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Chapter 2

Gwen rolled over in her bed, staring at the picture of Peter that she used for his contact photo in her phone. Beneath it was a small blue arrow pointing down and to the left with the time stamp of one hour ago. Once he ended the call, she lay in her bed, her sorrow winning out, and watched the minutes under his picture grow. Her eyes were red and puffy, and she missed her father so much it was a constant heart ache. She wished she could talk to Peter the way she had been able to before. The loss of not having Peter beside her as well was too much. She missed snuggling into his green jacket, the way his arms felt around her. The way he would cup her face and look into her eyes with an understanding she could pour her soul to. A promise he made to her father before he died kept him from her. This was why he was not here for her. She understood the reasoning, but she hated it. The truth was without a doubt, that she was in love with Peter Parker.

She found the strength to get out of bed, and walked to her window. She climbed out onto her fire escape, and let the cool night air dry her tear stained cheeks. She saw a commotion a few blocks down, a herd of police cruisers were surrounding a building on the corner of Fifth and Locust. The first few weeks after her father died, Gwen would nearly burst out in tears every time a police car would pass her. That life was all she knew of her father, and it caused her a lot of pain. She was over the tears of seeing one, but she had to look away for a few seconds. The way they were all clustered around that building brought her back to that fateful night a month ago. The last thing she had said to her father was to plead with him to make sure Peter was safe.

Well, Peter was safe alright. Her father had made sure of that. She had been mad at her father for pushing Peter from her at first. But she had all but gotten over that. Her father's dying wish was for her to be safe. But now she wasn't sure who she was mad at. But it felt good to be mad. It helped her with her grief. She watched as a woman in handcuffs was put into the back of a police car. She then spotted Spider-Man swinging away in the moonlight. He was headed in her direction, and she watched as he landed on the roof of a building a few down. He paused, standing stock still. She knew he saw her standing on her fire escape. She could always tell when Peter was looking at her. It filled her with memories of the way his lips felt on hers, and she turned away from his silhouette, and stared down at the alley below her. When she looked up again, he was gone.

She gritted her teeth. Nothing from him. That was what she was left with. Not even a casual wave. She realized who she was mad at. She was mad at Peter Parker.

Since her father's death and Peter's departure, school had become a blur of classes and homework. Her internship at OsCorp was coming to an end and her high school graduation was in a few weeks. She was all set to go to college in the fall. She'd be leaving Peter behind for good. Maybe it was what she needed. It's what her mother told her that she needed. A fresh start.

"There's another Peter out there." Her mother had said to her after the breakup. "One who won't leave you. Ever." And then she had broken down, and Gwen had broken down and they cried over the fallen husband and father.

Gwen slammed her locker shut, and found Flash Thompson standing right beside her.

"Gwen," He greeted.

"Flash," She said.

"How're you doing?" He asked.

She knitted her brows together. The only time Flash talked to her was to get her to tutor him so he wouldn't get kicked off of the basketball team. He saw her as a female nerd and nothing more. "Fine," She said simply.

"I'm sorry to hear about your father."

"Thank you." She whispered. She began walking down the hall toward her next class. He fell into step beside her.

"You're very pretty," He said. "I don't know why I never told you before."

She stopped walking and turned to him. "Is this going somewhere?" She asked.

"I..." He started, "I don't know, I wanted to know if you'd like to grab a bite or something."

Gwen smiled in spite of herself. This was nothing on how Peter had asked her out. But maybe this was what she needed. A fresh start, like her mother had said. She'd be leaving soon for college anyway, so maybe she could have a little fun with Flash. He'd kiss her and comfort her, and that was really what she needed right now. A shoulder to cry into. And Flash seemed like a good guy. Stupid, but okay.

"You just seem so down lately." He said.

She frowned. She was not going to take his pity. "No thanks." She said, and started walking briskly. Geeze, how embarrassing...

"No wait, it's not like that." Flash said, jogging up to her and grabbing her arm. "I wanted to ask you out for awhile."

"Really?" She asked, "How long?"

"Since the tutoring. You're so smart, and pretty... no, beautiful."

Peter threw his backpack over his shoulders. He was late for school again. Tell that to the bank thief he stopped while he was on his way. He skidded to a halt when he heard Gwen and Flash talking. He knew he shouldn't, that it was none of his business and he turned on his heel to go the other way when a few words caught his attention.

"Saturday night at Maria's sounds great, Flash." Gwen said.

Peter couldn't believe his ears. Flash. Flash Thompson. The jock with a pea sized brain. This was who she chose for her next boyfriend?

"There's this party after... a little pre-graduation party if you're interested."

"Sounds like fun." She said.

"Cool. I have practice." He told her.

"Okay, see ya." Gwen said and watched him walk off. She rounded the corner and nearly collided right into Peter, who seemed to be deep in thought. "Oh!" She breathed. Peter reached out a hand reflexively and held onto her arm. She said nothing. She glanced at him, and then locked eyes with the floor.

He stared at her. There were subtle things he saw that no one else would pick up on. The bags under her eyes. The sadness in her voice. The way her shoulders slumped. "Hi," He whispered, sure she was steady on her feet, and let her arm go.

She gave him a curt nod.

"How... how are you?" He asked.

Bad question. She looked up at him, her eyes brimming with tears. "You're asking me how I am?" She squeaked incredulously.

"Gwen," He said softly, and she, his eternal soft spot won out, and he reached out and dried a tear on her cheek. "I know I hurt you, and I'm sorry, it's the last thing I ever wanted to do..."

"Then why did you?" She asked, the weeks of pain and anguish boiling over. She felt like hitting him clear across the face.

He swallowed the lump in his throat a few times. This was a bad idea. He should have turned around and walked the other way as soon as he heard her and Flash's voices. But...

But Captain Stacy had been right, and he had made him a promise.. He'd leave his daughter alone, thus keeping her safe, and keeping her in his heart where she belonged. But oh how his body ached for her. "It's better this way." He said.

She stood there, her bottom lip quivering so much that it racked her small body with sobs. "Better for who?" She asked.

"I'm no good for you, Gwen." He told her. "We both know that. I'd only end up getting you hurt or killed."

"You don't know that."

"I do!" He snapped. His eyes flashed then and all he could think of was the dream he had where he was holding her body, and it killed him inside. She shrunk back a little from his harsh stare. "I'm sorry... I'm just sorry." He said, and shook his head and walked off and out of her life just as quickly as he had come into it.