Alright here we go, chapter 4 of "The Spectacular Spider-Girl." Sorry about the wait on an update. I had this chapter written up for a while but was never quite happy with it. But I hope you will all enjoy it anyway.

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Chapter 4

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It was not smooth sailing and the best that Mary Jane could say about her "big break" was that it wasn't porn. Although it may as well have been with how skimpy her costume was. It had been a month since she had run away from home to start her new life but things were not panning out the way that she had hoped.

That first week had been rough, nobody was interested in hiring a fifteen year old high school drop-out. She had thought to find an agent but without parental consent no one could take her on, and without an agent to find her auditions there wasn't anyone who was going to take her seriously at the few auditions she did find. It was also abundantly clear that while she had a passion for acting and some natural talent she was nowhere near as skilled as the other people who had shown up for those auditions. Tisch, Julliard, and other schools performance arts schools that her completion were all attending really knew there stuff and it reflected in the talent of her fellow auditioners. Ultimately she just wasn't up to competing with the professional training that most of these people had.

Still she refused to be disheartened. She continued to break into hotel rooms to spend the night, opting to stay in a room for only two days at the most. Not thinking she had stayed in that first room for almost four days before someone else had taken it. She had barely gotten out unnoticed, having to hide until the new occupant, a rather rotund and hairy business man had fallen asleep. She learned more about the male anatomy that night than she had ever wanted to, and the memory still brought a shiver down her spine.

The second week is when she finally got a lucky break, although she was playing it rather fast and loose with the word lucky. She saw a flyer looking for female models and so she had gone to the address, a rather dirty and rundown warehouse that had been converted into a fighting arena. The job was to basically be the arm candy for this local cage fighter. She would wear the skimpy outfit, hang off his meaty arm and pretend to be completely smitten by the brute. All the while providing a nice view for the audience who might get bored with a fight.

Marcus Fletcher, the promoter who had hired her had taken one look at her and had instantly wanted her. The only interview question she had to answer was whether or not she was eighteen. He knew the answer to the question but she knew that he wanted her to lie and she could really use the money and on a good night, if she helped to draw in a crowd, then she could make upwards of fifty all the way up to one hundred dollars. They worked three to five nights a week which meant she could potentially make five hundred dollars a week.

She needed the money, he needed her looks, so she lied through her teeth and said she was eighteen. She knew it was seedy, but she had been naïve enough to believe that all that would be expected of her would be for her to show up and look pretty. She had been rather shocked and dismayed that first night when one of the talents had grabbed her butt and then proceeded to try and have his way with her. Of course she hadn't been nearly as dismayed as he had been when she had grabbed one of his offending hands and started to crush it in her own.

She probably would have broken it and been fired if it wasn't for Vivian Taylor who had since then become her best friend and kind of mentor, really taking Mary Jane under her wing and teaching her the in's and the outs of underground fighting rings and how to survive them. Vivian was a pretty blond girl, twenty five years old, who had the look of someone who had a hard life but hid it well. And she spoke with a thick Texan accent.

"That's enough there darling'," Vivian says softly to her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"He was going to- He just tried to-" she sputters furiously, her mind flashing back to that night back in the alley, but she does let go of him.

"I know darlin, but honestly that's just the way it works around here. You've said your no's an he'll respect that now, but you can't go hurtin tha talent just because they get a little grabby." She says all of this with a kind smile on her face.

Mary Jane however felt quite indignant. "That isn't right, he shouldn't be able to-"

"Shhh, sh, sh, sh, shhhh. My my you are a young one. How old are you darlin?"

Mary Jane glares at her defiantly. "Eighteen."

Vivian shakes her head, and gives her the kindest, warmest smile that Mary Jane can ever remember receiving. "How old are you really?"

Mary Jane looks down, embarrassed. "Fifteen." She says softly and meekly.

"I'd have thought so, now normally I'd say you need to get yourself out of here and go to school and get yourself an education. But I can see that this is kind of your only option right now, isn't it darlin?"

Mary Jane can feel the tears well in her eyes but forces them back as she nods her head.

Vivian affectionately ruffles her hair. "Tell you what, I'll take care of this guy, smooth things over for you and then when we're all done here tonight, you and I can have a nice long chat."

"I don't need a parent." Mary Jane grumbles, knowing that more than anything else, that's what she wished she had at the moment.

"I know, but everyone could use a friend, right?" Vivian responds, her kind eyes seeing right through Mary Jane's attempted tough act.

Mary Jane nods her head in agreement, "Sure… a friend sounds good."

"Well, I'm sure you've got work to be doin, so go on, get ready, and I'll see you later."

Mary Jane then watches as Vivian goes up to the guy whose hand she had just crushed, he had crawled away during her talk with Vivian and was now glaring at her. But in just a few seconds all his attention was on the blond and Mary Jane was all but forgotten.

Mary Jane was super grateful to Vivian for looking out for her and she smiles and waves to the woman as she enters the dressing room.

"Well don't you look just absolutely gorgeous, give us twirl now, c'mon." Vivian gushes, acting as if she were dressed in some beautiful dress and not these gaudy and skimpy rags.

Her "character" for the ring was called Arachnea and she was partnered with a guy who called himself Tyrant-tula. He was a large African American man, he easily weighed 300 pounds, smelled like onions, had a nasty temper and the only nice thing that Mary Jane could say about him is that he had no interest in her other than the fact that she drew a lot of attention from the crowd.

Her "outfit" was a crimson and navy blue one piece swim suit that had been altered. The first alteration was the ridiculous amount of cleavage that it now showed, it barely covered her nipples and it always made her blush to wear it. Another hole that had been added to the suit, this one in the shape of a diamond, was in the front and showed off her belly button and went much lower than was decent, barely hiding the goods with how low it dipped. Her back was completely bared and the part covering her butt may as well have not been there for how skimpy it was and with the way that it rode up. She also wore long spider web themed gloves and shear fishnet stockings and high heels. Her hair was pulled up and into a very high pony tail, her lipstick was black, and she wore large spider-web shaped earrings. And to top it all off, she wore a bedazzled masquerade mask, that barely protected her identity.

All in all she was not happy with things but she desperately needed the money and she had to constantly remind herself that at least she wasn't in porn or a prostitute. Which she felt was ironic because she certainly felt like a whore, but that was one of the things she absolutely loved about Vivian, Vivian made it less awful. It was always hard to go out there and be stared at like she was just a slab of meat, but Vivian always was able to make her feel better with a few kind words and some encouragement. Reminding her that she was doing what she needed to do to survive and that there was no shame in that, that she was still a good person, and that one day this would all be just a crazy dream.

Mary Jane obliges her and twirls, blushing as she does so and Vivian whistle appreciatively. "Darlin, you are a show stealer."

"And you look just as beautiful as ever." Mary Jane returns, and they both kiss each other on each cheek.

"Oh this ol' thing." Vivian smiles, "This ain't nothin' compared to you darlin."

Vivian's "costume" left even less to the imagination than Mary Jane's which the redhead hadn't thought was even possible until she had seen it.

"Now, are we still on for lunch tomorrow?" Vivian asks.

"You bet, I've been looking forward to it all week."

"Fantastic!"

Their conversation is interrupted by a voice that Mary Jane has truly come to hate, he calls himself Spike, in and out of the ring, and he had been the guy who's hand she had all but crushed her first day. "Hey sexy, how's it hanging?"

He drapes a hand over Vivian's shoulder and doesn't even try to be discreet as he cops a feel, squeezing her breast. He had never tried to touch her again after that first night, and even the next couple of days he had gone out of his way to avoid her. But as time passed and Mary Jane had done nothing else to him he had regained a lot of his boldness around her, especially where Vivian was concerned. Mary Jane wanted to kill him but Vivian just giggles and pushes him playfully, "Oh, you."

Mary Jane could take care of herself, but Vivian had to play the game. It was easily within Mary Jane's power to beat this trash into a pulp, but Vivian had told her what had felt like countless times not to cause trouble and that they couldn't afford to lose this job. That if she wanted to eat then she would have to put up with it for a bit. She hated it and almost didn't care, Vivian stayed her hand.

"So, how 'bout it, you ditch the bitch and come back to my dressing room?" Spike asks.

"Why don't you go back to your dressing room by yourself and ice that hand, then you'll finally be able to go back to using it for the one thing it's good for." Mary Jane sneers.

"How about I take you outside and finally put you into your place!" He snarls right back.

"Oh I would truly love to see you try." Mary Jane takes a menacing step forward.

"Now hold your horses there," Vivian interrupts before it can go any further, she turns to Mary Jane. "I've told you to play nice." She scolds her friend in a playful tone, but there is a very serious warning in her eyes.

She then turns to Spike, "And you, my Herculean Hunk, what are you gettin' all excited about a little kid for, especially when y'all got me right here?" She flirts with him.

Spike gets a stupid grin on his face. "So, how 'bout it then?"

"Sure, I got tha time." She wraps an arm around Spike's waist and starts to lead him away.

"Vivian!" Mary Jane calls out in distress and she feels like her heart is in her throat when the older woman turns and looks at her, she is smiling so sadly at Mary Jane that she wants to cry.

"Hush now darlin, the adults are goin' to have some fun and y'all have some work to do anyways."

Vivian continues to lead Spike away but not before he's able to look back at her and smirk. This was wrong, this was all so wrong and on so many levels. Vivian didn't deserve this and she wouldn't be in this situation if Mary Jane could just keep her mouth shut. But this wasn't right, the way they were treated, and she hated herself, and maybe if she were braver she could do something about it and save her friend. But a stage hand grabs her attention and she knows that she has to go out in a few minutes. So with a defeated sigh she turns to go and get to work.

She meets Tyrant-tula, a.k.a Darren Brosk, at the entrance way. "You were almost late." His deep baritone voice, reverberates.

Mary Jane ignores him.

"Didn't you hear me, I said you were almost late." He growls at her.

Mary Jane glares at him "But I wasn't, but no, go ahead and keep bringing it up, keep pissing me off and see what happens."

Tyrant-tula wisely kept his mouth shut, whether he just didn't care or maybe he had some kind of subconscious self-preservation thing going on that kept his mouth shut for him, Mary Jane didn't know and didn't care. And when the signal is given, she forces a seductive smile onto her face, grabs onto Tyrant-tula's arm like it's the sexiest thing in the world and forces herself not cry as the hisses and jeers of the crowd reach her ear as she walks out into the arena.

She pulls away from Tyrant-tula the moment they are back behind the curtain. He had won his fight, she had caused a distraction for him, and so she would be getting a little extra tonight, ending up at about two hundred when it was all said and done. But she honestly didn't care. The job it was eating at her soul and after only three weeks she didn't know how much longer she could stand it.

She heads back to the dressing room eager to get out of this trash she's in and into some real clothes. She had never been one to be ashamed of her body, the human body was wonderful and marvelous creations, but right now she felt disgusted and ashamed of her own. She was a slab of meat and all the world around her was shouting and screaming at her that all she was good for was sex, and she was starting to wonder when she would start to believe them.

She tears her costume off, not caring that she's going to have to repair it herself or pay the seamstress to do it, and quickly dons the biggest most unflattering hoody she can find as well as pair of dark grey sweat pants. She pulls the hood over her head, finds a secluded corner and allows herself to wallow. Not cry, she could never cry here, it would be suicide to show weakness here, but she could certainly brood with the best of them.

She's brought out of her broodings a half an hour later when Vivian comes limping in. She doesn't see Mary Jane at first, but Mary Jane is able to see clearly. She can see the tears fall from her friend's eyes, the slight shiver in her form, and the look of absolute despair.

Mary Jane moves from her spot, startling Vivian who jumps, surprised by the presence of the younger girl. Vivian quickly schools her features into the one that Mary Jane is so used to seeing. The look of a woman who is completely content and happy with her life, full of confidence and bravado. And Mary Jane is ashamed to realize how easily she had fallen for the ruse. That her friend was in just as much pain as she was, if not more so, and yet she had still taken it upon herself to protect her.

Mary Jane doesn't say a word as she goes up and hugs her friend, who is startled for a moment, before she returns the hug just as fiercely. And that was it, they didn't care who was watching, they both broke down and cried. They knew life wasn't fair but this was ridiculous.

Vivian recovers first and wipes her eyes before smiling. "Look at us, a couple of wet blankets."

"Yeah." Mary Jane laughs, wiping her own eyes. "Pretty pathetic huh?"

"Just a little, but you know what, I feel a lot better now. How about you?"

"Just a bit."

Vivian leans in and kisses her forehead and Mary Jane blushes because even though Vivian had kissed her before, both on the both the cheek and the forehead, this time felt so much more intimate. It was weird and strange, and she didn't know what it all meant, she only knew that she liked it. This change between them. Vivian pulls back after a second and Mary Jane can see that she felt it too and the still smiling the older woman asks, "I don't know about you, but I'm starvin, how about it darlin, you want to go get some dinner? My treat?"

Mary Jane nods her head, "How about it's my treat instead? My team won its match tonight so I've got a little extra money coming in tonight."

"Well I won't say no to a free meal."

"Well then, let get you dressed and we'll head out."

"Sounds good. So what are ya hungry for?"

Mary Jane takes a second to consider her options, "I don't know about you but nothing sounds better than pancakes right now, topped with a giant blob of butter with maple syrup just drenching the whole thing."

"Now that does sound good."

Mary Jane waits patiently for Vivian to get dressed and then linking arms they go to get their money and then head out into the night.

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xXx-Scene Break-xXx

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She had been up all night thinking about what she wanted to say today. They had seen each other just last night, but it still felt like an eternity to Mary Jane. Something had changed between them and Mary Jane wasn't sure that she cared, the only thing she did know was that enough was enough. No more. She was going to get out of this life she had found herself in and she was going to get Vivian out too. Vivian who was the most important person in her life, she would get out of this and she would make sure Vivian did too.

Mary Jane was sitting at the little café that they had both wanted to try and was waiting for Vivian to show. She spots her from a distance and stands and waves to her, delighted when she waves back. Vivian is wearing short blue jean shorts, and a plaid button up shirt, with the sleeves rolled up and the midriff tied off exposing her toned stomach. Her hair was tied into a loose pony tail and she was wearing sunglasses and her cowboy hat, a brilliant smile on her face. All in all she looked every bit the Texas lady that she was.

Mary Jane's stomach fluttered in excitement as Vivian drew closer to her and rather than usual air kisses they exchanged when they met Vivian hugged her closely, briefly resting a hand on her lower back in a way that felt both incredibly nice and a little weird, before pulling away.

"Sorry I'm late darlin, just got caught up at home."

Mary Jane blushes and shakes her head. "No worries, I was early anyway. So are you ready to order?"

"Sure am."

Lunch was amazing, the food was subpar, but the time spent with Vivian was absolutely perfect. Vivian had always made her feel good before, but today it was if she were the only person in the world, like she were truly special, that she mattered to the other girl. No one had ever made her feel this way, not even Flash, whom she had been in love with. But being with Vivian even dulled that ache, in fact it didn't bother her at all. Not when she was with Vivian. And that made it so much easier to say what she had been thinking about all night.

"Vivian, can I talk to you about something important?"

"Of course darlin, you know I'm here for you."

Mary Jane smiles shyly at the other girl who reaches out and takes one of her hands in her own and squeezes it gently. "What's on your mind?"

"Listen I've thought really hard about this, and I was up all night and it's not just last night, I've been thinking about this for a while now, but after last night I finally have the courage to do this and I want you to do it with me too, because you are the most important person in the world to me and I honestly don't know what I would do without you." Mary Jane knows she's babbling a bit, and this had been so much more organized in her head, but the genuine smile on Vivian's face tells her that she's doing just fine.

"You're the most important person in my world too darlin, now what are you trying to say?"

"I think we should quit. I… I hate it there, the way they treat us and especially the way they treat you. I've… we, I can't stand the thought of going through that one more night, and seeing you after last night I know you feel the same way about that place too. And the thought of going out there even one more time and letting those people ogle me like they do and especially the thought them doing it to you… I hate it. And I hate… it makes me sick to my stomach to think of goons like Spike ever touching you again. Please, no more, let's just quit." Mary Jane has tears in her eyes as she stares imploringly at the woman in front of her.

Vivian tilts her head, she doesn't seem opposed to the idea but she's certainly not as passionate about it as Mary Jane had hoped. "And what would we do instead darlin. Neither of us even have our G.E.D, where else could we go?"

Mary Jane shakes her head, "Does it matter, we're both intelligent, strong, confident women. We could easily find something else, even if it's just flipping burgers, and it would only be for a while, just until we found something else and… please… please do this with me" The tears finally falling from the red heads eyes.

"Oh darlin, don't cry." Vivian says wiping the tears away. "You know, I think as long as you and I stick together, then I think we can do anything. If quitting means that much to you and if you're that passionate about it then I don't think I can say no. Lord knows I don't have any attachments there and I think you and I have both put up with that place long enough."

Mary Jane beams at her, "You mean it! Really!?"

Vivian laughs, "Yes, I think it's high time I got my rear into gear and found something better for myself…" Vivian trails off suddenly looking very shy. "You… you'll be with me every step of the way won't you?"

Mary Jane nods her head emphatically. "Yes. So… we're really going to do this then?"

"Sounds like it, Mary Jane Watson and Vivian Taylor, starting our new lives together!"

Mary Jane felt like something more should happen here, like some kind of act to commemorate what just happened. She starts to lean in and she sees that Vivian is doing the same. If this were Flash or a boyfriend of some such she would kiss them at this point… but she couldn't do that with Vivian… could she?

However before she can contemplate this any further the waiter comes over and brings them their check interrupting the moment but not completely ruining it. Mary Jane leaves a couple of tens on the table, confident that will cover everything as well as the tip. Vivian stands up and takes her hand and Mary Jane accepts it, and the two of them take off.

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xXx-Scene Break-xXx

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Mary Jane was sitting in Vivian's living room biting her lip nervously as she waited for the other woman to return home. After lunch they had wandered around the city window shopping and talking about different dreams that they both had. Each one more grand and wonderful than the last. Finally as the sun began to set, Vivian had asked if she wanted to come over to her place.

The butterflies in her stomach had whipped up tornados when she had accepted the invitation. She wasn't sure what was supposed to happen but she wasn't disappointed with what did. They ended up cuddling on Vivian's beat up couch and watching an old black and white movie in Spanish because that was the only channel she got. They laughed and giggled as they made up words and dialogue for each scene.

Finally, when 9:30 had rolled around Vivian had brought up that Marcus would be in right now setting up for tomorrow night and that now would be a good time for her to let him know they quit.

Mary Jane had agreed, and had gotten up to get ready to go. However Vivian had stopped her saying.

"Darlin, I know that this was your idea to quit and all… but please let me be the one to do it."

"What, how come?"

"You are so much braver than I am, if you hadn't inspired me I would never have the courage to leave there no matter how much I hated it or it ate away at me… but you… you're there barely three weeks and you have the courage to do what I couldn't do on my own, you can walk away."

"You're brave too, I couldn't have survived even the short time I was there if you hadn't taken me in like you did and you survived there so much longer than me. Plus, even though it's a good thing, it's because of me that you'll be out of a job and that your life will be all flipped around. I should at least go with you!"

Vivian leans in and for just a fraction of a second presses her lips to Mary Jane's. "No sweetheart, I don't ever want you down there and around those people again. Let me do this, let me take care of this, please, for the first time in a very long time… let me be brave."

Mary Jane touches her lips, they feel like they're on fire and her mind is a whirlwind. Vivian kissed her, she had just kissed another girl and she had liked it. So with her head spinning and her mind as focused as it was capable of being she just nods her head.

"You and I will have a lot more to talk about when I get back, okay? It won't take me long, an hour at most, alright?"

"Okay." Mary Jane's voice is barely above a whisper.

Vivian smiles beautifully at her and Mary Jane blushes a deep shade of red, her tornado butterfly's turning into dragons. "I'll be back soon."

However, looking at the clock and seeing that it's already 11:30, Mary Jane realized that it was getting late and that Vivian should have been back a long time ago. She feels a knot in her stomach, something was wrong.

She opens the window and leaps out into the night, her feet carrying her quickly and fluidly from roof top to roof top through the city. Her pace never faltering as she heads to the arena and to where Vivian was supposed to be and should have left by now.

Finally she lands on the rooftop of a nearby warehouse and she feels her heart plummet into her stomach because as she looks down at the warehouse where the arena is set up she can see that the area is surrounded by cop cars and an ambulance, and from her vantage point she can see a zipped up body bag being loaded in.