Two days had passed, and everyone was adjusting. It was weird to wake up in the morning and not see Ben at the dinner table. It was strange and felt empty through the house when they finally returned the next day. Everything felt off and no longer comfortable in all hours of the day. As if everything had been flipped upside down, and every noise and sound in the middle of the night made each of them uneasy. Especially May, for Nova could hear her crying in the other room, but when she was face to face, she was holding a happy, loving smile to the teenagers. But both Peter and Nova could tell she was hurting. She no longer lingered near the living room and would avoid it. Double-checking the locks of doors and seeing if each window was sealed tight.
"We don't want to have a draft," May would say as she jiggled the window lift. It was study and shut. But both Peter and Nova knew well what she was doing. She even went and bought one of those light bulb cameras that was hooked up to a light fixture at the front and back door of the house. Making it more difficult for the teens to sneak out or slip away to become the spidey duo at night. That is when Nova had a plan. There was a small window that May never checks or sees if it's secure like the ones on the main and second floor. With careful planning, both teens alter the roof of their closets while May was out of the house at that moment to be able to crawl up to the attic through the cravages with ease. That night, the teens made their first sneak out and came back home before sunrise without notice. Not even the lightbulb on the porch sees them coming and leaving the house from up above. Making the mission a success. And another night of crime has been stopped.
On the third day, criminals seem to be spawning less than before. So the teens took advantage by practicing their skills and knowing their abilities a lot more. So far, they both have super strength and spider agility, along with having van der Waals Forces, which Peter calls it. With close inspection, they had tiny hairs that were visible to the naked eye. Nova never noticed them but she could slightly feel them. Making her more unconscious about shaking others' hands. Luckily, they can interact like claws. Making it easier for them to do their daily things.
But what was more unique was Nova, that Peter kept studying her closely. Her ability to go invisible and her high key hearing was more of her stronger suit then her strength, unlike her cousin.
On the next day, the Parkers received the paper. And guess who was on the front page?
There on ink was a bad, blurry photo of them in their suit leaping through the air from building to building. But what really caught their eyes was the title:
SPIDER PEOPLE AMONG US
It gave the teenagers some giggles and they could not help to read the rest of the article.
"What in the world got you two giggling about?" May asked as she entered the kitchen in her pink robe. Her eyes look heavy from another night of crying, but she still has that soft smile on her face towards them.
"On nothing," said Peter as he shifted to his bowl of cereal and swirled his spoon through chocolate pebbles.
"We were just reading the newspaper, that's all," Nova tells her as she pushes the paper towards May to see.
Quickly, May's curved lips drop into a scowl as she huffs and snatches up the paper. "You should not read such nonsense," she says, "Especially not this early in the morning." She then walked over to the other side of the kitchen and threw the paper into the trash. "I'll be heading out this evening to visit the morgue before heading over to the funeral home to plan the caramornary, which will be held in a week or two. Depending on when we get his body back."
The whole mood quickly shifted and everyone became silent.
"Is he…. Is he going to have an open casket?" Nova asked, feeling unsettlingly uncomfortable talking about this. Nova was debating whether to go or not. She even verbally mentioned her feelings to May about how she feels about going to the funeral but it made her feel like a horrible person for having the thoughts to not to go in the first place. Nova was not trying to intently wanting to avoid the funeral, it was more of the concept and the emotion she will have seeing Ben's body before a gathering of people. Would she be able to hold her composure throughout the whole ordeal? Does she have to make a speech? What can she say without breaking down into tears? There were so many excuses she could think up of but that's all they are, excuses. Definitely to May and Peter who looked down at her for having those feelings.
"I am not sure," May replied, with a sourness to her tone, "But please wear something nice when we say our goodbyes." She then leaves the room, heading back up stairs with a cup of coffee in her hand. Probably to morn some more.
As the teens sat in silence, Nova got up to retrieve the newspaper from the trash.
"What are you doing?" Peter hissed, "Put that back right now," he told her, looking back where May went. Seemed worried she would come back.
"Did you see her reaction when she saw the newspaper?" Nova pointed out as she brought the paper back to the table.
Peter scooted away from her. Mainly from the paper that was recently in the trash away from his cereal. "Don't put it on the table! That was in the trash!" He said in a whisper, "And what about Aunt May's reaction?" He asked.
"The look she gave," said Nova, "it was like she was angry and disgusted when I showed her." She pointed at the picture of them as spiderman and arachnid.
"Well yeah," Peter said as if it was obvious, "Aunt May hate mutants."
"But we are not mutants," said Nova, looking sad.
But Peter shook his head, "It doesn't matter," he said, "Look at the article," he tapped the paper, "We saved about many lives each night and we are talked about as if we are mischievous hoodlums causing trouble."
"But why?" Nova asked, looking baffled and confused.
"Not sure," Peter shrugged as he got up, "That's how the world works," was his answer before placing his empty bowl in the sink. "I'm heading down to the basement for now, don't bother me unless I call for you." He said before heading to the basement door connected to the kitchen.
"Okay fine," Nova said annoyed, "I'll try to keep myself busy then, while you do your thing," she tells him before he lift the room. Then she was all alone.
Nova sighs as she flips through the newspaper, which was something she normally never does, but she wanted to see the news if anything was happening around her. Until she reached an article that was titled:
Osborn Burning
"No…" Nova gasped in horror as she carefully read through it. Then she quickly heads upstairs to her room to change before heading out the front door. "Hey, I got the key to the house and I'm heading out!" She called out, expecting to be heard, but no one responded back, "Fine, Don't bother waiting up for me then!" She said sarcastically before leaving and heading straight to the hospital by foot.
"What do you mean he can't be seen?"
"I'm sorry ma'am," said the woman behind the counter, "But Harry Osborn does not want any visitors at the moment, due to the situation."
"But I am his friend," Nova kept insisting, "We both attend Mid West High School and pracatily go to the same classes together. Are you sure he doesn't want to see his friends from high school?"
"Ma'am," said the woman, now getting annoyed, "We had news reporters try to sneak in and harass the poor young man for questioning. He is still recovering and won't be released until the doctor says so. Now leave before I have you escorted out by force."
Nova groaned before she got an idea. "Okay fine," Nova said, "But at least can I write him a note? So he can contact me anytime or know that I am thinking about him."
The woman shook her head. "I can not allow that either, for he is off limits."
"Please ma'am," Nova begged, "I just want to see if he is okay, that's all."
But the woman was stern as stone. "Go now or leave by force," she warned Nova, which she eventually gave up and turned to leave. But Nova was not giving up that soon. When Nova found it more suitable, she snuck back in without being detected using her invisible powers. She even went and caused a mess by pushing the woman's drink onto her lap. It seems to work cause she quickly got up and hurried out from her chair to the bathroom nearby. Nova took advantage by searching Harry's name to find what room he was in an instant on the computer and left before the woman had returned, unaware and confused about what happened.
Nova was cautious as she made her way through the building to reach the floor she needed to be at.
"616…. 616," Nova mumbled as she scanned each plat she passed by until she found the one.
Carefully, she pushed open the door and slipped in.
"I don't want anything!" Harry snapped as his back was towards Nova when she entered.
"Not to even see your friends?" Nova asked, with the door shut behind her and now no longer inevitable.
Harry turned and his reaction quickly changed when he saw her. "Nova?" He gasped, "How did you manage to get up here?"
Nova mischievously smiled with a shrug, "I got my ways," she said before joining by his side near the bed he was sitting on. There were no windows and any furniture within the room, besides a bed and a TV hook high up to the wall that seems to be smashed.
"They gave you a broken tv?" Nova asked.
"No," Harry shook his head, "I may have smashed it while watching the news. They practically have anything besides news channels and crime tv shows."
"Well that sucks and why are there no windows here?"
Harry only shrugged and looked down at his feet. "They are treating me like a mental patient then anything," he said as he gripped the scrubs pants at the knees.
Nova softly places a hand on Harry's hand. "I'm sorry for everything you are going through," she said, showing remorse as she went to sit on the bed next to him.
Harry leaned his head on her shoulder. "I lost everything. My mom and my house…. And no one seems to care. Not even my damn grandparents came to show up," he said.
Nova wraps an arm over his shoulder with a light hug, "Maybe they can't come through?" Nova said in thought, "like I had to sneak my way in here to see you, for they told me you don't want to see anyone."
Harry pulled away and looked at her. "I never asked for that…" he said, looking angry and confused.
Nova nodded, "I thought so, so I came up here on my own just to know you are okay."
Harry blanked before softly smiled at her, "Wow, you literally did all that for me? That means you do really care about me, does it?"
Nova felt her cheeks flash hot before glancing away. "Well…. Of course I care about you. You're my good friends I care about."
Harry crackled. "Well I am glad to see it was you over then everyone else," he smiled.
Nova felt her face become warmer and glanced over with a smile as well at him. As they hang out, Nova updates Harry about what was going on with her life. Minus the fact she is a superhero fighting crime.
"Wow, Peter ran away from home over confronted about his failing grades?" Harry tisked, "Couch Remark will not like that if he found out. I should know."
"Well Peter won't have to worry about that soon," Nova continued, "He is dropping out of the team when we go back to school next week."
"Aw really? That sucks," Harry said, not sounding too disappointed, "I bet Flash will be happy with the news and I am really sorry what happened to Ben, he was a really cool guy. Better than my father could ever be."
Nova nodded as the conversation went dry. The two teenagers only lean onto each other for support.
"Ben's funeral will be happening in a week or so… can you see if you can attend?" She asked Harry, hoping he would say yes but he only shrugged.
"I'm not sure if I'm able to see my own mothers funeral at this point," he said, "But I will definitely will try to be by your side, if you really want me there."
Nova slightly nodded, not liking the answer she had received, "I would like that, thank you," she said, "And I can be there for you for both your parents as well," Nova offered that quickly changed the mood within Harry.
"Yeah….. both," Harry mumbled, "I think you should go before you are caught. I hope I see you soon at school and things get back to normal. I don't want to risk you getting caught here with me."
Nova frowned, finding it strange that he said it that way but she did not want to question it either. "Alright," she said, before getting up, "but so you know, I do miss you," Nova softly spoke and twiddled her fingers together, "and I hope you get out soon."
Harry smiled at her and pulled Nova into a hug and whispered, "Thanks, long legs," before letting her go completely.
Nova staggered back before awkwardly standing there for a moment or two. She was debating something in her head. "Harry…" she softly said, grabbing his attention before suddenly leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. "Something to give you hope," she tells him before rushing out of the room, feeling embarrassed she just did that to him.
Harry sat there stunned as he covered the spot where she left a kiss and only smiled.
