The applause was still echoing as the lights brightened and the VEX hovercars glided back into their display alcoves, their polished surfaces reflecting the overhead spotlights. Ethan Whitethorn stood center stage, soaking in the energy of the crowd—a sea of faces, all turned toward him with admiration and awe. With a final wave and a charismatic smile, he stepped down from the platform, his security and staff forming a loose but respectful perimeter as he moved into the throng of students, teachers, and reporters.
Peter watched, heart thumping in his chest, as Ethan made his way through the crowd. He was magnetic—everywhere he went, people leaned in, eager to shake his hand, share their ideas, or just bask in his presence for a moment. Ethan listened intently to each person, nodding thoughtfully, sometimes jotting a note on a digital pad or offering a word of encouragement. His laughter was genuine, his attention undivided, and it was clear he thrived in this environment.
Peter tried to blend in, snapping photos with trembling hands, but he couldn't help feeling like a spectator at a rock concert. Around him, his classmates buzzed with excitement. Liz and Betty whispered furiously, eyes glued to Ethan. Flash, for once, was speechless, his bravado replaced by a kind of starstruck awe.
Then, suddenly, Ethan's gaze swept the crowd and locked onto Peter. For a split second, Peter felt as if the world had narrowed to just the two of them. His breath caught. Did I do something wrong? Did he see me taking pictures? Is my mask showing? His mind raced through a dozen possibilities, but his spider-sense hummed not with danger, but with the overwhelming sense that something important was about to happen.
Ethan began to walk straight toward him, the crowd parting almost instinctively, as if everyone sensed the significance of the moment. Peter's classmates turned to stare, a hush falling over their group. Liz gasped, clutching Betty's arm. Even Flash's jaw dropped.
Ethan stopped right in front of Peter, and for the first time, Peter realized just how tall he truly was—easily above 6'4", with a presence that seemed to fill the space around him. Up close, Peter could see the subtle lines of concentration around Ethan's eyes, the easy confidence in his posture. He smiled, extending a hand. "Peter Parker, right?"
Peter blinked, stunned. He had to tilt his head back to meet Ethan's gaze. "Uh—yeah. That's me. How did you—?"
Ethan's smile widened, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Tony Stark mentioned you. Said there was a smart kid at Midtown High who kept showing up in the right places, asking the right questions. When Stark takes an interest, I pay attention."
Peter's mind spun. Tony Stark knows who I am? He tried to play it cool, but his voice cracked a little. "He… he did?"
Ethan nodded, his gaze steady and encouraging. "He did. And I make it a point to meet anyone Stark thinks is worth watching. I hear you're quite the science whiz, Peter. Maybe you'll be the one to build something here that surprises even me."
Peter felt his cheeks flush, heat rising to his ears. Around him, his classmates stared in awe—some whispering, others just gaping. Betty's phone was already out, snapping a photo. Flash looked like he might faint.
"I—I just like building stuff," Peter managed, trying not to sound like a total dork. "And, uh, learning from people who are… you know, changing the world."
Ethan laughed, not unkindly, and the sound seemed to put Peter at ease. "That's the spirit. Never stop being curious, Peter. The world needs more minds like yours. If you ever have an idea or want to see what we're working on up close, let me know."
He reached into his jacket and handed Peter a sleek, metallic White Corp card—his direct contact. The card was cool and surprisingly heavy in Peter's hand, the White Corp logo etched in silver. "Seriously. I mean it. I'm always looking for new perspectives."
Then, lowering his voice just enough for Peter to hear, Ethan added with a wink, "Truth is, I made sure Midtown High got an invite today just so I could meet you in person. Stark's recommendation carries a lot of weight, but I wanted to see for myself."
Peter stared at the card, barely able to believe what had just happened. The crowd around him seemed to fade into the background, the noise replaced by the pounding of his own heart. Ethan gave him a final nod, his eyes twinkling with genuine interest, then turned to greet the next group of students, leaving Peter's classmates buzzing with excitement and envy.
As the crowd swirled around him, Peter clutched the card, his mind racing. He'd come to the expo hoping to see the future. He hadn't expected it to look him in the eye, call him by name, and hand him an invitation.
Peter barely heard the chatter of his classmates as they left the main hall, his mind still spinning from his encounter with Ethan Whitethorn. The White Corp card felt heavy in his pocket, as if it carried the weight of a hundred possibilities. He replayed the moment over and over—Ethan's towering presence, the way he'd said Peter's name, the promise of opportunity in his words. It was as if the world had shifted, just a little, and Peter was standing at the edge of something new.
"Dude, are you okay?" Ned's voice broke through the haze. He was grinning, eyes wide with excitement. "You just met Ethan Whitethorn! He talked to you like you were already friends! Did you see how everyone was staring?"
Peter managed a shaky laugh. "Yeah, I… I guess he did." He glanced back at the stage, where Ethan was still surrounded by admirers, his laughter ringing out above the crowd like a beacon. Even from a distance, Ethan seemed larger than life—confident, approachable, and somehow completely in control.
Flash shoved his way over, still pale. "What did he say to you, Parker? Did he offer you a job or something?" His voice was half-jealous, half-incredulous, and for once, Peter didn't mind the attention.
Liz and Betty hovered nearby, their phones out, already posting about the encounter. "You're basically famous now," Liz teased, nudging Peter's arm. "He totally singled you out! I bet you're trending on Insta."
Betty grinned, showing Peter a blurry photo she'd snapped of him and Ethan. "Look at your face! You look like you just saw a ghost."
Peter tried to play it cool, but inside, he was buzzing. "He just said Stark mentioned me. That's all." He shrugged, but his mind was racing. Why me? What did Stark really say?
Mr. Callahan rounded up the class, herding them toward the next exhibit. "Alright, everyone, let's keep moving! We've got a robotics demonstration in Hall B! Stay together, please—no wandering off!"
As they walked, Peter's mind wandered. What did Ethan really want? Was it just curiosity, or something more? And what did Tony Stark see in him that made him worth mentioning to someone like Whitethorn? He glanced at the card again, feeling the embossed logo under his thumb, wondering if he should call, or if he'd just embarrass himself.
The rest of the expo passed in a blur. Peter watched a robot dog perform rescue maneuvers, its synthetic fur gleaming under the lights as it leapt over obstacles and barked on command. He listened to a panel on AI ethics, the speakers debating the responsibilities of inventors and the dangers of unchecked progress. He even tried out a virtual reality simulation of a Mars colony, the red landscape stretching out before him as he piloted a rover across digital dunes.
But nothing could shake the feeling that his world had shifted, just a little, on its axis. Every new invention, every excited face in the crowd, reminded him that the future was coming fast—and maybe, just maybe, he could be a part of it.
On the bus ride home, Peter sat by the window, the city lights flickering past in streaks of gold and blue. The hum of conversation faded into the background as he turned the White Corp card over in his hands, tracing the logo with his thumb. He thought about calling the number, about what he might say, about what doors it could open. Would Ethan remember him? Would Stark? Was this the start of something bigger, or just a fleeting moment?
He glanced at his classmates—Ned still buzzing with excitement, Liz and Betty comparing photos, Flash pretending not to care but sneaking glances at Peter every few seconds. For the first time, Peter wondered if his life as Spider-Man was only the beginning. Maybe, just maybe, he was meant to do something more—not just for Queens, but for the world.
As the bus rumbled back toward Midtown, Peter slipped the card into his pocket and smiled. The future was wide open—and for once, he was ready to swing right into it.