When Gwen woke, she was still in the clothes she had been wearing when they went to Stark Industries. She blinked a few times and rubbed her eyes. She was forced to squint. The sun was bright this morning and shining through her bedroom window. She looked at her smartwatch. It was seven am. Her eyes went wide when she saw the date. It was a day later than it should have been. She tapped the screen on the smartwatch. She must have gotten up to go to the washroom whatever happened. She took a deep breath and realized there were no signs of her previous congestion. When she stood, she expected to be stiff, but she wasn't. In fact, she felt good.

Gwen was a teenager and deep thinking in the morning was definitely not one of her habits. So, she shrugged and pulled her clothes off and got into the shower. She sang along to her playlist while she was shampooing her hair. Washing it meant it would be wet for a while, but she found she didn't care. Usually, she'd do this at night and just rinse off before school. She finished her shower and started pulling a brush through her long blonde hair. She was singing along and her hips were swaying to the beat of another song. Probably one her father wouldn't love. The lyrics included Touch me, touch me, I want to feel your body.

The condensation on her mirror started to evaporate. She was mid-brush stroke when she noticed her abs. She jumped back from the mirror. Every muscle on her body looked toned and defined. You could say many things about Gwen Stacy before this day, but they would never include, in shape, or athletic. She ran her fingers along her abdomen. She flexed her arm. She looked at the spot on her chest where the particle beam would have struck. There was a faint outline of the orb weaver she'd been holding there.

Gwen closed her eyes tightly. Then peaked out of them. Her muscles were still there and so was the spider's shadow. She pinched herself hard enough for her to exclaim ouch. She started to pace. She picked up deodorant and read the ingredients list. No distortion. She could read it clearly.

"Not sleeping."

She leaned on the bathroom's vanity. She looked into her eyes. Everything was so much crisper than it should have been. She could hear the cockroaches crawling through the walls. Somehow, she knew the knock was coming before she heard it. Her father called into the bathroom.

"You going to be long? I need a shower."

Gwen closed her eyes and grabbed her bathrobe and her brush.

"Be right out dad."

She could smell him before she opened the door. It smelled like he'd been crawling around in garbage. She wrinkled her nose.

"Dad, did you go dumpster diving or something?"

He shook his head and grumbled.

"Don't want to talk about it. Are you feeling better?"

Gwen shrugged.

"I guess."

He kissed her on the head as she passed. She edged away from him.

"Have a good day at school."

Gwen rolled her eyes.

"Sure, whatever, just get in the shower you stink."

Her dad closed the door. She went into her room and closed her door behind her. She rushed to the vanity and looked at herself again. The light was natural here, so it was better than the bathroom. The physical changes were definitely not a trick of the light. She felt her wrist vibrate with her fifteen minutes to leave warning go off. It was her 'I don't feel like making breakfast, so I'll go to Aunt May and Uncle Ben's house' alarm. She shook her head and started brushing her hair out. No time to dry it for sure now. She had to go with one of her old skirts today. She hadn't been able to fit in it in over a year. Her normal clothes just didn't fit her now. She was far too lean. Of course, that meant the skirt was shorter than it should be by school rules. It couldn't be helped. She hoped the teachers wouldn't notice. It was better than one that was going to fall down.

Gwen didn't wait for her father to get out of the shower. She rushed out of the apartment so fast she almost forgot her school bag. Her mother, before she died would have skinned her alive for wearing a skirt this short. Her father probably wouldn't notice but she wasn't in the mood to explain the reasoning for wearing it. Walking in the city this morning was a new experience. It was like she could hear everything at once.

She was looking at a crossing signal. She marveled at how crisp the edges were. She saw it switch to walk and she started to step onto the road. She was still staring at the light and didn't notice a driver who wasn't slowing down. Something told her to jump back, and she did. She barely missed getting hit by a taxi. The driver shouted at her. She didn't yell back as she would usually do. She was too distracted. She crossed the street and walked down three houses. She walked into Peter's house. Aunt May smiled when she saw her.

"Gwen! You're looking much better."

Gwen smiled back.

"Feeling much better too. Guess it was one of those twenty-four-hour flus or something."

May motioned to the kitchen table.

"I bet you're hungry."

Gwen blushed and nodded. May slid a plate in front of Gwen.

"Well, you're in luck. I made bacon and eggs."

Gwen was starving. She started to devour them with a single-minded devotion. She found she was still hungry after she finished. May noticed and started another batch of eggs. Peter plopped down in his usual chair. He smiled when he saw Gwen eating her second helping of eggs.

"Slow down Gwen."

May smacked Peter on the back of the head.

"You shush. Now eat."

May put a plate in front of Peter who rubbed the back of his head. Ben glanced over his paper at Peter.

"Your Aunt May is right. Its impolite to speak about how other people are eating."

Peter rolled his eyes and fixed his glasses. He held his hands up in surrender.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I was just worried about her busting a button."

Gwen swatted at Peter's forearm. She had meant to just give him a small tap but there was a crack when she made skin contact. She hadn't meant to hit him hard at all. A bit of a welt in the form of her fingers started to form on his forearm. Aunt May nodded.

"You deserved that, Peter."

Peter rubbed his arm gingerly.

"Ouch. You didn't have to hit me that hard."

Gwen winced.

"I'm sorry Peter, didn't mean to hit you that hard. I really didn't."

Gwen and Peter eventually finished their respective breakfasts, said their goodbyes to Aunt May and Uncle Ben, then left for school. As they walked towards Midtown High School Peter kept glancing at Gwen.

"I was really worried about you. You passed out and then you didn't call or text for a whole day. Flash threatened to stuff me in a locker if I didn't tell him why you were ignoring him."

Gwen blushed.

"I'll talk to him. I honestly felt like I slept for the whole day. Nice to see Dad even noticed."

Peter shrugged slightly.

"Aunt May called the school, told them you were sick. Didn't take her long to realize you were really sick when you didn't show up for breakfast."

Gwen hopped over a crack in the sidewalk. Peter took a bigger stride to keep up.

"Didn't take me long either. You missing a meal is like a sign of the apocalypse."

Gwen nudged Peter with her shoulder. She was more careful this time so she didn't end up hitting him too hard.

"Jerk."

Peter laughed. The pair reached the door to the school and after they went through the metal detectors they parted ways. Gwen went straight to her locker and started getting her books organized for first period. She knew he was there before she felt his arms around her. It was like she had sixth sense now. Alerting her to things. Before his arms could embrace her fully. She spun around and met his lips with her own. Flash's eyes went wide, and he released her suddenly. He looked around and breathed a sigh of relief when he realized there were no teachers in sight.

"Gwen, you trying to get us detention?"

Gwen laughed. Then when she sensed possible danger, she pushed him away firmly. Flash seemed surprised with the force of her push. Her reaction prevented them from getting a lecture and possibly detention from Mr. Davis. He was the school's principal and the person who drafted the no public shows of affection rules. Gwen was surprised he didn't have a measuring tape out ensuring proper distance was maintained. She rolled her eyes in his direction and closed her locker. Flash looked down at her.

"You're in a mood today."

Gwen looked back up at him.

"Huh?"

"Kissing me in the hallway, giving Mr. Davis attitude."

Gwen shook her head.

"Its nothing. Sorry about not texting yesterday. I was sleeping off a flu."

Flash smiled that winning smile of his.

"No problem, babe. You coming to watch the scrimmage after school?"

Gwen sighed then nodded.

"Sure. I'll let you show off for me."

"You also said you'd help me study for math last night. Will you help after practice?"

Gwen smirked.

"Only if it involves kissing."

Flash blushed and rubbed the back of his head.

"I'll see what I can do."

Gwen's classes went pretty much as expected that day. She hadn't missed much on her sick day. Even if she had she was more than capable of catching up. Her second to last class of the day was gym. Though the board of education called it physical education. She didn't particularly like gym class. She would get hot and sweaty. She didn't find sports fun. Nor was she particularly physically capable. Clumsy was a better term for her. They were playing basketball again today, as they had been for the last three classes she'd attended. She briefly had the idea of asking to sit out because she was still recovering. Or claiming she had really bad period cramps. She really couldn't do the latter; She'd used that excuse last week. Neither would have worked. Today was the actual scrimmage basketball game. The test as you will.

Liz was the athletic member of her friend group. She was picked as captain for one of the teams. Their teacher Mr. Jacoby said being able to pick a winning team was half the team captain's marks. He was kind of old school. He wasn't much for participation marks or trophies. He was a firm believer that there were winners and losers. Gwen was firmly in the loser column according to him. Liz looked between the last two to be picked. One was Gwen, the other was Lacey Fisher. Lacey was a larger red-haired girl. Also, she was Gwen's competition for least athletic grade nine girl at Midtown High. Liz picked Lacey. Gwen gave her friend a withering glare. Liz gave Gwen a small shrug. Gwen couldn't really fault Liz. Mr. Jacoby really did mark the loosing team down. Alice Tucker, who was the captain of the other team frowned and motioned to Gwen. Liz gave Alice a wicked glance. Alice looked thoroughly displeased.

Gwen didn't even bother to make a move to go onto the court. Rules were everyone had to play, but it didn't mean anyone wanted her on the court more than they absolutely had too. It appeared Liz had decided on a more balanced approach. Alice seemed to be going for the overwhelming force option, to run up the score before putting the losers out and hope they'd get enough points to win the game before the swap.

Gwen was waved off the bench. Gwen with the worst of her team. Somehow, she ended up as the center. She was facing off against Liz. To Gwen's, and everyone else's surprise. Gwen won. When she was passed the ball and wasn't sure what to do with it, she started dribbling it down the court towards the hoop. She knew she had no hope of sinking the ball, so she didn't even try to go in deep. She just took a shot at the three-point line. Liz was standing beside her. The pair blinked at each other in disbelief when the ball swished through the net, not even hitting the rim or backboard.

Mr. Jacoby blew his whistle. They reset and started the next play. Once again Gwen won. This time she kept the ball and pushed to the net. She performed a textbook layup. The thing with sports was, she knew the right techniques, she had always had trouble making her body just do them. They reset again. What followed was fifteen minutes of her dominating the game. It was like it didn't matter if she had four other players. No one, not even Liz who was one of the school's best varsity players, seemed to have a chance against her.

Gwen was quite full of herself by the end. Probably because of all the torment she'd suffered over the years by those far more athletic than her. For the final play of her half, she wanted to show off, so she did a slam dunk. The jump was easy. Too easy. The problem was she couldn't get her fingers to release the basketball rim. Try as she might. So, she hung there struggling to pull them off of it. Mr. Jacoby looked up at her.

"You can let go now, Gwen."

Gwen smiled down at him and kept trying.

"I'm fine here."

Mr. Jacoby frowned.

"Down now, or you're going to be in detention after school."

Gwen tried again. She pushed past the feeling that her skin was going to be ripped off and she managed to struggle her fingers free. She landed on both feet easily and dusted her hands off. Mr. Jacoby gave her another frown.

"I didn't think I needed to say this, but no slam dunks. They're not allowed. They can damage the equipment. Go sit down Gwen."

Gwen blushed and sat down on the bench. Liz was staring at her. It wasn't so much like she was in shock at Gwen's performance. More like she felt betrayed. Mr. Jacoby had his clipboard out and he was checking things off. Finally, he looked over the class.

"Okay girls, go get showered and changed. Gwen Stacy, stay back please."

Gwen blushed and hopped off the bench and approached him. He looked over the edge of his clipboard.

"Gwen, I don't know what game you're playing at, but pretending you are terrible at sports? What is the pay off? I expect people in my class to give a hundred and ten percent. It seems like you've been giving ten percent if you're lucky. I know you and Liz are friends, but a three-month practical joke? Just go get changed."

Gwen nodded and jogged towards the girls' change room and showers, leaving Mr. Jacoby shaking his head in disbelief. Liz confronted Gwen as the latter was pulling on her t-shirt.

"What was that?"

Gwen looked at her friend.

"What was what?"

"That. Whatever that was? You suck at sports. You suck at anything that requires coordination. You made me look like an idiot."

Liz shoved Gwen. Gwen shoved her back. Liz almost went headfirst into a bank of lockers. But Gwen caught her at the last second. Liz pushed Gwen's arm away.

"Freak."

Gwen released Liz and shook her head.

"Whatever Liz. Sorry I'm not the fucking fat uncoordinated loser you keep around to feel good about yourself anymore."

She pulled on her smartwatch and slammed her locker door closed. She pushed past Liz who was staring at Gwen like her friend, possibly former friend had just slapped her. Gwen paused and looked over her shoulder.

"Oh, and if you ever call Peter, Puny Parker again, I'll stuff you in a locker."

Gwen wasn't sure what was with her today. She never would have confronted Liz like that. Liz was popular. She was part of the reason Gwen was popular. Whatever happened to her, was happening to her, it made her feel in charge for once. She usually just went with the flow and basically towed the line with her popular clique.

Gwen zoned out in math class. She was all set to walk home with Peter then remembered she'd promised Flash she would go to the football scrimmage between junior varsity and varsity tonight. She smiled at Peter and waved. She ran towards the football field and found a space in the bleachers. Flash noticed her and waved. The distraction cost him as a ball hit him in the forehead. Gwen laughed. The game started in earnest. Flash motioned her down when it was time for their defense to be on the field. Gwen hopped down the bleachers. They hugged and kissed. The football coach didn't really go for the whole purity doctrine that Principal Davis espoused. Flash's coach patted him on the back.

"Get out on the field Don Juan. They just had a turnover."

Flash winked at Gwen and grabbed his helmet and ran back out onto the field. She turned to go back up the bleachers. The coach called out to her.

"Hey Gwen, you can sit on the bench. It's just a scrimmage. View's better."

Gwen sat down. She pulled her hoodie close. There was a chill in the air. When Flash was off the field they'd snuggle. When he was on, she'd watch the game in earnest. Flash was on the field; One of his passes went way wide when he got knocked as he threw. The ball spiraled towards the bench. Specifically, Gwen's face. She felt it before she saw it. Without thinking she reached out and caught the ball just before it hit her square in the nose. Flash's eyes had been wide in horror. She saw him relax when she caught it. Gwen shook her head and threw the ball back. It was a perfect spiral. It was also a hard enough throw Flash groaned when he caught it. He was almost knocked on his ass. She shouted.

"Your side are the ones in blue and yellow!"

Gwen sat back down. Flash laughed, as did most of the people that heard. The game continued and Gwen overheard the coach talking to his assistant.

"Did you see that throw? Damn it if she wasn't a girl, I might just replace her boyfriend with her."

Gwen leaned on the wall beside the Football locker room waiting for Flash. Jake Constantine beat him out, Jake was a senior. He leaned over her. His arm resting across the wall. Gwen was just over five feet at this point. He had hit his stride and was just over six. He looked down at her.

"So, how did Flash get a hotty like you? Ever think of dating a senior?"

Gwen rolled her eyes.

"Leave me alone, you're basically an adult, pervert."

Gwen slipped under his arm and tried to move away. He grabbed her arm. Gwen looked back at him. After Liz, Gwen was not having any of it.

"Let me go, or else."

He tightened his grip.

"Or else what, Gwen?"

Flash saw the altercation and started to rush towards them. Gwen didn't notice him. She yanked her arm hard forcing Jake to release his grip then she spun around in a whirl of blonde hair and red school bag. She pushed hard against Jake's chest with her hand. He slammed against the gym lockers. He found he was unable to overpower Gwen.

"You might be deaf. Let me say it a little louder: Leave! Me! Alone!"

Gwen released Jake and he slid down the lockers holding his chest and looking up at her. He looked at Flash.

"Your girlfriend's a freak!"

Flash walked over and put his arm around Gwen's lower back.

"Yea, well you're lucky she took care of it, I would have beaten the shit out of you."

Flash looked at Gwen.

"Let's go babe."

Gwen hefted her school bag and pulled the other strap over her shoulder and followed Flash out of the school. He glanced down at her as they walked.

"You're in a mood today. First you kiss me in the halls, then I hear from Liz you blew up at her. Then you shove Jake around?"

Gwen shook her head.

"First of all, she blew up at me first, I just called her out. And Jake deserved it. He's been handsy with me and the other junior girls since we started at the school."

Flash looked surprised by Gwen's revelations about Jake.

"Why didn't you tell me about Jake? I could have taken care of it."

Gwen narrowed her eyes at Flash.

"And get yourself kicked off the football team, or expelled? No, contrary to popular belief I'm not a damsel in distress needing to be rescued."

Flash held his hands up in surrender.

"I know babe, I know. Its just, he's a big guy. Popular with the staff. And his dad is a state senator. Hard to get someone like that in trouble."

Gwen waved her hand dismissively.

"If I really wanted him in trouble, I would have told my dad. His dad could be president he'd still be in a cell. Now is this really what you want to focus on, or would you rather focus on the fact that if you do well tonight in your math, you'll get to see the girls, maybe even play with them?"

Flash was grinning ear to ear.

"We should get started on that tutoring."

Flash picked up the pace as the pair walked towards Gwen's apartment building.