Six minutes later:
Colleen chuckled as she walked away from the fountain with three of her students limping behind her. "Did you really think you could have rushed me like that? Come on, guys, think!"
"We almost had you," Brandon grumbled.
"Almost isn't the same," Colleen smirked. "You needed to be smart about this. You should have distracted me first, then tried to grab the sword. Teamwork is important, guys, but so is forethought."
"Heh, funny. That's what Peter said. Guess we should have listened," Marcus grumbled as he rubbed his sore shoulder.
"Wait, Peter was with you?" Colleen asked, surprised. "Where is he? Why didn't he fight?"
"He called our idea stupid and refused to join in," Agie sighed. "Guess he was right."
"Wait, he said it was stupid?" Colleen blinked as she walked under a bridge, following the road that led to the nearest exit. "Hmm, maybe I should have a talk with him."
"Maybe," Marcus nodded.
As they walked to the other side of the bridge, though, Colleen saw the shadow of a person leap down. She stopped in surprise as I landed before her, stepping back in shock. I didn't let her recover.
I grabbed the strap of the katana around Colleen's body with one hand and kicked her in the stomach, sending her flying back as I pulled the sword over her head.
I looked at the other kids and winked. "In this case, you three were the distraction." I turned and ran.
Marcus's face dropped. "So cool."
Colleen got up. Her stomach hurt as she held it in pain, but the sight of me running away with her sword must have ticked her off. She got back on her feet and chased me, yelling, "Get back here!"
Marcus and the others began to run now as well, trying their best to slow Colleen down, but our teacher wasn't to be underestimated. She threw off their attacks and continued chasing me. I turned around and grinned. 'Now this is training!'
I ran out of the park and across traffic, not stopping for the signal. People yelled at me, but I paid them no mind. I ran down an alleyway and saw a fire escape leading to the rooftop. Time to take this chase skyward.
I jumped onto the first-floor fire escape just as Colleen and the others managed to catch up, running into the alley as well. They watched in awe as I ran up to the roof and began jumping from building to building.
"Peter, get back here!" I heard her yell.
"Make me!" I cried back.
It took me an hour to get to Chinatown. A freaking hour. I landed on the roof of the building that housed the Chikara Dojo and climbed down the side. I was panting now. Guess even I had my limits. But one hour of constant running? Not half bad.
I sat on the curb and waited. Ten minutes later, Colleen reached us with the others following right behind her. They were all drenched in sweat. I stood up and grinned, holding up the sword. "Guess that means I win."
Colleen smiled. "Okay, yeah, you win... just let me catch my breath." She and the others collapsed on the building steps.
"Peter," Marcus spoke between pants. "Next time, we'll do it your way."
I grinned. "Sweet."
"You kick like a mule," Colleen groaned, holding her stomach. "I swear it's like you kicked the lunch out of me."
"Sorry," I winced. "I may have gone a bit overboard."
"Yeah, just a bit."
Eventually all the other students arrived as well. Colleen told them my group and I had won, and we then went into detail about how we found her.
"Honestly, it was Peter's idea," Brandon admitted. "We just followed him."
"He was also the one who jumped sensei," Agie shrugged. "Plus he did warn us that our first plan would fail."
"So, Peter, care to explain?" Colleen asked as the entire class looked at me.
I shrugged. "I just wondered what you were trying to do." I then went into detail about how I came to the conclusions I did. Needless to say, the kids were all impressed.
As a reward for winning, Colleen bought Cokes for all of us. We sat on that curb and drank our cold drinks, chatting.
I quickly found friends in Marcus, Agie, and Brandon. Guess that's one good thing this day gave me. Seems making friends isn't that hard. It's just Peter's image at school was so damaged that there's no hope for people to not start making assumptions about me.
Marcus and I began to talk about chemistry. The kid was horrible at it. I offered to teach him, and he couldn't thank me enough. It seemed we both lived in Queens, only Marcus lived in the poorer part of town. We took the train together back home, and Marcus led me to his house.
As we walked through his neighborhood, I noticed it was in bad shapeâreally bad shape. The place was dying, but I didn't say anything. Instead, I listened as Marcus explained just what he was struggling with. But just thenâ
"Get that boy, homie!" And then a gunshot.
"Get back!" Marcus ordered as he grabbed me by the hand and pulled me into an alleyway.
"What's going on?!" I asked. Marcus just shushed me and pointed at the street. And then I saw them.
Five thugs dressed in green, guns waving about as they chased another man down the street. They laughed and cheered as they shot at the man, none of the bullets meaning to kill, rather just to scare.
"What the hell is going on?" I asked, seeing the thugs run across the alleyway. Marcus and I crouched behind trash cans like rats.
"That's the GST, the Grass Stained Thugs," Marcus explained. "They run the streets around here. They terrorize everyone. The cops can't do anything about them. Hell, half the kids in my school are addicted to dope because of these guys."
"And the police can't do anything about them?" I asked.
"Hell no," Marcus shook his head. "They basically run this place."
I narrowed my eyes. Guess I just found my first case. All I needed now was my costume and gear.
Soon the coast was clear, and Marcus quickly took me to his home. It was a small apartment in a large complex, dirty and old, but I honestly didn't care.
We spent the rest of the day over a chemistry book as I did my best to teach him what I knew. And during the short study breaks we took, I pumped him for questions about the GST. They operated out of a strip clubâbecause of course they didâdealt with cocaine, money lending, racketeering, and even gang-on-gang violence.
Needless to say, I had my work cut out for me.
I went back home that day and began researching the club. Peter didn't really have the mind of a hacker, but he did know his way around a computer. That reminded meâI should probably try and learn how to hack. Seemed like an important thing to know about.
The leader of the GST was a guy named Razor, a tall, mean-looking motherfucker. He was the main suspect for four murders in the past year alone and was known to be ruthless. He did have one weakness I could see through: women. Lots and lots of women. Man was a whore.
I needed to bring down this gang. Too many people were getting hurt because of them. To destroy a gang, I needed to destroy their credibility, meaning public embarrassment. Just beating the shit out of people wouldn't be enough. I would need to make sure they could never reform again.
I spent the rest of the weekend working on my web shooters and ideas for a new costume. I honestly did not want to wear spandex. It was a horrible idea. I may look good in it, but it was so uncomfortable. I didn't like the way it clung to my skin. Nasty.
***
On Monday, after my class with Colleen, I came back home at around 7. I finished whatever work I had and pretended to go to bed. At around 11 at night, though, after making sure May and Ben were asleep, I snuck out wearing dark clothes and a ski mask.
I had my new web shooters strapped on and ready for a test drive. Tonight I would begin my research.
I went to the bad part of Queens. Marcus's place was just a few blocks away. I found myself on the roof of the GST strip club. I found an air duct and crawled in, shimmying my way through the small space.
It wasn't anything like the movies made it out to be. It was dirty and smelly. I was really glad I wasn't wearing white.
The loud music from the club downstairs was painful to hear, and so were the stripper's names. Honestly, 'Diamond in the Rough'? Who came up with these names? Eight-year-old boys?
However, I did manage to find my way into the quieter part of the clubâthe rooms without windows in the heart of the building. I peered through the vents. I could see people stripped bare to their underwear, packing what looked like small bags of cocaine. Guards surrounded them with submachine guns. Looked like they did their drug distribution here as well.
I kept crawling, and sure enough, I came upon a room where a couple of thugs in green sat around smoking weed with a tall man sitting on the couch with a gun on his lap.
'Razor,' I realized, and I listened.
"Man, day by day, Cottonmouth's getting pushy," Razor snorted. "I mean, what the fuck do he and his cousin think they're doing? Rebuilding Harlem? Fuck that, man!"
"Yeah, you said it, Razor. Those two are crazy, man!" said lackey #1.
"Hey, did you guys know I was there when that big green guy showed up and wrecked the place?" lackey #2 asked.
"The Hulk? You serious, man? You were there?" Razor looked surprised.
"Yeah, man. Him and this other dudeâgray-looking guy. They, like, brought down a military chopper, man! And then they began tearing into each other!"
"Don't forget that rope kid, man!" lackey #3 yelled out.
"Oh yeah, sorry, man. I almost forgot! Suddenly this little dude, like, shows up and saved everyone, man! He took out the big guy in, like, five seconds! He choked him!"
"Woah," Razor whistled. "Damn, wish we had guys like that."
"Yeah, he used this rope, like sticky string, to choke him, man. And then he, like, stood over his body and laughed! It was psycho, man!"
I rolled my eyes. I so didn't do a psycho laugh... well, I didn't usually do it out loud. Maybe in the privacy of my own head.
"Alright, enough of this shit," Razor grumbled, getting up. "That Mexican expects the drugs tonight. We need to pack up the shit and move. You guys ready yet?"
"Almost, boss. Maybe just a few more minutes," lackey #1 replied.
"Great. Show me," Razor spoke as he and the others left the room, switching off the light.
I quickly shimmied in reverse and followed him into the drug-packaging room.
Razor yelled a lot and got his people moving. The moment the last box was packed, they all moved downstairs, and I needed to get out as well.
I climbed out onto the roof, sighing into the cool night air. I ran to the roof edge and found a large van parked in the back. Razor and his crew put the drugs in there and got on. They even took off into the night, and I knew I had to follow.
I took a running start and leaped off into the air. I clicked the shooters and shot a web line across the street, swinging across the road. The wind howled in my ears. It suddenly became too cold for me. I didn't understand how Peter managed to swing in the cold night wearing nothing but spandex. Maybe thermal underwear?
I followed the van via rooftops to the harbor. They stopped before a warehouseânumber 153âand waited for the doors to open. The moment they did, they drove in, and I snuck in by opening the skylight and crawling along the wall, sticking to the shadows.
I saw a Mexican man in a nice suit waiting for them. A suitcase by his side and guards around him.
Razor got out of the van, his men loading out the drugs. "It's here."
"I'm sure," the Mexican spoke with a hint of an accent. He handed Razor the case. "Your payment."
Razor opened it and examined the money. "All right. We good."
"The Kingpin would like to extend his gratitude. It was very hard to get the... medicine we needed into the city, what with the army crawling all over Manhattan."
I gasped softly. The Kingpin? Already? The first crime group I follow, and I land up in the middle of one of Kingpin's deals?! Fuck me!
I took out my camera and began to film the scene before me. If I ever fought the Kingpin, this would be great evidence to put him away. And if a certain blind lawyer was willing to help me, then all the better.
"Keep giving me cash and I'm a happy fish, amigo," Razor grinned. "Anything else?"
"The next shipment?"
"Same time," Razor shrugged. "Oh, and I want double."
The man sighed. "Mr. Razor, we are already paying you three times what this stuff is worth."
"Take it or leave it," Razor spat.
"Or else?"
"Or else I'll sell to someone else," Razor smirked. "I heard Cottonmouth got his hands on some dough. Maybe he could help me out."
The man in the suit sighed. "I really wished you hadn't said that... very well." He snapped his fingers. Suddenly his men aimed their guns at Razor and in seconds tore him into pieces.
I had to make sure to keep my fingers steady to not shake the video, though I was shocked to my core. They killed him? Just like that?
The GST gang members couldn't do a thing. Before even one of them could drop the case of drugs they were carrying and draw their weapon, Razor was dead, and the steaming barrels were pointed at them.
"Next time, don't be so greedy," the man spat on Razor's corpse. He turned to the people staring at him. "Who's in charge now?"
Lackey #3 stepped up. He gulped. "I am."
"I expect the shipment to be delivered on time next week. Any mistakes and... well, you already know." He walked away with the drugs, leaving behind the money and the corpse.
GST and I got out of that warehouse as quickly as we could. And while they ran away, I sat on the warehouse rooftop, stunned into shock. I watched the video I captured as it played over and over again. They killed a man. In cold blood, they killed a man.
I pulled up my mask and puked. I couldn't handle the sight of blood, and a dead body? That was a first for me.
But now the question was this: What to do with the video? Keep it? Destroy it? Would it even do any good? Could it even be useful? I didn't know, but I knew one thingâthis world I was trying to challenge was a ruthless one, and one misstep, one mistake, and everyone I loved could be dead.
***
I went back home as fast as I could, not really sure what to do. But as I snuck around in the trees trying to get home, I noticed Harry talking to Mary Jane on the side of her home. Her window was open. Guess she snuck down to meet him.
"I don't understand," Harry growled. "Why won't you be with me?!"
Mary Jane looked hurt. "IâI told you, Harry. I just don't like you that way."
"What do you mean?! Am I not rich enough? Or not handsome enough for you?!"
"It's not that, Harry. I justâ"
"Is it Peter?" he snapped.
Mary Jane paused. Hell, I paused. My brain stopped working. 'Does not compute!'
"Oh my God. It is, isn't it? You actually like him," Harry spoke in a quiet voice. "You actually like him more than me."
"Harry, now, Peter and I are just friends, and... and I realize how poorly I've been treating him. I feel bad. But I'm not in love with him."
"So you feel sad for him?"
MJ nodded. "Yeah."
'Okay, and you're back to being a bitch,' I rolled my eyes. Sad for me? Who the hell was she to feel sad for me?
"So then you just don't love me? Is that what you're saying?"
"Yes... I'm sorry, Harry."
"Whatever. You bitch," he cursed as he walked away, got in his car, and took off.
I hoped he didn't crash it somewhere. It would almost be a tragedy... almost.
I looked at MJ. She sniffled. She was crying. She leaned back on her fence and cried. I knew I should probably leave, leave and never look back. But... but it wouldn't be fair.
I sneaked around the corner and dropped down. I removed the ski mask, gloves, and web shooters, putting them all in my pocket. I took a deep breath and walked toward her.
"Hey, Peepers. Why the tears?" I asked in a quiet voice.
MJ's head shot up. "Peter?" She wiped her tears and got up. "H-how much of that did you hear?"
I shrugged. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Peterâ"
"I'm serious. I saw Harry's car driving away like there was no tomorrow. I'm guessing everything isn't alright in paradise?"
"For God's sake, I don't like Harry Osborn! He and I aren't together!"
I smiled. "You know, if you told him that the same way you told me, he might actually stop pestering you about it."
MJ was quiet. She sighed. "IâI'm sorry I got mad at you."
"It's fine. A temper is to be expected. After all, you are a redhead." I chuckled at her glare. "Oh, lighten up, Peepers. It's not the end of the world. So one guy called you a bitch. Big deal. If I was worried about all the things people called me, I wouldn't be able to get out of bed in the morning."
"It's not that. It's just that I... I don't know if it's my fault," she sighed. "Harry's a great guyâsmart, funnyâ"
"Rich," I added.
MJ glared. "I'm not shallow, Peter." I shrugged. "But... I don't think I like him that way. I don't think I like anyone that way. I just wanna live my life, you know? It's not like I need a boyfriend to survive."
"So? Tell him that, and the next guy after that, and the next guy after that. Until you're ready to start something new," I shrugged.
"Yeah... you're right," MJ nodded. "Thanks, Pete."
"Don't mention it." I walked away, waving at her. "Sweet dreams, Mary Jane."
"Wait, Peter. I... I'm sorry."
I turned around. "For what?"
"You were my first friend here, and I... I'm sorry I haven't been better to you."
"Like I said, Mary Jane, it's fine. I'm used to it." With a shrug, I turned and left.
"Good night, then," she whispered.
I turned the corner and quickly climbed into the trees again. I watched her climb back into her window and tuck herself into bed. Guess my work here was done.
I took a shower and washed my clothesâdidn't want Aunt May asking questions about how I got my stuff so dirty. As I went to bed that night, I stayed up wondering just what I was supposed to do now.
The Kingpin wanted GST running so they could get him his drugs. The GST hated his guts and wanted to be free. A gang war would cost people's lives. How did I defuse such a situation?
Oh, and another thingâjust what the hell was going on with my love life?! Fuck it, man. I hated being a teenager again! I supposed it made sense. Just because we got along, held hands, and went on one date didn't mean she liked me. It just meant she could bear me, nothing else.
Fuck it. I was tired of being angry with that girl. I'm going to bed!
***
The next day was school as usual, though I did notice a few things had changed.
As I walked into the school corridor, I began to notice more people looking at me. Staring at me. I met their gaze until they looked away. Something was different.
I went to my locker to grab first period's books when suddenly my spider-sense flared up. I could feel a ball coming toward me. I ducked immediately, causing the ball to bounce off my locker door harmlessly.
I turned around and saw Flash and Harry staring at me in surprise. It looked like Flash had been the one to throw the ball. I looked surprised as slowly the hall began to quiet, looking at me and Flash.
"What the hell was that?" I growled.
"It slipped, Parker," Flash shrugged in an unconcerned way.
"Slipped? Slipped? If you're that bad at holding the ball, maybe you should just quit the team, Flash," I spat, walking away.
"What did you say to me?! Get back here, Parker!" Flash roared as he tried to follow.
"Don't bother, Flash. It's not worth it," Harry stopped him with one hand. "You know he won't actually do anything. All bite, no bark."
As I sat through first period English, I noticed people giving me weird looks. Even Mary Jane looked like she was trying to gain my attention but stopped herself before she could. I just didn't understand what was going on.
If I was already swinging around in red-and-blue tights, I would be paranoid, thinking somehow they all found out I was Spider-Man. But since that wasn't the case, I just couldn't f