Chapter 2

As the bell rings releasing the students to their lunch period Gwen grabs her bag and slings it over her shoulders, grabs her books and hugs them tight to her chest. She paced through the halls until she got outside to her usual spot, she hopped up on one of the table tops making sure to keep her light grey pencil skirt from coming too far up her legs. She set her brown beg on the seat of the lunch table and opened up one of her many Biology books and started to read, ever page was as fascinating as the next she couldn't pull herself away even when she noticed someone looking at her out of the corner of her eye.

She recognized the lanky brown haired boy, with the skate board hooked on to his bag that he had loosely slung over one shoulder, it was Peter. She always felt herself get nervous when she was around him, he was a mystery to her just like he was to everyone else, but that didn't make her nervous, it was the way she felt when she saw him, he intrigued her and even if she wouldn't admit it to herself she liked it.

When he first came around the corner Peter couldn't imagine having a worse day, then he saw her and everything seemed to turn around in an instant. His face lit up and he couldn't take his eyes off her, she looked absolutley stunning, her blonde hair tied back in a pony tail with her bangs popping out of the black headband coverng her forehead. Her grey skirt accenting her smooth legs, but nothing mattered more to him than how amazingly perfect her beautiful face looked, she was so focussed on the book that her lips protruded out only slightly and her her green eyes scanned across each page. He couldn't resist pulling the camera up to his eye and snapping a picture of her.

He slowly pulled the camera back down and looked at her again he wanted to go talk to her he just couldn't bring himself to do it, he didn't even know where he'd start.

"Hey Gwen I'm Peter the weird guy who sneeks pictures of you while you read, Yeah I'm okay," he thought to himself.

Peter started hearing cheering and yelling from a big circle of students to his right. He walks over and pushes through the crowd to see Flash holding a freshman named Gordon upside down with his face firmly planted into his food.

"Eat your vegetables Gordon, come on!" Flash yelled at the terrified boy.

Flash saw Peter push his way to the front and smiled, "Hey Parker get a picture of this!" Flash said pulling the boy up to pose with him.

Gordon's eyes pleaded for Peter to help him, "I'm not going to take a picture of that. Come on just put him down man," Peter looked down at the boy entangled in Flash's grip, "Gordon don't eat it,"

"Take the picture Parker!" Flash insisted.

"Put him down Flash" he says pointing toward the ground.

Flash's face contorted in annoyance, "Take the picture" he says slower and more serious.

The crowd began to plead for Peter to snap the picture, but Peter knew exactly how that kid felt and he wasn't going to sell out.

"Put him down Eugene," Peter said louder.

Flash's face filled with uncontrolable rage and he threw Gordon to the ground now turning his attention to the awkward lanky photographer. Peter tried to go to Gordon's side but Flash stopped him in his tracks with a right hand to his face, Peter fell immediatley to the cold grey concrete.

"Come on get up Parker!" Flash yelled.

Peter hopped back up sick of being Flash's punching bag, but as soon as he got up Flash punched him in the stomach forcing all the air out of his lungs. Peter fell back to the ground and rolled around holding his stomach trying to catch his breath.

"Get up! Come on!" Flash screamed at him.

Peter managed to crawl up to his knees before Flash sent a hard kick to his stomach forcing him to the ground again. Peter once again grabbed his stomach in pain trying to regain his breath.

Peter rolled to look at Flash in a breathless voice he said, "I'm still not taking the picture,"

"Stay down Parker!" Flash yelled at the beaten and bruised boy.

Peter rolled, his back now facing away from Flash and as he did he saw a blonde figure in a cream white coat and knee high grey socks come through the crowd of people.

"Great," Peter thought as he realized who it was.

"Who wants one more?" Flash yelled at the crowd feeding on them as if their approval was his power source.

"Flash!" Gwen yelled trying to catch his attention, but his ears only heard the roar of the crowd begging him to continue the beating of Peter. As he turned she was the first thing he saw, his face shot to an embarrassed expression.

"Flash," Gwen said now in a smaller but still serious voice, "We still on for after school today? My house 3:30. I hope you've been doing your homework last time I was very disappointed in you," she gave a small chuckle at the last part being that she thought Flash didn't have a single intelligent bone in his entire body.

Peter managed to get back to his hands and knees and to see her standing there. His face wore a look of confusion he had no idea why she saved him from this brutal beating.

Flash tried to plead with Gwen attempting to grab her arm, but she gently shrugged him off.

"No Flash how about we go to class? How about it?" she said not really asking but telling.

Flash looked her then looked down at Peter, "Whatever," he said as he turned and walked away, his possy not far behind.

The bell rang signifying that they had five minute to get to their next class. The crowd began to disipate and with it Gwen began to walk away not wanting to be late to Biology her favorite class as she walked away from the scene she turned her head quickly catching a glance at Peter looking up at her as he struggled to get up. She snapped her head quickly back feeling so bad about what had just happened to him she couldn't even bring herself to go help him, and she felt terrible about it.

Peter tried to get up still breathless, but his legs gave out on him before he could stand so he sat there on the cold ground, brown and yeellow leaves blowing by. He picked up his camera inspecting it to make sure it wasn't to badly damaged, only a couple scratches, but nothing horrible.

Peter gets up from the cracked concrete and slings his bag over his shoulder trying to remember which class he had next. Biology with Gwen there was no avoiding her either since he sat right behind to her.

He walked slowly through the hallway, every step sent a shot of pain through his abdomen. When he walked into the classroom Gwen was already seated looking at the board, the bell hadn't rang yet, so he wasn't late. He felt lucky that he sat behind her so he wouldn't have to walk past her in his embarrassed state.

Gwen turned her head and looked at him while he sat down just to catch a glimpse of him, before he could see her she had already turned back toward the board, but she felt like she needed more than just a glance she was letting this feeling overtake her.

"Maybe it's more than just being intrigued," she admitted in her head.

Peter set his bag on the floor and brought his camera up to his desk laying his head on its cool metal. Then when he looked up from the desk he saw her turning toward him.

"I thought that was great what you did out there," she said, "It was stupid, but it was great,"

Peter wanted to respond, but his throat closed up and he couldn't say anything. It was the first time Gwen had said anything to him and he couldn't even speak.

"You should probably go to the nurse you might have a concussion," she continued.

Peter couldn't speak his heart was pounding at a mile a second and her beautiful green eyes were not helping him. He fluttered his eyes and just looked at her admiring her beauty.

She gave him a small smile and asked him, "What's your name?"

Peter felt his heart sink at this question, but he finally eeked out a response, "Y-You don't know my name?" he said in a small voice.

"No, I know your name," she said shaking her head and giving him another cute smile, "I just want to know if you know your name,"

He couldn't tear his eyes away from her perfect green irises, "Peter," he said using the same small voice.

She was smiling at him as he talked, his big brown doe eyes had reeled her in, but she continued to make sure he was okay giving him a look as if she wanted more, but not saying a word.

"Parker," he said with a nervous laugh understanding what she wanted.

She nodded and smiled at him, "Okay, okay good," she said in a small whisper. Gwen turned and looked down at her paper trying to hide her smile from him.

Even after she turned he still couldn't rip his eyes away from her, he tried to look up at the board, but every time he did his eyes just traveled back to her.

She turned to face him again, "I'd still go to the nurse though,"

"You're Gwen right?" he asked even though they both knew he knew exactly who she was.

But she played along, "Gwen Stacy,"

He smiled at her and nodded, she gave him one last flirtatious smile and turned back around.

For the rest of the day she couldn't shake the image of Peter Parker out of her brain, he was doing more than just intriguing her now, she had a crush and he had her attenntion.