CHAPTER 5: A Fresh Start
The Midtown High chaos lingered far below, leaving our rooftop refuge untouched by the storm brewing in the streets. MJ, engrossed in the sensationalism of The New York Post, provided a stark contrast to the serenity I found in the drifting clouds above.
Can we just, like, stay up here all day?* The thought reverberated in my mind as I watched the tumultuous events of the day unfold beneath us.
MJ, reading aloud from the front page, painted a bizarre image of me, wielding puppet strings to control her and Ned: "Some suggest that Parker's powers include the male spider's ability to 'hypnotize' females, which he used to seduce Jones-Watson into his cult of personality."
"Oh come on... stop. Stop!" I pleaded, half-amused, half-mortified by the absurdity of the headline.
In a playful trance, MJ mockingly submitted, "Yes, my Spider-Lord." Our laughter echoed, momentarily drowning out the dissonance of the world below.
Just as the atmosphere between MJ and me grew more intimate, Ned made his entrance, disrupting the romantic interlude with his exclamation about seeking privacy from the chaos below.
"Finally, some privacy! It is so crazy down there!" Ned exclaimed, blissfully unaware of the moment he interrupted.
As Ned joined our respite, oblivious to the romantic tension, he proposed an idea for our future. "So, I was thinking, when we get into MIT, we should live together."
"Yeah, for sure," I agreed, the prospect of a shared life at MIT brightening the uncertainty of the present.
"I'd love that," MJ chimed in, seemingly unaffected by the chaotic events besieging us.
Ned, with enthusiasm, presented a vision of our future at MIT through a video on his laptop, showcasing students enjoying their college experience. "This is gonna be us."
"Yes, minus the frisbee. And the smiling," MJ added, her skepticism subtly challenging the optimism surrounding our plans.
"MIT's obviously the dream, but if we match up our backup schools, then either way we'll all be together in Boston. New school. New town. I can Spider-Man there," I suggested, attempting to infuse our conversation with hope.
They have crime in Boston, right?* I mused, contemplating the possibility of a fresh start in a new city.
"Yes, yes they do," MJ confirmed, an acknowledgment of the inevitable challenges that awaited us.
"Yeah, wicked crime," Ned chimed in, inadvertently bringing a touch of levity to the conversation.
"So, it'll be like a fresh start," I asserted, yearning for a sense of normalcy that seemed elusive.
Yet, amid my earnest assurances, MJ's hesitancy surfaced. "I don't know, I just feel like if you don't- If you expect disappointment, then you can never really get disappointed."
Come on* I silently pleaded with her, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders.
Reaching out, I took her hand, attempting to reassure her and myself simultaneously.
"It'll be a fresh start. And we'll all be together," I promised, my words carrying the weight of conviction.
"Yeah, no, you're right, yeah. Fresh start," MJ conceded, her skepticism yielding to a shared hope for a brighter future.
As Ned, in his perpetual state of obliviousness, playfully interlaced our clasped hands, the rooftop became a sanctuary from the chaos—a fleeting moment of tranquility amidst the storm.