Normally, Peter would have to bail on Ned and Harry when the Bugle called him in for photos of Spider-Man. However, this time, he bailed on them with the same reason when he didn't actually get called in. He hated lying to them, but he needed a reason to miss the Homecoming Game without confessing he was Spider-Man to his friends. That, and even though he'd be in for a rough night if he came across someone like Electro or Sandman, the idea of web slinging sounded a lot more fun than watching football to him. And with every common crook he webbed up for the cops to put behind bars, he knew he'd have made his uncle proud if he was still around.

Even though he had grown used to web slinging over the past year and a half, Peter still had lots of fun flying in the air and swinging through the streets of the Big Apple. It was also a way a coping with the life and stress that came with being Peter Parker and Spider-Man. Spider-Man's life looked more dangerous than that of a typical highschooler, but web slinging showed Peter that being Spider-Man could still be fun if he was a man on a 24/7 job. And whenever he stopped to catch his breath, he would sit on the edge of a random roof and gather his thoughts. He didn't have anyone to express them to, but Peter didn't mind it. He was used to being alone. In a way, he had been alone his whole life, which stemmed from being an outcast at Midtown. He was lucky he wasn't the only outcast there with Ned and Harry existing.

Peter would've stayed out longer if he didn't have to be home before 9 p.m. on school nights. He figured that once he was an adult and had his own place, his nights as Spider-Man would last way longer than they did at the moment. If Peter told his aunt he wanted to go to the Homecoming Game, she would've made exceptions for events such as those. But it didn't matter as he really didn't want to. As Peter swung to his house and through his bedroom window, he took off his mask and pulled out his phone. He pulled out his phone and saw that Liz had texted him.

"Get called to work?" the text said.

Peter didn't expect Liz to ask him about missing the game until tomorrow at school, but with cell phones, lots of things didn't have to wait until the next day.

Peter replied with "Yeah. Sorry I couldn't make it."

By the time Peter had talked with his aunt and bid her "Goodnight," Liz sent him another text.

"It's ok. Call you in 10. Almost home," it said.

At this point, Peter was running out for ways Liz to surprise him. He had to make a mental note to expect the unexpected from here on out, no matter what happened. After Peter took off the rest of his costume, brushed his teeth, and got his stuff ready for tomorrow, his phone rang.

"Hello?" answered Peter as his picked up the phone.

"Hi, Petey," greeted Liz. "Sorry you couldn't come. I asked Ned and Harry where you were and they told me you got called in. It sucks you had to spend the night taking photos other than hanging out with your friends"

"Don't worry about it, Liz" reassured Peter. "I'm used to it by now, and they are too. There's always the next game, right? Maybe I won't get called in during the next game."

Peter did his best to make it sound like he had to work when he really didn't have to. He knew Liz wouldn't be happy with him if she found out he was lying and he really didn't go just because he didn't feel like it.

"Hope you don't," said Liz. "Maybe if you come next time, the Mustangs will have better luck."

"I take it we lost, then?" asked Peter.

"Horribly," answered Liz. "They beat us 42-13. Flash got benched before the fourth quarter."

Deep down, Peter was delighted in Flash's misfortune, but he remembered the girl he was speaking to was also Flash's girlfriend.

"Wow," said Peter. "That's rough. Can't imagine he's happy right now."

"That's an understatement," confirmed Liz bitterly. "I tried telling him that he just had a bad night and cheer him up, and guess what he said?"

"What?" asked Peter.

Peter heard Liz take a deep breath before she said anything. Liz sounded off to Peter. He didn't know why, but he had a feeling he was about to find out quickly.

"He told me to go away and that he wanted to be alone, and when I told him I'm just trying to help, he snaps and says I was making it worse, and he goes off on all the sacks he took and all the fumbles he lost and that since he's the quarterback, the coach will blame it all on him. He told me that I don't understand anything because I'm just a cheerleader. What the hell did I do wrong?! I was just trying to be a supportive girlfriend! Does he not know how much I love him?! I tell him that every single day! Does he not-"

"Woah, woah, woah, woah, woah, calm down, Liz," interrupted Peter.

At this point, Peter knew without being able to see her face that Liz was completely hysterical. He even heard her sniffling with tears as she tried to collect herself. As much as Peter hated Flash, he knew how much Liz loved him, and he respected her enough to be willing to help mend the situation between them.

"Have you tried calling or texting him?" asked Peter.

"I've tried both, but he won't answer," said Liz, who was clearly still miserable.

"Has this happened before?" asked Peter.

"He's lost games before," answered Liz. "But not this often, or this badly. I just want to help him, but what am I supposed to do? One bad night and all of a sudden he hates me. Can you believe that?!"

"Do you think maybe he'll be back to himself by tomorrow moring?" asked Peter. "He might calm down by sleeping on it. Everyone loses their cool once in a while."

"I don't know Petey," answered Liz. "When I saw his face, he looked possessed. He looked like a devil took over his mind. I just don't know what to do."

Peter was by no means an expert in this type of situation, but if he wanted to help Liz, the least he could do was try and offer any advice he had, even if it wasn't the best advice in the world.

"I think if you give him a night to cool off, that could work," said Peter. "I'm not sure what the best thing to do is, but sometimes the only person that can calm someone down is the one who's fired up."

Peter waited for Liz to say something, but she didn't say anything.

"Are you still there?" asked Peter.

"Yeah, Petey," answered Liz. "Sorry for getting all loud, but it hurts seeing Flash like that. It's even worse when there's nothing I can do about. You're probably right though. He had a rough night, and he's tired as hell. I just hope he's himself again by tomorrow moring."

"Well, if he is, the least he could do is apologize, right? It's not your fault they lost that badly, right?" I don't think he had to do that."

"I hope he does," said Liz. "Because if he doesn't, I'm not sure if things will ever be the same between us if he doesn't."

"I hope so, too." said Peter. "He and I aren't exactly the best of friends, but it's not fair to you if he thinks acting like that is okay"

"I know. Thanks for answering my call this late, Petey. I needed to talk to someone, and if I told Sally, she'd only go right to Flash and shout at him, and make him even madder."

"Don't worry about it Liz," assured Peter. "That's what friends are for right? To Help?"

"Yeah, I guess so," answered Liz. "And speaking of sleeping on things, I might feel better myself after a good night's sleep. I'm going to go to bed."

"Yeah, I should probably head to bed too," replied Peter. "Have a good night, Liz."

"You too, Petey. Bye"

After Peter hung up, quite a few questions flew through his mind about things between Liz and Flash. Once he drifted to sleep, he had more questions than answers In the end, all he could do is hope things would work out for Liz tomorrow. He did all he could to help her, and that's all anyone could ask from him. It was times like these that showed Peter that he didn't need his superpowers and Spider-Man costume to help people. Maybe being Peter Parker wasn't the worst fate ever.