Midtown High School Cafeteria — June, Six Months After the Start of the School Year — Afternoon
The sound of conversations and trays echoed throughout the cafeteria.
Sitting at a table, Peter was quietly enjoying his lunch: fries covered in brown gravy, a piece of meat, and, for dessert, a slice of chocolate cake.
As he ate peacefully, a familiar figure came and sat beside him. It was Gwen, his girlfriend. Without saying a word, she stole one of his fries.
— "So... is it good?"
Peter slowly turned his head toward her. His gaze met hers, drifted briefly to her mouth, then returned to her eyes.
— "...Seriously?"
One eyebrow slightly raised, he let out a sigh as she gave him an amused smile.
But suddenly, a commotion broke out at the back of the cafeteria.
Peter and Gwen immediately turned around. At the center of the disturbance were two well-known students: Anya Corazon and Miles Morales.
Anya was in the middle of an argument with another student, Sally Avril.
Beside them, Liz was doing her best to calm the situation, but without any success.
— "Sally, just let it go..."
— "No, wait! Can you repeat what you just said?!"
— "Are you deaf? I asked if you could shut up. Your voice annoys me."
— "Oh, yeah? I'll—"
Sally was about to go after Anya when Miles immediately stepped in.
— "Hey! Listen, my friend's a complete idiot. Don't pay attention to what she says."
Anya reacted instantly.
She smacked him on the back of the head, making him stumble slightly.
— "Who are you calling an idiot, huh?!"
Drawn by the argument, Flash Thompson arrived moments later.
— "And what does the idiot have to say? Go on, I'm really curious to hear what the girl who looks down on everyone in this school has to say!"
As soon as Flash spoke, even more students turned their attention toward them.
An almost malicious smile appeared on Anya's face. She seemed determined to use this opportunity to humiliate him.
— "Oh, look who decided to show up... Flash Thompson!"
She walked toward him confidently, a provocative smile on her lips.
— "Dude, shouldn't you be studying instead of hanging around here if you don't want to repeat the year? Oh wait... too late. It's already the end of the school year."
Not far away, Peter rubbed his forehead, already exasperated.
— "Oh, seriously... I can't believe this..."
His ego bruised, Flash strode toward her.
Anya didn't take a single step back. She simply waited for him to make the first move.
But before the situation could escalate, one of the cafeteria supervisors intervened.
— "THAT'S ENOUGH!"
Silence immediately fell.
Every eye turned toward him.
— "EVERYONE WITH A TRAY, GO SIT DOWN! FROM NOW ON, I WANT COMPLETE SILENCE IN THIS CAFETERIA! THE NEXT PERSON I SEE CAUSING TROUBLE GETS DETENTION!"
The tension gradually faded.
Liz, Sally, and Flash returned to their table.
Miles and Anya picked up their trays before joining Peter and Gwen, then sat down across from them.
A brief silence settled over the table.
Miles gave an awkward smile. Anya simply started eating, as if nothing had happened.
Peter rubbed his forehead once again while Gwen watched the whole scene with amusement.
— "...You really couldn't help yourself, could you?"
— "Nope."
Midtown High School — Classroom — Later That Day
The bell had rung, and the students were now back in class.
As always, Peter and Gwen were sitting side by side. Farther back in the classroom, Miles and Anya were seated next to a third student they didn't seem to know.
Standing at the front of the class, Roger Harrington spoke with enthusiasm.
— "Alright, everyone! Listen up! As you all know, we've only just entered June. Which means the school year will be ending soon, and summer vacation is just around the corner. And as every summer, there'll be a school trip. So get ready, because we're going to EUROPE, TO PARIS, FOR 3 DAYS!"
A sudden scream erupted in the classroom.
Sally Avril shot up from her chair, overflowing with excitement.
For Peter and Gwen, however, the news had quite the opposite effect. They exchanged a glance, both looking slightly... concerned.
— "PARIS?! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!"
The announcement thrilled the entire class. Excited murmurs spread throughout the room.
Every student was already imagining themselves in Paris.
Everyone... except Flash.
His expression tightened for a brief moment, but he quickly regained his composure, preferring to keep up appearances.
— "Hey, Sally... why are you so excited? Paris isn't exactly the best destination we could've gotten."
— "Seriously! Besides, I heard everyone's grumpy over there."
— "Oh, shut up, Flash! You and Liz... you just don't get it!"
She threw her arms into the air, as if revealing the most obvious truth in the world.
— "Paris is... it's the city of love, guys! LOVE!"
Surprised by her sudden excitement, Flash and Liz exchanged a quick discreet glance, wondering if they were really seeing and hearing the same thing.
— "So what? You think you're gonna find love just by going there? You don't even speak their language."
Completely dumbfounded by his remark, Sally marched straight toward Flash.
— "So what?! You know they learn our language too, right?! I just have to find someone I like who speaks our language, and that's it!"
Roger Harrington then pulled out a stack of papers and held them in his hands.
— "So, I'm handing out this form. All you have to do is show it to your parents, and they'll need to sign it and fill out a few things if you're coming."
He walked forward and handed the stack to the first student in front of him, who immediately understood that he was supposed to pass the papers around the class from hand to hand.
— "And if you're not coming for whatever reason... it's even easier. A simple signature is enough. No need to fill out the rest. Just bring the form back and hand it to me."
As the forms gradually made their way to their recipients, Miles and Anya moved their chairs to sit directly in front of Peter and Gwen so they could talk about the announcement.
— "So, what do you guys think?"
Gwen gave them a questioning look.
— "...Shouldn't you two be at your own table?"
— "Yeah, but the guy sitting with us is annoying. Besides, the teacher isn't even paying attention. You can clearly see he's on his phone, right?"
She pointed at him without even turning around.
Peter and Gwen discreetly glanced at their teacher and had to admit that Anya was right.
Even so, Peter crossed his arms, unconvinced.
— "Maybe... but you should still go back to your ta—"
— "So, Gwen, are you excited about the trip?"
Anya acted as if Peter didn't exist, focusing all her attention on Gwen.
— "She cut me off...!"
Peter eventually let out a sigh and lowered his arms, visibly resigned.
His eyes met Gwen's.
That same worried expression.
In a single exchange of glances, it was as if several words had been spoken without either of them opening their mouths.
— "O-Oh, y-yeah, definitely! It could be really fun! Besides, I've never been there before..."
Anya noticed a slight awkwardness in Gwen's tone but quickly brushed it aside.
— "How about we make a group of four? That way we can all stick together and explore Paris."
— "Y-Yeah, why not? But don't forget Harry. With him, we'd be five, not four."
Realizing he'd forgotten him, Miles put on an embarrassed expression.
— "Oops, sorry..."
At the mention of his name, Anya quickly scanned the classroom and realized Harry was absent.
— "Speaking of which... where's the rich kid?"
— "Oh, he had some family thing to attend. At least, I think so. He'll be here... just really late, like..."
At that exact moment, someone knocked on the door.
It opened.
It was Harry Osborn.
— "Right now..."
Seeing Peter's expression, Gwen let out a quiet chuckle.
Harry walked into the classroom with his backpack slung over one shoulder.
— "Good morning! Sorry I'm late. I have a note from my father."
He handed the paper tucked inside his notebook to the teacher.
The teacher read it quickly, let out a small sigh, then excused him without any further comment.
He handed the notebook back, and Harry hurried over to join his seat and his group of friends.
— "Speak of the devil..."
He set down his bag, pulled out his chair, then sat down enthusiastically, happy to be back with his friends.
— "Hey, guys. Good day?"
Peter scratched the back of his head while looking away, already exasperated.
— "Other than Anya causing trouble in the cafeteria again... yeah. It's been a pretty good day."
— "Fuck you."
At that moment, Roger Harrington walked over to Harry's desk.
— "Here you go, Osborn."
He handed him the school trip form without offering the slightest explanation.
Harry took it, completely confused.
— "Thanks, but... what's this for?"
A slight smile appeared at the corner of the teacher's lips.
— "Your friends will explain."
Without saying another word, he discreetly gestured to Anya and Miles, letting them know it was time to return to their seats.
The two of them obeyed without arguing.
Roger Harrington then walked back to his desk, while Harry continued looking at his friends with curiosity, trying to understand what was going on.
Oscorp Tower — Harry's Private Badminton Court — Day
Inside a private gymnasium at the top of Oscorp Tower, the sharp sound of shuttlecocks being struck echoed throughout the match.
Harry was facing Anya on a brand-new badminton court, while the rest of the group watched from a nearby bench.
— "Well, technically, thanks to my wealth, I can go wherever I want, including Paris. But going there with you guys would be awesome! You're lucky I've never been there before!"
Harry wore an expression that was both smug and gentle as he talked about his wealth, clearly trying to playfully annoy his friends.
— "You might have the money to go almost anywhere you want, but you still can't beat me at badminton!"
Distracted by his own excitement, Harry lost the rally.
Anya, of course, didn't miss the chance to point out her victory.
— "And just so you know, that so-called wealth... belongs to your father. Not you."
She shot him a teasing look, clearly amused by the situation.
Harry grimaced, slightly annoyed by his defeat.
— "Don't worry, Harry. This girl's amazing at sports. I've rarely seen anyone beat her at anything, especially in sports, so don't feel bad. She's just that good."
— "It's true, Anya! You're really amazing! Seriously, well played!"
— "It's nice to see there are people who recognize my talent. Especially you, Gwen."
She gave her a warm smile, while Miles looked visibly annoyed by the fact that she hadn't reacted to his compliments.
— "Seriously...?!"
Anya burst into laughter at the sight of Miles's frustration and Harry's defeated expression.
But Peter suddenly took on a much more serious tone.
— "Ever since we started playing, we've always kept the same teams and never really changed things up. So I've got a bet for you, Anya. Let's play a one-on-one. First to ten points wins, and the loser buys the winner a drink the next time we go out. You in?"
A brief silence settled over the group.
No one had expected a proposal like that from Peter.
Anya raised an eyebrow, surprised.
— "A one-on-one? You and me? And the loser buys the winner a drink?"
She thought about it for a moment.
She hesitated, then looked at Peter with a mixture of curiosity and amusement.
— "You know I love humiliating you, Peter... but are you sure about this?"
She stepped a little closer, completely confident.
— "Since I'm such a nice person, I'll still give you a chance to back out. I wouldn't want to hurt your feelings with my skill level like I did with the rich kid."
Already off the court, Harry answered her with a middle finger.
Anya chuckled when she saw it.
— "I'd worry more about playing than talking. Because you're going to lose."
Peter was confident.
Far too confident.
Anya couldn't help but chuckle, though she also felt a slight hint of sympathy for her friend, convinced she already knew how this match would end.
— "Alright... if that's what you want."
Racket in hand, Peter stood up from the bench and walked onto the court.
The two of them took their positions while Gwen, Harry, and Miles watched with curiosity, eager to see the outcome of the match.
— "Have a good match!"
— "Come on, Peter, beat her!"
— "Yeah, kick her ass!"
Seeing that everyone seemed to be rooting for her defeat, Anya wasn't hurt or upset.
Quite the opposite.
She found the whole situation amusing.
She picked up the shuttlecock and bounced it several times on her racket, not looking concerned about the match in the slightest, as if it didn't matter at all.
— "Hey, Peter."
After a few moments, she stopped her racket and got into position to start the first rally.
Peter watched her closely, ready to react.
— "Just remember that I gave you a chance to avoid what's about to happen to you."
Hearing that, he couldn't help but laugh.
— "Stop talking and serve already. I'm going to make you regret your arrogance, trust me!"
Anya gave him a faint smile, almost sympathetic toward her friend.
Then she got into position and served the first shuttlecock of the match.
Peter remained confident while staying fully focused.
— "We'll see if you're really going to beat the one and only... the greatest... the amazing Spider-Man...!"
New York — Queens — Late Afternoon
After spending time with their friends, Peter and Gwen headed home.
Once they reached Queens, they walked side by side along the sidewalk, quietly making their way back home.
A peaceful silence settled between them... until Gwen decided to break it after noticing Peter's disappointed expression.
— "You okay? Not too upset?"
— "About badminton?"
She nodded quickly.
— "Nah... it's just a game."
— "Just a game, huh...? You still looked pretty crushed when Anya beat you."
— "What annoys me is having to buy her a drink next time we all go out."
He clenched his teeth in frustration just thinking about her.
— "With that smug little...!"
He eventually took a deep breath before slowly exhaling, calming himself down.
— "Anyway... that's not what's most important."
He turned to look at Gwen.
She immediately understood where he was going with this.
— "We need to talk about the trip."
— "Yeah, actually, about that, I wanted to tell you that—"
— "I'm staying with Aunt May. You should go."
At those words, Gwen came to an abrupt stop.
Peter stopped as well, confused by her reaction.
— "Gwen?"
The atmosphere changed instantly.
It became heavier... more serious.
Gwen slowly lowered her head.
— "...Why do you want me to go without you?"
Peter scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
— "Well... you know Aunt May's condition. It's been six months since her accident, and she's doing much better, sure... but I don't know if it's a good idea to leave her completely alone. And I don't want you to miss out on a trip like this just to stay home, so I thought it'd be better if I stayed to take care of Aunt May while you—"
— "Peter."
That single word immediately cut him off.
A nervous bead of sweat appeared on his face.
Something in Gwen's tone made him deeply uncomfortable.
— "Y-Yeah...?"
— "...Do you really think taking care of Aunt May is a burden to me?"
Her voice was cold... direct.
Peter was completely caught off guard.
— "W-What?! Of course not! Wait, why would you even think that?!"
— "Then why are you telling me to leave you and Aunt May behind?!"
Peter immediately realized that he'd hurt her.
He desperately searched for the right words.
— "It was just... because I wanted you to enjoy yourself and have fun. After everything that's happened... I thought this trip could really be something nice for you."
As she understood what he was referring to, Gwen slowly raised her head.
Surprised.
Peter's voice had changed.
It had become incredibly gentle.
— "...I'm sorry. I thought it would make you happy."
Not knowing what else to do, Peter looked away and nervously scratched the back of his head.
He felt guilty.
Gwen slowly stepped closer to him.
With the utmost gentleness, she took both of his hands in hers.
— "Peter."
Hearing his name, Peter turned back toward her.
Gwen looked at him with soft, fragile eyes... but filled with sincerity.
— "I understand what you were trying to do... and thank you for it. But ever since... everything that happened... what helped me get better wasn't going out or taking some trip. It was you and Aunt May. You're the ones who gave me happy moments. Really happy moments."
Peter's eyes seemed completely captivated by Gwen's.
He felt a faint warmth rise to his cheeks.
— "So I don't want you to ever say something like that again. Because if you're staying to take care of Aunt May... then I'm staying too."
A brief silence settled between them.
— "And honestly... I was actually planning to tell you to go while I stayed behind to take care of Aunt May. After everything you two have done for me..."
Peter stood speechless for a moment.
He was shocked, surprised, touched... and even a little amused.
A sincere smile spread across his face.
Without saying a word, he stepped closer and gently wrapped her in his arms.
He rested his chin softly on her shoulder.
Caught completely off guard, Gwen blushed.
— "...Are you sure about this? You really want to stay?"
— "Yes. If it's to be with you and Aunt May... it's worth more than every trip in the world."
Peter's eyes lit up.
He tightened his embrace ever so slightly.
— "...I'm really sorry. I never meant to hurt you by bringing that up."
— "It's okay, don't worry. It was me... I shouldn't have reacted like that. We both just want to make each other happy, don't we?"
— "Yeah... I guess we do."
The two young lovers let out a soft laugh, amused by the situation.
Time itself almost seemed to stop around them.
A simple...
Peaceful...
Moment of intimacy.
Peter slowly loosened his embrace, leaned back slightly, and locked eyes with Gwen.
He could feel her warm breath gently brushing against his face.
Neither of them looked away.
He watched her for a few moments before whispering:
— "I love you."
At those words, Gwen's heart raced even faster.
They had been together for almost a year now.
And yet...
Even after all that time, Peter still managed to give her those familiar butterflies whenever he acted or spoke to her like this.
Her eyes shimmering, she gazed at him for a few seconds before answering with a smile full of tenderness.
— "I love you too."
Slowly, their faces drew closer.
Until their lips finally met.
Their mouths came together in a tender, heartfelt kiss.
The seconds slipped by.
Neither of them wanted that moment to end.
TO BE CONTINUED...