TWO WEEKS LATER
"Everyone has been asking this same question 'Who is the new Spiderman '? We are all wondering the same thing! He wears a white costume, a large contradiction to the iconic Spiderman's red costume. We all wonder too, if he'll end up like the old Spiderman. Others ask, if he is the ghost of the dead wall crawler."
(EVENING)
Caldeus turned off the TV, groaning. He took off his mask and crashed on the chair in Norman's office. Norman stared at him quietly, and then smiled.
"You're doing a great job Spiderman."
"Well I never expected the job to be a bed of roses but what can I say-." He was interrupted by a phone call. It was Andrew, his boss.
"Hello, Caldeus, you free?"
"Umm ..I think so-"
"Good. We need extra hands here. Gotta offload some shipments."
"Got it Mr Andrew. I'll be right there."
"Thanks kid."
He hung up and looked at Norman. "I'll have to run along now sir."
*******
He swung to the convenience store and landed in a corner. Then he ran into the store, where he saw Mr Andrew and some other workers arranging the goods.
" Hey! Caldeus over here!" Mr Andrew called out. "We'll need you here. Stay with Gwen, she's a new intake. Show her the ins and outs. " He said and winked at him.
Caldeus walked to Gwen and paused. She had pure white hair and deep blue eyes that seemed to look through people.
"Hi." She waved at him with a cute smile.
He nodded, returning her smile.
"Mr Andrew said you'll help me out since I'm new."
"Uhhh yeah. So the detergents go there. The cigarettes go hear and the- Gwen?" He looked round but she wasn't there anymore.
"Gwen!" He called out, but there was no response.
Caldeus slowly walked towards the other shelves and saw her staring at a particular product.
"He was a good guy." She said. Caldeus looked at the product and sighed. It had the picture of Spiderman.
"I don't know who that clown is-" she started, but Caldeus interrupted her. "Clown?" He asked.
"Yeah. The clown who thinks he's the new Spiderman." She replied arranging the goods.
"No, no. Listen, this new Spiderman isn't a clown. He's a hero who risks his life to protect the city!" Caldeus replied angrily.
"Yeah, you're right. Every original has it's cheap copy." Gwen scoffed, rolling her eyes.
"What's your deal anyway? What has the Spiderman done to you ?" Caldeus asked, turning to face her.
"I knew Peter! He was just this sweet innocent boy who obsessed over this girl, MJ, who he later married- but he didn't deserve to die!" She said, sobbing.
All Caldeus' anger washed off. She didn't hate Spiderman, she just missed her friend.
"Gwen," he called, tapping her shoulder, " it's ok. I know this new guy can never replace Spiderman, but let's just let him do his job."
Gwen wiped her tears and continued working.
**FEW HOURS LATER**
"Alright guys ! Thanks for the help!" Mr Andrew shouted in genuine gladness.
Gwen quickly picked up her purse and walked off .
Caldeus followed her from behind. "Hey! Gwen!"
She turned back, looking at him.
He ran towards her with a smile. "I'm sorry we started off on the wrong foot. I'm Caldeus J.Jameson." he introduced himself, smiling brightly.
Gwen paused as she noticed his good looks. His blue eyes, his muscular arms, his-
"Oh, I'm Gwen. Gwen Stacy. Hey...um....I'm sorry about my outburst the other time. It's just, too much to handle. You know, watching your friend due on a very large screen." She stuttered, remembering how the villians streamed Spiderman's final battle live.
"He died a hero Gwen. And that's a good thing. I mean, I don't think the new guy can fight the way he did. Only one dude fought 13 vilians at once! And he killed most of them!" Caldeus responded, his voice sounding with genuine respect.
Gwen chuckled and smiled. " You're actually nice Caldeus. I really misjudged you."
"Yeah I get that alot."
" Hey... I don't know ummm.... as a token of my apology, you can stop by at my place. My mum's making her home food." Gwen said, looking down while playing with her hair.
"Home food?"
"Uhh yeah that's what we call it."
" Ok, cool."
"Really?" Her eyes beamed.
"Yeah sure."
****GWEN STACY'S HOUSE****
Officer Stacy, Gwen's father quickly put on his uniform.
"Honey, where are you going?" Mrs Stacy asked, cleaning her palm with a napkin.
"Just received a call. The car thief we've been following has been spotted. We suspect he works for Dexter." He replied, knotting his tie.
"Darling, I've told you to drop this Dexter issue. He's too dangerous!" Mrs Stacy said, genuinely worried.
"I know. But now that Spiderman's dead, everything is falling back to the police. It's my job honey, my responsibility." Officer Stacy replied, giving her a kiss on the cheek.
Just then Gwen walked in, with Caldeus trailing behind.
"Hey mum! Hey dad!"
"Gwen, welcome -" . Her dad's words paused when he saw Caldeus.
Mrs Stacy noticed the tensed air and quickly walked to Gwen dragging her towards the kitchen.
"Ahh just what I needed an extra hand."
Caldeus looked at Officer Stacy nervously, and stretched his hand forward.
"My name is Caldeus. Nice to meet you sir." He said, barely audible.
Officer Stacy shook his hand and nodded.
"I'll have to run along now. Hope you enjoy some of my wife's home food." And with that he was gone.
Mrs Stacy and Gwen came out of the kitchen with a tray of food each. Gwen's younger brothers raced down the stairs but halted when they saw Caldeus.
They all say at the table, Mrs Stacy said grace, and they began eating.
"So, Caldeus, tell me about yourself." Mrs Stacy said.
"Uh, well. I'm 21 years old. I work for my uncle. He owns the Daily Bugle."
"Jonah J.Jameson?"
"Yes ma'am. I work with Gwen in the B&B convenience store. And sometimes I work in Oscorp."
"Oscorp!" Gwen asked, surprised.
"Yes-"
" Please don't mind Gwen," Mrs Stacy chipped in," she can kill to work at Oscorp."
"Really?" Caldeus asked with a smile" I'll talk to Mr Osborn."
Gwen laughed loudly. "No offence but there's no a way a junkie like you knows Mr Osborn."
Caldeus just nodded with a smile.
Mrs Stacy smiled and nodded at Caldeus.
And then they are silently.
Caldeus finished his food and stood up, bowing towards Mrs Stacy.
"Your home food is really nice, Mrs Stacy."
"Aww thanks."
"Good night Mr Caldeus." Gwen's younger brothers echoed.
Gwen stood up too and she followed Caldeus outside. They stood together as the cold wind gently blew their faces.
They walked in silence, both of them lacking words.
———spider sense———
Caldeus frowned, as everything became slower. He quickly turned back and pushed Gwen away, just in time for her to dodge the car that was tossed at them.
Boom!
The car crashed. Caldeus felt strange. He hadn't experienced it before (Spider sense). It was like precognition, he saw the future, but he didn't actually see it. Like his body was warning him.
Gwen's eyes widened, how did he know the car was coming?
Together, they turned to face the attacker.
"Gwen, run!"
"What about you?"
"Don't worry about me just go!"
She ran away, Caldeus following from behind.
She turned back, he was gone. And at that moment Spiderman swung in .
"No way." she muttered
He landed the iconic Spiderman's pose on a nearby roof top.
"Hey! Spiderman! Come down let's play!" The vilian yelled.
"Ugh, no thank you. I'm pretty ok up here."
"Coward!"
"Hmm. I know you. You're the Bomber!"