The next day, I waited for Gwen Stacy at the coffee shop near her apartment. I still can't believe I wiped my web on her back at the rooftop balcony and pulled her into a deep kiss when she invited me to her family's dinner.
Ah, it's still fresh. That delicious red cherry of her luscious lips. What am I even talking about? It makes me sound like a pedophile.
Is it?
…Nah. I'm 16 now. Everything has changed in this past year. I stopped Max Dillon from becoming a villain; now he's being recruited by S.H.I.E.L.D. agents.
Norman Osborn's glider became phenomenal, and the super soldier serum became a hit for our army. It's not as perfect as Captain America's, but still, a win is a win.
Gwen's fate is spared. Cindy Moon is out of the picture. Morlun would have been a problem since his target was Cindy, but now, without the spider bite, I don't think Morlun—or Ezekiel—will ever bring her anxiety, isolation, or PTSD again.
Still… why can't I shake this feeling from my head?
"Hey Pete, did you wait that long?"
I turn to see Gwen, smiling as she adjusted her hair, her backpack slung lazily over one shoulder. She looks like she's glowing under the morning sunlight, the kind of glow that makes everyone else in the street look dull in comparison.
"Nah," I say, trying to sound casual. "I was just sipping on coffee, waiting for my cutie."
"Coffee at sixteen, Peter? Hah, old man."
I roll my eyes and stand, sliding a few bills across the counter to pay. She gives me that smile again, the one that makes my chest tighten.
I grab a strawberry milk for her because those puppy eyes—she's mastered them perfectly—are impossible to resist. Literally, she must have inherited them from her mom's side.
We step outside, Gwen looping her arm through mine, a small squeeze that sends sparks through me. She hums softly as we walk, her steps light, almost dancing to a rhythm only she can hear.
We head to the movies first. It's February 2014, just after Valentine's Day, and both of us are in our third year at Midtown High. Gwen wants to watch The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.
"Don't give me spoilers, Mister Future Man," she says, pointing a playful finger at me.
Honestly, I'm not much of a Hobbit person. I keep imagining Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson arguing in a Tolkien universe.
I did watch the film in my past life, but only enough to know it was… tomatoes gave it 59 percent, popcorn 74. I keep my mouth shut and make sure she stays unspoiled.
I grab a huge tub of popcorn with extra butter and a giant Coke. I booked VIP seating because, yeah, I'm rich. Peace.
I smirk to myself, thinking about the fortunes I've made in the stock market and the fact that I hold about 70 percent of Norman Osborn's company shares. It's ridiculous, but I'll take it.
Gwen leans closer to whisper something about the previews, and I feel my stomach twist in a familiar, exciting way.
I brush a loose strand of hair behind her ear, trying not to let my hand linger too long, but the warmth of her shoulder under my fingers makes it impossible to be casual.
We sit down in our VIP seats, the leather cold under our hands. Gwen's knee brushes mine, and she giggles, whispering, "Don't kick the popcorn, Mister Future Man."
I laugh quietly, trying to act normal, but inside, my heart is doing flips. Her eyes glimmer in the dim light of the theater, and I feel lucky—like I've somehow won a prize I didn't even know I wanted.
And as the previews start rolling, I glance at her again. She's completely focused on the screen, but the small smile tugging at her lips is for me. Just for me.
It's a normal day. A simple date. But with Gwen, everything feels like it's on fire in the best way possible.
As the movie started, Gwen was up out of her seat, screaming and jumping when the dragons attacked the army or when Bilbo tried to save Thorin from the collapsing halls of Erebor.
Her hands clutched the edge of the seat, her eyes wide, completely absorbed in the chaos and heroics on the screen.
I couldn't help but grin at her. She looked so alive, so… her. Every cheer, gasp, and laugh made me feel like I was watching her more than the movie.
When the credits finally rolled, we stretched and stepped out into the crisp February air. The city buzzed around us, but for a moment, it was just Gwen and me. We wandered into the nearby mall, passing bright shop windows and bustling crowds.
"Ohh, what do you think of this bikini, babe?" she asked, holding up a tiny, neon-colored piece.
"That's a micro bikini, Gwen," I said, raising an eyebrow. It was clearly made for adults only.
"Pfft, I know that," she said with a playful smirk. "Just… saving it for when we… you know. Going full throttle."
I gave her a slow smile, my chest tightening just a bit. In the end, I bought her the bikini—but only until we were both eighteen. A little promise for the future.
Outside the mall, I revved up my motorbike, the engine growling beneath us. Gwen hopped on behind me, her arms wrapped around my waist.
We weaved through the bright lights of Times Square, stopping to try all sorts of snacks and desserts along the way. Cotton candy, pretzels, churros—the smell of sugar and city life mixing with the winter air.
Next, we headed to the amusement park. Gwen's first choice was the tunnel of love. She leaned closer, her breath warm against my ear.
"Wanna make out in the tunnel of love, Petey? Hihihi…"
This girl… she never stops.
"Okay," I said casually.
"Eh?" she squeaked.
Ha, she thinks I'm serious.
"Well? Hope in, Gwen."
"Ummm… yeah, hehehe… sure," she giggled, climbing into the boat.
All talk and no bite—now it was my turn to tease her. I let the boat drift slowly into the darkness, our reflections flickering against the water and the colored lights above. The soft hum of the ride, mixed with her nervous laughter, made my heart race.
Meanwhile, I caught glimpses of our day's earlier adventure in my mind. Bilbo holding the Arkenstone, Thorin's desperate courage, the dragons' fiery wrath—it reminded me of us in a way.
Not the fighting, exactly, but the way we dove headfirst into chaos and somehow came out laughing at the end.
Gwen's excitement, her screams at the screen, mirrored the thrill we shared now, racing through New York's streets, daring each other with jokes and teasing glances.
And as the boat turned a corner, I leaned slightly closer, letting my hand brush hers. Her pulse jumped under my touch. The night felt alive, like we were the only two people in the city, caught in a world of dragons, love, and endless possibilities.
We kissed in each other's arms, the heat between us coming back again—thanks, of course, to the same spider that bit Gwen and me. So… we kinda did "it" in the tunnel. Just once, mind you, before we snapped back to reality and our thoughts, hearts racing like roller coasters.
After that, we went on more rides and played at the stands. Her favorites were the roller coasters and bumper cars, screaming and laughing like kids with no cares. I loved seeing her so alive, so free.
At one of the game booths, I won her a brown teddy bear from the crane lift machine. "Here, Gwen," I said, handing it over with a grin.
Gwen took the teddy bear and hugged it tight, her face lighting up with a soft, nostalgic smile—the little girl inside her shining through. "Thanks, Pater," she said, her voice sweet and teasing.
After the amusement park, we walked along the beach, barefoot, feeling the cool sand under our feet and the wind brushing against our skin. Gwen looped her arms around mine, resting her head lightly on my shoulder.
"This is the best 'late' Valentine's ever, Peter," she said, her voice warm and soft.
I let out a small sigh, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. "Sorry I forgot about Valentine's Day. I promised myself I'd change when I got a second chance in rebirth. Yet… somehow, I feel like I didn't change enough for you, Gwen."
She squeezed my arm gently, leaning just a little closer. "Peter… you already did enough. Don't overthink it."
I couldn't help but laugh quietly at that, the mix of sweetness and her playful tone making my chest tighten.
And somewhere in the back of my mind, the memory of that "it" in the tunnel made me choke on my laughter, trying not to blush.
Gwen noticed, of course, and just smirked, clearly enjoying the chaos she'd caused in both our hearts and minds.
After our stroll, we went for dinner at a five-star restaurant reserved just for us. Gwen ordered a steak, and so did I—though I added a bit of an adult flair, thanks to memories from my past life.
As the food arrived, Gwen and I talked about schoolwork, assignments, and our next plan to cruise through New York in our spider suits. The conversation flowed easy, the way it always did when it was just the two of us.
Until her phone rang mid-sentence.
"It's Cindy," Gwen said. My brow rose, a cold knot forming in my stomach since this morning. Is this… my Peter tingle? Nah.
"Answer it. Let's hear what she says," I said.
Gwen put the phone on speaker. A loud scratching sound filled the air, followed by faint sobbing.
Gwen quickly cut the speaker and held the phone to her ear. "Cindy?! Cindy! Are you there?!"
Panic radiated off her in waves. Something terrible was happening—crashing sounds, hurried movements, faint whispers. My heart hammered. Something was very wrong.
"…Gwen… help…"
"Cindy! Cindy?!!"
I paused mid-bite and studied Gwen's face. "Put it on speaker again, Gwen."
The line returned with Cindy's terrified voice, trembling as though she were hiding from someone—or something. My chest tightened.
"Gwen… help. Help!!! Some guy called himself… m…ahh!!!"
A scream cut her words short. Then another voice rang, cold, cruel, and chilling to the bone:
"Foolish child. I, Morlun, will take your power."
NO.
I shot up from the table, sliding everything aside. I bit my thumb and drew a circle fast, the old ritual instinct kicking in. Gwen froze, eyes wide, shocked to see me sketching the circle so quickly and deliberately.
"No time to explain," I said, my voice sharp. "Remember when I told you Cindy Moon is Silk?"
"Yeah," Gwen whispered.
"Put on the suit."
Before she could respond, I cast a portal. In the blink of an eye, we were sucked into it, changing into our suits mid-flight.
When we arrived at Cindy's home, it was in shambles. Furniture overturned, windows shattered, claw marks scoring the walls. My skin went pale, blood boiling with rage.
I gritted my teeth, recalling the twelve-hour battle I'd fought Morlun in my past life. Every second of it replayed—his inhuman strength, his relentless assault, the fear he left behind.
"GET YOUR HANDS OFF HER!!!"
Gwen and I shouted in unison as I lunged at Morlun, who had Cindy pinned by the throat. Gwen dove to catch her, her arms trembling but steady.
"Get her as far away as possible! RIGHT. FUCKING. NOW!!!"
Gwen froze at the raw intensity in my voice. She wasn't ready for this kind of threat, but she trusted me.
"You… the script… you're not supposed to—"
"Fuck your script, Morlun," I snarled. Rage laced every word.
Morlun's expression flickered between confusion and recognition, like a predator realizing it had underestimated its prey.
"It's our first time meeting," he said, "but something tells me we've met before."
Morlun's eyes narrowed, and I understood something he hadn't said: he was after Cindy because she was the last living thread of the spider power that didn't bite her.
Both Gwen and I carried it, gifted by the same spider that had touched us. Cindy was untouched, unaltered, and therefore… vulnerable. Her energy, her potential, it drew him like a magnet. Every part of him hungered for it.
Morlun's aura pulsed with shadow and hunger, the air itself vibrating with his power. He moved faster than thought, a nightmare of sinew and malice.
I didn't hesitate.
"Arachne, activate killing mode," I commanded my AI assistant.
It was on. Just him and me this time. Twelve hours of memory, twelve hours of pain and struggle, fueling every move. His attacks slammed against me, each blow a reminder of the past, but this time I was ready. This time, I wouldn't stop. I wouldn't hold back.
I lunged, weaving through a flurry of shadows and energy, eyes locked on him. Cindy's safety, Gwen's trust, the lives of everyone I cared about—they all burned in my chest.
This time and in this life… I will kill him. Once and for all.
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Chapter 28 — End.