A Few Months Ago
"I don't know what it is, but I just feel like I'm a Nobody," Max Dillon said as he sat at his desk, staring at the acceptance letter from the prestigious university that he had received on full scholarship. "I mean, I got this scholarship because of my mechanical abilities, and I've always been good at building and fixing things. But it's like, no matter how hard I try, I still feel like I'm just invisible to everyone."
His friend, Rachel, sat across from him, concern etched on her face. "Max, you're not a nobody. You're one of the smartest people I know, and you have so many accomplishments under your belt. You've been accepted to Empire State University, you have a full scholarship, and you've even won awards for your inventions. How can you still think that you're a nobody?"
Max sighed and looked down at his hands. "I don't know, Rachel. It's just this nagging feeling that I can't shake. But lately, I've been finding inspiration in this new hero that's been showing up in the city - Spider-Man. He saved me recently and couldn't be more grateful, so I started keeping up with him. Seeing what he's able to do, the way he's able to help people and make a difference in the world... it made me realize that maybe, just maybe, I could be Somebody too."
Present Day
As Peter Parker walked to work at The Daily Bugle, he couldn't help but think about how things had changed in the past year. It was now halfway through October, and Peter's first year of college was not going as smoothly as he had hoped.
For starters, his relationship with Liz Allan had been rocky since the incident with the Vulture. Peter had completely abandoned Liz during their date to save Norman and Emily Osborn after the couple were kidnapped, and Liz had not talked to him since then. Peter couldn't tell her the real reason why he left, as he still had to maintain his secret identity as Spider-Man.
'"It's not like I didn't expect it to be tough,"' Peter thought to himself. "'But man, this has been rough. Between balancing school work, my job at The Bugle, my internship with Connors, and my secret identity as Spider-Man, I barely have time to breathe."'
Peter couldn't help but think about the events of the past month. He had defeated The Vulture, a dangerous villain who had terrorized the city, and saved the Osborns, a wealthy family that included his friend Harry. But in the process, he had completely abandoned his date with Liz. She hadn't talked to him since, and he couldn't tell her the real reason why he left. He still had a secret identity to maintain, after all.
"'I guess being Spider-Man has its perks,'" Peter thought wryly. "'But it also has its downsides. Like my suit, which is practically falling apart. I haven't been able to Spider-Man it up for the past few weeks because of how torn up it is.'"
But Peter's problems didn't end there. Because of The Vulture, Norman Osborn had increased his family's security to new heights, meaning Harry couldn't go anywhere without a full team of armed guards. For the time being, it was just Peter and Gwen, his best friend and fellow Spider-Man enthusiast.
As he walked into The Bugle's bullpen, Peter couldn't help but overhear his boss, J. Jonah Jameson, yelling at his reporters.
"I want pictures of Spider-Man!" Jameson shouted. "Someone get me pictures of Spider-Man!"
The thought sparked an idea in Peter's mind. Taking a picture of Spider-Man was the equivalent of taking a selfie for him. Maybe he could use this to his advantage and get some extra cash. So why not take a few while he was fighting crime? It's not like the extra cash would hurt. He had been struggling to make ends meet as a college student, and any extra money would be welcome.
"'I'm sure Jameson would pay top dollar for exclusive pictures of Spider-Man in action,'" Peter thought to himself. "'But how am I going to get those pictures? I can't exactly ask Spider-Man to pose for the camera.'"
As he made his way to his desk, Peter's thoughts were interrupted by his co-worker, Ned.
"Hey, Pete," Ned said, a wide grin on his face. "How's college going?"
"It's going," Peter replied with a shrug. "It's been a bit of a struggle, but I'm managing."
"Well, hang in there," Ned said, patting Peter on the back. "It'll get better, I'm sure of it."
Peter appreciated Ned's encouragement, but he couldn't help but wonder if things would ever truly get better. He had always been the awkward, geeky kid, and it seemed like that was never going to change.
But as he sat down at his desk and began working on the Bugle's website, Peter couldn't help but feel a sense of purpose. He loved his job, and he loved helping people as Spider-Man. Maybe things weren't perfect, but he was making a difference, and that was all that mattered.
"'I guess I just need to keep going,'" Peter thought to himself. "'One day at a time. That's all I can do.'"
And with that, Peter immersed himself in his work, reminding himself to make a trip to the Connors' lab after he was done.
Max Dillon sat alone in his dorm room, staring at the blank piece of paper in front of him. He had been tasked with writing a paper for Derrick and his cronies, and he was struggling to find the words. It wasn't that he didn't know the material - he was an honors student, after all - it was that he couldn't focus. All he could think about was the constant harassment and bullying he had been subjected to since starting at ESU.
It had all started on his first day of classes. Max had been excited to start college - he had always been something of a loner in high school, but he had always hoped that college would be different. He had a full ride to ESU, and he had been thrilled to be accepted to the school. But that excitement had quickly turned to dread when he met Derrick and his friends.
They had been the first people he had met on campus, and they had taken an immediate dislike to him. They had called him names, pushed him around, and generally made his life a living hell. Max had tried to ignore them, but they seemed to be everywhere he went. They had even managed to get him thrown out of his dorm room, forcing him to move into a single room in a different building.
Max had tried to talk to the school's administration about the bullying, but they had brushed him off, telling him that it was just "boys being boys" and that he needed to "toughen up." He had even tried to talk to his parents about it, but they had been too busy with their own lives to really listen.
The only person who had really seemed to care about Max's struggles was Rachel, his best friend from high school. She had been accepted to a different school, but she had called him often to check in on him and offer words of encouragement. But even her support couldn't change the fact that Max was alone, and that he was struggling to make it through each day.
He let out a sigh and leaned back in his chair, rubbing his eyes. He knew he needed to focus on the paper, but he couldn't shake the feeling of hopelessness that had settled over him. He wished more than anything that he could go back to high school, where at least he had some sense of belonging. But now, he was just a nobody, and the world seemed to be conspiring against him.
It wasn't long before Derrick and his cronies came knocking on his door. Max's heart sank as he heard their familiar taunts and jeers. He didn't want to open the door, but he knew he had no choice. He took a deep breath and opened the door, bracing himself for the worst.
"Hey, Dillon," Derrick sneered, pushing past him into the room. "We're here for our paper."
Max's heart raced as he scrambled to gather the paper he had been working on. He knew that if he didn't give it to them, they would just beat him up again. But as he handed the paper over, he couldn't shake the feeling of defeat that washed over him.
"Thanks, Dillon," Derrick said, clapping him on the back. "You're a good little lapdog."
Max felt his anger boil over as Derrick and his friends laughed and left the room. He couldn't take it anymore. He couldn't keep living like this, constantly being bullied and belittled. He knew that he needed to do something, but he didn't know what.
As he sat alone in his room, he realized that he had a choice to make. He could either continue to be a victim, or he could stand up for himself and fight back. The thought of standing up to Derrick and his cronies scared him, but he knew that he couldn't keep living like this. He couldn't keep letting them walk all over him.
Frustrated, Max unknowingly called out "Jerk", and all hell broke loose. Max was startled as Derrick bolted back into the room and grabbed Max up by his collar.
Max's heart raced as he felt Derrick's grip tighten around his collar. He knew he had made a mistake by calling him a jerk, but he didn't know what else to do. He knew he couldn't fight back against four guys, and he didn't want to get hurt.
"I-I'm sorry," Max stammered, trying to wriggle free from Derrick's grasp. "I didn't mean it."
But Derrick wasn't listening. He slammed Max against the wall, knocking the wind out of him.
"You think you're so smart, don't you, Dillon?" Derrick spat. "You think you're better than me? Well, let me tell you something, you're nothing. You're nobody, and you always will be."
Max's head was spinning as he tried to process what was happening. He couldn't believe that Derrick had actually heard him, that he had been so foolish as to let his frustration get the better of him. He knew he was in for a beating now, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.
Derrick and his cronies dragged him through the dorms, laughing and jeering as they went. Max could feel the eyes of the other students on him, but no one seemed to want to intervene. They just watched, silent and afraid.
Finally, they reached the outside and Max was thrown to the pavement, the hard concrete scraping against his skin. He could feel the blood trickling down his face, and he knew he was going to be bruised and battered by the time this was over.
But Derrick wasn't done yet. He picked Max up and slammed him into a nearby brick wall, holding him up by his collar. Max could feel the anger and hatred radiating off of him, and he knew that he was in deep trouble.
"What did you call me, dickweed?" Derrick spat, shaking Max violently. "You think you're better than me, don'tcha? You think you can talk to me like that? I'll show you who's boss."
Max could feel the tears streaming down his face as he tried to speak, but he couldn't find the words. He was terrified, and he didn't know what to do. Just as Derrick was about to land the final blow, Max heard a familiar voice as he saw a just as familiar brown haired young man step between him and Derrick.
As Peter walked back to the ESU campus, he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement building within him. He had just finished his shift at the Daily Bugle and had a great idea for a new article. He wanted to capture some action shots of Spider-Man in action, and he was eager to share his idea with Gwen.
But as he walked, he noticed something that caught his attention. In the distance, what he saw there was Max Dillon, one of his lab peers, being bullied by a group of guys. Peter's heart raced as he remembered all too well the pain and humiliation of being bullied. He could feel the rage building inside of him as he marched over to the group, determined to put a stop to this. Peter couldn't believe what he was seeing as he walked across the ESU campus.
"Hey, leave him alone!" Peter shouted, standing between Max and the bullies.
The guys just laughed and sneered at Peter, recognizing him from their high school days when he was known as "Puny Parker".
"What are you gonna do about it, Parker?" one of the guys taunted.
Peter gritted his teeth, trying to control his anger. He knew he couldn't use his powers to defend himself or Max, not without revealing his secret identity.
Just as the bullies were about to attack, someone else stepped in. It was Flash Thompson, one of Peter's old high school tormentors.
"Back off," Flash said, standing between the two groups.
The bullies looked uncertain, their resolve wavering.
"We don't want any trouble," one of them said, before quickly scattering.
"Hey man, thanks for your help back there," Peter said, turning to Flash.
Flash turned to Peter and Max, looking sheepish. Flash scratched the back of his neck, looking sheepish. "Yeah, no problem. Look, about the way I treated you guys back in high school. I was a real jerk and I regret it. I was an idiot and I'm sorry."
Peter was surprised by Flash's apology, but he knew he had to let go of the past if he wanted to move on. Peter nodded. "I appreciate the apology, Flash. I know it takes a lot of courage to admit when you've made a mistake."
Flash looked down at his feet. "Yeah, well, I guess I'm trying to make up for it now. I'm not the same person I was back then. I've changed a lot since then."
Peter smiled. "I can see that. And I'm willing to forgive you, if you're willing to work on being a better person."
Flash looked up at Peter, his eyes filled with gratitude. "Thanks, Peter. That means a lot to me."
Max, however, was not as forgiving. He glared at Flash as he walked past him.
"You gave me hell back in high school," Max said coldly. "And I'm not just going to forget that."
Flash looked down, clearly ashamed of his actions. "I understand, Max. I just hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me someday."
Max didn't respond, continuing on his way towards the Connors' lab. Peter watched him go, feeling a sense of sadness for the pain Max had gone through.
Peter stood there, feeling a mix of emotions as he watched Max walk away. On one hand, he was grateful for Flash's help in defusing the situation and possibly even saving them from a beating. On the other hand, he couldn't believe that Flash, the same guy who used to bully him and apparently Max also, was now standing up for them.
Peter watched Flash go, still trying to wrap his head around the unexpected turn of events. He had always assumed that Flash would never change and that he would always be the bully he was in high school. But now, it seemed like Flash was genuinely trying to make amends and be a better person.
"'I suppose you really can't judge a book by its cover'" he thought to himself before continuing on his way to the lab.
The sound of the explosion was deafening as Max flew through the air. He could feel the heat of the blast on his skin as he tumbled through the air, crashing into the eel tank with a sickening thud. He could feel the water rushing in around him as he sank deeper into the tank.
Panic set in as Max realized what had just happened. He had been working on an experimental electrical project, and somehow, he had blown a fuse, causing the explosion. And now, he was trapped in the tank with genetically modified eels that had been designed to produce electrical charges.
As Max struggled to stay afloat, the eels quickly swarmed around him, their jaws open wide. He could feel their sharp teeth sinking into his flesh as they bit and pulled at him. He could feel the electricity coursing through his body, causing his muscles to convulse and spasm. He tried to scream, but the water in his lungs made it impossible.
All around him, Max could see the panicked faces of his coworkers and lab partners as they scrambled to rescue him. Dr. Connors and his wife Martha were at the front of the group, their faces etched with worry as they tried to figure out how to get Max out of the tank. Eddie Brock, one of Max's coworkers, was swinging a crowbar wildly at the glass, trying to break it open. Peter and Gwen, Max's lab partners, were frantically trying to find a way to shut off the power to the eels.
Max floated in the water, his body limp and lifeless as the eels swarmed around him. Dr Connors, Martha, Eddie, Peter, and Gwen all stared in horror as they watched the scene unfold before them.
"Max!" Dr Connors shouted, his voice panicked as he reached for the lever that controlled the tank. "We have to get him out of there!"
Martha and Gwen both rushed to the side of the tank, trying to figure out a way to open it. Eddie took a crowbar and started swinging it at the glass, trying to break it open.
"Come on!" Eddie yelled, his voice strained as he continued to hit the glass with all his might.
Peter stood frozen, watching as the scene played out before him. He couldn't believe that Max, his friend and coworker, was being killed right in front of his eyes.
As the eels continued to bite into Max's body, he could feel his consciousness slipping away. He could hear the panicked voices of his coworkers, but they seemed distant and far away.
He thought back to the days when he had first started working on the project, when he had been so excited to be a part of something that could change the world. But now, as he lay dying in the tank, he couldn't help but feel a sense of regret.
He had been so focused on the project and the potential for success, that he had never stopped to think about the consequences of his actions. And now, he was paying the ultimate price.
As the water around him turned black, he closed his eyes and let out a final breath. He had always wanted to be remembered, to be someone important in the world. But as he lay dying, he realized that in the end, he was just a nobody.
Alright, I know, this one is shorter than expected, but think of it as a transition into the next Arc.
So I know it wasn't much but please feel free to review!
See ya see next time in Chapter 6: My Enemy