Spider-Man: Year One- A Spider-Man Fanfiction
Summary: Lonely sophomore Peter Parker was the most gifted student at Midtown High, until one day when a bite from a genetically modified spider turned him into something else. Now, he's just your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Follow his journey. Rated Teen.
Disclaimer: I do not own Spider-Man nor the lyrics to "Thirteen" by Big Star.
Chapter Six
"Chromosomes are located in which of the following: Viruses, Prokaryotes, or Eukaryotes?" Peter read from the textbook currently propped open on the table in front of him. He paused for a moment to give Liz the time needed to answer the question, only to sigh when he saw her staring blankly back at him. "Liz, gonna need an answer some time soon."
She just continued to stare at him. "I don't know the answer."
"Well, think about it for a moment and then get back to me," he responded.
Peter took a moment while Liz furrowed her brow in thought to truly study the girl in front of him. The first thing he noticed, of course, was her beauty. That was obvious. Liz was by far one of the prettiest girls in school, if not the prettiest. And she made it seem so effortless. Peter didn't have much in the way of interactions with girls before these study sessions, but from what he saw on shows or read in books they often took hours to get ready in the morning. Peter wasn't sure, but he would figure that she could escape a house fire and still look like she was ready to be photographed.
But, after spending even just a little bit of time with Liz, he began to notice much more. She was dedicated, for one. Whenever she didn't know an answer, she would at first just try to have Peter tell her. But if he really put her to task, she would concentrate and try to solve it herself. And she wasn't often wrong. Liz was a smart girl, just maybe a bit flighty. Sure, she didn't have Peter's brain, or Eddie's, or even probably Harry's, but it was wrong to assume she was vapid just because of the way she and her friends communicated with each other.
Liz also had a wit to her that surprised Peter. She'd crack a joke, recently at the expense of Flash, that would send Peter into fits of laughter. She had a knack for impressions and a keen observation of what made certain people act the way they did. She had an uncanny ability to read Harry's problems in the way that only Peter and Eddie could, and this was from just observing him from afar. She claimed it was from being around magicians as a kid, having to look underneath the underneath... or something like that. Her father owned a hotel chain and he would often hire them to entertain.
Despite coming off as above it all, even arrogantly so, Peter wasn't immune to crushes or the random cute girl that seemed to catch his eye. And he was at least willing to admit to himself that he had been charmed by her beauty when he first saw her. The benefit of New York schools is that by the time one reached high school, they were almost guaranteed to meet someone new. And when Peter first saw Liz, he like every other boy in their class, was smitten.
But, recently, as he's gotten to know her... it was different.
"Petey, is the answer Eukaryotes?"
Peter blinked, snapping out of his revery. "Uh... what?"
"I gave you the answer Petey. You spacing out on me?" Liz asked with a raised brow.
Peter chuckled. "Sorry, there's a bit on my mind."
Liz just continued to stare at Peter. "You gonna elaborate, or just leave me here?"
"You really want to know?"
"Of course, how often do I get to get to help out my tutor?"
"It's just school and work and... stuff," Peter replied lamely.
"Stuff, huh? You keeping some dark secret from me Mr. Parker?"
"Oddly, not what I'm worried about." Peter thought with a smile. "No dark secrets from me Ms. Allan. I'm just you typical science geek."
"I believe that should be nerd, Petey. I think you would know the difference."
"No. I may have a nerd-like knowledge about science, but it honestly fascinates me. It's as much a hobby as an intellectual pursuit," Peter responded with a boyish grin.
"Then you have other hobbies?"
"No, I'm a one note guy," Peter responded, rolling his eyes.
"Look Petey, I'm actually interested. Open up a bit."
"Alright," Peter began with a small smile. "I like comic books, anime, Doctor Who, Sherlock, skateboarding..."
"Music?" Liz asked.
"No, I'm dead inside."
"Come on," Liz pouted.
"Um... mostly indie rock and power pop, some classic rock and punk."
"Bands?"
"Of course, you know, The Beatles and The Stones. But, like, Buzzcocks, The Knack, anything by Paul Collins, The Jam, Elvis Costello, alt-J, Arctic Monkeys, Vampire Weekend, The Ramones... things like that."
"Nothing mainstream, huh?"
"The Beatles and Rolling Stones aren't mainstream?" he responded with a chuckle.
"Well, yeah, but I mean more modern. Top forty stuff."
"Not really. Lately, I've been getting into The Raspberries and Badfinger," he responded with a shrug.
"And they are?"
"The Raspberries are a band from Cleveland that had a big hit with "Go All The Way". Uh... their singer, Eric Carmen, went on to sing "All by Myself". Badfinger was the first band signed to Apple, the label founded by The Beatles."
"Sounds cool," Liz smiled. "Anything you would suggest I might like?"
Peter stared at her for a moment. "Try "Thirteen" by Big Star. That song gets everyone."
Liz nodded. "I'll have to do that when I get home," she paused for a minute. "You know, Petey, you're a lot more interesting than I originally thought."
Peter chuckled. "Thanks... I think."
"I'm serious. If you showed the kids at school this side of you, I bet you'd be popular before you knew it. Maybe even get yourself a girlfriend."
"Yeah, I'll steal Sally from Rand. She'd look really nice hanging off my worn out jacket."
"Not Sally. I love her, but she's a bit too flighty for you. Honestly, Rand must have the patience of a saint."
"Or the head is phenomenal," replied Peter in a flat tone.
"Peter, that's disgusting!" Liz said through her own peals of laughter.
Chuckling still, Liz looked down at her watch. "Hey, it's five. I'm gonna get out of here, but I'll see you tomorrow at school?" she added, with what seemed to Peter to be a hopeful inflection in her voice.
"Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow. At school and after if you want. We have to get you ready for this bio quiz on Friday."
"Bio quiz during the day and the dance at night. Friday's gonna be interesting at least. You going with anyone?"
Peter scratched the back of his head. "My aunt wants to set me up with Mary Jane Watson. She's moving in with our neighbor on Friday and transferring in to Midtown on Monday. Apparently, she's a really sweet girl."
Liz scowled. "You know what sweet girl is code for, right?"
"Yeah, a wildebeest."
Liz smiled. "Who knows, maybe she'll be a hottie and all the other girls will be wondering how Petey Parker managed to land such a knockout. It could raise your rep."
"And if she isn't?"
"Then find me for a dance when Flash is in the bathroom and I'll help you plan your escape."
"You'd be seen dancing with me in public?"
Liz stood up from the table, swing her back pack over her shoulder. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'd like to hang out Petey. I think I could use more friends like you in my life. Bye."
Peter nodded as she walked away, waving slightly with a blank smile on his face. He sat there for a few more minutes, until the buzzing of his phone broke his revery and brought him back to reality.
"Hello?" He answered.
"Parker! Get your butt down here with those pictures you owe me for tomorrow's paper or find a different paper to sell your crap to! You have ten minutes!" Jameson's irate voice came through from the other end.
Peter sighed. "On my way Mr. Jameson."
…
Peter entered the Bugle, tripping into rushing Ned Leeds as he did. Both of them tumbled to the ground in loud bump that caught the attention of the rest of the staff. Peter was the first of the two to get up, cracking his neck and shoulders to work out his new kinks.
"Sorry Ned! Jameson wanted me here five minutes ago. In a bit of a rush," Peter said, grabbing Ned's hand and pulling him up.
"No problem Pete. I think the same thing would happen to me."
Peter reached down and grabbed Ned's notebook, handing it to the man who hastily snatched it back with a mumbled thanks.
"New story Ned?"
"Yeah, something like that. I gotta run. See ya around, kid."
With a wave of his hand, Ned rushed past a confused Peter and out the door.
"I wouldn't worry about it Peter, he gets that way whenever he's chasing down some new story. We stopped questioning it when he started bringing in Pulitzers. Jameson figures he can act as odd as he wants if he keeps beating the Times and the Post to the best stories in town," Robbie said from behind Peter. "J.J. heard the commotion and figured it was you. He sent me out to grab you and your pictures for print."
Peter nodded. "Thanks Robbie. I've just never seen Ned act so anxiously before. He's usually so laid back."
"You know the types that are really good at their jobs are always a bit off. I hear there's some science prodigy over at North Salem who does his best work in acrobatic poses or something."
"Yeah, I heard about that too. Henry McCoy. He's the one who beat me out in the state wide science fair last year. I didn't get a chance to talk to him or anything, but his work was really impressive."
"To hear my son speak about it, I wouldn't think anyone was more gifted in science than you Peter."
Peter shrugged. "There are a few."
"Well, I'm not going to keep you any longer. Go give your pictures to Jameson so we can all get out of here."
Peter passed by Robbie, receiving a friendly clap on the back, and walked quickly to Betty's desk at the back of the room. She was sitting there, filing her nails, with an irritated scowl on her face when he approached. "Thank God you finally made it. Jameson won't let any of leave until he gets your pictures and I have a date tonight."
"Yeah, sorry about that. I was across town at a tutoring session that ran a bit longer than I thought it would," Peter responded. Despite his best efforts, he couldn't help the smile that crossed his face at the thought of the conversation he had been having with Liz.
"And who's the girl?" Betty asked with a knowing smile.
"Who says there's a girl?"
"That dopey grin you're wearing."
"She's just a friend. Well, maybe a friend... now. It's weird," Peter acquiesced, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck.
"It always is at your age. But, go in and see Jameson. I think any longer and he may have a coronary."
"Fair enough, have a good day Betty."
"You too Pete."
Peter opened the door to Jameson's office and stepped inside, wincing slightly at the withering gaze leveled at him immediately.
"Parker, about time! You better have some pictures of that criminal for tomorrow's paper or you'll be out of a job!"
"Technically, I'm freelance Mr. Jameson. I don't have an actual job here."
"Not the point kid. Just pass me the damn pictures and keep your trap shut," he responded, scanning the pictures that Peter hastily put on his desk. "Crap, crap, this isn't bad. Tell Robbie to run this picture with the headline 'Spider-Man: Fiend or Foe'. That ought to be good enough for the top spot this week."
The door to Jameson's office slammed open and Robbie rushed in, eyes wide and panting. "Sorry to interrupt guys, but there's something big going on downtown."
"Like Avengers big? Because that would be pretty awesome, not gonna lie," Peter responded.
"I don't know. Leeds called, said something about a man in a fishbowl calling out Spider-Man."
"A fishbowl? What is with the freaks in this city? Why doesn't anyone just wear a ski mask anymore? Well, don't just stand their Parker," Jameson snarled. "Get down there and get some pictures. With any luck, you'll snap a shot of that criminal Spider-Man and his partner committing a crime."
Peter nodded. "Will do Mr. Jameson."
…
Upon arriving home, Liz sat down at her desk, turned on her laptop, and searched for the song that Peter had mentioned earlier. She didn't quite understand why she felt compelled to listen to the song Peter had suggested, or why she even asked in the first place. Normally, she would have blown off any suggestion by a geek and it wasn't like Peter held any significance in her life. Hell, until three weeks ago she didn't think she had even spoken more than a sentence to Peter in her entire life. And she was pretty sure that sentence was insulting.
But she had gotten to know Peter in their study session and she really did want to become his friend. He was clever and funny and a much better listener than either Flash or Sally. And it didn't seem as if he was caught up in the popularity game that the rest of them suffered through. Maybe it was because he was so unpopular that it didn't matter to him what the latest trends or fashions were. Even in his likes or his taste in music, Peter was uniquely his own person. Liz knew that was a rare trait amongst humanity, let around in a high school student.
Throwing her headphones on, she payed the song and tried to allow the music to overtake her. A simple, repeating acoustic open before the lyrics kicked in.
"Won't you let me walk you home from school?
Won't you let me meet you at the pool?
Maybe Friday I can
Get tickets for the dance
And I'll take you,
Won't you tell your dad get off my back?
Tell him what we said 'bout Paint It Black
Rock and roll is here to stay
Come inside where it's okay
And I'll shake you,"
She was surprised that she hadn't heard this song before and stunned at how good it was. It made her feel as through she was listening to a teenager pour his heart out to his girlfriend. But it was also very sad. There was something painfully primal about the way he sang and Liz could feel her heart breaking with each verse. She wondered briefly why Peter would suggest this song for her, but more so what he would be doing while listening to it. Was it simple background noise while he was working on homework? Or was there something deeper? Maybe it reminded him of a past crush or a girl he had known in middle school.
Whatever the reason, she was glad she had listened to the song and more determined than ever to discover more about Peter Parker. If only to discover the reason why her heart beat dull whenever she pictured his face.
End of Chapter Six
Not much to say about this chapter, except that I finally got to write a chapter dealing with a bit of Liz's perspective. If anyone hasn't listened to "Thirteen" I would highly recommend it.