(A/N: I do not own Spiderman. That right belongs to Sony).
At around 7:30 in the morning, the elevator to the 22nd floor to the Daily Bugle dinged and Peter Parker stepped inside. He looked around and saw that things were kind of quiet which was a rarity in this building. The 17 year old smiled at this. However, when he made that third step inside the office, the smile faded when the door to the Jolly One himself's office flew open.
"PARKER! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?! I TOLD YOU TO HAVE THOSE PHOTOS IN MY OFFICE 3.7 MINUTES AGO!" J. Jonah Jameson himself practically screamed as he stomped out of his office.
Peter sighed. "Mr. Jameson, I have other priorities than the Bugle. I'm still in school and have schoolwork and I have...nightly responsibilities as well. I woke up a bit late"
"Bah! Excuses! I went to school every day and still found time to own up to my responsibilities 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year! I showed up on time 99.99998% of the time if you count the one time I was 1.27 hours late to work because of a bad case of stomach flu" Jameson quietly added in the last part as he snatched the pictures out of Peter's hand.
Jameson looked through them and sneered as he flipped through photo after photo of Spiderman and Black Cat stopping armed robbers at a convenient store.
"So the Spider-punk is working with the cat lady again, eh? Figures. I knew those 2 were back at it, causing trouble and all" Jameson said, shaking his head.
"Mr. Jameson, Spiderman and Black Cat were stopping the thugs, they weren't causing any trouble" Peter tried to reason with him. However, reason and J. Jonah Jameson weren't exactly two entities that mixed well together.
"That's exactly what they want you to think, rookie. Take it from a pro, kid. These 2 are up to something and are only trying to gain the public's trust before they strike. Seen it a million times. Now I want you back in my office tomorrow at 3:32, the exact time it takes from Midtown to the Daily Bugle office when class ends, with new pics of the Web-Head and the Cat. I want to see what they're up to" Jameson said as he pocketed the photos. He turned around and started marching back to his office.
However, at one moment, he stopped and turned back and gave a sharp look at him. Peter could sort of make out a half sympathetic look and a half glare.
"And Parker...no drinking on the job. I mean it and I don't want to hear anymore about you spending money you get from me on any alcohol. Got me?" Jameson asked in a tone that sort of matched his face.
Peter just nodded with little emotion in his face. There was just no getting away from that, was there?
"Good" Was all that Jameson said before turning back to his office, where he could see Ned Leeds through the glass. Peter just sighed at this.
Jameson slammed the door shut and he could make out loud muffling. No doubt Jameson was mad about Ned's failure to come up with Spidey's identity, especially after the identity fiasco with Eddie (or should he say Venom…) several months back. He felt bad but he wasn't going to risk his identity just so Ned could look good on the job.
"Here, Peter, I'll get you your check" Betty Brant said, coming up to him patting her hand on his shoulder.
"Thanks, Betty" Peter said as he followed her to her desk. He examined the scene inside Jameson's office. "Jolly J's still giving Ned a hard time about the Web-Head, huh?"
"Yeah, I kinda wish he would just drop it. It's not worth all this abuse but he's convinced this will make his career in journalism so he just goes on with it" Betty said, shaking her head at her boyfriend's stubbornness as they moved to her desk.
She typed on her computer and printed out Peter's usual payment.
"I have to admit, Peter, I'm surprised you decided to stay on with us after word got out about your inheritance. I would've thought you'd had just about enough of us, especially since this seems to cut a lot into your social life" Betty said, giving Peter his usual check with a raised eyebrow.
"Eh, well the Estate Tax really bit me in the ass with that one. Have to pay 100 million to good ole' Uncle Sam. I could use the extra money. Besides, I kinda owe Jameson. He saved my skin when Rhino came charging in this place last year and demanded that he see me" Peter said, justifying his staying on the Bugle.
"Well aren't we Mr. Responsible? I think Oscorp will do just fine under you. And about Mr. Jameson, Jonah isn't always the kindest person but he does care about the people he works with. Including you, Peter. Remember that" Betty said, smiling at him.
"Yeah, well...it'd be nice of him to say that every now and then" Peter said, glancing at the door.
"Well, it's not really his style. He likes to show, not tell. Anyway, I gotta get back to work and I think you gotta get to school. I'll see you around" Betty said, now focusing solely on her computer.
"Yeah, I'll see you, Betty" Peter said and turned around towards the elevator again.
As Peter walked, he walked past Robbie Robertson's desk whose eyes were focused on his computer monitor. He looked up and noticed Peter. He then stood up and called out to him, stopping the boy in his tracks. Peter turned to face chief editor for the Daily Bugle.
"Hey, Robbie. How are you?" Peter asked with a small but sincere smile.
"I'm good. How are you doing? I heard from Rand your first day back at school wasn't so good and my son's girlfriend was a big reason" Robbie said, practically sneering at the mention of Sally.
Peter was kind of surprised Rand mentioned him to his dad at all. He may have been one the friendly football players at Midtown but they hardly ever interacted.
"Well, it seems she wasn't really in love with the fact that me and Liz are back together. She's the type that loves to cause scenes so it didn't really hurt as much as one would think" Peter said, shrugging.
"Still, that girl gets on my nerves. I don't know what Rand sees in her" Robbie said, shaking his head.
Peter let out a light chuckle. "She's blond and a cheerleader. Enough for any guy Rand's age to fall for her. I even had a crush on her some time ago"
"Well hopefully he gets out of that phase. I know it's not exactly breaking news for a parent to not like who their kid's dating but this girl is something else, I swear. Anyway, Peter, I don't know all the full details of what you've been going through but if you ever need anyone to talk to, I'm here. I know a thing or two about teenager issues. One of the only perks of having one in your house" Robbie said, letting out a chuckle that both he and Peter shared.
"Thanks, Robbie. Anyway, I better get out of here" Peter said, gesturing to the elevator.
Robbie nodded. "I got ya. Say hi to Rand for me"
"Will do" Peter said as he made his way to the elevator, ready to start another fabulous day at Midtown High.
*Midtown High*
Harry Osborn smirked as he walked into the courtyard of Midtown High. After his talk with Menken yesterday, his spirits were high. Sure, he wouldn't get Gwen back and there wasn't much hope of getting his dad's company back but there was one thing for certain: He was going to follow in his father's footsteps one way or another and Spiderman would pay.
From the fountain, Gwen was sitting down on the edge reading her chemistry book until she looked up and saw Harry walking towards the school.
"Harry!" Gwen said, closing and putting down her textbook. She stood up and walked in front of him, blocking his way.
"What do you want?" Harry said, glaring at her.
"Harry, I...I just wanted to make sure you're ok. I know we didn't exactly leave on the best of terms yesterday but I just wanted to say I'm sorry for planning to leave you for Peter and I'm sorry for leading you on to begin with" Gwen said.
Gwen didn't want to ruin things with Peter and Harry like she had almost ruined things with Peter and Liz. She felt that maybe to make up for what she had done, she could salvage Harry and Peter's friendship.
"Oh, you are, are you? Well that just makes everything hunky dory, doesn't it?" Harry sarcastically asked, rolling his eyes.
"Harry, I'm sorry, I was just confused at the time when you asked me to be your girlfriend. It's just I had wanted to be with Peter for a long while and all of a sudden, Liz just came out of nowhere and just...well…" Gwen trailed before Harry interrupted her.
"Stole him away from you?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well...in a way, yeah...and then you came back and started showing interest in me all of a sudden. I...I was desperate for any sort of affection to ease the pain I was feeling from Peter being with Liz. I really am sorry" Gwen said sincerely though she could sense her words weren't getting through.
"Wonderful. I'm glad you're sorry. I'm glad you're sorry you got my hopes up to levels I hadn't ever gotten to in my life before. I'm glad you're sorry you misled me. I'm glad that you're sorry you were wanting to leave me in the midst of my uncertainty in the last few weeks of school on whether or know I was the Green Goblin and I'm so glad you're sorry you decided to stay with me out of pity instead of as a loving, caring girlfriend" Harry said, his dry stare not getting any better.
It was Gwen's turn to give her famous glare to Harry.
"Let's not forget who made that so, Harry. If you hadn't guilt tripped me and said all that stuff about needing me to stay off the Green, maybe you wouldn't have made it so that I had to break up with you like I did. I'm sorry I don't have romantic feelings for you, Harry but forcing me to stay with you out of pity wasn't good for either of us and was only going to make a breakup between us that much worse" Gwen lectured to her ex-boyfriend.
"So I guess it's my fault as usual. Wonderful. Either way, don't you have the Peter Parker Harem to return to? I'm sure Liz and Hardy are just thrilled to have you on board. Peter needs as much love and support he can get, right? And hey, he needs all the help he can get holding down a bottle of whiskey as he chugs it down, right?" Harry said, disdainfully.
"Harry, knock it off! Peter's going to AA meetings and is seeing a therapist! He's trying to get better. You have no idea of the pain he went through over the summer because of us, Harry...no idea" Gwen said, lowering her head in shame, remembering that awful trip she made to the Hospital.
"Oh, so I didn't want to spend a lot of time with a guy who chases after my dad's killer for a quick buck. Boo the hell hoo. As I just said, my dad died. Where's my pity party? Is it because I'm not as cute and adorable as perfect Peter?" Harry asked, folding his arms.
"Peter isn't perfect, Harry but he didn't deserve what we did to him. He had just broken up with Liz and he was practically ostracized because of it. He needed us and we weren't there for him" Gwen tried to rationalize.
"So be there for him now! You guys probably made out all night yesterday, right? How was that? I bet he's a much better kisser than me, huh?" Harry said, mockingly.
"I'm not with Peter! He...he has his own girlfriends and I...I don't want to get in the way again. I don't want to ruin his happiness again" Gwen said, still sad that she had to keep her feelings to herself around him.
"Well you ruined mine. Feel free to feel sorry about that but I know you won't. Anyway, I'm out of here. I think we're done here, Gwen" Harry said, stepping aside Gwen towards the school. However, Gwen latched onto his sleeve.
"Wait, Harry! Please! It doesn't have to be like this. We can go back to where we were last year. You need friends, Harry. Real friends. Not your so-called friends from the 'In crowd'. I can be that for you. Peter can be that for you. You have more people in your life that care about you than you think, Harry. Please don't shut us out. Please don't use the green as a replacement for human companionship! I'm begging you here!" Gwen said all this sincerely as a tear went down her face.
Harry just stood there and looked back at her. He saw she was being sincere in her words but it sadly wasn't enough. The redheaded rich boy sighed as he shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Gwen...but...I don't think it can ever go back to the way it was. Too much has changed. My dad's dead, Peter has control of Oscorp over me which puts my whole future in question and now the entire school hates me. My life as I knew it is over...and I need to start a new one...maybe one day, me, you and Peter can all be friends again but...it can't happen now. I need to focus on what I want to accomplish and I know it can be done" Harry said, looking grimly down at the ground.
"What do you mean, Harry?" Gwen asked with a raised eyebrow.
"...You'll find out one day...and you likely won't approve of it...but you'll hopefully understand one day why I had to do it. Goodbye, Gwen. I hope this isn't the last time we ever speak to each other" Harry said as managed to shake his way out of the blonde's grip and walk towards the school again, leaving Gwen there, sulking in sadness at what had become of her friend and a mix of concern and confusion at what exactly he had meant at what he was planning to do.