The next day Peter awoke, sleeping on MJ's couch which she had already told Aunt Anna about to her not delight, but accepted as long as he stayed put on that couch until morning then would have to leave early as it was still a school day unfortunately. On a brighter side, Peter was in better spirits after having spent the night with MJ as friends, though he did feel like they became even closer that night. She was always there for him which he was always grateful for, Peter had no clue what he'd do without Mary Jane.

She came down stairs and looked over at him. "Are you comfy down there?" She joked.

"Ah yes, very comfortable. I only feel my neck cracking only the slightest bit. I Might need to go to the hospital after a night on that thing you call a couch. Ouch." He joked right back, before remembering the events with Liz and what she must have been going through right now, which made him frown.

MJ touched his shoulder. "Hey, I promise It's going to be okay. What happened wasn't your fault. I know you and I'm aware you won't listen to me and you're going to keep feeling guilty about it anyways." She admitted.

"You do know me well, still it really does help I swear it does. Imagine if I never met you?" He looked unhappy thinking of that.

"Well, you did meet me and I have no plans on going anywhere so don't worry."

Peter still looked worried. "I feel like I'm tempting fate by saying that out loud."

"Seriously?" She questioned with a smile.

He couldn't help smiling back. "Yeah, pretty much." He looked at the time, "Alright I should go back home and see Aunt May. Thanks MJ."

"Always." She replied and gave him a hug before leaving.

Peter walked in the front door and Aunt May came up to him and hugged him tight.

"I was worried about you, then Mary Jane said you were staying over there, after what happened last night I'm so sorry about what happened to your friend." She said holding him pretty close.

"You know what happened?" He asked surprised. Thank you MJ. He thought to himself happy for her helping out quicker than he thought.

"Yes, it's been all over the news. It's been horrible." She replied looking sad.

"Oh Aunt May, you should really stop watching the news, it's always so miserable." Peter pointed out hugging her back.

She nodded. "Yes, I can't disagree with that. I just can't believe what happened to your friend Liz Allen, not only that but apparently her boyfriend was a criminal, police believe he might be responsible in some way for what happened."

"They really think that?" Peter thought allowed. "Liz is still going away though."

Aunt May nodded. "Yes, I'm so sorry Peter I know you were getting closer with her. And that you wanted to make things up after everything that happened."

"Yeah, yeah I did. I uh, I'm going to get ready for school." He said walking away and thinking of how he was going to deal with the day knowing the entire school would be aware of what had happened. He didn't know what to expect.

She followed him. "In this case, I'd doubt anyone would judge you if you took a day for yourself, you've been going through so much lately. I'm feeling mad at myself for how I've treated you and yelled at you." She started saying.

"No way, you're my Aunt May. I always know you are making the right calls. I've been misbehaving, so don't you dare think of blaming yourself." Peter replied and hugged her before continuing on with getting read, not exactly planning on getting ready for school just yet, but did want to start off an early day.

Spider-Man soon exited his home, swinging into the city wishing to fight some crime for a while before school and perhaps fight some crime or help somebody. He felt like it was something that needed to be done.

As expected from the city, trouble was tossed at him involving someone holding on for dear life on a building ledge.

"Oh boy." Peter thought to himself and swung to grab the person bringing them to safety back on the ground beating the firefights, which some of them on the ground seemed grateful for probably would've been a hard save.

It made the day start off slightly better, getting some grateful praise and more importantly saving someone's life.

Spidey continued patrolling around. So far so good, I should really stop thinking that. Everytime I think about that, something not so great happens. Ah I'll totally forget and say it again and bring myself trouble, again. Peter thought, correctly. Bigger trouble arised as a car was driving out of control seeming to be in a chase with the police and started firing at them.

"Why does this keep happening?" Peter said allowed and presuit then started shooting webs at the driver disabling their gun and webbed the wheels making the car turn which led to a crash. The robbers got out immediately and started trying to shot wildly, but Peter wasn't having any of that and took them all down easily as they seemed quite low life thugs trying to make a quick getaway.

"Thanks Spider-Man!" One of the officers exclaimed, helping to arrest the now webbed up suspects taking them away.

"You're welcome, always glad to help." Spider-Man replied and leaped back into the air heading off while checking the time realizing it would be time to head to school now. Great, I get to have my day start officially. Peter thought to himself.

Peter soon reached school finding MJ waiting for him and Harry too, who he forgot to say goodbye to in the morning.

"Hey you two." Peter said awkwardly.

"Looks like someone forgot about me." Harry joked.

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that I had something at the Bugle." Peter lied, which was never something he enjoyed doing.

MJ covered for him too. "Yep, he sure is busy there."

"I had to help Ned Leeds with something." Which was true somewhat, he did want to work more with that guy.

Harry nodded. "Okay, makes sense. So uh, you heard about what happened to Liz I bet huh?" He asked.

"Yeah, I did. It's horrible." He replied, speaking silently.

"Frigining Spider-Man, if not for him who knows what could've happened." Harry pointed out, shaking his head.

"Hey Osborn it wasn't Spidey's fault! It was that idiot who can't even remember his name!" Flash said walking up. "I always hated that guy, I never trusted him either! He had some shifty eyes, you know!" He was exclaiming pissed off.

"Come on Flash, everyone knows you love Spider-Man, but it was totally his fault for what happened to Liz. I heard he hit her." Harry replied, which hurt Peter.

Flash brushed off Harry. "Oh come on now, you're being ridiculous of course Spidey wouldn't have done that! He's a real hero! Sure you wouldn't know the first thing about that." He commented starting to walk off.

"What's that mean huh?" Harry shouted at him while he walked off and then brushed off the whole thing too. "Flash and his both mouth right?"

"Right." Peter replied, trying to hide how crazy it was that Flash believed in Spider-Man more than his own best friend.

"Hey, have you spoken to Gwen lately?" He asked.

Peter shook his head.

"You should really try talking to her." MJ pointed out.

Harry waved off the idea. "No, I uh I don't know." He said all flustered. "Hey I guess we should all be heading off to class!" He exclaimed and rushed off.

"He's a strange one, which is saying something." Mary Jane said sarcastically looking at Peter with a smirk.

"Very funny MJ." Peter replied, smiling back at her. "Well, Harry was right enough we should go to class, after all there aren't too many classes left."

"Of high school." MJ reminded.

Peter nodded. "Very true, there is always college or university, probably college. Got myself a good feeling about going there."

They walked off to class.

Later on, the school day ended and much gospie was said about Liz Allen. Of course nobody had actual information on what was going on from Liz herself and some people were just making crap up. The favorite of the nonsense Peter had heard about what was happening was, Liz was turned into a fiery alien from space as the student reasoned maybe the name Allen was a badly disgusted name to hide they were in fact aliens all along. Which was a pretty crazy theory and Peter couldn't possibly understand what kind of weirdo would think of things like that.

Flash Thompson continued to defend Liz and Spider-Man throughout the day if anyone was speaking against either of them. He opted to blame everything on Liz's boyfriend who was currently in the hospital and would be heading to jail too once he recovered. It was such a wild time for the whole school going through it.

"You know maybe she was a mutant?" Harry wondered at the end of the day speaking to Peter and MJ as they headed home.

"I highly doubt that Harry." Peter replied, rolling his eyes.

"Oh come on, you haven't thought about that? I mean where else could she have gotten those powers from?" He responded crossing his arms.

Oh you know her brother who was given some kind of experiment drug by some mysterious party, I'd put my money on A.I.M. I ever got my hands on them I'd- Peter was wondering to himself and started shaking his head. "I really don't think she's a mutant, who knows what could've happened."

"How do you know you aren't a mutant, Harry?" MJ pointed out.

"Ah you mean my charm? You think that's where it comes from?" He replied jokingly.

"You never know." She laughed.

Harry looked around. "Just looking around if anyone is listening, honestly I think I'm a bit paranoid about people listening in."

"You know I'm really starting to wonder if my mutant power seems to be passing on my genius wit onto other people near me." Joked Peter.

"What genius wit?" Harry questioned.

"Oh now you're just being mean!" Peter replied and then recalled something. "Right! I have to go to the bugle, guess I'll be heading there now then."

"See you later Peter." MJ replied.

And Harry gave a nod. "Alright buddy, I'll see you later."

Peter went off and soon suited up as Spider-Man once again, but he was intending on going to the bugle very soon, but not just yet. As he wanted to have some time to think about his next course of action. He figured Liz's now ex boyfriend was working for the Crime Master and he knew whoever they were they needed to be stopped once and for all. People like Foswell and Ned would be able to help Peter Parker and Spider-Man learn more about them and how to bring an end to the operation. Most importantly of all though, learn who it was behind the mask and learn their intentions. Along with how MJ's dad fits into everything. Whoever the Crime Master was, their time was limited and he was going to take them down no matter what.

Important to all readers in 2022

Hey to anyone still reading as of this being posted on — I've made a hard decision to potentially bring the series to an early ending point I'm sad to share. Those who kept up would've noticed I almost took a nearly year hiatus on a cliffhanger no less which wasn't the plan. In 2020 I was hoping to reach chapter 40 and be onto the next storyline by this year. Of course none of this happened and all the time off sadly has seemingly thrown me completely off track with writing for this series. I had intended for 6 volumes in total, we're on 2 right now and I started this series in 2017, a lot has changed since then. Including my ideas for the series direction, but I've laid a lot of ground work I can't go back on so easily. Currently my intention is to finish the arc and try writing for volume 3 as I've got a lot of fun ideas for it, though I'm also thinking of trying to fast track towards a finale in volume 3. I'm planning it right now, but so far I think it's got potential. I'll be sure to keep all of you updated.

Thank you for reading everyone and your patience.