Recently rewatched Spectacular Spider-Man for the first time in years, and this was just kind of something that popped into my head.

New York

Night

Liz Allen was at a restaurant, waiting for her friends to arrive. She was the first one there, so she looked around bored when she paused, seeing her ex-boyfriend, Peter Parker, sitting a few tables away with Gwen Stacy. Neither of them had noticed her, too wrapped up in each other as they talked, the air between them very intimate.

She hadn't talked to Peter in almost a year, since the day he broke up with her. She did know he and Gwen had been dating for the last few months, three months after Harry had been arrested when it was discovered Norman Osborn was still alive and Harry had been helping him try to take down Spider-Man.

Liz stared at them, remembering her last encounter Peter before making a decision. Liz got up from her table and walked over, slowly approaching their table.

"Petey?"

Peter and Gwen both looked up in surprise at the sound of Liz's voice, clearly taken aback by her presence. Which was fair, Liz mused. She hadn't as much as a said a word to them in almost a year outside class where she was forced to interact with them.

"Liz," Peter greeted once he overcame his surprise. "What is it?"

"Can we talk? Alone, for a minute?" Liz requested.

Peter seemed to think it over before shrugging, turning back to Gwen.

"I'll be right back," Peter promised.

Gwen didn't look entirely happy, but she nodded, giving Peter a tight smile. Peter leaned over, kissing her cheek (something Liz fought not to grimace at) before standing up, following Liz away from everyone else. They stopped at a corner, where Liz hoped they wouldn't be interrupted.

"What is it, Liz?" Peter asked once they had stopped.

"I've been thinking a lot about us lately, about how we ended," Liz started before Peter interrupted.

"Liz, if this is about our break up-" Peter started.

"It is, but not for what you think," Liz said and Peter paused, letting her go on. "You were just trying to do the right thing, and if I'm being honest, I'd known for a while that you were pulling away. I'm sorry…for how I reacted."

Liz honestly wasn't sure what she expected, an apology back, a smile, a handshake, but the neutral look on Peter's face was certainly not it.

"I accept your apology Liz," Peter said before he moved to go back to Gwen. "I guess I'll see you around."

"Petey," Liz started and Peter paused. "I know you're with Gwen, and I respect that. But I was hoping that we could still be friends."

"I don't think that's such a good idea, Liz," Peter said, to her surprise. "Do you remember the first words out of your mouth when I broke up you?"

Liz thought for a moment but, given it had been a year, she honestly could not remember. Seeing Liz shake her head, Peter spoke.

"You said 'you break up with me'. You said it like I was beneath you, like me breaking up with you was an insult to you. You may have liked me, but you never stopped thinking you were better than me, better than my friends. It's been a year, and you're apologizing because you feel guilty, to make yourself feel better. I accept your apology Liz, but I don't think we can ever be friends again. I can't be friends with someone who thinks themselves better than me or my friends. You haven't changed from the girl who thought me tutoring you was a waste of time. Not really."

Peter then walked away, not looking back as Liz stared after him, stunned. She wanted to argue, but couldn't find the words. And a voice in her head that sounded suspiciously like Mary-Jane told her that it was because he was right.

"Was that about?" Gwen asked as Peter rejoined her at their table.

"Nothing important, I'll tell you later," Peter promised, deciding to put Liz out of his mind and focus on Gwen and their date.

Liz was nice and all, but the break up scene with Peter proved that she really hadn't changed that much from the girl who thought Peter's mere presence was beneath her. She acted like Peter breaking up with her was some kind of person insult, proving that, while she may have liked him, in truth she never stopped looking down on him and thinking she was better than him. A sign of a healthy relationship is mutual respect, and Liz clearly never actually respected Peter.

I had Harry helping Norman because it was pretty obvious that the show, if it had continued, was going to have Harry go down the villain route.