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I followed Sophie up the worn-out stairs, my black sneakers scuffing against the faded linoleum of the dimly lit hallway. We had just gotten off the subway, and now, in the heart of a rundown neighborhood, we stood before a chipped wooden door with a number that barely clung to the frame. The apartment building had an air of neglect—a scent of old paint, mildew, and something faintly metallic. My nerves buzzed under my skin, every sound in the place magnified by my heightened senses.

"This is it," Sophie said, sounding casual as if bringing someone here was just another part of her day. "Home sweet home." Her enthusiasm never faded.

I glanced around the dim hallway, noticing how quiet it was despite the occasional thud of footsteps in the apartment above. It was a far cry from the pristine streets of Midtown, but Sophie seemed unfazed. She unlocked the door and turned back to me with a small grin. "It's not much, but it's ours."

Before I could respond, Sophie waved across the hall, catching the attention of an elderly man just stepping out of his apartment. He had silver hair, thick glasses, and a face etched with wrinkles. Despite his age, he moved with a sprightliness that didn't match his years. I instantly recognized the man from a previous encounter.

"Hey, Stan!" Sophie greeted warmly. "How's it going?"

The old man—Stan, the janitor from Fogwells Gym—gave us a wide, genial smile. "Oh, you know me, kid, just livin' life one page at a time." He winked, his voice raspy yet full of warmth.

Sophie laughed. "Well, don't stay up too late reading, okay? That pile of comics isn't going anywhere."

Stan chuckled, waving a dismissive hand. "If I don't read 'em, who will? You have a good night now, and don't let those villains outside scare you, okay?"

I found myself smiling at the exchange, feeling a little lighter. There was something comforting about Stan's presence, even in this shadowy part of town. Sophie leaned over and whispered, "Stan's been living here forever. He's kinda like the building's protector or something."

I glanced back at Stan, who was shuffling down the hallway toward the stairs whistling a heroic theme. He gave me a nod as he passed, and I returned it, sensing something familiar and wise about him—like he knew more than he let on.

Sophie nudged me inside. "Come on, before he starts telling us about the good old days."

The apartment was small, as Sophie had warned, but cozy in its own way. The two bedrooms were barely bigger than closets, and the living room and kitchen merged together in one cramped space. Mismatched furniture filled the room—an old couch with faded cushions, a scratched-up coffee table, and Sophie's previous school pictures hung on the walls. It smelled faintly of old books and a bit of burnt toast, which I found oddly comforting.

"Welcome to Casa de Miller," Sophie said with a mock bow, using the Spanish she had learned in our Spanish class. "It's not the Ritz, but it's home."

I nodded, still taking it all in. "It's nice," I said, genuinely meaning it. There was a warmth here—despite the chipped paint and creaky floors—that I hadn't felt in many places, it felt like a home.

Sophie smiled. "Thanks. Make yourself at home. My room's down the hall if you wanna dump your stuff."

As I made my way further inside, I couldn't help but glance back at the door, thinking of Stan Lee. Something about him felt...special. But, then again, maybe it was just this place. There was something about New York that always kept you on your toes.

I sat cross-legged on Sophie's bed, my fingers absentmindedly tracing the edge of the comforter as Sophie sat down eagerly on the other end of the bed, ready to discuss the Spider-Man theory. The apartment was quiet except for the sound of Sophie's shuffling, and I leaned back against the wall, feeling the urge to finally bring up what had been nagging at me for days.

"Your dads seem really nice" Sophie started suddenly, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Oh. Yeah, he's a pretty nice guy, I guess" I shrugged.

"No, I mean both of them" She corrected, a wide smile as she recalled meeting both Matt and Foggy.

"Wait, no. Foggys not my dad, he's more like an uncle to me, but not related if that makes any sense."

"Really? I just assumed because they seemed so close." The blond girl instantly grew embarrassed for her assumption, quickly trying to change the topic. "Okay, so about Spider-Man. I think this guy has got to be—"

Before she could finish, the door to the apartment clicked open. I straightened up, my heightened senses picking up the familiar sound of footsteps—light, but with a slight shuffle. The smell of greasy food wafted through the air, followed by the soft hum of a voice singing some half-remembered tune.

"Mom's home," Sophie said with a grin, rolling off the bed and heading toward the living room with a lightness in her step. "C'mon, you've gotta meet her. She's gonna love you."

I followed, curious but a little nervous. I didn't usually meet a lot of people, let alone parents. But if her mom was anything like Sophie, I'm sure it couldn't be that bad.

As we stepped into the cramped living room, Sophie's mom came into view, her blond hair slightly tousled from the long day and her uniform a bit wrinkled. She was holding a brown paper bag, the logo of a nearby diner printed on it. Despite looking a little tired, her face lit up when she saw her daughter emerge from her room.

"Hey, kiddo!" She beamed, walking over to hug Sophie with one arm, careful not to crush the bag of food. "I brought dinner. There were some leftovers from work, and I thought, why not?"

Sophie grinned. "You're the best, Mom."

Her eyes shifted, and she spotted me standing awkwardly near the doorway. Her smile widened even more. "And who's this?"

Sophie waved me over with her own smile. "Mom, this is Maggie. She's new at school. I kinda recruited her to hang out."

I felt her cheeks warm slightly, palms growing sweaty. "Hi, Mrs. Miller. It's nice to meet you."

She waved a hand in dismissal. "Oh, please, call me Meredith. Any friend of Sophie's is a friend of mine." She glanced between the two of us, a knowing twinkle in her eye. "You girls look hungry. I hope you like burgers and fries."

My stomach growled in response, and I smile. "Yeah, that sounds great, actually."

Meredith set the bag on the small kitchen counter and began pulling out containers, her movements quick and efficient. "Well, help yourselves. It's not gourmet or anything, but it'll fill you up."

Sophie grabbed a couple of plates from a cabinet and handed one to me, then started piling food onto her own. Meredith leaned against the counter, watching us with a fond smile.

"So, Maggie, how's school treating you?" she asked, her tone warm and inviting, like she genuinely cared about the answer.

I hesitated for a moment, then shrugged, trying to sound casual and not get into the nitty gritty of how my first day gave me a bad reputation. "It's...good. I'm still getting used to everything, but it's nice having Sophie to show me around."

"She's a good guide," Meredith said, winking at Sophie. "Knows her way around the school and the city."

Sophie grinned through a mouthful of fries. "I try."

I couldn't help but smile at the easy dynamic between them. There was a warmth in the apartment, something homey and comforting, despite its modest size and the worn-out furniture. Meredith seemed to carry that warmth with her, filling the space with it.

As we sat down to eat at the small kitchen table, Meredith joined us, setting her own plate aside for later. "So, what were you two up to before I barged in with dinner?"

Sophie gave me a conspiratorial glance before smirking at her mom. "Oh, you know...just some homework."

Meredith raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? Well, don't let me stop you from getting your work done." She stood, giving us both an affectionate smile. "I'll leave you to it. I've gotta take a quick shower, and then I'll be out of your hair."

As Meredith disappeared down the hall, I relaxed a little more, shoulders slumping. Sophie nudged me with her elbow, encouraging me to meet her bright expression. "Told you she'd like you."

I smiled, grabbing a fry from my plate. "Yeah, she's really nice."

Sophie nodded, a soft grin on her face. "She's the best."

As the sound of the shower started in the distance, the two of us settled back into our conversation, the mystery of Spider-Man hanging in the air between us. But now, with the comforting smell of burgers and fries in the room and Meredith's kind welcome, I felt like I was at home, someplace safe with people who genuinely cared.

I followed Sophie back into her room, the brightness of the space immediately contrasting with the rest of the small apartment. String lights were strung up haphazardly along the ceiling, casting a warm glow over the walls, which were covered in colorful posters from musicals like Hamilton, Wicked, and Waitress.

I pulled out my phone, searching for my playlist to add some noise, taking away from the sound of Sophie's neighbours. "Blinded by the light, revved up like a deuce another runner in the night."

Sophie plopped down onto her bed again, the string lights overhead softly swaying as she settled in. "Okay, we've got the food, we've got the cozy vibes and music—now, spill." She gestured for me to sit on the bed next to her. "What's with your fascination with Spider-Man? Do you have a crush on him or something"

"Blinded by the light."

I hesitated for a moment before sitting down, my fingers nervously brushing against my jeans. "Well..." She glanced at Sophie, who was looking at me with wide, curious eyes, waiting. Taking a deep breath, I began, "Okay, I wasn't sure if I should say anything, but I trust you, and I think it's important you know."

Sophie's eyebrows lifted, her curiosity piqued. "What's up? You look like you're about to drop some major secret."

"Madman, drummers, bummers, Indians in the summer with a teenage diplomat."

I hesitated for a moment, my gaze dropping to my hands. "So, the other day... when we were talking about Spider-Man? I wasn't telling you the whole story."

Sophie leaned in closer, intrigued yet worried. "Wait, what do you mean?"

"In the dumps with the mumps, as the adolescent pumps his way into his hat"

I picked at my nails, trying to find the right words. "I saw Spider-Man the other night, in action, up close. I was walking home from the gym when some guys decided to hassle me and Spider-Man dropped in. He wasn't much help as I handled it all by myself, but I had noticed that he was following me before he made his presence known."

Sophie tilted her head. "But if it his presence wasn't known, how did you—"

"With a boulder on my shoulder, feelin' kinda older, I tripped the merry go round"

I took a deep breath, deciding to reveal part of the truth. "I have this... ability. Like my senses were cranked to 100 percent. I can hear things, like really far away. Conversations, footsteps, even heartbeats, if I focus. I don't know how to explain it, but it's like my senses are hyper sensitive."

Sophie's jaw dropped slightly. "Whoa, like, you've got super senses?"

I nodded, feeling a little lighter now that it was out there. "Yeah. That's how I heard Spider-Man trailing behind me along the rooftops. When the fight was over and I really focused on him, the way he spoke, acted and moved this nagging of familiarity settled in. Like I know him, but I just can't put my finger on it and it's been driving me insane."

Sophie stared at me, speechless for a moment. "That's... incredible. So, you think you know who Spider-Man is?"

"Yeah," I confirmed. "Well it's more like, I know him, but couldn't tell you who it is."

Sophie let out a soft breath, clearly impressed. "Man, and here I thought my best superpower was being able to memorize entire musicals."

I smiled, feeling a little relieved that Sophie was taking it well. "It's not something I tell people. It's just one of those things I have to keep under wraps, you know? Or else people try to send you away to a school for freaks." I frowned slightly at the memory.

"Xavier's school for the gifted? No way! I almost went there!" Sophie claimed in shock.

"Why would you—?" I started, but before I could finish she held out her hand, palm up and a warm ball of light formed. The light was warm, not blinding, but soft like the glow from a lantern, fitting with Sophie's bright personality.

My eyes widened in realization. "You... you have powers, too?"

Sophie nodded, the glowing ball flickering gently in her hand. "Yeah, I can do this. Create light, I mean. I can control it, shape it however I want." She paused for a second, watching my reaction before adding with suspense, "But that's not all."

"What else can you do?" I wondered, curiosity getting the better of me.

Sophie let the ball of light fade completely, closing her hand before answering. "I can heal people. Not huge things, like... I can't bring someone back from the dead or anything, but cuts, bruises, even broken bones, I can fix them."

I sat in stunned silence for a moment, my mind racing. "You can heal people?"

"Yeah," Sophie said quietly, her tone more serious now. "It's... it's useful, but it's not something I tell people, either."

I blinked, still processing everything I had just learned. "How long have you had these powers?"

Sophie shrugged. "A couple of years now. Xavier actually showed up at my house once, invited me to his school for the gifted telling me I was a mutant. But I chose to stay with my mom, she needs me more than they do."

I smiled, feeling a strange sense of relief as I ran my fingers through my hair. "This is crazy."

"I know, right?" Sophie agreed. She looked at me with newfound curiosity. "So, what else can you do? Is it just the super senses?"

I paused, feeling a pang of hesitation. "Yeah, just the super senses,"I said, my voice calculated and steady.

Sophie nodded in understanding. "Well, I think your hearing is amazing. Seriously, that's some superhero-level stuff."

I grinned, my earlier nerves fading. "Thanks. I think your healing powers are pretty incredible, too."

For a moment, we sat in comfortable silence, both of us still marveling at the fact that we had found someone who understood, someone like us. I felt a sense of connection, of belonging, that I hadn't felt in a long time. Sharing this part of myself with Sophie had lifted a weight off my chest, and it seemed like Sophie felt the same way.

"So," Sophie said, her eyes twinkling again, "now that we know about your super senses, think you'll actually solve who Spider-Man is?"

Maggie laughed, feeling lighter than she had in days. "Oh, definitely. I just need some more information, another hint or something to point me in the right direction."

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Question of the day: Do you think Maggie will find out who Spider-Man is?

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