I don't know when it happened, but it felt like the world moved on without me. Everyone changed in some way, and by that I don't mean physically, we all get replaced every second. New cells take the place of the old, so in some way, everyone is the exact same but not. Some people fell, and their growth turned to decay, while some blossomed and became anew. I was static, no change in my life, day in and day out, until today.
Today, I had double chemistry period 2 and 3, on the second floor of 'midtown high for the scientifically gifted', except of course for the majority who got in through nepotism. The colour red flashed in my mind as soon I finished that thought. I paused and took a deep breath before climbing the main front steps and entering the building.
I was instantly hit in the face with warm, moist air. At any other time, this would be unpleasant but in New York, during November, it tends to get cold. In exactly one month, on the 17th of December, prom was set to happen. I don't know why I keep thinking about it, it's not like I'm going to go to it, but nevertheless it keeps popping up in my mind.
The corridor was crowded and busy as usual during the morning before classes, lots of people talking about regular people stuff, such as,'Hey buddy, who's your date for prom.' I swear I'm not obsessed with prom. I took a sharp left, towards the staircases leading to the science floor before I stopped dead in my tracks as I saw flash Thompsons group standing there.
The group consisted of liz Allan, Latina bombshell whose currently dating flash. She's wearing her cheerleader outfit, green and white, with a short skirt. Liz was furiously texting while pouting her lips, on anybody else it'd have looked stupid, but it only made her look cuter. On her left leaning on the bannister was Sally Avril, wearing the same outfit as liz. She was a lot skinnier than liz and less filled out, but in my opinion she looked better, her blond hair and blue eyes coupled with her full lips made her look incredible. Then there was the other two background characters who were also on the football team, a black dude(I don't know his name) and the absolutely fat ,bulldozer cunt known as kong.
I made my way there and stood awkwardly hoping someone would move but no one did. I clenched the straps on my backpack, and said, "excuse me." It was relatively quiet at this part of the corridor so they all heard me and turned to look at me. Once they saw who spoke they all wore amused expressions, and flash with a smirk simply responded, "Yeah?"
I clenched my jaw and said,"I need to get through." Flash looked at me for a few seconds and turned back to his friends to smile at them with a devious expression, he turned back with a sigh ,crossed his arms and shook his head as if disappointed with me, "I don't know Parker. Is that how you ask someone to do something?" His friends giggled in the background while liz was taking pictures of me. How did I know? It's because she left the flash on, what a dumb bitch.
"Let me through, please". I said. Flash moved to the side slightly to let me through. As I walked up the stairs, kong gave me a shove, his fat sausage fingers pushing me to go along faster. "Yeah, watch your manners Parker. Don't wanna end up like your pops, do you?" Kong said with a smirk. The black dude and flash started smiling, while the girls looked more impassive than anything, they weren't interested in our interaction at all.
Kong turned back, and I shoved him and got ready to fight. Dropping my bag and untucking my shirt, kong got ready to fight too. Flash and the black dude immediately held kong back and I heard murmurs of 'we need you on the team'. I turned and took my backpack, trying to calm down my heartbeat, I would've lost badly. I had prior experiences with him to know that, on top of that, I'd have been expelled too.
Contrary to my looks, I have been suspended enough times that I was on the same level as kong and flash. If only I was stronger, I wish I could've ripped his throat, tear his spine out and beat him with it. If only I was stronger. If only I was special. Truth of the matter was, I could've fought him just now, even with his friends holding him back. In that moment, I felt relief that I wouldn't have to fight him. That I wouldn't have to lose again. I'm a coward, I felt tears welling up in my eyes, clenched the straps on my backpack tighter, hunched my shoulders and walked with my head down. Even though I didn't fight, I still lost.
I discretely lifted up my glasses and wiped my eyes but it was no use, my face had already gone red and my eyes were pouring. Thankfully, very little people saw me like this as I hastily entered the empty chemistry class. I had an hour before the class began, I put my bag down onto my desk at the back, pulled out my headphones and went to sleep.
I was awoken by the door slamming and by the teacher entering the class. I looked my phone and saw J. Jonah Jameson ranting about spider-woman, along with a picture of her swinging away. God her ass looks fantastic I thought to myself before closing the phone. The rest of the class filled up and I finally saw the highlight of my day walking in.
She was wearing a pink jumper with a teddy bear that was cradling a heart in the middle, along with a knee height pencil skirt. She had her golden hair done up in a bun with a few strands poking out. Gwen reached me ,and before I could say anything, gave me a hug. She pulled back, and looked into my eyes and I swear her blue eyes made my knees tremble a little bit.
"Peter, I'm so glad you're back." Gwen said while dragging her hand down my forearm, her white painted coloured nails scratching lightly along it. And then I was reminded of why I was obsessed with prom. Because of her.
"I'm glad to see you Gwenjamin." I said with a smile, she smiled back and hit my shoulder playfully, leaving her arm on my shoulder for a few seconds too long making me look into her eyes questioningly. We held eye contact for a little more before the teacher asked everybody to take a seat, "We'll speak later, okay tiger?" Gwen said before taking a seat. I just nod dumbly back at her.
I wasn't like this with her when we were younger, I can barely hold a conversation with her nowadays before I get thoughts in my head. Just curious ones you know? Like what her lips taste like, what her nails would feel like gripping my hair. That sort of thing.
I looked out the window and before I know it, the two hour chemistry session ended, thank the lord. It wasn't because he hated chemistry, its because it was boring for him. They were just beginning to talk about optical isomers, and ways to identify them. 3 days ago I reverse engineered spider-woman's web fluid. Compared to that, this was nothing.
It took me 3 months to do it but it was worth it, although he had run into a problem. He could not web sling at all. The force acting on his shoulder was so great that it would rip It out of its socket. In hindsight, this was a no-brainer thought, but in my excitement to recreate the web fluid, I had missed a key crucial step. I needed to be special in order to web sling. I wasn't.
Gwen and I made our way into the cafeteria, I noticed Gwen flinch when we walked into the cafeteria and I asked her what the problem was, she smiled bashfully, her lips opening and stretching over her face showing the gap between her teeth, "Its nothing Peter. It's just loud noises, you know". She tapped her ears while saying this, and I nodded sagely at her and said, "That's definitely not strange at all".
Gwen made an offended face at me, before pointing her finger and saying, "that's not weird at all Peter", tapping her finger on my chest for each word. I'm ashamed to admit that when she did that, some air left my lungs, being off school for a week made me forget how strong she is.
Gwen left her pointer finger on my chest, waiting for my response, "Sure maybe in a normal case, but you're a fucking drummer Gwen, you go to concerts every other day of the week."
I made sure to keep my tone light and laugh at the end when I said that, but I kept my eyes trained on her face. Gwen's face went blank for a second, and she narrowed her eyes at me. In that moment, my suspicion magnified by ten-fold. I caught her off-guard, truth be told I wanted to confront her about this for a while.
But I couldn't because of what happened a week ago. I had a lot more things to talk to her about too. She keeps showing with bruises around her jaw and eyes. Her hair unruly. Knuckles having the skin scraped off them. All these incidents started happening 4 months ago, but the weirdest incident of all. Her beating kong in a straight fist fight, at the time of it happening, my pride was destroyed.
A girl beat up my bully and made it look easy, kong is 6'9 and 330 pounds. I couldn't accept this, I explored every single possible avenue on how a girl who's 200 pounds lighter and a foot shorter could knock out kong of all people. I made every possible excuse of what could have happened, maybe kong had an off day. And the funny thing about that is Gwen made sure to never do that again, making many people think it was a fluke. Including me.
It still bothers me. I've never not been able to figure something out when I put my head down. It's demeaning to me.
Gwen smiled and took my hand in hers, and every single thought that I had was evaporated and destroyed. Reduced to ashes. What was I thinking about again?
"Let's go find some seats, Peter". She said while looking over her shoulder to find a free table. She spotted a red head sitting alone. She hurried quickly pulling Peter with her, and Peter saw harry sitting there scrolling on his phone while shovelling some rice into his mouth. He looked up and saw me, his eyes widened and he scrambled out of his seat before pulling me into a hug.
His curls hitting my face, as I hugged him back. He let go and took a step back to look me up and down, "Peter, ya look great man." I looked disgusting, but I smiled at him as we sat down. Gwen sat down next to me while harry took the seat opposite us. He let out a large yawn and smiled at me again before saying, "Man, I missed you. Geography was so boring without you."
I nodded at him placatingly, I don't know why he wants to be friends with me so bad. I didn't enjoy interacting with him at all. I remember when I first met him, rumours had gone around he was an arsonist. It wasn't me that had approached him, it was Gwen.
She dragged me along and sat with him at the cafeteria exactly 88 days ago. I still remember how he stuttered and followed me and Gwen around like a puppy. What I struggle to remember is the day that I became a third wheel. Whatever, maybe it's all in my head?
It doesn't matter. Whatevers happening between them, I'm going to get Gwen, I'm gonna ask her out to prom. I could feel my heart rate begin to increase, and I very much noticed how out of my league Gwen was. Not to mention her friends hate me, especially Mary-Jane Watson, just thinking about her made his heart rate increase even more. Not out of nervousness but out of sheer anger and annoyance.
How would our relationship even work? What would happen when me and her friends would be forced to interact?
I took a deep breath and calmed myself, I'll cross that bridge when I get there. I still need to get to the damn bridge. I'm thinking too far ahead. Okay Parker, it's simple. On our way home, just before our paths split near the bodega, I'm gonna tell her, "Gwen, will you go to prom with me?"
I can already picture her reaction, first she'd bite her lip and look down (She always does that when she's nervous) then she'd look into my eyes for just a split second before looking away and shyly muttering, "Yeah, sure , whatever." Just thinking about her being all shy and nervous made him slightly aroused. Careful Parker, you're still at school, I reminded myself.
"Oh yeah," harry said while leaning forward to look at Gwen, "Ya wanna go to prom with me Gwen?"
Gwen had a blank look on her face and looked at him then me for a second. She shrugged and said, "Sure ,why not?"
Time slowed down, sound was deafened for me. If I had to equate the dread that I felt in that moment, it was equal to or perhaps even greater than what the people in Hiroshima felt as they saw that black orb drop from the sky. At least those people were instantly annihilated, they didn't have to stew in the dread like I have to right now.
Watching Gwen's cheeks flush slightly, and Harry grinning like the dumb ,stupid cunt that he was. He was practically eye-fucking her.
A thought came across to me. I knew that harry always turned down a ride from his personal chaffeur who ,nonetheless, showed up every day at the demand of his father. I remember the screaming match the two had outside the school, a very performative argument in my opinion. I can't fault Harry too much, he is an attention seeking-whore after all. He can't help it.
I know that Harry always takes a shortcut though a back end alley, it was tight hidden pathway. It's guarded off with barbed wire, but if you move to the left of the gate, behind the bushes there is a small hole you can squeeze past.
The alley is pretty long, about a couple of kilometres in length. There's a sharp turn to the left where the end of the alley comes to. The bend is sharp enough that you can't see the exit. For all intents and purposes, it was a dark zone.
I can picture myself stalking him, waiting for him to try and squeeze past the hole in the fence, thats where I'd stab him in the back. I wouldn't hit his vital organs, well I'd try not to anyway, I'd stab him 5 times at the least. Just to make sure that he can't sprint too fast.
I can picture him trying to wriggle out of the hole, dust kicking up as he shouts and screams and cries like the pathetic whiny bastard that he was.
Harry would have nowhere to go but forward, so he'd squeeze past the hole fence and start running down that alley. I'd imagine he'd be pretty slow after that stabbing, but I'll be ready incase he's faster than expected. Humans are after all ever so resilient. And adrenaline is a hell of a super power.
In any case, I'd chase him down and tackle him to floor. I'd turn him around and make sure he sees my face. I can picture the horror that he would have on that pale, freckled face. He'd try and plead with me, beg like the rat that he was. Thats when I would end him, when his true self comes out.
After that, the easy part is completed. The hard part would be not getting caught, which is particularly hard when living in a city where every street has a damn camera. If Dexter was a real person, he'd have been caught in the first episode. Not a chance that he wouldn't be caught on a camera. Thats why he came up with a particular device.
The device works by creating a resonant electromagnetic field that scrambles the timing synchronisation in digital imaging sensors. See, every camera—whether it's an analog CCTV or a digital CMOS system relies on a stable clock signal to process frames.
What the LEPD does is flood a roughly 2 -kilometer radius with a rapidly modulated electromagnetic carrier tuned to the harmonic frequencies of common camera clock oscillators. It's not raw interference, it's phase modulation.
The field induces nanosecond-scale jitter in the timing circuits, so the sensors start reading out noise instead of coherent images. To the camera, nothing's 'broken', it's just that the electronic equivalent of its heartbeat is stuttering. Once the field's gone, everything snaps back to normal, no permanent damage. But while it's active, every lens within range is effectively blind.
I shook my head, and came back to present reality. Best not to dwell in that fantasy for too long. I hadn't given it enough thought anyway, the plan would fall apart. Disgust overwhelmed me when I saw the way they were both leaning forward chatting excitedly, I need to say something to ruin the mood.
Before I can open my mouth and ruin the atmosphere, I was jerked backwards, I fell ass over head and rolled back to my feet. My glasses rolled off and my hair got tousled but he was fine. I got ready to fight, I felt my heart soar and pump in preparation.
My heart sank when I saw who was picking on me, standing there was Jason, a lollipop obnoxiously bulging from his left cheek. He was dressed in black shorts and and a white long sleeve shirt.
Jason was a foot taller and about 100 pounds heavier, but that wasn't what made me scared. It was the fact that he was a national Muay-thai champion. And he had no problem demonstrating that fact on several people already.
Shit, there's no way he's gonna fight me here. But that thought was cut short when he dropped his backpack and arranged himself in the traditional muay-thai stance. High guard and his feet square, ready to receive any leg kicks.
Shit ,shit, shit. I have to run, but a circle formed around me , there was no escape. I could see Gwen and Harry all the way at the back end of the circle. Harry made no move to jump in, and I wasn't surprised at that. I also saw Gwen trying to physically restrain herself from jumping in. Trying to make sure I don't find out what the hell she's hiding from me.
Whatever, I didn't want her jumping in anyway.
I took up a loose stance, hands low. Jason inched towards me slowly, I circled outwards to stay at range. I don't want to strike with this guy at all.
Jason took two huge steps toward me, and without any telegraphing ,threw a low kick straight at my left quad. It fucking hurt, I didn't have time to process the pain before a left hook landed straight to my chin.
My head snapped back, I felt my vision swimming, before I locked in and lunged forward. I clinched with him before I realised that was also a huge mistake. I made sure to slam my head into his chest, stopping any potential punches and allowing me to make sure I wasn't still wobbled.
Jason gripped the back off my head, and started slamming knee after knee into my body. The third knee was aimed at my Diaphragm and it knocked the wind out of me. It felt like I couldn't breathe at all. I ripped myself away but Jason was prepared for me to do that too.
He gave me a right elbow that cut through my guard and split open my lip.
I circled away from him trying to get my breath back but he didn't let up. Shit, shit ,shit, think Parker.
Jason lunged forward and tried to land his right cross, it was definitely his main weapon. Even though I had my guard up, it still got through.
Okay Parker, let your hands fly.
I circled away before I inched forward and met him towards the centre. Jason smirked when he saw me walk up to him, he tried to leg kick me again but this time, I was ready.
It first landed on my quad, but I grit my teeth, and before he can pull his leg away caught his foot.
Jason immediately tried hopping away. I faked the sweep on the rear leg leading to him hopping in the air. As he was falling back down, I timed a right hook that landed straight on the bulge of his cheek.
Spittle and the lollipop flew from his mouth. Jason was stunned, there's no way he wasn't stunned.
I felt a grin worm its way on to my face, I can beat him!
Jason violently jerked his foot backwards away from my grip. After that, he lunged towards me and started to set up for a dominant right cross.
I predicted it, and weaved to my left. Jason spun off his right cross into a devastating spinning elbow, that landed above my left brow, which was now split and pouring with blood.
It didn't help that when I weaved out of the way, I actually weaved into the spinning elbow, amplifying its power.
I lunged forward, trying to land a right overhand.
Jason tried to throw a teep kick to maintain distance, but I caught that kick too. I need to turn this into a grappling match or I'm gonna have my face smashed in.
I tried to sweep the rear leg but he hopped over my leg.
I was getting ready to sweep for his leg again before I felt pain in my left jaw. I instinctively let go of the leg and moved backwards.
Shit, my left eye is covered in blood.
I tried to swipe at my eye trying to improve my vision but it quickly got covered in blood again. It just wouldn't stop pouring.
I didn't see his right cross due to my left eye being out of commission, this is bad.
I was breathing heavy, I had only been fighting for 2–3 minutes and I was ready to keel over. Jason wasn't even sweating.
Jason lunged forward again and I raised my guard up high, I couldn't take any more punches without being knocked out. Jason again outsmarted me and threw a devastating body kick, I felt my ribs creak, and the pain was outstanding.
I still didn't lower my high guard, so Jason threw a left body hook into my upper abdomen. The pain was absolutely excruciating, I wanted to hurl.
He hit my liver, I absently thought.
My body shut itself down, and I dropped to my knees.
Jason smirked, and took a few steps back. Is he trying to gloat? I felt envy in that moment, it should be me standing over his broken body, not the other way around.
I saw him run up to me, and jump, his knees coming up with him. The flying knee was about an inch away from my bloodied face.
If only I was special, I thought to myself.
Before that knee could land, a thin hand caught it in the palms of her hand. It stopped Jason mid air, and logically I thought to myself that wasn't possible even if you were the strongest person In the world.
You couldn't stop the momentum of a man only with one hand.
But then I saw the blonde hair and the short stature, of fucking course.
Gwendolyn Stacy.
"Peter! Peter!"
Gwen shouted for me. I didn't slow down until I heard her sobbing, I saw her bring her knee to her chest. It had a light scratch on it and was bleeding.
I let out a sigh then smiled and ran back to her.
"How have you managed that dummy?"
Gwen was hiccuping and being overdramatic as usual, I rolled my eyes. She wiped her eyes and pointed her finger at me.
"Why didn't you slow down?!"
She started sobbing again, I let out a sigh and dropped down to her level. I gave her a hug and pressed her face against my neck. She immediately stopped sobbing proving my theory that she was over-reacting.
"Carry me." She demanded while saying against my neck.
I picked her up, throwing her legs over my arms. Gwen wrapped her arms around my neck tightly. Tight enough that I tried to look at her but she buried her face in my neck.
I heard some parents coo at us, saying how cute we looked.
"Those kids look adorable, oh my god!"
A girl that was clearly older than us by a couple years took a picture of us and my face flushed at the attention.
I walked out of the playing area of the park and made my way to her house.
"I can't wait for the of the year to end. I hate the people in my class. Wonder how sixth grades gonna be. I hope it's gonna be more challenging, you know?"
Gwen was nodding against my neck absent-mindedly.
"I hope I have you in more of my classes. I mean, come on, only one class together? And for that to be art of all things." I grumbled.
Gwen giggled against my neck. I walked past the bodega and made my way onto her house.
"Gwen, do you really have to hold onto me that tightly?" I whined to her.
"Well, I don't want you running away from me Peter."