*Midtown High. 8:42 AM. Second Period.*
Peter sat in English class. Supposedly analyzing Shakespeare. Actually thinking about the morning's revelation.
The spider-bond was real.
He could feel MJ and Gwen even now. Two bright points of awareness in his perception. Connected to him through something deeper than normal friendship.
'This complicates everything,' Peter thought. 'The bond makes them trust me completely. But I'm still hiding the truth. Still lying about the theft. About my preparations. About everything.'
Guilt gnawed at him. They trusted him absolutely. Would follow him anywhere. But that trust was built on deception.
'I'll tell them eventually,' Peter promised himself. 'When the time is right. When they're ready to understand.'
But he knew that was rationalization. The truth was he was afraid. Afraid they'd hate him. Afraid the bond would break. Afraid of losing the connection he'd just fully realized existed.
The intercom crackled. Principal Morita's voice filled the classroom.
"Attention students. We have a special assembly. All students who participated in yesterday's Oscorp field trip, please report to the auditorium immediately. This is mandatory. Teachers, please excuse the students on the attached list."
Peter's spider-sense tingled. Warning. Something was coming.
He gathered his things. Left the classroom. In the hallway, he saw other students from the field trip. MJ and Gwen were both there. Flash. Harry. Felicia. About thirty students total.
They walked to the auditorium together. Looking confused and worried. Wondering what this was about.
Peter's enhanced hearing picked up conversations.
"Did something happen at Oscorp?"
"Maybe someone got sick from the tour?"
"I heard there was a security breach."
Peter kept his expression neutral. His Mind stayed calm. Whatever this was, he was prepared.
They entered the auditorium. Principal Morita stood on stage. Next to him was Norman Osborn. Wearing an expensive suit. His expression was cold. Controlled. Dangerous.
'He knows about the theft,' Peter understood. 'He's probably here to investigate. To find the culprit.'
The students sat down. Peter chose a seat in the middle. Not too close to the front. Not too far back. MJ and Gwen sat on either side of him. Their presence calming. Supportive.
Principal Morita spoke first. "Thank you all for coming. Mr. Osborn has requested this meeting to discuss a serious matter related to yesterday's field trip. Please give him your full attention."
Norman stepped forward. His eyes scanned the crowd. Stopped briefly on Peter. Calculating. Suspicious.
"Students," Norman began. His voice was smooth. Practiced. "Yesterday, during your visit to Oscorp, a serious security incident occurred. Valuable research materials were stolen from our facilities. Genetic specimens. Data. Resources worth millions of dollars."
Gasps from the students. Shocked reactions. Peter stayed still. His heartbeat remained steady. His expression showed appropriate surprise but nothing more.
"The theft was professional. Well-planned. The individual who committed it had inside knowledge of our security systems. They knew exactly when and how to strike." Norman's eyes swept the crowd again. "We believe the thief may have been someone connected to the field trip. Someone who used the tour as cover for their operation."
More gasps. Students looked at each other with suspicion and fear.
"Now," Norman continued. "I'm not accusing anyone here. But I am offering an opportunity. If anyone has information about this theft, Oscorp is prepared to offer a substantial reward. Fifty thousand dollars for information leading to the recovery of our stolen property."
Fifty thousand. That got everyone's attention. Peter could see the calculations happening. Students wondering if they'd seen anything useful.
"Additionally," Norman's voice turned cold. "If the person responsible is in this room, I encourage you to come forward now. Turn yourself in. Oscorp is prepared to be lenient with someone who shows remorse. But if we discover the culprit through investigation, the consequences will be severe. Criminal charges. Lawsuits. Your future destroyed."
The threat was clear. Confess now and maybe avoid total ruin. Stay hidden and face everything if caught.
Peter felt MJ's hand find his under the armrest. A supportive squeeze. Gwen's foot touched his on the other side. Both of them offering silent support.
They didn't know he was the thief. Didn't suspect. Just wanted to comfort him through what they thought was a frightening situation.
'I can't say I deserve this trust,' Peter thought. 'But I'm grateful for it anyway.'
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