Chapter Two: A Journeys Beginning
Connors sat in his lab, looking at about six small tubes of green goo over burners. His excitement was obvious and anxious with all the beads of sweat and smile on his face. He jots down numbers and other notes on paper with his one arm, holding the paper down with a mug as he stares at tubes boiling. Then after all have reached a boiling point, he takes them to a larger beaker that sits in a spinner. He then pours all the liquid into the beaker and activates the spinner. As it spins he takes a few notes and as it slows down. He anxiously grabs a syringe. When it finally stops with a click, Connors grabs the tube and sucks the light green liquid into the syringe. He then fast walks over to a silver cage containing a white rat with a missing limb. He picks it up and injects it with the serum with an accomplishing smile. He then sets him back in the cage and smiles at the rat. "You are my best hope Theodore. If my calculations, are correct you'll be walking with the best of them." Curt's smile was beaming, with hope that maybe him and Peter might be able to become "normal people".
Peter sat during lunch going over one of his many science books, propping the book open with his artificial arm while his real arm groped for his lunch. He tried to focus on his studies, when suddenly, a French fry flew a mere inch past his nose. He sighed and smiled as he looked up to look at the food thrower: Eugene "Flash" Thompson and Kenny "Kong" were high fiving themselves like the pair of immature jock goof balls that they were. Flash had been giving Peter a hard time ever since high school started, but it was all in good fun. The two were friends back in middle school, and still where but in a more undisclosed way. They agreed before the years began "you know things will be different in hs. It's gona be hard to be friends" said flash but Peter suggested " In school yeah, but who's to know outside?". And with that it was played off as a childish rivalry in the building but outside the two would hung out just like always (mainly Sundays since Flash's Jock schedule was hectic). Also, considering, Peter's handicap he's been able to play off his "Flash doesn't want to hurt a cripple" feacade so his whole jocks-pick-on-nerds stereotype actions were child's play rather than harsh. But there was one problem: Peter isn't a push over. So when Flash looked down, he dipped the fry in Ketchup and through it back! Sadly it hit Kong in the head, not Flash, Causing an unexpected confrontation. Peter, now looking in his book innocently, when Kong's hulking hand hit the lunch table. "Yo nerd!". Peter tried to ignore him when all of a sudden Kong pulled the paper down. Ketchup leaked from his forhead. Peter said trying not to laugh "Can I help you?". Kong took his figure, smothered it with ketup and rubbed it on Peter's face. "You see that!?" said Kong. "That's ketchup on my face! MY FACE! What makes you think YOU can do that, puny Parker?!" Peter whipped the the ketchup off of his own face and said. "If you can't take a joke why deliver them Kongy Boy?" Kong slammed on the table again when all of a sudden Flash's hand pulled Kong back from the table. "Alright big boy save it for the field." Said Flash, as he wiped the ketup off Kong's forhead with a napkin. "Next time captain he's mine. Cripple or not" said Kong as he looked back to see Peter reading his book again. Suddenly the bell rang. "Go to class I'll be right over" said Flash as he pat Kong on the back. Then, when Kong was out of sight, he sat next to Peter. "What the hell where you thinking?" Said Flash. Peter began to put his book back into his backpack. "I was thinking you forgot the ketchup." Said Peter. Flash chuckled. "Your such a smart ass Pete. Do you understand what could of happened?" Peter giggles as he stands up from the table. "Please what's he going to do? Take a swing at me?" Flash pulls him to the side. "Uh yeah maybe. You really shouldn't take this cripple thing for granted you know." Peter laughs. "Granted? You really think.." "Pete don't take it like that." Peter sighs, releasing the tension. "Yeah.. I know. Sometimes I get touchy though." Flash smiles and gives Peter a quick nudge. "Alright baby I got to get to class. Catch you Sunday?" Peter's pity washes away with a quick smile. "Of course" he says. "Let the wars begin!" And as Peter looked away with a laugh, Flash was gone and replaced with a voice saying "Yo Peter, Dumb over there giving you ?"
As Peter looks up, Marry Jane "M.J." Watson stood right in front of him with her trillion freckles and funky glasses. "Of course not it's all in good fun" said Peter shrugging as she put her arm around his cast arm and saying "Whatever you say". Peter grimmest at her. "Alright, MJ is that necessary?" "Hey you're a cripple I'm just being considerate. Plus if we don't wanna be late for the bus." Peter stops dead in his tracks almost tripping three people. "Whoa wait what bus?" "Uh the science trip remember?!" Peter slams his face into his hand. "God freakin Christ I completely forgot. Shit this messes up my whole day. I thought it was a half day and… Crap I need to call Conners." Like Quick Silver, MJ pulls out Peters phone from his bag. "Whoa how'd you do that?" "I'm still a girl. Phones are life." Peter shrugs, takes the phone and speed dials Conners.
Conners is still looking at his rat when his phone rings. "Conners." He answers "Doc it's me. I'm gonna be a bit late for our meeting." "But I thought you had…" "No not exactly I'm part of the science club and we have a trip to the Oscorp lab in Central." Conners gets a little hot under the collar. "Peter, you NEED TO BE HERE! I just started animal testing remember? You're my assistant I need you! Plus you have the notes! If this works I need those to start human trials!" Peter blushes with excitement and worry. "Okay… I'll cut out early. The labs close to central correct? I'll cut out and take a cab there! 10 minutes tops!" And with that Peter hung up the phone. MJ just looked shocked. "What makes you think they'll let the captain of the Science Club cut out early" Peter smirked at MJ. "I'm still a guy" he said and like that, they where off.