Chapter Two

Rain

Sam froze in place. His eyes widened and his breath hitched. He could not believe it. He didn't know how or when life had started hating him this much, but this was just too much. He needed to get away from there. He knew what he was about to do was what only a coward would, but Sam was also aware of what might happen if he stayed. He would probably lash out on the person, who had just called his name for the third time, and would act like a complete jerk and that was something he did not want. That was why the former superhero quickly opened the door and closed it and broke into a run. Sam swore he heard that voice shout his name many times and try to catch up with him, but high heels were definitely not created for running so that was why Sam was able to escape the clutches of the ghost of his past.

Sam ran as fast as he could and kept the same speed if not a faster one, throughout his run. He knew he had lost her but he needed to get as far away from that shop as possible. That was why Sam decided to go to the one place in this godforsaken town that could actually ease his mind and the conflicting emotions his heart always had to endure. After a few minutes of running Sam reached the park. It was quite small and didn't have any exotic flowers or any of the like but it was still a nice place to go to and think or simply take a walk and breathe in some fresh air. And the latter was what the former superhero was desperately craving for and needed. The twenty-five-year-old man sat on a bench and closed his eyes. He breathed in the aroma of the roses that surrounded him and let himself get immersed in it. There was no doubt that their fragrance was quite mesmerizing and powerful. It had a good effect on Sam's nerves. It helped him relax and he was grateful for it. Just when he thought he would be able to go to work for he had managed to calm down that voice came back again only this time it was right in front of him.

" Sam, why in God's name did you run away?" The woman asked while trying to regain her breath.

The green-eyed man cursed under his breath but she heard it and seemed quite annoyed by his bad habit. She seemed eager to lecture him about it but fought the urge to do so. It appeared she had won for she was quite calm despite the fact that she had been running all the way from the shop to here. Sam dismissed his mild concern for her and questioned the reason why it was even there. He knew he shouldn't be angry at her for another man's decisions but she was partially at fault as well, right? The former superhero shook his head, trying to rid himself of these inappropriate and most of all unfair thoughts. He knew he was wrong so why was he so intent on blaming her for Parker's decisions. After some struggling with his irritating stubbornness, Sam managed to clear his head and focus his attention on the woman before him.

"Because I see no point in talking to you." Sam answered simply and mentally slapped himself for sounding so rude. He wanted to avoid this conversation. He wanted to erase his past completely, but then why, why was she here and more importantly why was he talking to her in the first place? He could've just run away like he had previously done, but knew that she would probably find him anyway.

Speaking of the woman, she appeared slightly offended by his tone, but the hurt in her eyes diminished as quickly as it had come. Apparently she was used to Sam's behavior. Instead of telling him off for sounding so distant and most of all so rude, she moved to sit on the bench next to Sam. The latter instinctively moved away but his body hit the metal part of the bench and Sam cursed yet again. He grunted in disapproval. What the hell was wrong with him? Although he wasn't a morning person, he had never used profanities this much. He then noted how stressful the situation was and blamed his behavior on the painful memories the person next to him stirred within him only by being here. Sam sighed and decided to end this as quickly as possible. He still needed to go to the restaurant.

Strange. When did it stop raining?

The former superhero was about to question the stupid weather again and its sudden changes, when a voice brought him back to earth again.

"You know you're acting like an ass, don't you, Sam?"

Sam scoffed at the idiotic statement and decided to counter it much like he had done many times in the past.

"You know, goody-two-shoes aren't supposed to know insulting words like 'ass', not to mention use them, don't you, Ava?"

The dark-haired woman rolled her eyes at his antics but huffed, nonetheless. Sam was enjoying the display before him. Watching the inner battle play out in her eyes was something that always amused him. Even years ago Ava did the same thing whenever he had managed to shut her up. It was quite funny to witness the clash of the burning need to utter a reply and the reminder that this wasn't the reason why she had come here. Apparently the latter won, which upset a small part of Sam, but, of course, he ignored it.

"I'm not the same anymore, Sam." Ava replied, "Neither is Peter."

Sam's eyes narrowed at the mention of the man's name. And hearing it roll off Ava's tongue so perfectly, as though she had used it many times throughout the past seven years, wasn't helping his aching heart. It doubled it even. The small stitches with which Sam had tried to mend his wounds were starting to disappear, leaving him completely defenseless. He wanted to claw his eyes out for letting the mere mention of his name make him feel so vulnerable; so wide open for attacks; attacks that were probably going to make his broken heart bleed again. It wasn't enough that she had taken him away from Sam, she needed to hurt him even more and for what? That was what Sam didn't know and couldn't figure out no matter how hard he tried. The former superhero didn't know why she was here. He couldn't understand the need to come all the way here. Sam had moved away and had come to this small town specifically because he was convinced the ambitious Ava would never wish to visit let alone live here. And the same went for Peter. So much for being convinced it would never happen. Sam wanted to kick himself a thousand times for allowing himself to be completely certain no one would be able to find him here and destroying every last seed of doubt in his mind.

Ava sat there silent. She watched how emotions changed in Sam's eyes. She could swear she saw accusation and guilt somewhere in those green pools but quickly dismissed those thoughts. The thing that worried her the most was the fact that most of all anger could be read on Sam's face. She didn't know why, however. Ava was utterly oblivious that she was the reason for Sam's distress. Ava, who was so perceptive, was left with stupid assumptions that perhaps his foul mood wasn't due to her rather than to something related to his current life. A stab of pain hit her heart. She finally started to welcome her old feelings, which she had managed to bury deep down. The woman didn't know why but she suddenly felt extremely nostalgic. Old memories were brought back. Moments of when the team was still together and Sam were his old self. Ava would never admit it aloud, but she felt it was safe to say it in her thoughts – a part of her died the day Sam Alexander had died or at least that was what everyone thought.

"I think I should leave." Sam whispered and started getting up when that same voice stabbed his heart again. This time only guilt was present in his eyes, though Ava couldn't see them.

"Why are you doing this, Sam?" Ava asked. There was no pain in her voice; no confusion; no bewilderment; no disappointment; no anger. That was what scared Sam the most because no matter how collected and calm the dark-haired woman was, there was always something present in her voice, no matter how small it was. But now….. now her voice was so cold, so distant, as though it wasn't her asking the question but Sam's conscience.

"I honestly don't know." With that Sam left her alone in that park, disappearing the way he had appeared – like a ghost.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Ultimate-Spiderman. No one expected that, right? Yeah right. Now on with the author's note.

A/N: I apologize for the chapter's shortness. It just felt right to end it that way. Also I'm going to give you little pieces of the past. I feel it right to be that way because what story is interesting when there's no suspense?

I'm also sorry for making them so OOC. I know that Sam isn't so serious but considering that he is twenty-five some of his childish behavior should've disappeared over the years, don't you think?

I also want to thank everyone who reviewed. I hope you're not too disappointed with this chapter. A huge thank you to those who favourited and followed the story. I also want to thank everyone who read.

Until next time I update and/or post a story, my fellow readers.

~ QueenofRhymes ~