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SPIDER-MAN THIS, SPIDER-MAN THAT—EVERYTHING REVOLVED AROUND SPIDER-MAN. Spider-Man was everywhere in New York. No matter where Alissa looked or turned, there the boy was (she knew he was a teen by his voice). Her friends constantly gushed about him in their free time or when someone else mentioned him, Peter sometimes adding in his positive thoughts while Alissa simply rolled her eyes at everything that was said. Despite the madness and hype that the arachnid-like boy had brought, she couldn't enjoy it.

She was well aware of heroics that were done by other superheroes—the Avengers—and finding that there was another
enhanced person, also in New York, it wasn't all that exciting to her. She had more important things to worry about than who the masked hero was, even if a part of her was still trying to put the pieces of the familiar feeling he gave her together to solve part of that mystery. However, she always suppressed that feeling of curiosity, forcing herself to think of other things that wouldn't leave her questioning everything.

White coated the city of Queens, small flakes of snow seeping down from the clouds and coating the chilly city. Clouds aimlessly roamed the gray skies, a chilling breeze flowing through the currently vacant streets. The first semester of school was nearly over, exams quickly approaching the students at Midtown High. Scott and Kelli were scrounging their work once again, Alissa having heard them late one night when they were peaking into her bedroom, whispering about their work as they checked on her supposedly sleeping figure.

"You really think so?"

"It's a long shot. . .but it's possible. We just have to wait, run some more tests, and then, we should have our answer."

The door closed after that, and Alissa was left wondering what they had been talking about. She didn't hear them the next time, but she knew that they checked on her, as well as her brothers. A part of her was happy that they were actually trying to make more time for their kids, even if it meant having to peak into their darkened rooms while they slept, she still appreciated it. Carter, on the other hand, was still skeptical, noticing the similar pattern that their parents were falling back into.

Alissa and Brian weren't going to lose their already faint hope—not yet, at least. This was the most effort they'd ever seen their parents put in, and they wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt, even if a small part of them said they were holding onto false hope.

"Hey, did you hear about Spider-Man's latest save?" Brian whirled around, his heart stopping a little when seeing his crush, Nate Marsh, standing next to him, a kind smile on his thin lips. He had no idea that Brian liked him, and the younger boy was thankful for it. Having thought the entire situation of wanting to tell him that he liked him, Brian realized it wasn't a good time. Alissa tried getting him to do it again, but he was keen on not doing it until he was sure that he was fully ready, and, that he was willing to accept the whole idea of Nate actually being his crush. "He saved an entire family from their house while it was on fire! Isn't that amazing, B?"

Brian blinked, still trying to process the fact that Nate was actually talking to him. Xavier was at the condiments stand a few feet away from where Brian was standing, waiting for Xavier when the boy in glasses noticed that Nate was talking to Brian. He quickly fumbled with his thick glasses that had started to slip to the edge of his nose, simply sliding the ketchup packets onto his tray and hurrying away to keep his friend from embarrassing himself.

"Uh, y-yeah," Brian winced, hearing how high pitched his voice had sounded when he finally spoke. Nate didn't seem to mind it. Brian quickly cleared his throat, hoping it would hide the blush of embarrassment that had heated his pale cheeks up. "It-It's great," he continued, biting the inside of his cheek to try and calm his nerves.

"He—"

"Hey, B!" Both Brian and Nate turned, watching Xavier jog over with his mess of black curls bouncing against his head. A few ketchup packets slid off his tray as he made his way over to them, making Brian internally groan in embarrassment. "I got a table saved, c'mon."

Brian bit his lip, turning Nate. "He saved my sister," he suddenly told Nate. The boy's eyes widened in surprise. Brian nodded, letting out a nervous laugh. "Y-Yeah, it-it was pretty awesome."

Xavier titled his head. "You weren't even there."

"I saw the video," Brian quickly defended, giving his friend a pleading look. Xavier made a face, but then he realized and he nodded, very obviously sending Brian a wink. He groaned once more, closing his eyes.

All he wanted was to impress Nate and he was doing the complete opposite of that.

Little did he know, he already had.

However, he also caught the attention of someone else that he would wish he hadn't.

° ° °

"All I want is, all I need is—"

"Stop with the depressing music, Al!"

"Don't tell me how to live my life!"

"Both of you—shut up!"

"Wow, it's just like being at home, although, my father and I are usually fighting face to face, but this—this is close enough," Harry Osborn loudly announced as he entered the Caverly home. Mary Jane was with him, her hair styled to the side in a braid while Harry's blond hair was lazily tousled upwards.

Alissa fumbled out of her bed, nearly falling face first on the floor when her feet got tangled up in the comforter. She saved herself, combing through her hair with her fingers as she rushed into the hall, head peaking over to the corner to see Harry and Mary Jane. Her face noticeably brightened at the sight of her friends. "MJ, Harry!" She cheerfully beamed, heading down the stairs two at a time.

"What are you two doin' here?" Carter wondered, standing at the top of the stairs in a brooding manner. "Don't you guys have a luxury car to buy? Or a play to be the lead role in?"

Alissa rolled her eyes, shaking her head at his blunt rudeness. "Ignore him. He's just mad that Liz chose to work on homework instead of going to the movies with him," she told the two, sending a sharp glare at her older brother. Her eyes drifted to the side, noticing Brian peering around the corner. She offered him a tiny smile, beckoning him to come down. He quickly shook his head and darted back to his room, making Alissa glance to Carter for clarification. He just rolled his eyes, and shook his head.

"Liz Allan, huh?" Harry mused, already beginning to smirk. "That's great, man. Think you can hook me up with one of her friends?"

That made Carter smile. "Which one?" Carter requested to know, folding his arms over his chest. "I know a pretty blonde that might just be up to your standards."

Alissa was rolling her eyes, gently pushing her friends towards the hall. "Hey, you leave Betty Brant out of this. She's too good for either of you."

"Betty Brant?" Carter parroted, loudly laughing. Alissa shushed him and pushed Harry forward, Mary Jane leading them to the staircase that led to the basement. "I wasn't even thinking of her!"

Alissa rolled her eyes at her obnoxious brother, hearing his laugh the entire time they ventured down the staircase. "Betty Brant?" Harry repeated as well, not even trying to hide his smile as he easily nestled his body on one of the leather couches. Mary Jane followed suit, her eyes lingering on him for a few seconds longer than Alissa would have expected. "She's the one who does the morning announcements, right?"

Alissa nodded in confirmation, nestling on a rocking chair. It was out of place with the matching couches and chairs that were perfectly placed around the TV that was hung on the wall, but Alissa held a strong liking for the soft chair. "Yeah," she said, pushing her feet up and down to rock the chair. "But you leave her alone. She's too good for you."

Harry faked a wince. "Ouch," he said, holding his hand to his chest. "That one hurt."

"Oh please," Mary Jane chuckled, finally speaking. "You'll forget about her the second you lay your eyes on some other girl who's pretty but too dumb to get away from you."

Harry's head twisted to face the girl next to him. "You don't know, maybe they already have," he lowly said. Mary Jane's cheeks turned a light shade pink, her lips curling into a tiny smile that she quickly hid by covering her mouth with her hand. Alissa softly laughed, shaking her head at her flirty friend. She loved Harry very much, but she also loved Mary Jane, too.

Harry was notorious for playing the hearts of girls just to leave them a week or two later, heartbroken with tear stained cheeks and a hole in her heart, and Mary Jane was notorious for falling for boys that had cute smiles and soft eyes. And that was exactly what made her feel worried by the looks Harry and Mary Jane discreetly sent each other when they glanced back and forth.

"Where's Peter?" Alissa couldn't help but want to know. She had seen the boy earlier that week in school, but outside of school, she hardly saw him anymore.

She couldn't really blame him, he'd still recently lost his uncle, and that was taking it's toll on him as well as his aunt. They were trying their best, but sometimes, it was easy to see the hurt that was still present in their hearts. Days were harder for them without Uncle Ben around, and that was why Peter was never around as much as he used to be. He was usually helping May or running errands for the working woman, or, he said he was, even if he wasn't. Though, his friends never questioned it, giving him his time and space to cope with the loss, and he appreciated, and he also felt bad when lying.

"He's helping May with something at her work tonight," Mary Jane sweetly answered. "I think they're having a banquet or there something."

"That's sweet," Alissa smiled despite the sinking feeling that weighed down her heart. She knew it was bad, but she just wished he wasn't always busy. All she wanted was to spend a little more time with the boy, and she felt like she would never get that chance.

She sometimes wondered if she told him how she felt, then maybe he would find more time for her as well as the others. But that was just hopeful wishing.

After all, she had a crush on him for the longest time, and if she hadn't told him by now, then she probably never would, right?

° ° °

So, this was more of a filler chapter, and I'm kind actually upset with it. I had a hard time figuring out what to do with this chapter and I'm sorry for all of it. I liked the beginning and I thought I could flow off of it, but I couldn't. However, the next few chapters are gonna be major and exciting since we're at the halfway mark of this story since I'm doing 40 chapters rather than 60. I thought I could do 60, but as I went over everything, I realized that a lot of them weren't needed and that some of them were pointless!

Lastly, don't forget to leave your thoughts in comments! Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed!