Soon after, the meeting ended. The three of them left Mrs. Snow's office.
Gwen glanced at Hawk. "Do you want me to take you to the bioelectric division?"
"No need. I'll find it myself."
With that, Hawk slung his bag over his shoulder and strode off. He didn't have much time—class was about to resume, and he still wanted a shower at the gym.
Peter followed behind them, eyes fixed on Hawk's back. Too fixed.
Gwen, watching him, called sharply: "Peter!"
"Ah—!"
He blinked, disoriented, before focusing again on her face. "Gwen?"
She smiled slightly. "Nothing. By the way—are you going to the dance this year?"
Peter rubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry… probably not."
Hawk avoided dances because he had no money or date, though with his looks, physique, and quiet strength, he could have easily found someone if he wanted.
Peter's problem was simpler. He only had eyes for Mary Jane.
And everyone knew it. No girl wanted to be her stand-in.
And MJ? She had already signed up with her partner—Harry Osborn. Typical of her taste.
So Peter's absence from the dance wasn't surprising. Gwen, knowing this, only nodded before walking away. Still, she cast one last glance back—Peter was still standing there, staring in the direction Hawk had gone.
…
A few days later, summer break arrived.
The school filled with cheers. Students left in pairs and groups, buzzing about vacations—Hawaii, Slovakia, anywhere but here. Soon, Midtown High was almost empty, quiet.
Except for the steady rhythm of fists in the old gym.
Ten minutes later, the pounding stopped.
Hawk stood, breathing evenly, unwrapping his bandages. Habit, nothing more—he could smash steel barehanded now, but after a thousand days of training, rituals stuck.
He paused. His brows twitched.
A voice came from behind.
"They say this gym will be turned into a swimming pool next semester."
"…Peter."
Hawk turned, spotting the boy with Tobey Maguire's face. "Not 'they say.' It's true."
Peter smiled faintly. Said nothing.
And that was another reason Hawk liked the first Spider so much.
Unlike the slightly chatty Amazing Spider-Man, or the hyper-chatty MCU Spider-Man, this one was quiet. Reserved.
Like Hawk himself.
Still, Hawk asked, "You didn't come here just to tell me that, did you?"
Peter shook his head. "No."
"Then what?"
"Uh…"
He faltered, words dying on his lips.
Hawk smiled, slung on his bag, and started toward the door. "Happy summer, Peter."
Thwip!
The sound made him whirl, fist snapping out in reflex.
Peter's spider-sense flared. He dodged.
"Bang!"
A nearby bench split clean in two under Hawk's punch.
Peter's eyes went wide.
Hawk calmly peeled the strand of sticky web off his bag. Strong stuff. He had to shake hard to fling it away.
Peter looked back at him, realization dawning. "Hawk, you also—"
"I'm not." Hawk cut him off coldly.
His strength wasn't a gift. It was his thousand days of fists, his unyielding will. The cheat? Maybe it played a part. But he believed—cheat or no cheat—he would have awakened the Microcosmos anyway.
He gave Peter a look.
Spider-sense or not, Peter understood instantly.
Hawk smiled faintly. "Enjoy your summer. See you next semester."
"…Yeah. See you next semester."
Peter swallowed his words, agreeing quietly.
Hawk turned and walked out.
Only to find Gwen standing right outside.
He blinked in surprise. "Gwen?"
She just stared back in silence.
…
(End of Chapter)
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