. I sighed lost in my thoughts as I walked up the stairs. Gwen was waiting at the top I sipped on a soda as I wandered in. I didn't see Dr. Warren, then again he was a busy man. I hung up my bag then wandered in setting my soda down on a counter.
"Dr. Warren?" I asked looking around the empty lab, even the "new Eddie" aka Debra was gone. I sighed.
"Huh." I looked back over at Gwen, "Do you think he went out?" I asked picking up my soda and taking a drink. I set it back down and Gwen turned to me. God did my soda go flat already, what gives? Gwen gave me the look. I froze.
"What?" I asked. Gwen looked down at my soda.
"You should know better than to have food in the lab." Gwen said with a hard glare.
"Right, right." I smiled then I picked up the aluminum can, "I'll go finish this at the door." I said. Gwen nodded.
"You know it's dangerous." Gwen said, "You never know what might get into it or what you might drink instead." Gwen scolded. I nodded.
"Yeah, I wasn't thinking." I said, then I gave her a sheepish smiled, "Now can you please stop giving me the look." I asked, Gwen stared at me a while longer then smiled back.
"As long as you understand." Gwen smiled. Then she turned and walked through the lab. Dr. Warren was having us look at some new recombinant DNA theories of his. I stood by the door and finished my soda, huh… it tasted just fine. My mind went to Gwen saying what awful things I could drink in the place of my soda. I froze, no way… did I… I didn't… or… oh no. I scanned the table where my soda had been. A beaker of liquid stood on the counter. No way.
"Peter, Gwen." Dr. Warren walked in, I blinked, "sorry I'm late, I was talking to one of our benefactors. Now that Norman has died… well I can't guarantee that we'll keep our funding." He said.
"Norman was the father of a friend of ours." Gwen said seeming a little peeved. Dr. Warren held his hands up.
"I didn't mean any disrespect by it, but in this economy I have to look out for our lab. It's tragic what happened but you have to think about the future." Dr. Warren said, "For what it's worth, I'm sorry about your loss. Peter, I know he was your mentor, you two must have been close." Dr. Warren said. I nodded.
"Well a little, but not that close, I mean, even if he took me around I didn't really know him or understand him that well." I said with a shrug, "Um… what's in that beaker." I asked pointing toward the mysterious liquid that I may or may not have drinken.
"It's a very toxic venom from a mix of different creatures that will stop a man's heart in one second." Dr. Warren said. I gulped, Dr. Warren laughed, "It's a mild fluorine solution. Small side project for a company willing to give us money. It's harmless."
"Peter!" Gwen gave me another look.
"What? I was just curious? It's blue." I said lamely. Gwen rolled her eyes.
"Sometimes I don't understand you." Gwen said. I shrugged.
"What can I say?" I smiled.
"How about, let's get to work." Dr. Warren said.
"Let's get to work." I said throwing the soda can into the trash.
(Why is the internet so slow when I'm trying to do my homework?)
Gwen handed me my bag and we walked out of the door to ESU.
"You're just lucky that it was fluorine. Probably for a toothpaste company." Gwen said.
"Wha- What?" I asked looking at her.
"You drank it didn't you?" Gwen smiled.
"No!" I said, then I paused in front of the bus stop, "Well… maybe. Ok on a scale of one to ten, with ten being the most likely I may or may not have scored a-" Gwen slapped me, "Ow!" I protested.
"You are so lucky." Gwen said, "What if it really had been poison?" she asked. I shrugged.
"I guess I would have died then." I admitted. Gwen sighed then looked at me.
"You need to be more careful Pete, you're a bit fragile, and clueless." Gwen said.
Fragile? Ha, ha… if only she knew. Though she may be right about the clueless part.
"Well… I guess that's true." I smiled. I heard a horn.
"Gwen!" Harry called, "Oh… hi Peter." Harry said. I held my hands up.
"Hi Harry." Gwen smiled at Harry.
"Hey Harry." I added.
"Hop in Gwen." Harry smiled, Gwen complied, then Harry turned to me, "Pete." He nodded then drove off. I sighed. The world was against me these days. I stuck my hands in my pockets then walked down the street with no destination in mind.
Ok, everything is good now right? Wrong. Things see worse than ever. I knew that most of the in crowd just hung with me because of Liz… but still, I thought maybe we were actually forming bonds or something. Naïve Parker. I berated myself. We hung out just fine before Liz and I broke up… well at least it seemed that way. And I thought Flash and I were cool after he scored Sha Shan. But I guess that shows how disposable I am. I shook my head. Come on Parker, stop being Debbie downer. You're Spider-Man, that has to count for something. Yeah... right… This wasn't going anywhere. Stop being so depressing! I told myself.
Alright Parker, you need a major self-evaluation or something… hmmm… maybe that therapist wasn't such a bad idea. Ha, ha… that I'm even considering it might be reason enough to have my head examined. Then again I do go around in a red and blue Spider-Suit, and that's not exactly normal… or sane. Maybe I should try some meditation or… maybe some taekwondo or judo maybe karate… just to take my mind of things… or something. Though it guess it wouldn't be bad to learn a few new moves.
Hey maybe that's a good idea, expand my crime fighting style. I mean I've mostly taught myself and just gone with the flow… maybe watched a few too many karate videos. It could be helpful to learn some new tricks. Maybe Kung Fu… or…
"Peter!"
Huh… did someone just call my name… I don't see anyone. I looked around, then I continued walking. Well perhaps I should worry less about classes and more about how much the cost. The Parkers are broke enough as it is. I don't need to put paying for martial arts classes down on Aunt May's list of financial worries. Especially when I may or may not even be able to attend classes worth the mo-
"Peter!" I jumped as my arm was grabbed.
"M-Mary Jane!" I stuttered caught off guard.
"What's up tiger, you look preoccupied." MJ smiled. I rubbed my neck.
"I guess. Been a bit busy lately." I said.
"Busy getting your gym shoes filled with mustard?" MJ asked. I blushed.
"Oh, you saw that." I asked.
"Teenage girls are so immature. They probably want to get revenge for Liz. Besides, you didn't show up during gym and your shoes still smell like mustard." MJ said. I looked down at the gym shoes hanging from my bag.
"Oh right." I blushed, "I feel horrible about breaking up with Liz but I'm… I'm really no good for her." I said. MJ shook her head.
"Tiger that is the oldest excuse in the book." MJ said, "Lets buy some coffee and talk it over. With teenage girls on your tail willing to enter the boy's locker room and put mustard in your shoes, you're going to need all the help you can get." MJ said walking ahead, I stood there dazed for a minute, she looked back over her shoulder, "You coming Tiger?" she asked.
"Oh… yeah, I'm coming." I blushed then followed.
(I give up on my homework. Besides I'm still ahead.)
Dr. Warren looked at the beaker. It had gone down by the smallest integer, it could have evaporated… that or someone took a drink." Dr. Warren stared at the serum.
"Debra…" Dr. Warren said looking over at the woman, "Keep an eye on Peter Parker when he comes in from now on." Dr. Warren then poured the serum into a few separate vials then placed them in foam cut outs before closing the suit case containing them.
"I have business to attend to." Dr. Warren said ominously. Debra nodded and Dr. Warren left.
Zen: Thank you.
Mulunia: Well I'm glad you liked it. And thought it was worth it. I think this chapter is even longer. As for the serum that will slowly be revealed. It going to be a mystery. Plus it keeps you reading does it not?
