Chapter 24: Felicia Doesn't Like Science, She Likes... (Seeking Follow-up Reads)
Peter had always loved photography.
His old camera was a second-hand find he'd saved up for.
It performed quite well, though.
The two walked towards the bus stop, where a young woman was already waiting.
"Good morning."
Mary Jane was dressed vibrantly, her fiery red hair cascading down her shoulders. She had dimples when she smiled.
"Good morning, Mary Jane," Ben replied.
Peter stammered a greeting, then pursed his lips and fell silent.
He really wasn't good at interacting with girls. It wasn't just Mary Jane; it was Liz, whom he liked now, too. Even if he saw them, he wouldn't dare go over and say hello.
Mary Jane, on the other hand, seemed quite interested in Ben. They chatted about many things, making Peter feel a bit like a third wheel.
But he was already used to it.
Compared to the "unremarkable Peter Parker," Ben had always been very popular.
His grades were good, he was decent at sports, and Flash always wanted Ben to join the Baseball Club. Sometimes, Flash would also drag Ben to play basketball.
Ben had refused them all.
"Do you want to come watch us rehearse this weekend?" Mary Jane asked Ben expectantly. "A few of us have formed a band, and Gwen Stacy from your class is in it too. I'm the lead singer."
"I don't know if I'll have time," Ben replied, not giving a direct answer.
He could imagine he'd be quite busy in the coming days. Watching a few pretty girls sing and dance on stage?
It was quite appealing, but nowhere near as much as the machines in the lab.
Actually, Ben wasn't that passionate about science either. It was just that he couldn't wait to change the Parker family's current life.
"Are you planning to become a singer in the future?"
"A singer, or an actress, who knows?" Mary Jane clearly had no plans for her future.
A while later, the school bus arrived. Mary Jane parted ways with them and sat next to her friends.
Flash saw Ben and greeted him while putting an arm around his girlfriend, Liz: "Morning, Benny! Got time for baseball this afternoon?"
"Morning, Benny," Liz also waved enthusiastically.
Seeing this, Peter's expression darkened further.
"No time, I have other things."
Flash pushed Liz aside. "Move over."
Then he pushed Peter, who had been following Ben, aside and leaned in to say, "Did you hear about what happened last night on the Williamsburg Bridge?"
"Spider-Man fighting Lizard Man? Of course, I know," Ben said, glancing at Peter. Peter immediately averted his gaze.
"Spider-Man? That's a good name. Much better than what the Daily Bugle came up with," Flash nodded immediately.
If Jameson was Spider-Man's biggest detractor, then Flash Thompson was Spider-Man's biggest admirer.
"He's so cool!"
He abandoned his girlfriend and started talking animatedly with Ben.
Liz was furious. She turned to Peter, who had also been left behind, and pulled him to sit elsewhere.
"She definitely likes me!"
In front of the school gates, Peter declared confidently to Ben.
"Did you see me sitting with her? On the bus, I was breathing in the scent of her hair..." He looked entranced.
"Can you stop acting like a creep?" Ben rolled his eyes.
He thought to himself, This little tagalong of mine is hopeless.
"You were just sitting on the bus, and you didn't even dare say a word to her. Besides, she only sat with you because Flash ditched her."
Liz wasn't a bad person, but she was the typical type who loved the spotlight.
She looked down on the unremarkable Peter Parker.
Ben shook his head, no longer paying attention to Peter, and headed towards his classroom.
As soon as he entered, he saw Felicia with her textbook open, her head bowed in study.
"You're really working hard," he said, putting down his backpack.
Given Felicia's background, she didn't need to study so diligently. The funds from the Hardy Foundation were enough to make her a lady of high society.
"You're not late today?"
Felicia had actually seen Ben at the school entrance, but she was still upset then and originally planned to ignore him.
However, seeing that Ben came to talk to her as soon as he entered the classroom, Felicia instantly calmed down.
"Ever since I was little, my dad told me no matter what you do, you should always do your best!" Felicia said proudly. "Like, if you like basketball, don't just be a cheerleader, go play the game yourself."
"That's how he taught me, to pursue perfection and the ultimate."
As she spoke, a look of melancholy crossed Felicia's face. She wasn't a genius; she was always chasing perfection and the ultimate, yet far from reaching her goal. The father who taught her this lesson had long since disappeared.
At this moment, she was like a stray kitten, pitiful and helpless.
But she was also as resilient as a wild cat.
She quickly cast aside her emotions, looked into Benny's eyes, and invited him again, "So, can you find some time to join the study group? I asked Gwen, but she seems to have joined the band, so...
"It'll just be you and me."
No time.
Benny wanted to say that.
But as the words reached his lips, he changed his tune, "Maybe we'll need to schedule another time."
"Really?!"
"You agreed?"
Felicia jumped up with joy. She hadn't expected Benny to actually agree to her invitation this time.
Just the two of them, this was practically like... a date!
Thinking of this, Felicia felt like she was about to burst into pink bubbles!
"It depends on my schedule," Benny emphasized.
He glanced at Felicia, who was spinning in circles, and thought:
Harry's funds are really not enough. If the money truly runs out, I'll have to approach the Hardy Foundation. She's a future potential investor, so I should maintain a good relationship.
Felicia likes science, and conveniently, Grey Matter excels at science!
After school.
"Don't forget the study group."
Benny left school under Felicia's reminder.
Peter followed his original plan and went to Osborn Enterprise. Benny parted ways with him at the subway station; his destination was the Williamsburg Bank.
This building was very European in style, with a domed roof and a four-faced clock tower. It looked a bit like a castle.
"Benny, over here!"
Harry saw him and got out of the Rolls Royce, waving from a distance.
Benny looked over, about to respond, but froze.
Because Harry wasn't alone. Another person got out of the car with him and stood beside him.
It was a middle-aged man in a suit and tie, with a stern expression. His face was a bit long, and the ends of every wrinkle curved downwards. His temples were streaked with gray, but his hair was meticulously combed. Just standing there, he exuded an unusual pressure.
Benny frowned slightly, his heart sinking.
Norman Osborn.
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