Chapter 3

So how's everyone finding the story so far? Super early chapter this time thanks to the reviews, they put me in such a good mood i'm already 2k words finished for chapter chapter 5 so here's a happy surprise :)

And to Infernocrossx: Thank you very much for the review! There is a definitive ship in mind but I won't be revealing who it is just yet, this story still has a long way to go sadly. I will say it's not a harem though.

To Taiwoeretan1: Thank you so much for the review, I completely agree, season 3 as robbed from us.

Anywho, short AN today, time to get into the story!

"Spectacular" = Speech

'Spectacular' = Thoughts

"What is a 'Hero' though?" = Speach with a quote

*BANG* = Important Noise?

-Flashback- = Flashback setting

"I love you" = Written words

{4:00am} = Important Time/ Date

Disclaimer: Spider-man, Marvel and related IP belong to their respective owners. The author of this story owns jack-shit and holds no fantasy that they ever will.
_

If there was one gurantee for many at Mid-Town 3, it was that a sunny day meant sitting on many of the benches that made up the schools outdoor eating area on the roof. The problem however, is that there are only a finite number of said benches so things could get quite hectic.

"Ouch, excuse me, ouch, you know that's my foot right?"

A disgruntled Peter finally sat down on the empty bench he'd spotted from the roofs entrance, thankful to have made it through the ever growing crowd with his lunch securely in his hand and not in a bin.

"Mmmm, hard to beat one of Aunt May's leftover turkey sandwhiches" Peter mumbled happily in between bites of his sandwhich, eyes focused on the apple and re-used bottle of water sitting patiently infront of him.

"M-mind if i sit here?"

"Huh?" The question caught Peter off guard, dragging his attention away from the food he'd been so enamored with and onto the blonde standing before him, lunch tray in hand.

"S-sure Gwen"

"Thanks Peter" A relieved Gwen said, sitting down opposite of Peter on the suddenly too large bench. "It's completely packed today, I barely managed to spot you over here with that crowd"

"Can't blame them for wanting to be out in the sun, you know? Especially, considering the rain we've been getting recently"

"Ugh, I know Peter but they made me loose my orange! Do they have to be so dang rowdy" Gwen grumbled in annoyance at her lost fruit, furrowed eyes and scrunched face making for quite the sight as she ate a few fries from her tray.

"It is a bit much, maybe your orange left to get some revenge for you?" Peter replied in a semi-serious tone as he finished his sandwhich, ignoring the loud shouts of the crowd gathered for lunch.

The two stared at each other for a moment, one seemingly serious and one seemingly annoyed, until both broke out into fits of laughter as their eyes lit up together at the ridiculous image of a vengeful orange.

"...I missed this" Gwen quietly said, laughter fading as she gazed melancholyly at her food.

"I did too..." An equally melancholy Peter said as he focused on the clouds drifting above, careless in the wind.

The silence that followed was both somber and joyful, one that reflected the loss of something wonderful and also its brief return as they tuned out the world around them.

"...So, where's Harry?" Alas, as with most things, silence has to end at some point.

"Oh! Em, he's just talking to about something and told me to go on, so I headed out to look for you" Gwen replied somewhat nervously, given the new topic as she took a bite of her burger.

"That's new, wonder what all that's about?"Peter briefly questioned in surprise, trying to ignore the sting in his chest at her words. 'Never knew playing second fiddle for someone you love could hurt this much...'

"No clue to be honest, he hasn't told me anything like that" Gwen said, aimlessly using her fork to push around the few bits of burger and fries left on her tray.

"Guess we'll have to ask him later then" Peter remarked as he looked sadly at Gwen and her actions, deciding to switch to a hopefully happier topic. "How've things been for you though?"

This seemed to be the wrong thing to ask however as Gwen shot her head up to meet Peter's eyes, the panic and worry reflecting off them hurting him more than Rhino ever could.

"I-I-I know i'm taking ages to do this Peter, but It's difficult alright!" Gwen hissed out as she began to speak rapidly, ignoring the shock on Peter's face. "How am I suppossed to break up with him after everything he's been through? He just lost his father to the same thing that hurt him!"

"And I know that isn't fair to you Peter, we- no, I've been ignoring you and Harry's been so hurtful with these rants about Spider-man but please just wait a bit longer, I'll figure something ou-"

Gwen's rambling would've continued were it not for the pair of hands now gently holding hers, sufficiently shocked as her eyes trailed from the joined hands up to the owner.

"Peter..."

"Gwen, I know you're trying your best with the Harry situation, I trust you." Peter calmly told her as he looked forlongly at her and their entwined hands. "What I was really asking about though is you. How have you been?"

Peter couldn't understand the look in her eyes at that moment, a look which warmed his heart more than any summer day, whilst drowning it in the coldest winter lake.

This look seemed only to intesify as Gwen gazed down at her hands, her body and speech now seemingly calm as she stared.

"Peter...my hands." Gwen quietly whispered.

"H-huh?" Peter cluelessly replied as he looked down at their joined hands, the loud cacaphony of nearby conversations bringing reality crashing down. 'If anyone see's us like this...'

Begrudgingly letting go of her hands, the two looked at each other and shared a small but solemn smile as they lapsed into silence.

Said silence only being broken by the sudden sigh of Gwen. "Things have been... rough to say the least Peter, I've been so busy trying to help Harry that I ended up pushing alot of things to the side."

"Now that you mention it, I haven't seen you with your saxophone in quite a while actually" Peter curiously remarked.

"Keeping an eye on me there Peter?" Gwen shyly teased before dropping her head morosely. "Yeah the bands pretty annoyed at me for ditching practice so much, I'm even re-auditioning for my place tomorrow, it was hard enough getting it in the first place but who knows how it'll go at this rate"

"I'm sure it'll be fine Gwen, you're their best musician by a long shot and they know you wouldn't flake without a good reason" Peter smiled reassuringly.

"Thanks Peter, that means alot you know?" Gwen smiled back wearily, feeling slightly more confident about her impending audition. "It was just so hard with Harry and everything, but with the recital coming up soon I can't keep missing practice even if I get to keep my position"

"Responsibility can be confussing sometimes, huh?" Peter quietly questioned to no one in particular as the noise from the cafeteria filled the air, never providing the answer he sought. 'How is anyone supposed to make the right choice on what comes first when so many need you?'

"It's obviously MJ dude!".

"Bro, what? Liz has the best without question".

"Boys, boys. Yes they are great picks but obviously you two are too blind to see Flash is the winner here".

"Cassy, you're sweet but that's just bull. Hobbie wins without question like remember him in those tights during the play?"

"Sorry Peter, what did you say? I couldn't hear you, over these IDIOTS shouting about who has the best ass in school!" Gwen inquired gently before growling in annoyance, deciding to ignore said idiots after sending a glare at their table which sat to the right of Peter and Gwens.

"N-Nothing Gwen. So wait what's this about a recital?" Peter hurridley switched topics, away from both his inner crisis and who has the best ass in school. 'Are they blind? It's clearly Gwen.'

"Oh, well you know how we usually do a big performance at the end of each school year?" Gwen asked before continuing after seeing him nod. "Well this year, Mrs. Kane said it'll be taking place somewhere special and that we'd need to pull out all the stops".

"She won't even tell us where the dang location is, insisting it has to be a mystery for now!" Gwen informed, indignantly throwing her hands in the air as some excitement crept into her voice. "Mysteries can be fun and all but the pressure is intense, like who know's where we'll end up playing at?"

"Maybe it'll be in that opera hall they're rebuilding down in the financial district?"

"Doubtful, Spider-man and Shocker brought that place down hard last year" Gwen replied, deep in thought.

"How'd you know about that?" Peter curiously asked. 'Didn't think anyone remembered that fight, one of the first where the thug actually had powers too'

"Huh? O-oh you know, I just remember dad grouching about it, that's all" Gwen awkwardly laughed as her eyes avoided Peters inquistive gaze.

"Ahmm" Gwen quietly coughed. "Back to the recital issue, a few of us were thinking it might be over on the ESU campus but that seems a bit farfetched"

"How so?" Peter asked curiously, taking a bite of his apple in the process.

"ESU's band have won countless national competitions over the years Peter, countless!" Gwen informed exasperrated. "Only the top bands and musicians get to play on a stage like that..."

"Stage like what?"

"Harry!/H-Harry!" Two voices cried out in unison

"What stage?"

Walking up to the shocked duo conversing on the bench was one Harry Osborn, lunch tray in hand and eyebrows furrowed as he glared towards them, repeating his previous question.

"E-ESU's" Gwen nervously replied as she wilted under her boyfriends glare whilst Peter frowned quietly at the sight.

Sitting down beside Gwen, Harry placed his tray down firmly before slowly raising a fry to his mouth whilst gazing at the two before him, as if to relish in the sudden atmosphere his arrival had created.

"What about it?"

"We were debating on whether or not my, hopeful, recital would take place there or somewhere else." Gwen answered, gaze locked on her burger rather than either boy near her whilst her fingers drummed a soft tune on the table.

"I thought you quit band" Was the response finally need to get Gwen to look back at her boyfriend as she sent him, 'The Look'

"No, they nearly fired me! How could you forget about my re-audition tomorrow, i've been worrying about it for ages Harry." Gwen replied indigant, shocked that he'd apparently tuned out the many conversations they'd had about the upcoming event.

Peter just silently watched the devolving train wreck before him, wondering if it was his place to butt in.
Raising his arms weakly in a show of surrender, Harry cast a forlong glance down at the space between him and Gwen.

"Geez Gwen, I've just had a lot on my mind you know, it's the corporate buyout event soon and well you know how its been..."

Peter would swear that Gwen hurt herself with how fast she winced upon hearing Harry's reply, the response catching her off guard.

The silence which sprouted after that could've been cut with a knife, the only sounds resounding between the three being the soft munch of food and boistrous shouts echoing from other lunch tables.

"Anyway, Peter I just wanted to apologise for my behaviour recently, i'm so angry that this murderer is getting away with taking my father from me." It was unexpectedly Harry who broke the silence surrounding the three, as he seemed to begin another one of his rants whilst apologising

Confused as to where this was going Peter held his tongue and decided to listen rather than defend Spider-man as a hero, a decision which would ultimately lead to quite the uncomfortable scenario.

"Look what I am trying to get at is that you're invited to the corporate buyout event next weekend, it'd be nice to be among friends with everything going on you know? Me and Gwen have been looking forward to it for quite awhile, took this one ages to pick out a dress." Harry said, winking at Peter as he gently poked Gwen with his elbow, although Peter would swear he saw a frown form on her face at the words.

"You could even ask Liz eh? Maybe get back into the throughs of romance like me and my Gwen here." The thought of asking out his ex again was too much for the previously quiet Parker, the groan of desperation which left his mouth only served to cause Harry to erupt into laughter at his 'friends' perdicament.
Unknownbst to the jovial Osborn however were the glares being starred at him from some of the lunch rooms occupants at the overheard suggestion.

"Yeah I don't think that's the best idea Harry" Peter replied, lifting his head from where it had fallen onto the table as he'd groaned.

"Well the plus one is there for you Pete, as a favour you know." Harry said, his eyes boring into Peter's. "I'm sure you won't turn down a night of free high class food and connections, might even get you a better job!"

"Harry!"

"Chill babe, i'm just rooting for our friends future here" Harry replied to Gwens indignant shout, his eyes still locked onto Peter's own. "Never know where he'll end up"

"Yeah..." Trailed off Peter as his mind raced for a topic changer. "So, what did you need to talk to about?"

Tearing his gaze from Peter, Harry cast his eyes around them, briefly stoppng on Gwen before returning to his food.
"No reason, just had to double check something with him"

"Are you sure everythin-Oh Peter, I nearly forgot!" Peter began until being interrupted by a slightly shocked Gwen, a look of momentary surprise etched onto her face.

"What did you think about Warren's email?"

"Warren's email? Did I miss an assignment, is that why Harry was talking to ?" Peter asked dumbfounded, and slightly nervous, he'd checked his email in computer class earlier and hadn't seen anything.

"Not that Warren! I'm talking about Proffesor Warren, he emailed me about the opening next week, said he's got big plans for us at ESU. Did you not get it?"

Well that was certainly news to Peter, he hadn't receieved any correspondence from that Warren since the lab shut down for investigations, and even then it had simply been a 'return when these needless investigations cease'.

"Maybe he forgot to send it?" Peter asked rhetorically. Seems like Gwen was indeed the favoured intern between the two of them.

"Maybe..." Gwen replied, slightly befuddled as to why Peter hadn't been contacted and she had, despite her email clearly mentioning the two them as Harry took her hand in his.

Now with a new awkward silence befalling the three, Peter was finally at his wits end, glancing quickly at the hand-me down watch on his wrist as he stood up, excuse on the tip of his tongue.
"Would you look at the time, i'm gonna head to the bathroom and then get my books, see you in class!" He exclaimed rapidly, desperate to escape the situation.

Walking back through the crowds of people, Peter was oblivious to the pairs of eyes watching him leave, their owners standing up to stop him as the roofs doors closed behind him.

*CRASH, BANG*

Peter coud've sworn he heard a bin topple over, but given the lack of any spider-sense warnings or screams, Peter decided it must've just been his imagination and continued on his way to the bathroom, turns out he actually did need it!
_

Rushing out of school at the bell were the many attendees of Mid Town 3, including one Peter Benjamin Parker, yet whilst most of the other students were rushing out to go hang out or get home, Peter was heading to work.

If one were paying close enough attention they might've spotted a certain brown haired Parker running into an alley and not leaving, atleast in the conventional way for if they'd looked up they would've been graced with the sight of the wall crawler himself.

Settling himself ontop of the roof, Spiderman gave yell of excitement as he dived off into a swing between the many buildings, glad to be free of the confines and situations school usually brought him. This freedom was short lived however, the looming building of the daily buggle standing out like a sore thumb and the responsibilites he had beggining to weigh him back down.

Stepping into the elevator Peter, now out of his costume, began riffling through the pictures he had ready for Jameson today. He'd gotten photo's of the recent break in attempt by those blasted Mcrackin brothers and one's from those new thugs working for 'The Bigman', Peter was dreading whatever drivel was conjured up by those photos in particular. He could see it now, 'Spiderman taking up where the Goblin left off, now with explosives instead of webs'.

*DING*

Welp, that was his cue to face the music. Walking through the office Peter exchanged pleasantries with everyone he passed, the office having become a lot more protective of their young photographer after his 'mugging' incident.

"Hey Peter" Called out one Betty Brant, Jameson's trusty secretary and a former crush of Peters, keyword former.

"Hey Betty, is Jameson free, got another scoop of photos for him today" Peter replied, passing the photos over to the woman so she could have a look herself.

"Ouch, he's gonna spin quite the tale with these i'll tell you that, should net you a bit of a bonus in my opinion" She said, looking at the miraculous photo of a pumpkin bomb flying straight for Spider-man and a shirtless thug.

"Hopefully, I just hope the story's aren't too bad you know?"

"I get you Peter, well he's been in a good mood today so fingers crossed. I'll see if he's finished up with his last meeting now." Betty said, reaching over to press the button for an intercom.
"Sir, Peter's here with those new photos of Spiderman you requested"

"Send him in!" Roared the intercom, evidently Jameson was free at the moment.

Giving Peter a smile of goodluck, Betty returned to her work whilst Peter took a deep breath and prepared himself for the hurricane that was Jameson.

Stepping into the office Peter couldn't help but glance at the many awards linning the wallks of Jameson's office as he walked towards said mans desk, people could say what they wanted about the man but he knew how to woo a crowd.

"I'll talk to you in a second, and you had better not hang up if you want the job!" Grumbled Jameson into the offices' phone, his eyebrows pinched as he glared at the phone, putting whoever that was on hold.

"Parker, hurry up i'm a busy man. Whatcha got for me today?" Jameson asked quickly, as he lifted his glare from the office phone to the young man drawing closer to his desk, bundle of photos in hand.

"Well I got a few good shots of a recent mugging down in the commercial district" Peter said as he passed over the bundle to Jameson who reclined in his chair and immediately started rifling through them, searching for his next chunk of fools gold.

"Boring, useless, alright, decent" Said Jameson, his eyes currently watching a step by step film of the McCrackin brothers jewellery shop break in as he soon shifted to the last few photos.

"Hello. What's this now Parker? That webbed menace finally looking to take over from the Goblin eh?" Of course the last few photos happened to be off the water tower incident, curse his need for money.
"Ha! This is perfect Parker, thought you'd lost your touch for a second there."

Let it be known that a smiling Jonah, was often badnews for Spiderman and by assoiciation, Peter. 'I doubt anything Jameson can do will make them hate me anymore than they already do' thought Peter.

"Any chance I could get a raise then sir? Might incentivise me to get some better photos" Peter asked coyly, well as coy as he could, which in laymens terms means as bluntly as a truck.

"You trying to extort me Parker? You try that again and you're out of here! But fair play for standing up for youself, not many have the stuff to do that nowadays!" Jameson was like a malfunctioning shower sometimes, from ice cold in one second to warm and cuddly in the other, it was quite the experience working for him.

"Although if you're looking for money, I do have an extra job for you to do next weekend. You're friends with that Osborn brat right?" Peter could only nod, his eyebrows furrowed and eyes darting around the room, 'Friends might be a stretch nowadays...'.

"Well it just so happens that they're throwing a massive shindig for the new CEO until the brat comes of age, all the city's movers and shakers will be there. Myself included obviously." Jameson's smug tone really showed how proud he was to get an invitation to the party, if Peter wasn't so in need of a job he'd mention his own invitation.

"But anyway, I need someone to take pictures of it for us, Neds on sick leave with some cold or whatever so that leaves the job to you"

Peter couldn't afford to turn down any extra jobs, Aunt May's hospital bills were quickly pilling up alongside the normal ones, Peter need the money plain and simple regardless of what Harry might think.

"I'll do it"
_

Watching the young man leave his office Jameson turned back to his phone, whilst gritting his teeth, he was offering alot of money for this job so they'd better still be on the bloody phone!

At the click of his door, Jameson quickly checked to make sure the coast was clear, spotting Parker talking to Betty, the man returned to his phone call.

"MacGargann, you there?"

"Yeah boss" Good it seemed like he'd already realised the nature of their relationship, ha this might actually work out!.

"You know the details, I want updates every week you hear me? Miss one single update and i'm docking your pay heavily."

"Yes boss, don't you worry, you won't regret a thing" Cried out the sniveling voice from the phone.

"Good, cause I need you to find out if Peter Parker really is Spiderman, i'm not resting till I get to the bottom of this!".

The whir of monitors and click of a keyboard were the only noises to echo through the dark room as a rotund shape cloaked in shadows huddled over the centre-most keyboard. Wires hung from the ceiling, the rooms only light coming from the set of five monitors chained to the wall, binary code flowing across four whilst the last seemed to contain a muted news broadcast.

*CLINK, CLANK*

The broadcast wouldn't remain muted however as with a metallic sound, the broadcast volume slowly rose until it was the loudest thing in the room.

"Good evening, this is Robin Scherbotski with the evening news. First thing on the agenda is what many New Yorkers are no doubt whispering amongst themselves about, the Oscorp ball said to be hosted next Saturday at Oscorp tower"

The metholodolical hum and drum of keyboards ground to a halt with slow whir of machinery, as whoever the rotund shape was turned their focus purely onto the screen before them.

"Many of the cities biggest entreopeners will be in attendence at the event with notable guests from the Fisk corporation, Kingsley enterprises and even our beloved mayor all speculated to make an appearance."

*CLINK, CLANK*

The monitors filled with code were all quickly replaced with the broadcast, the smiling face of the reporter as she finished off the segment.

"Regardless, it looks as if it will be the biggest event of the season for our lovely city as everyone comes together to welcome in the newest Oscorp CEO, and to celebrate the genius of Norman Osborn who started it al-"

*CRASH*

A sharp metal appendage could be seen sticking out of one of the monitors on the right, it having stabbed directly where the reporter was on screen. The other monitors seemed to be in a state of shock from their murdered brother, their screens frozen stiff and intercrossed with static.

"Osborn..."

Bit of a shorter chapter this time everyone, sorry! Couldn't really figure out how to end this without hitting points meant for next chapter.

Till next time :)