Chapter 1

"Alright, let's do this one more time." A magazine was tossed on the table, the front page showing Spider-Man, swinging through New York. His suit was just a jacket, jeans, gloves, and mask covering his lower face. His blonde hair was exposed, blown backwards by the wind. And he was wearing a pair of dark goggles. "My name is Liam Lawson. Seventeen year old kid from Queens."

Spider-Man said as he swung around New York.

"And for the past year and a half, I've been the one, and only, Spider-Man." Swinging through the neighborhood, Spider-Man couldn't keep himself from pulling off flashy spins and twirls between swings.

"I've heard some of you may know the rest." Spider-Man continued. "Dead loved one. Some inspirational words were said. And I put away the man responsible. Afterwards, I went on to stop some bank robbers, put Fisk behind bars, saved the city, broke my arm, saved a group of hostages from a bombing, on and on."

Spider-Man landed on a rooftop. He sprint towards the edge and launched two webs to opposite buildings. Pulling back until they were as taut as possible, Spider-Man launched himself off the roof like a slingshot, being sent far off at high speeds.

"I honestly love being Spider-Man. I mean, who wouldn't?" Spider-Man swung through the city, performing flips and spins until he came across an alley hidden behind a narrow gap covered by vines and overgrowth, just big enough for Spider-Man to squeeze through. Once on the opposite side, he was met with a small blocked off area. Completely isolated from any wandering eyes.

Taking off his mask, Liam tossed it, and his goggles, on top of a cardboard box. Taking off the rest of his suit, Liam opened up a small suitcase that was tucked away in the corner. Opening it revealed clean clothes. Changing, Liam put his suit into the case before shutting and locking it. Turning to the gap, he squeezed back through and began heading across the street to school.

"Of course, I'm only in my Junior year of high school."

At his locker, Liam retrieved his school books before heading to his first class.

Sitting down at his desk.

The day went by in a flash, and before long it was lunch.

Taking his seat, it wasn't long before his long time best friend, Charles Chase, sat beside him. He was a scrawny, brunette kid with a flannel button up, over a white T, blue jeans and red shoes. His skin is dark, and he has a set of bluish/green eyes.

"So, I was thinking of new ideas for your fit." Chase said as he pulled out his sketchbook. Opening it revealed several drawings of different suits for Spider-Man.

"Your current suit is a bit-"

"Dude, are you crazy?" Liam quickly shut the book and pulled it under his arms. "Don't be pulling that out in public. C'mon, dude."

Chase brushed off Liam's concerns as he reached for the book again.

"Dude, chill." Chase said. "If anyone sees it, they'll just think we're fans drawing different suits for our favorite supe." Chase opened the book and continued pointing to different suits he came up with. "C'mon."

Liam sighed before inching closer to Chase, checking out the different suits.

Page after page, none of the designs really stuck.

"Dude, all of these are skin-tight."

"So?" Chase flipped the next page.

"So, I'm not trying to have my dick bulging out. C'mon, dude, these designs look like my junk would be suffocating."

Chase clicked his tongue as he flipped the next page.

"I put a lot of effort into these."

"You did that in your spare time while listening to Lofi in your bedroom." Liam shot back.

"You can't just swing around in jeans and a-"

Liam was distracted as he glanced up, noticing a girl walk in the cafeteria. Her long, black hair flowed down her back in a loose ponytail.

She wore a purple T with black jeans and purple skater shoes. Her yellowish skin glistened in the sunlight as she strolled passed the windows.

Liam daydreamed briefly about her before being pulled back to reality by Chase snapping his fingers.

"Yo, you back, bro?" Chase said. Following his eyes, Chase understood why had his buddy's attention. "The Asian girl, huh?" Chase grinned.

"What?" Liam snapped out of it. "No, of course-"

Chase shot Liam a quick stare, silencing his friend.

"Dude, come on." Chase said. "I know you got a thing for her. Why ain't you ask her out?"

"She's on the cheer team. As if a loser like me could-"

"I'ma stop you right there."

"Wha-"

"Shuddup!" Chase quickly silenced Liam. "Loser? You're literally Spider-Man. Hyphen included. If there is anyone here that could get a cheerleader, it's you. Besides, she's a sophomore. You're a Junior. Ask her to prom or something. She's in one of my classes if you want me to give her your number."

Liam took a moment to think about it before shaking his head.

"Nah, man."

"You're a pussy." Chase stated before leaning back a bit in his seat.

"I fight guys twice my size on the daily." Liam argued.

"Can't bag a chick, though."

"I'm not looking for a quickie." Liam stated. "Besides, with all these different big bads popping up-"

"Big bads?" Chase asked.

"Yeah. Norman, Doctor Octavius, Kingpin, Lizard, Sandman, should I continue?"

"I see your point." Chase said. "Can fight all them but can't get pu-"

"Shut up, man." Liam dismissed his buddy's taunts with a wave of his hand. Afterwards, the duo shared a brief chuckle, knowing neither is being serious.

"Honestly, though." Liam continued. "I'd love to have a relationship, but if my enemies find out who Spider-Man is, they'd be in danger."

"Then why did you tell me?"

"Motherf- you were in my room when I crawled in through the window." Liam shot back.

"What's the difference?"

Liam shook his head in annoyance.

"Why do I hang out with you?"

"Cuz I'm your guy in the chair." Chase leaned back a bit as he held his arms out to both sides. "I am simply the best. I mean, who else would make your web fluid?"

"I showed you how to make it." Liam said under his breath.

"Yeah, but now you don't have to worry about running out since I always keep you stocked up." Chase replied, grabbing his sketchbook off the table and putting it away. "Class is about to resume. What you doin' after school?"

"Spider-Man stuff." Liam replied.

"Figured."

A few hours later

With the final bell ringing, Liam gathered his bag before heading for the exit. Heading into the same hidden alley as before, Liam changed into Spider-Man outfit. Pulling his mask over his nose, Liam shot two webs at the top of the buildings surrounding him. Slingshotting himself skywards, Liam began swinging and free running across rooftops. Perching atop a water tower, Spider-Man surveyed the area, looking for any crime.

Suddenly, his phone rang. Pulling it out of his pocket, Liam didn't recognize the number.

Answering it, he put it to his ear.

"Hello?"

"Hello, um, Liam, right?" A girl's voice came from the other side.

"May I ask who's calling?" Liam asked.

"It's Lydia. Lydia Pinkman."

Liam nearly choked as his face turned a bright red under his mask.

"Right, Lydia!" Liam began pacing the rooftop. His heart rate began spiking as he realized he was speaking to his crush. "How, uh, how'd you get my number?"

"Your friend Chase gave me it." Lydia replied. "Said you three were having a study group, or something like that."

"This is the first I'm hearing of it." Liam replied.

"Oh, it is?" Lydia asked. "He said it was this weekend."

"He say where?"

"The library." Lydia answered.

"Oh, that's-"

Hearing glass shatter somewhere in the distance, Liam shot his attention to the source.

"I gotta go."

"Oh, ok." Lydia said. "Um, b-"

Hanging up, Liam leapt off the roof. Swinging through the buildings and streets, he came to a stop at a store with the front window in pieces.

Landing just out of the building, Spider-Man went to take a step but was quickly blasted back by a wave of energy. Rolling across the ground, Spider-Man landed in his usual pose, staring at the source of the blast.

"Spider-Man!" Shocker growled as he stepped out of the store.

"Hey, if this isn't a shock!" Spider-Man joked. "I didn't know they let you out of Ryker's."

"Last month." Shocker said before launching another blast towards Spider-Man.

"You went a month without breaking the law?" Spider-Man asked. "Gotta say, at least you broke your last record."

"Rrgh!" Shocker growled before launching blast after blaster at Spider-Man.

Dodging each with a flashy flip, Spider-Man launched a web at Shocker's gauntlets, jamming them.

"Hey, could you use your blasts to charge my phone?" Spider-Man asked as he pulled it out. "Oh, wait. Never mind. I'm above 70%. Can you, though?"

Shocker replied by launching a large blast at Spider-Man, utilizing both of his gauntlets.

Spider-Man's eyes widened as the blast only got bigger and bigger.

"That's a new trick."

Trying to dodge the attack, Spider-Man got hit, the blast shocking him before he fell to the ground.

"Ok. That hurt." Spider-Man launched a web at Shocker, who leaned to the side to dodge it. The web attached to the wall, allowing Spider-Man to launch himself towards Shocker.

Landing a punch, Spider-Man swung again and again, knocking Shocker to the ground. Standing over him, Spider-Man cracked his neck.

"Time to go back to-"

Just as Spider-Man reached down to grab Shocker, Shocker launched an overcharged blast from his gauntlets, sending him skywards. Just before he vanished from sight, Spider-Man caught him with a web, pulling him back down to the Earth.

"Where are ya going, buddy?" Spider-Man asked before launching web after web at Shocker, engulfing him in the durable substance. "Wait right here for the cops, would ya?"

With that, Spider-Man swung away, chased after by Shocker's verbal cursing.

After stopping a grand theft bicycle, and a purse snatcher, Liam made his way home, making a quick stop by his hideout to change first.

Entering his house through the front door, Liam was immediately met by his mother. It was evident he inherited both his eye and hair color from her. Her blonde hair was cut just above her shoulders, and her eyes held a gentle kindness behind them.

"There you are." She said, having dinner already set out on the table. Steak, mashed potatoes, and green beans. "You worry me sometimes, you know that?"

"What's to worry about?" Liam brushed off her concerns. "It's not even that late."

"It's a mother's duty to worry." She replied before Liam sat at the table. "You should be more careful."

"I'm plenty careful."

His mother's eyes softened as she took a more gentle tone.

"I know. I just worry."

The two began eating.

End of chapter 1