"Excuse me?" said Harry.
"You heard me," said Pietro, nonchalantly.
"Who do you think you are calling my dad an asshole!"
"'Cause after what you told me and the things I put together, it's clear the man was an asshole. I know 'cause my dad was an asshole too. I have this sence to know when a dad is an asshole."
"Look, I'm sorry if you and your dad had problems, but my dad lo-"
"He never loved you. He probably never even liked you. Stop lying to yourself."
"Shut up! Just shut up!"
Harry got up to leave.
"Did he ever tell you he loved you?" asked Pietro.
Harry stopped.
"Did he ever hold you?" the speed demon continued. "Tell you he was proud of you? Anything?"
The rich boy didn't respond.
"Tell me about it."
"I tried so hard to please him," said Harry, softly. He sat back down. "I stole a drug from his lab to make myself faster, stronger, and smarter. I joined the football team, my grades improved, but nothing I did ever satisfied him."
"I know what you went through. The same thing happened with me and my dad. I did so much for him, even betray my closest friends for him, but he never loved me. He never even told me I did a good job or say "good boy" to me like a dog. Nothing."
"Betrayed your friends?"
"I'm not proud of it. Lucky thing was, after I explained everything to them, they understood and forgave me."
"You have some good friends."
"I'm sure you do too."
"Do I? My best friend wants to steal my girlfriend."
"Mmm?"
Harry explained what was going on between him, Peter, and Gwen.
"Sounds like Peter and Gwen really like each other," said Pietro.
"Yeah, I know," said Harry. "And I know keeping Gwen makes me a jerk, but I can't let her go. I like Gwen too."
"But she doesn't return your feeling. If you two keep dating, you'll both just get hurt."
"You're right. About everything. I need to break up with gwen. ANd my dad. . . He was an asshole."
Pietro patted his back. "It'll be okay. I had trouble excepting my dad was an asshole as well. Give me your cell phone."
Harry handed the speed demon his phone. Pietro punched his cell number in it.
"There," he said, handed the phone back. "If you ever need a friend to talk to, just call."
"Thanks, Pietro."
Peter was still in Harry's room when he got back.
"Harry, can we talk?" asked Peter. "I didn't want to leave things the way we d-"
"I forgive you and I'm sorry," spoke Harry.
"Huh?"
"I'm going to break up with Gwen. You two belong together. And if you see Spidey, tell him I'm not mad at him anymore for killing my dad. He deserved it. He was a nutcase."
"Harry," whispered Peter.
Harry gave his best friend a hug. "You're my bud and I'm not going to let stupid things ruin our friendship."
Peter returned the hug.
Pietro returned to the boarding house.
"Hey, Tro," greeted Lance.
"Lance, how often do we man hug?"
"Not often."
"Wanna hug now?"
Lance shrugged. "Sure."
They gave each other a quick hug.
"Any reason why you wanted to hug?"
"Just glad you're my friend," smiled Pietro.
"Oh Pietro!" cried Wanda, running over to her twin, wrapping her arms around him. "I need comfort, but not from Toad. I need you!"
Pietro hugged his twin. "It'll be okay, Wanda. I promise."
'Someday you'll remember the truth,' he thought.
"Let's go to the living room and watch our favorite movie. I'll make popcorn."
"Okay," said Wanda.
They walked into the living room.