CHAPTER 2: Field Trip

Peter Parker never had it easy. He had been an orphan since he was six years old. Now, nine years later, he was fifteen, and life was more complicated than ever. Peter attended Midtown High School as a freshman, where he received stellar marks. He had inherited his father's intelligence, and his aunt and uncle always encouraged him to do his best in everything. Unfortunately, Peter's intelligence and unusual home life led him to be a social outcast. He never fully developed the social skills required to fit it. Therefore, everyone at Midtown High picked on him, except for two people.

The first was Harry Osborn. Harry was the son of the wealthy scientist Norman Osborn. Harry was also a jock and friends with Flash Thompson and Kenny "Kong" McFarlane. Flash was the most popular athlete in the school, and he treated Peter the worst. Kong was Flash's sidekick, his lackey. Kong usually joined in when it came to bullying Peter Parker. Harry, however, was nice to Peter. Mostly it was because Peter was so smart and he could help Harry with his homework. But in many ways, Peter and Harry saw things in each other that no one else could see.

The other person who was nice to Peter was Mary Jane Watson. She was also pretty smart; however she was also a social butterfly. She was close with Liz Allen, who hangs around with Flash. Unbeknownst to Peter, Mary Jane had a little crush on him. She would never show it though, and her other friends would never approve.

Peter spent most of his time reading. He mostly read scientific magazines, and every now and then he would read a thesis published by an acclaimed scientist. In fact, that's exactly what Peter was doing in Geometry class on Tuesday morning. He was reading Popular Science because there was an article on Reed Richards.

The teacher saw Peter reading and paused for a second, before stating, "But perhaps Mr. Parker can enlighten me since clearly he doesn't think that it's important to listen."

Peter looked up at the sound of his name. Flash and Kong were in the back of the class, snickering. "What?" Peter asked absent-mindedly.

"The sine of a 90 degree angle, Mr. Parker," the teacher stated smugly.

"It's one, Mr. Drew," Peter answered matter-of-factly. Harry shook his head at Peter, and MJ tried to fake a smile.

Mr. Drew leered at his student. "You got lucky this time, Mr. Parker," he said before returning to the front of the classroom. "For future reference," Mr. Drew started, "Read on your own time, Mr. Parker. That's what study hall is for." Then he turned and began to write on the blackboard again.

MJ cleared her throat, and Peter looked over at her. She had written on her notebook, "That was close!"

Peter wrote back, "I could TEACH this class."

That managed to make MJ giggle, and she waited until the teacher wasn't looking to reply, "Mall food court, after school today?"

Peter blushed. If only MJ knew how much he cared for her. He wrote back, "Can't; Helping my Uncle around the house!"

"Mr. Parker," Mr. Drew called out. Then he made his way to Peter's desk and snatched his notebook away from him. "You could teach this class, could you?" Mr. Drew asked hypothetically while reading Peter's notes. "Well," Mr. Drew said, "Your uncle will have to manage without you because you'll be staying after school with me today. And Miss Watson, I can expect you there as well?"

MJ nodded as her face started to turn red. One of the jocks called out, "Nice one, Parker!" The comment was met with laughter from the back of the room.

MJ wrote to Peter, "Looks like we'll be hanging out after school after all!"

Peter responded, "Sorry!"

MJ then just pointed at the board, signaling that they should pay attention before they get into any more trouble.

After detention was over, MJ and Peter were walking home. Flash and his gang saw them, and Flash urged them to follow him.

"So that was a fun way to spend an afternoon," MJ said. She then brushed her hair behind her ears.

"Yeah, and now I have to explain to my Aunt and Uncle why I wasn't home," Peter said. Just then, a football hit him in the back of the head. Peter went tumbling forward, and his glasses went sliding across the pavement.

A chorus of laughter can be heard as Flash and his gang point at clumsy, awkward Peter Parker. Peter crawls over to his glasses and places them back on the bridge of his nose.

"Oh man, Puny Parker," Flash says, in between fits of laughter. "Thanks for the laugh! Man, I needed it!"

"Buzz off, Flash!" MJ responds angrily. Flash's gang sarcastically acts threatened before breaking out in even more laughter.

Flash and his gang walk past Peter, and one of them unzips his backpack. Then another pulls on it, causing Peter's books to spill all over the sidewalk. Flash and his guys walk away, holding their sides and laughing their heads off.

MJ crouches down to help Peter get his books. "Don't mind them, Pete. You're going to be their boss or something in the real world anyway."

Peter didn't respond. He just shook his head in disgust. "I'll clean this up," he says. "You just go home. It's getting late anyway."

When Peter walked into his house, Uncle Ben was sitting in the living room. "Peter, where have you been? You were supposed to help me an hour ago," Ben said.

Peter tossed his backpack in the corner, and then slouched down on the couch. "I got detention from Mr. Drew today," he explained.

"Peter, what happened?" Uncle Ben asked.

"I wasn't paying attention in his class. I was reading that article I was telling you about," Peter explained. He purposely neglected to mention MJ. It was bad enough that he had to explain why he got in trouble. The last thing he needed was his uncle prying into his social life.

Ben leaned forward in the chair. "Pete, you know better than that. Now look, you're becoming a man now, and you have to learn to act like it. Someday soon, you're going to have the power to do anything you want. Your aunt and I hope that we have taught you to act responsibly with that power. That way, we can trust you when you move away to go to college," Ben said.

"I know, Uncle Ben. I'll try not to let you down. Now, did you sign my permission slip?" Peter asked.

"What permission slip?" Ben asked back.

"You know," Peter started, "The permission slip for the field trip to OsCorp tomorrow."

Ben paused for a moment before replying, "Oh yeah, that one! Your aunt signed it. It's on the counter in the kitchen!"

Peter got up and headed for the kitchen. "Thanks, Uncle Ben!"

The next day, the students of Midtown arrived at OsCorp Industries at 8 in the morning. Behind the scenes, Norman Osborn was talking with his scientists.

"What do you mean, you lost it?" Norman inquired angrily.

The scientist began to stutter slightly. "The…um…uh…OZ spider is gone, sir. We came in this morning, and no one could find it."

Norman got right up to his scientist's face before saying, "Do you have any idea what you've done? The OZ formula is our ticket at finally creating another super-soldier! We had everything invested into that little arachnid! Now, you're going to tell me that you just lost me millions of dollars in research and development?"

"I…I'm sure that we can find it," the scientist tried to explain.

"You better!" Norman threatened. "Or may God help you." Then Norman left the room and got in the elevator.

Meanwhile, the students were getting a grand tour of the facilities. Peter seemed to be the only one interested. He and Harry were in the front of the group.

"Come on, Harry," Peter started, "Aren't you at least a little excited?"

"Peter, my father works here. I'm in this place all the time," Harry explained.

"I know!" Peter exclaimed. "I bet that's great!"

Harry rolled his eyes before casually responding, "Yeah, whatever. If you say so, Peter."

At the same time, Flash and Kong talked to each other. Flash looked over and saw a giant spider crawling on some of the equipment. He nudged Kong. "Dude, look at that thing!"

Kong looked over before replying, "Man, I hate spiders!"

Flash then saw Peter Parker talking to Harry. "Hey," Flash said, "Why don't we make this field trip more interesting?"

"What did you have in mind?" Kong asked.

"Why don't you take that spider, and put it on Puny Parker's neck!" Flash suggested.

"No way, man," Kong replied.

"Come on! It'll be great! Parker will freak out like a little girl!" Flash pleaded.

"Damn, alright. Whatever, I'll do it," Kong agreed. Then he went over and grabbed the spider by one of its legs. The spider began to squirm and wiggle. "Can't believe I'm doing this!" Kong said to himself. Once he was close enough, he tossed the spider at Peter's neck. It landed on Peter's collar, and crawled down his arm. Eventually, the spider reached Peter's hand. It was still agitated by the way Kong handled it, and so the spider bit into Peter's hand. Peter shouted and shook his hand furiously. The spider eventually let go and was flung into some equipment. Peter's hand began to throb, and the bite area started to turn red.

"Dude," Flash said to Kong while hitting him in the arm, "What did you do?"

Kong looked dumbfounded. "Me?!"

The chaperones helped Peter back to the bus. Beads of sweat were breaking out all over his forehead. MJ was on his right, and Harry was on his left. Peter sat in the first seat, and MJ sat next to him. Harry stood in the seat behind them. Peter started to feel queasy, and eventually, he puked. After a few minutes of throwing up, Peter passed out.

Peter woke up in the hospital. Around his bed were Aunt May, Uncle Ben, MJ, Harry, and some nurses. "Where?" Peter asked.

"You're in the hospital," Aunt May explained.

MJ spoke up next. "Yeah, everyone was worried that you were having an allergic reaction to the bite."

"Pete," Harry interjected, "My father has offered to pay all your medical bills. He apologizes that all this had to happen in his workplace."

"No offense, Harry," Uncle Ben responded, "But I don't think we can accept your father's money. No one could have stopped this. It's those trouble-making kids who should have to pay."

"No use crying over spilled milk, Ben," Aunt May spoke. She held her nephew's hand. "What everyone is trying to say is that we're glad you're alright."

"Alright?" a new voice interrupted. It was Peter's doctor. He had entered the room. "Let me tell you, Mr. and Mrs. Parker, your nephew is better than alright. It's nothing short of miraculous! In all my years practicing medicine, I have never seen a turnaround that fast before!"

"Will I be able to go home soon, doctor?" Peter asked.

"Oh yes," his doctor said, "Whenever you're ready."

Peter turned to his aunt and uncle. "It's been a long day. Let's go home."