Chapter 9

"Where were you two? We already had dinner over at Harold's," Betty said, slightly annoyed.

Gwen elbowed MJ in the ribs. "I told you,"

"Shut up Stacy," MJ fired back before turning back to the other members. "You guys wouldn't believe what just happened," she continued excitedly.

"Uhh, you guys got lost while buying dinner?" Glory offered sarcastically.

"No! We met Spider-Man!" MJ exclaimed.

"Wai-Hold up. What?" Betty asked incredulously.

"There was a robbery over at that new Chinese place two blocks away," Gwen explained.

"You guys got involved in a robbery?" Glory asked, concerned about her friends.

"Yeah, but get this," MJ interjected. "Spider-Man totally dropped in & saved the day!"

"Are you guys hurt?" Glory continued.

"What? Yeah sure, we're fine," MJ brushed her off. "Anyway, I got a selfie with him, to proof it totally happened," MJ said as she reached into her pockets, to no avail.

Gwen raised an inquisitive eyebrow at her friend's antics. "Your phone's with Spidey, remember?" she said snarkily.

"Oof," MJ smacked her forehead in disappointment as she remembers what happened.

"Why would Spider-Man have MJ's phone?" Betty asked confused.

"There's this jerk that snatched Gwen's phone away," MJ explained. "It's a whole thing,"

"Woah, does this make you guy's, like, Spider-Man's friends or something?" Glory mulled out loud.

Gwen shrugged her shoulders at the question. "Don't know, ask MJ," she said simply. "She's the one that kissed him,"

"WHAT?!"

"Woah? Seriously?"

MJ flashed them a sly smile. "Well, I may have sneaked in a peck on the cheeks," she said smugly.

"Ugh," Betty rolled her eyes in disgust.

"Hey, you get a chance to kiss a superhero, you take it," MJ said defensively.

"I thought your superhero crush was Thor?" Glory questioned.

"Well, Thor never swooped in and swept a lady off her feet, has he?" MJ said smugly.

"Ehh, I donno, Gwen doesn't exactly look like she's swept off of anything," Betty quipped sarcastically.

"I was talking about me," MJ groaned.

"I thought you said lady?" Betty replied nonchalantly.

"Exact-Oh haha, fuck off Brant," Gwen rolled her eyes in annoyance as she flipped Betty off, earning a snicker from the pair of cousins.

"So, you girls still ok to do the gig?" Glory offered, still concerned. "Do you guys need to rest? Maybe-,"

"No, fuck that. I've never felt better in my life," MJ said confidently. "Let's go. I feel like I could go and do the best show of my life!"

Glory looked over at Gwen, which she replied with a non-committal shrug of her shoulders. "Hey, I'm cool with it. We got away scratch free,"

"Hah, you can't say the same about those robbers Spidey took down! Hell yeah!" MJ said excitedly.

"Okay," MJ said as she came into the parking lot. "We have 30 minutes left people! Go go go!"

"What? We've got more than an hour left," Gwen remarked, as she glanced at her watch.

"Last 30 mins is 'Zen Time'!" MJ snapped back. "Now are you gonna help me take this down or what?" she groaned.

Gwen rolled her eyes at MJ's antics. "Ugh, leave my drums, I'll take care of it,"

They went about setting their instruments up, testing to see if everything is okay. They played a few notes & songs to check the sound, and greeted some of the other performers due that night.

"9.30," Gwen said slowly after their last rep.

"Yeah," Glory paused for a moment. "In 30 minutes, we'll be performing in front of all those people," she said, trying to calm herself down.

"Yeah, if they turn up," Betty scoffed.

"Don't jinx it, Brant!" MJ snapped at her immediately.

Gwen looked over at the stage, thinking. "I doubt that'll be an issue," Gwen mulled. "Did you see the line when we come in just now?"

"No duh, it's 'Married with Sea Monsters'. I'd be here if I wasn't playing," Betty scoffed.

"Well then which one is it?" MJ snapped at Betty again. "Just now you said no one's coming. Now, everyone's coming,"

"Shut up," Betty said, slightly red in the face after being caught out. "I'm a negative thinker, this is how I cope,"

"And ain't that just the cutest," Glory teased her cousin, making the other two grin in the process.

"Haha," Betty laughed sarcastically. "Funny,"

MJ took a few moments to sort out her thoughts. "Don't worry, this is gonna be our stepping stone to legendhood," MJ said shakily.

"Legendhood?" Betty smirked at MJ's remark.

"You got any better ideas?" MJ shot back.

"Hmm, always the wishful diva," Betty said off-handedly.

"What's that suppose to mean?" MJ glared at her.

"It means, you're our star power," Betty explained nonchalantly. "So come on. Lead us the way like usual. We've got your back Red," she grinned confidently.

MJ flashed her trademark smile at them. "Group hug!" she exclaimed excitedly, before pulling each of them together in a huddle. "Let's knock this out of the park!" MJ yelled excitedly.

Gwen smiled to herself, after seeing her friend's antics.

"I'm gonna go get some fresh air. Anyone wants anything to drink?" she offered to her bandmates.

"Soda,"

"Gatorade,"

"I'm good,"

Gwen whistled in acknowledgement, before stepping out the back door and heading out of the hall.

"Ah shit," Gwen muttered to herself as the light drizzle outside hits her.

She lifted her hood up to cover her head and ran to the nearby convenience store across the street. Once inside, she ruffled her wet bangs in the hope of drying them faster.

As she took a look inside the store, she noticed two familiar figures, sitting dejectedly over at one of the tables at the magazine aisles.

"Harry?"

Harry looked up in surprise at the mention of his name. "Gwen?"

"Gwendie?" Ned also looked over at Gwen in surprise.

Gwen shot him an annoyed look, before Harry elbowed him in the ribs, hard.

"Oww! Oh-I mean, Gwen!" Ned corrected himself.

Gwen shook her head in annoyance before turning her attention back to the pair. "Why aren't you guys lining up yet?"

Harry rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "Yeah, we uh… couldn't get in,"

"Yeah," Ned nodded. "We were the first one here as well," he explained, dejectedly.

Gwen took a few moments to consider the situation presented before her. "Tickets with Peter?"

Harry lets out a frustrated groan. "Yes! Erghh!"

Gwen smiled amusingly at them. "So where is he then?"

"Where do you think he is?" Harry moaned. "He didn't come! He didn't call! Nothing!"

Gwen nodded thoughtfully. "Sounds like Peter," she smirked to herself, before heading to the chillers & grabbing her drinks. She turned to the two boys as she grabbed her own drink. "You guys want anything to drink? I'll pay," she offered.

"Coffee," Harry replied.

"Soda for me,"

Gwen grabbed the two additional drinks and went over & paid for them before heading over to the boys and handing them their drinks. "Here, chin up,"

"Yeah, thanks," Harry said dejectedly.

Gwen sat down with them, drinking her 'Monster' soda, before offering them her help. "Gimme your phone,"

Harry raised his eyebrow in surprise. "What? Why?"

"I'll try & give Pete a call," Gwen offered.

"Pfft, we tried that, like 15 times!" Harry exclaimed. "With 15 voice messages!"

"He's out of reach," Ned said softly.

"He's not out of reach!" Harry snapped at Ned angrily. "He lives in Queens! Not Wakanda or something!"

"Dead battery?" Ned offered weakly.

"Not helping Ned!"

Gwen rolled her eyes in disinterest. "Lemme give it a try," offering her hand out for the phone.

Harry reluctantly gave her his phone. "What happened to yours?" he asked.

"Harry, Gwen doesn't have Peter's number," Ned shook his head in disbelief.

"Of course, she does Ned," Harry rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"I have his phone number," Gwen said as she tries to ignore their antics. "I just don't have my phone right now," she added, as she tried ringing Peter.

The phone rang for a few seconds before suddenly, Peter picks it up.

"No way!" Ned exclaimed in disbelief.

"Hey Harry, sorry man," Peter said hurriedly through the phone. "I'm heading there now,"

"You sound like you're in a rush," Gwen said calmly.

A few moments of silence passed, before Peter answered back. "Gwen?"

"Where are you right now?" Gwen asked casually.

"I'm-uhh-I'm on my way there," Peter panted over the phone.

*HONK* 'Hey! Watch it!'

"Sorry! Sorry! I'm in a rush!" Peter's voice rang out through the phone.

'Get off my car stupid!'

"Sorry! Sorry!"

"You okay there?" Gwen asked coolly (trying her best to hide her worry).

"Uh, yeah sure," Peter assured her. "SORRY!" Peter again apologized over at his side of the phone to someone. "Gwen, I-uh-I might be a little late. BUT I'll be there," he said hurriedly.

"Okay," Gwen assured him through the phone.

Harry quickly snatched back his phone. "Where are you, Pete?!"

"I know I know, I'm uhh, running a bit late," Peter stammered through the phone. "I-uh-had to… help… May with a new shelf!"

"What?!" Harry exclaimed incredulously, before Gwen snatched back the phone from him.

"I've got these two covered," Gwen assured him. "Just, make sure you get here in one piece,"

"Ok, thanks Gwen," Peter answered. "I owe you one,"

"Hmm," Gwen acknowledged off-handedly before hanging up.

Harry sighed exasperatedly. "What now?"

Gwen took a big gulp as she finished her drink and threw it away. "Now, you two are coming with me,"

"WHAT?!"

"Yeah, sorry about that," Gwen winced slightly at MJ's reaction, as she handed each of her band members their drinks.

"Guess you've been stood up eh Watson?" Betty chuckled lightly at MJ's reaction. "Again,"

MJ glared at her in annoyance. "Ugh, not helping!" she groaned.

"He's helping out his aunt, just let it go," Gwen sighed.

"Ugh! Fine!" MJ pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration, before taking a deep breath to calm herself. "Focus," MJ said, calming herself down. "I'll deal with Peter tomorrow,"

"Right, we got bigger fish to fry right now," Betty nodded in agreement, taking a few breaths to focus herself as well.

Gwen smiled to herself at seeing their antics. "Oh, and look, I've brought groupies," Gwen gestured to the two boys standing awkwardly in front of the door.

MJ raised an eyebrow inquisitively as she looked over at where Gwen was pointing. "Groupie?"

"Oh hey! It's BB-8 & C3-PO!" Glory joked as she noticed the pair. "Get R2-D2 along and you'll have the whole set,"

"BB-what?" Betty looked over in confusion at her cousin.

"Is Peter supposed to be R2-D2?" Harry asked, slightly amused at the joke.

"Ooh! Am I BB-8?" Ned exclaimed excitedly.

"That wasn't a compliment Ned," Gwen sighed.

"Oh," Ned answered dejectedly. "But wait, how do you know about the droids?" he asked Glory.

"Hmm?" Glory looked slightly taken aback by the question. "Oh, you know, I-uh-keep up with nerd culture," she laughed awkwardly. "Coz you know, gotta come up with them names to tease you guys, ahaha,"

"Shut up Brant," MJ interrupted. (Hey! I didn't even say anything!) "I have an idea," MJ's face lit up in excitement. "Osborn, how would you like, to be, our promoter?"

*deep breathes*

'You've got this Gwen. We've got this. I'VE got this,'

"Give it up, for your very own, the MARY JANES! Midtown, make some noise!"

*Curtains opening*

*Crowd cheering, slowly dying down*

*Collective murmurs in the crowd*

Gwen felt her hands getting clammy, sweat pooling up on her palms. She looked over at her bandmates, all of them staring at the crowd, looking slightly lost.

*Collective murmurs getting louder*

*Electric Guitar riffs*

Gwen looked over at Betty, and see that she's closed her eyes, and started belting a guitar solo, announcing their presence to the world.

All of a sudden, the fog in her mind starts to clear up, and everything felt familiar again. The venue, the people, drifting away from her consciousness.

Suddenly, she's back in their basement, with her 3 friends, and like normal, they're gonna rock this world.

Slipping away, the thousands of stares, the blinding lights, the deafening silence, the heavy air, the girl in the front row, chewing her gum, Harry recording them with his phone, Ned being sandwiched in between two dudes, all slipping away. There were only her & her drums. And that was enough for her.

Face It Tiger - The Mary Janes (credit; Married with Sea Monsters)

link :- watch?v=2_inenhypZI

"That'll be $59.90,"

"Oh, haha," Gwen retorted sarcastically at MJ, before getting out of the van. "Thanks for the lift,"

"Hmm," MJ brushed it off casually.

"Get a move on Stacy, we've all got school tomorrow," Betty rolled her eyes from the backseat of the van.

"Oh hey," MJ stopped Gwen before she walked away. "You rocked today, Stacy,"

Gwen flashed her a confident smile. "Thanks MJ, you too," she beamed at her, before pausing for a moment. "We all did,"

Betty smirked at her, before flipping her off, while MJ started to drive away.

Gwen quickly scrolled through her phone and looked at her bandmate's latest update on their social media.

As she was enjoying scrolling through the photos of their recent show, she noticed a lady coming out from her neighbor's front door, struggling with the door whilst trying to take out the trash.

Gwen quickly took off her headphones and walked over to their fence. "May? You need some help with that?" she offered.

May Parker, looked up at Gwen in surprise. "Oh, Gwen! How are you honey?" she smiled warmly at Gwen before dragging the trash bag down the stairs. "Don't mind me, it's just some trash," she waved away Gwen's offer as she dragged the bag to the bin outside.

After she finished getting rid of her trash, she looked over at Gwen and smiled warmly at her, slowly making her way towards Gwen. "How are you dear? I haven't seen you for quite a while,"

Gwen smiled sheepishly at May's question. "I'm fine May, busy with school, like usual," Gwen rubbed the back of her head awkwardly.

May nodded thoughtfully. "And how's your dad?"

"Oh, uhm, you know, busy with work," Gwen answered. "How about you May? How're you holding up?"

"Oh, don't you worry about me young lady," May brushed away her concern. "I'm fine, Peter's fine. You focus on yourself now,"

Gwen laughed awkwardly at May's insistent tone. "So… uh… how's the new shelf?" Gwen asked.

May looked at her in mild confusion. "New shelf?"

"Oh, uhh, Peter said that u wer-," Gwen stopped herself & shook her head. "Forget that, sorry. Is Peter home?"

May looked over at her nephew's room, before shaking her head in disapproval. "No, he hasn't been back home yet since the morning," she sighed. "I don't know what that boy gets up to these days,"

Gwen smiled back at her, trying to assure her. "I'm sure he's busy with stuff. It's Peter after all," Gwen chuckled to herself.

May smiled at Gwen's remark about her nephew. "Well, at least I have you looking after him for me at school, so that's a load off my mind,"

"Uhh, haha, Peter usually looks after himself quite well at school," Gwen lets out a nervous laugh at May's words.

"Hmm, stubborn, that one is," May shook her head in disapproval. "But you, take care of yourself now, Gwen," May pats Gwen on her shoulders.

Gwen nodded her head & laughed awkwardly. "Yeah, so… uhm… I gotta go take a shower and stuff,"

"Oh, I'm sorry," May apologized, as she waved Gwen away. "Go, go, get some rest dear. Goodness knows you need one after coming back this late,"

Gwen backed away as she kept her hands in her hoodie. "So… I'll uhh, see you around,"

May smiled warmly, before she waved her away & looked over Gwen as she walked into the house.

As Gwen slowly opened the door to her house, she switched on the lights to her otherwise pitch-black entrance. "I'm home," she said to no one in particular, expecting no reply in return.

She dropped by the kitchen and saw her mug on top of a $50 bill & a note. She took a look at the note, already half-knowing the contents.

'Something came up at the precinct, be back late. Love you. P.S.: Money for Pizza on table,'

Gwen lets out a small sigh as she pocketed the $50 bill and made her way up to her room. Once she reaches her room, she falls face flat on her bed, having tire herself out for the day.

"Owww," Gwen moaned to herself as she felt pain in her nose, landing on her bed. As she turned to lay on her back, she thought back to the events of the night, and smiled to herself as she remembered the concert. "Best night ever,"

She got up and sat on her bed for a few moments before heading towards her bathroom. She quickly took off her contacts & puts on her glasses, before slipping out of her clothes & into her sleepwear.

As she walked back towards her bed, she glanced over her shoulder at the open window facing Peter's.

A twinge of guilt started forming inside her as she thought about Peter, before she pushed them to the back of her mind. "It's your mess Stacy, deal with it," sighing to herself.

Gwen quickly grabbed a nearby Chemistry book from her shelf and brought it over onto her bed. Within a few minutes, her fatigue overtook her, and she quickly fell asleep.

The last thought crossing her mind was, 'We never mentioned anything about the 'Floorboard' to him though…,'