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.

Chapter Eight

"Holy Shit," Eddie said flatly for what had to be the third time in the last five minutes.

"I know," Peter sighed.

"Holy shit," Harry echoed.

"I know."

He, Eddie, and Harry had done nothing more than simply stare at Mary Jane since she entered the house. The limo would arriving in a few minutes and the girls were introducing themselves. Though it looked vaguely like Felicia wanted to strangle Mary Jane. Kate just looked bored.

"But, Holy Shit," Eddie said again. "That's the girl your aunt was talking about. The sweet one?"

"Yep."

"No sweet girl in the history of the planet has ever looked like that," Eddie continued, emphasizing that with a wave of his hand.

Peter had to admit, Eddie had a point. It just seemed that there was something almost immaculate about her beauty, but in an approachable way. Peter had never been confident around pretty girls. He was the school nerd after all. But unlike Liz, or Felicia, or Sally, Peter felt as though he could talk to Mary Jane easily. And, to tell the truth, he liked that quality. For the first time in weeks, Peter was looking forward to this dance. If only to unravel more about Mary Jane. All he could tell for the moment was they had similar taste in shoes; he too was wearing high tops.

"Seriously Pete, don't screw this one up. I don't think you'll ever get a shot with a girl that looks like that again," Harry chimed in. "Certainly beats my date."

Peter rolled his eyes. "Kate's really pretty, what are you talking about?"

It was true, Kate was stunning. She may not have Mary Jane beat, Peter couldn't honestly think of anyone he knew who did, but she wasn't unattractive.

"No, I know she's pretty. Just uninterested."

Peter had to nod. Since he had met Kate, she had nothing but stare at her phone. And Harry wasn't the best conversationalist at his most at ease. This could be a very long night for the both of them.

"Well, whatever, just talk to her Osborn. You never know," Eddie said with a smirk.

A honking outside alerted the three boys to the arrival of the limo. All the teens made their way out of the house, but Peter stopped in the kitchen to say goodbye to Aunt May first.

"I'm leaving now Aunt May."

She turned to look at her nephew with a smile, her eyes slightly misted over. "You look so much like your uncle in that suit Peter. It really looks nice on you."

"Thank you Aunt May."

"I'm truly sorry that he and your parents aren't around for this moment. They would have all been so proud of the young man you're growing into. I couldn't be more proud of you Peter."

"What do you think Uncle Ben would be saying right now?" Peter asked in a small voice. His uncle hadn't been a topic they discussed much. Even months later, the pain was still fresh in their minds. As much as Peter had wanted to talk about his uncle and the feelings he had about what occurred, he couldn't ever find the words to express this to his aunt. He was sure that whatever he was feeling, his aunt was feeling tenfold.

"Probably teasing you about Mary Jane. She's really pretty, don't you think?"

Peter could tell she was dodging the subject of Uncle Ben, but he played along. He wasn't going to ruin her mood tonight. "She is really pretty. I'm sorry I was so hostile to you about taking her."

"You're growing up Peter, it's natural that you'd be embarrassed about girls. Especially girls your aunt wanted you to date. Don't think too much more about it."

Aunt May turned toward the kitchen table and grabbed her pocket book, quickly pulling a few twenties from the contents and shoving them into Peter's hands.

"Aunt May," he protested. "I can't take this. I have a job and my own money."

"Nonsense Peter, a hundred dollars isn't going to bankrupt us. And I want you to have a good time. I'm going over to Anna's for the evening and I probably won't be back until morning. That money is both for fun and emergencies."

"Yes, ma'am," Peter responded with a smirk.

A playful look covered his aunt's face and she swatted his arm playfully. "Enough of that, I'm not nearly old enough that I should be called ma'am. Be responsible tonight, Peter. Just because I'm gone it's no excuse to do something you'll regret tomorrow."

"I wouldn't dream of it Aunt May."

"I know you wouldn't, you're a good boy." She reached forward and ruffled his hair a bit. "There, now you have a bit of style to you. She'll be all over you. Have fun tonight Peter, you deserve it. Go on now, your date is probably tired of waiting."

…

Liz felt wonderful in her gold dress. She even felt better about persuading Flash to wear a gold tie. It was, of course, to show their status as the next power couple. This year's King and Queen were a lock. Everybody with a bit of common sense knew that Eddie and Felicia would win. But Liz wanted to make an impression now for next year when Eddie and Felicia were gone. Midtown hadn't had back-to-back King and Queen in their entire history. Liz was in the perfect position to do just that her junior and senior years.

She spared a quick glance over at Sally who was taking animatedly to Rand, both decked out in silver. Good, she knew her place already. It would make next year's competition that much easier. In his defense, Rand seemed to be following every other word Sally said. Sally was a good friend at times, but Liz knew how grating she could be. Rand truly was a saint for putting up with her.

Flash's other close friend, Kenny "King" Kong, was standing by his long time crush Glory. It was almost comical to watch the large boy lamely try to ask the pretty, dark skinned, girl to dance. It was even funnier to listen to the excuses she would come up with or to see the pout that Kenny would put on when she said no.

She then turned to Flash. He was staring at something with a blank, gaping expression on his face.

"I think environmental might be too big a word for the quarterback to handle."

She chuckled a bit at the memory. She didn't know why Peter's crack about Flash came to mind, but she was happy it did. Lately it seemed that she often turned to her brief moments with Peter when Flash was being dense or Sally was being exceptionally vapid. He usually had a quip or witty remark about the two she could call on for a quick laugh.

Though she was hesitant to admit it, both to herself and her friends, she was starting to like hanging out with Peter. There was just something so genuine about him. He wasn't trying to be popular or to be cool or to be one of the other labels the other kids, herself included, seemed focused on portraying. He was just himself. That kind of honesty was refreshing to someone like Liz who was surrounded daily by the masked elite as she had taken to privately calling them.

A few more weeks of his tutoring and maybe Liz would risk being seen with him at school. Who knows, maybe she could make him popular and then it would be socially acceptable to hang out daily. She had to think more on the subject, because she was really starting to enjoy her time around Peter.

"Holy shit," Flash muttered.

"I know man," Kenny responded.

"He's gotta be payin' her with somethin'," Sally cut in.

"Nah, maybe he's just that good. Nice work Parker," Rand admonished his girlfriend.

"Parker?" Liz thought with a frown. "Why are they talking about Peter?"

Liz followed her boyfriend's eyes until she found the source of their confusion and her jaw dropped. Walking in on the arm of Peter was the most beautiful girl that Liz hand ever seen. Liz herself was no pushover in that department, but this girl was on an entirely different level. And unlike the haughtiness that Liz and Sally had perfected to hide their insecurities, this girl walked with a confidence that seemed out of place in high school.

For a brief moment, Liz saw red.

"Who is that with Petey? Does she even go here?" Liz demanded of her friends with a venom in her voice that surprised even her.

"Definitely not. Trust me, babe, I would have noticed," Flash responded, a lecherous look in his eye as he watched the girl and Peter walk over to the refreshment table.

Liz turned her withering glare on her boyfriend. "Oh, really?"

Flash backpedaled quickly, his arms raised in a comforting gesture. "She... uh... has nothing on you, babe."

Liz huffed. "You're damn right she doesn't."

"Still, how did Puny Parker manage to land himself a date, let alone such a hot one?" Sally questioned. "It goes against the social ordeal."

Liz was pretty sure that Sally meant to say 'social order' but didn't want to correct her. It would be too much of a hassle with this current problem on her hands. "I bet she's just using him for his brains. Probably to get a better grade in science or something. That's disgusting."

Liz was aware of the irony of her statement, but she just didn't care at the moment. Whoever this harlot was, she wasn't going to hurt Peter.

"Why do you care so much about some bitch and Pathetic Parker?" Sally asked. "You got a nerd crush or somethin' Liz?"

Liz froze up for a moment. Why did she care so much about Peter and his date? It wasn't like they were going out or anything. They were hardly even friends. She shouldn't care this much if he's with another girl.

"No reason," she sputtered out. "But if his dork relationship takes away from my tutoring, then we're gonna have a serious problem."

"You know, guys, maybe we should go over and introduce ourselves to her," Glory proposed. "She may be really nice."

"Yeah right, go be nice to the nerd squad? As if. I don't know how Eddie and Felicia can stand being around those freaks. Charity only goes so far," Sally snarled.

Liz shook her head. "No, Glory's right. We should go over and say hi."

When Flash and Sally looked at her as if she had grown a second head, Liz sighed. "Fine, I'll go alone if I have to."

"I'll come," Glory said.

"Me too," Rand nodded.

"But Rand," Sally whined. "You'll get loser germs all over your suit."

Rand scowled at her girlfriend. "You need to learn how to relax and have some fun. It's a dance, Parker's entitled to enjoy himself just as much as you are."

…

Peter and Mary Jane stood by the refreshment table, with their drinks and snacks, in a mostly comfortable silence. Still, Peter was itching to get to know Mary Jane.

"So," he began. "What do you think of the school so far?"

"The gym's really amazing," she replied with a smirk.

"Sorry, that was probably stupid."

"No, I did some research on the school and I really like the look of the theater program here."

"Well, you certainly have the look for it," Peter replied before he could stop himself.

Mary Jane smiled. "Look who became smooth all of a sudden."

"I'm sure it's a fluke. I can't talk to any girls, let alone those that look like you."

"All you need is some confidence Tiger. The way my aunt raves about you, I'm surprised you're not turning girls down everyday."

"I think Anna Watson and the girls of Midtown have vastly different ideas about what makes a good boyfriend," Peter chuckled. "No girls would notice me with guys like Eddie or Flash around."

Peter couldn't believe the frankness of the conversation he was having with Mary Jane. Normally, he kept his insecurities to himself... especially since becoming Spider-Man. But it appeared that his first instinct was correct, he really was comfortable around Mary Jane. There was just something so calming about her.

"Hey Petey, who's your friend?" Liz asked as she, Rand, and Glory approached.

"Hey guys, this is Mary Jane. She's transferring in on Monday. Mary Jane, these are Liz, Glory, and Rand."

"Hi," Mary Jane answered with a smile.

"So," Liz began with an edge in her voice. "How did you two meet?"

Peter was slightly taken back by the hostility he heard in Liz's voice, and a bit confused as well, but he answered as genuinely as he could. "Our aunts are good friends."

"You two have known each other a while then?"

"No, actually, we just met tonight. But Tiger here has already proven himself years ahead of the other boys I've known," responded Mary Jane with a smile in Liz's direction.

"Tiger, huh?" Rand chuckled.

"You don't think so? He's been nothing but assertive with me."

"The only thing Puny Parker can be assertive with is a textbook," Flash called as he made his way over. "Flash Thompson, at your service."

Mary Jane raised an eyebrow. "Mary Jane Watson."

"Parker's nothing more than a dork. You should come hang with us for the rest of the night."

Liz glared at her boyfriend.

"That's okay. I like hanging out with dorks. They have so much more to talk about than sports or how impressed they are with themselves. Come on Tiger, I think you owe me a dance."

"Sorry, Flash," Peter winked. "Must feel like an interception."

"It was nice meeting you all," Mary Jane waved as she dragged Peter out onto the dance floor.

Sufficiently away from the rest of the students, Peter found Mary Jane almost snuggled into his arms in the middle of the dance floor. Even without heels on, Mary Jane could stare directly into Peter's eyes, something the two of them had done since leaving the conversation.

"So," she began. "That was Flash, huh? Real charming."

Peter laughed. "I think his charisma stat is boosted whenever he wear his lettermen jacket. Otherwise, I'm out of ideas on why so many people seem to like him."

"And that Liz girl, they're dating?"

Peter rolled his eyes. "Also something I don't quite understand. She could do so much better than him. She is so much better than him."

"That and the fact that's she's into you," Mary Jane responded.

Peter shook his head. "I don't think so. We're barely friends, let alone anything else. Liz wouldn't give her status as royalty to be seen with someone like me."

"Trust me Tiger. Even if she hasn't realized it herself, she's into you. I know these things."

"Psychic, then?" Peter asked.

"No, I just have a really easy time reading people. Like you, for instance."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean Affection Street is two-way it seems."

Peter's eyes shot open in confusion. "Me... into Liz? Sure, she's pretty and I like her in the past, but I'm over that now."

"You're not gonna hurt my feelings if you admit it. There's something between the two of you."

Peter stared at Mary Jane for a moment, contemplating what she said. Like every other guy in his grade, he had a crush on Liz. Then he got a first hand account of how abrasive she could be and those feelings disappeared immediately. At the moment, he would call her a friend, but he doubted she felt the same way. Since their tutoring sessions began, he hadn't given much thought to Liz as more than just someone he was grudgingly helping pass Biology. Could it be more though?

Liz was pretty, funny, and surprisingly witty when she wanted to be. She was also much deeper then he was sure she wanted people to know. There was something about her that Peter couldn't quite put his finger on.

"I didn't mean for you to go catatonic on me. Don't think about it too hard, okay?" Mary Jane said with a smile, pulling Peter out of his reverie.

…

"I just don't know what Petey sees in her. Right?" Liz asked Sally.

Sally, in turn, just stared at her best friend in disbelief. "Are you kiddin'? She's way too good for Parker and the geek squad."

"Are we still talking about this? She obviously has brain damage if she'd rather spend time with Puny Parker over us," Flash said, waving his arm for emphasis and nearly splashing his punch on Liz.

"It's not like you were much help. I'm surprised you could talk with the way your tongue was dragging across the ground," Liz huffed, crossing her arms across her chest in annoyance.

First Peter and now Flash? She didn't know what it was about this girl that every guy seemed to fall over themselves. Flash she could understand. It wouldn't be the first time in his life that he was derailed by a pretty face. But she thought Peter would have more sense than that.

Sally's words from earlier were bugging her too. Why did she care who Peter was dating? There was nothing between her Peter. She had a boyfriend. And, even if she didn't, Peter Parker was hardly on her radar.

"So, why don't we just forget about Parker and his date and get out of her. The benefit of having a father who works at the Bugle, he's never home til late. Party anyone?" Rand asked, already shuffling Sally toward the back door.

"But what about the results?" Sally whined.

"It's a lock, right? Eddie and Felicia. No drama there."

Flash followed suit behind his friends. "Liz? Earth to Liz. You coming or not?"

Liz thought for a moment. While she might need to blow off some steam, she'd be tempted to analyze this situation more if she was with her friends. And she doubted alcohol would do much to keep her quiet. "No, you guys go ahead. I'm not in the mood for partying."

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

"Suit yourself. Hey, guys, wait up!" Flash called, running after his friends and leaving Liz standing by the refreshments alone.

Sighing, she made her way to the door and out of the dance.

…

"Don't look now, but your crush object just left without her boyfriend and she didn't seem happy," Mary Jane said.

Peter's eyes trained on the door until he too saw Liz leaving. "I wonder what happened."

"Find out."

"What?"

"Go after her," Mary Jane responded in a pointed voice. "I shouldn't need to spell every thing out for you Tiger."

"But I'm here with you. I'm not going to go chase after another girl."

Mary Jane smiled and kissed him on the cheek. "I appreciate it, Tiger, and I had fun tonight. But, I'm more of a solo act anyway. You owe it to yourself to see if there is anything between the two of you."

"But..."

"Go," Mary Jane said again, pushing him toward the door. "And good luck."

Smiling back at her, Peter made his way out of the dance into the rapidly cooling night. Pulling his jacket tighter, he looked around the parking lot of the school until he saw Liz sitting on the curb with her head in her hands.

"Liz, is everything okay?" he asked approaching the girl.

"Huh? Oh, Petey," she responded, looking up at him. "Not really. I forgot to charge my phone. I can't call a cab, Sally and Flash left, and my dad is away on business. I was supposed to stay with Sally tonight, but I bet she won't be leaving Rand's until the morning."

"Do you want me to call you a cab? I'll ride with you to the hotel and then go home myself."

"What about your date?"

"Mary Jane? She's more of a solo act. You didn't seem to like her very much."

Liz bit her bottom lip. "Sorry about that. I don't know what I was thinking tonight."

She paused for a minute. "You two aren't together?"

"No, I just met her a couple of hours ago. It's way too early for that."

"She's pretty though."

"Sure, but that isn't everything. So, can I call you a cab?"

"I guess. Go back to an empty hotel suite is better than nothing."

Peter pulled out bis phone and smiled. "You know what? I've got a better idea."

End of Chapter Eight

A/N: Here is the next chapter. I hope everyone liked it. Chapter Nine will feature the bio of Mary Jane. Until next time, peace. I realized that I uploaded my unedited draft. Sorry about the mistake. Hopefully this draft is better.