"Vigilante Ghost-Spider did it again!"

"Ghost-Spider stopped a robbery!"

"You're our hero!"

"Thank you so much Ghost-Spider!"

"Spider-menace!"

Gwen chuckled, soaking in all the words from the people in the streets. She could get used to this. She smirked as she turned a corner, seeing a little boy lifting a T-shirt with Ghost-Spider on it for sale.

The news of the new hero was on the screen in every corner. Although there were some *cough* Jameson *cough* who disagreed with her actions, many were supportive. Many have even agreed to let the hero roam around the streets to save the day.

Many were curious. Who is behind the mask? Why did they take long to appear? Where did they come from?

No one knew except the girl in front of her reflection in front of a restaurant. Gwen hummed a small tune, also seeing posters of the heroine on the walls. She liked this. Back in school, she was a student-leading girl. She would get good grades, she was athletic in sports, she was in a band, and is friends with everyone.

But for the people to see her other side and like her work, it felt nice. However, her father seemed to think differently. She would come home from school and prepare dinner for the both of them but her dad would come late and in a bad mood, cursing Ghost-Spider out for their work.

The media has slowly started mistrusting the police, believing the hero is doing a better job than them which made her father more agitated. Gwen felt bad of course, her father is working hard to provide for both of them while dealing with the media ignoring them. However, Gwen has also seen the dark side of the streets at night.

But it has also been getting annoying for the girl. There's absolutely nothing exciting in New York. Mostly robberies would be around the streets and she gets to them but also wishes for a challenge. Her power cannot just be wasted on some weak men.

There's also have been changes throughout the school too. Many kids would talk in the hall and make up some conspiracies about the hero. Even going far ahead and claiming that it was a man. Gwen would laugh at the theories, keeping it mostly to herself. Gwen was currently sitting in the cafeteria while Peter was eating his lunch while looking at his textbook.

There's also have been changes to Peter too. The boy wouldn't stop talking about the hero. Admiring their courageous works, their strength, their fame, and their bravery...the opposite of him. Peter was currently looking at a textbook Dr.Connors handed him a few weeks prior. The research has been interesting to the latest.

Just thinking about the possibility of regrowing limbs and strengthening people made Peter excited. He looked up from his book to Gwen. She was scratching her wrist as she ate. He frowned, knowing that it was a habit of hers when she was nervous about something.

"Gwen?" he asked, placing his textbook down as Gwen turned to him. "Something wrong?"

"Wrong?" Gwen's eyes widened, glancing at something behind him briefly before looking at him. "No, there's nothing wrong."

Peter frowned, seeing the small flaw of her nose twitching. He raised a brow unimpressed at her and turned around. He groaned, turning around as soon as he saw the cheerleaders hanging up posters on the wall for everyone to see.

The school's prom.

"I still don't see how everybody gets overly excited about the stupid dance," Peter rolled his eyes, going back to his book.

Gwen thought of the opposite. You see, for the past three years, there's always a school dance. Peter refuses to go...Gwen wanted to go with him. She often asks him to go with her but he refuses to be humiliated by just even attending a boring dance.

Gwen was determined.

She feels it this year. He has to go with her. Biting her lip, she was about to make a suggestion but stopped as Harry sat beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Because no one asks you out?" Harry joked to Peter while the boy deadpanned at him, his eyes on the boy's arm draped over Gwen's shoulders.

"I'd just rather stay home and watch movies with pizza," Peter tried, lifting his glasses and shaking his head at the boy. Harry chuckled before turning to Gwen. "So what do you say, Stacy? Want to go together?"

Gwen's eyes widened, glancing at Peter who was too focused on the book but saw how he gripped the hardcover. She nervously smiled at Harry, "No thanks. Probably not this year. A movie sounds fun."

Harry's eye twitched at the girl, sighing as he removed his arm from her shoulders. He wasn't stupid. His best friends like each other but are oblivious to each other's feelings. More Peter than Gwen than anything. He can clearly see that Gwen wanted Peter to ask her to the prom. He still asks, knowing Gwen would still do nothing about it.

"Welp, do you know if MJ is available?" Harry asked, standing up. Gwen shrugged, looking to the side and sweatdropping at the crowd around her table. "I'm not sure," Gwen spoke with sarcasm.

Harry sighed, leaving the table and giving it a shot to the redhead. Gwen turned to Peter, noticing his hold on the book loosen. She opened her mouth to speak but seeing him so concentrated on the book, she stayed silent.

🕸🕷🕸

"Wimp," Gwen cursed, standing in front of her locker. She groaned, smacking her head on it before sighing. Shaking her head, she opened her locker and left her books inside while grabbing her gym clothes.

Her senses flared, making her take a step back just as a girl bumped into her locker close. The girl yelped, rubbing her head. Gwen frowned, stepping forward, "Are you all right?"

"Yeah, yeah," the dark-haired girl chuckled. "I can never see where I'm going," she laughed, turning to Gwen. Gwen's eyes widened, remembering her from the other day. What was her name again?

"Oh, sorry," the girl apologized and raised her hand with a smile on her face. "Cindy Moon, Oscorp's head scientist slash student."

Gwen's eyes softened, raising her hand too. "Um...Gwen Stacy, student slash girl," she joked, making Cindy laugh. Just as Gwen grabbed the girl's hand to shake, she gasped.

Her chest suddenly burned as her head buzzed in alert. Her lungs suddenly collapsed on her, giving her a hard time to breathe. She can feel the small hairs on her body raise in goosebumps as she stared into the girl's dark eyes and sweet smile.

"Is something wrong?" Cindy frowned, worried for the girl. She yelped, snatching her hand back as Gwen accidentally gripped it.

Gwen gasped, "Oh, sorry! I...I spaced out."

What was that?

Cindy frowned, rubbing her hand in pain. "It's okay," she chuckled. "I have a strong grip...Gwen Stacy," the girl spoke and narrowed her eyes in thought before widening. "Oh! Gwen Stacy! I have heard so much of you," she grinned. "Peter talks about you all the time."

Gwen's smile dropped. They talked to each other...often?

"Really?" Gwen scratched her wrist. "I haven't heard of you from him."

"Oh, that would be my fault," Cindy leaned to her locker, scratching her nape. "Working in Oscorp can be restricting. Peter actually took an interest in science and applied to my program. We often meet up to talk about the recent project he is taking on. Peter is amazing, isn't he?" she smiled.

Gwen doesn't like this feeling.

"I haven't seen you around the school," Gwen spoke. "Were you new here?"

Cindy grinned, "Yeah! After Peter applied to my program, we decided to meet every day after school. But because I work at Oscorp, I decided to apply to school so we can see each other more. Isn't it great? The boy will make life-changing choices. You must be so proud of him."

"Yeah," Gwen spoke while Cindy grinned.

"Welp, don't want to make you late to class," Cindy softly smiled at her. "I'll see you around? Who knows? We can be great friends."

"Yeah," Gwen nodded as Cindy waved and walked away. Gwen watched the girl go. She really doesn't like this feeling. She shook her head, opened her locker again, and grab her books. She doesn't know why she was alert earlier. Why did her body react like that? The girl seems nice and intelligent...and pretty.

Gwen sighed again and leaned her head in her locker.

"I saw that," MJ stood next to her, narrowing her eyes at the dark-haired girl in the halls. "I don't like her" she crossed her arms.

"You don't like anyone," Gwen gave the girl a pointed look, leaning her head back and looking at the girl.

"I like you, don't I?" MJ shrugged. "I don't like her."

Gwen sighed, "She seems cool. I mean, she's friends with Peter."

"A girl liking Peter?" MJ raised a brow in disbelief and raised her hands in surrender when Gwen glared at her momentarily. "I don't know," MJ murmured, opening her locker beside her. "She gave me bad vibes. And her talking about Peter without gagging is off too."

"Don't be rude," Gwen sterned. "He's your friend too, isn't he?"

"Well yeah," MJ nodded, pulling out a ruby lipstick and turning to her small mirror. "But I don't talk about him like that. I'm starting to think that you have a love rival, my sister."

"A love rival," Gwen deadpanned while MJ nodded and looked at her through the mirror.

"Careful, Gwen," MJ puckered her lips. "I can see the black cat pouncing at your man if you don't do something about it."

"He's not my man," Gwen looked at her incredulously. "He doesn't belong to anyone. He can go out with anyone he likes, it's not my problem."

MJ rolled her eyes, "Right. When are you going to tell him anyways? Are you guys going to the dance this year?"

Gwen sighed, shut her locker, and leaned her back on it. "Peter doesn't want to go this year."

"Again," MJ deadpanned, rolling her eyes. "When is that boy going to man up?" she murmured to herself but Gwen heard it. "What I mean is...when is he finally going to do something about it. You have been mothering him for years, Gwen. Isn't it about time that he makes the first move?"

Gwen hummed, closing her eyes. "I don't mother him."

"Yeah," MJ scoffed, grabbing her mascara. "And I like Harry."

"I protect him," Gwen defended. "There's a difference. And you like Harry."

MJ rolled her eyes, turning to the girl fully, and grabbed her hands. "Gwen. I love you as much as I hate you for taking my breakfast and stealing my clothes when you come over. But I don't think this is healthy for you. I'm not saying that you're wrong. But pride is strong. Peter will likely snap if you keep doing this."

"And if I don't," Gwen frowned, knowing how noncontrolling the bullying can be around Peter and how harmful he can be to himself. "Who will?"

MJ shrugged, "Himself? I say...ask him to the dance. If he turns away...maybe it's time to change targets."

Gwen frowned as MJ gave her a hug and closed her locker, walking away. Gwen subconsciously reached for her pearl, running her finger on the jewel wrapped around her neck. She sighed, shaking her head, and walked to her classroom.

🕸🕷🕸

Ghost-Spider swung in the air, diving towards the city and falling. Her thoughts were far from her mind as she kept jumping around the city. She hated to even think about leaving Peter.

"Change targets," Ghost spat, landing on top of a building and crouching and looking down at the pedestrians walking below. "There's nothing wrong in protecting someone. Even I have pride!" Ghost walked down the windows, talking to herself and ignoring the stares from inside the building.

"Peter doesn't think that way. And Cindy? She can go out with him for all I care!" Ghost rolled her eyes. She threw her wrist forward, arching her ring and middle fingers web came out of her wrist and attached to another building. Letting go, she jumped down and swung through the air.

Ghost flipped through the air, letting the sun kiss her. Closing her eyes, she let herself fall while her hands were behind her head.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with seeing Peter with someone else. But something was off about the girl, she can't explain it. She never felt that feeling of alertness in her life. Sure, she can sense danger coming at her but to feel it once she looked into the girl's eyes?

Something is definitely wrong.

MJ might as well joke that it's her jelousy-senses speaking. She can't say.

Ghost's eyes widened and yelped as she miscordinated and flew inside an open window of a building. She grunts, rolling down on the carpet and bumping her head against a table. Ghost groaned, sitting up and rub her head. Great, can more things go wrong?

Standing up, she opened her eyes and stiffened to see a short dark-haired woman sitting in a desk in front of her while several men stood beside her. Ghost immediately recognized the woman. She gasped, pointing at the woman. "Janet Van Dyne! Supermodel and mogul fashion designer!"

However, the woman's sharp features blankly looked at the girl. Her guards pulled out their guns, pointing at the girl as Ghost exclaimed in shock, raising her arms in surrender. "Woah! Woah! Hey! My bad! I'll take my leave! I know when I'm not welcome–"

Before she could even take step towards the window, metal walls started closing down and trapping her inside. Ghost sweat-dropped, turning to the men who aimed their guns at her.

"Um...I like my coffee with milk?" Ghost chuckled nervously as Janet only stared at her blankly. Raising her wrinkled polished hand, the guards lowered their guns. Ghost only watched them warily as Janet waved her hand, making the men leave the conference room. Ghost gulped, looking away as the woman only blankly stared at her.

"...Blue is a nice color," Ghost complimented, looking at the walls. "Compliments the eyes–"

"A child," Janet interrupted making Ghost snap her neck to her, frowning. "What?" she asked as Janet sighed, standing up and walking over to her coffee maker.

"The infamous Ghost-Spider, the spider-menace who takes the cop's jobs and saves the day is a little girl," Janet spoke as Ghost now looked at her offended.

"I'm not a–" Ghost cleared her throat and made her voice deeper. "I'm not a kid."

"Yes, and I'm the Queen of England," Janet scoffed, preparing a cup of coffee.

Ghost frowned, not believing a woman can be so entitled and stupid. What's wrong with being a kid anyway? "Look, Old Hag–"

Ghost's senses failed her to sense an incoming fork flying at her. It flew past her hoody and stab through the metal window behind her. Ghost's eyes widened, slowly turning around and seeing the fork embedded inside the metal window. Her jaw dropped in disbelief and turning back to the woman but paled as the tall woman now looked down at her, raising her cup to her lips.

"Pathetic."

Ghost's senses flared, making her raise her hand and catch the woman's fist. Although the woman's wrinkly hands were old, Ghost couldn't help but gasp in disbelief at the strength the woman gave. Ghost jumped back, dodging the woman's attacks. Ghost even moved away as the woman threw her hot coffee at her, spilling over her face.

"Enough!" Ghost webbed the woman's hands to the ceiling and made her hang there. Ghost panted, feeling the hot water burning through her new wrestling mask. She cursed, turning away to lift it and soothe her skin.

However, as she turned away, she felt a kick behind her and turned around and grabbing the woman's ankle. Ghost glared up at the woman and pointing a finger at her face who seemed unimpressed at her.

"Listen, Lady! That hurt! I do not have the time or the crayons to explain this to you!" Ghost shoved away her foot and walked towards the door. Ghost huffe, rubbing the pain from her face.

"A blonde girl," Janet spoke making Ghost stop. She turned to the woman, eyes widening to see the woman already free. Ghost gasped, slapping a hand to her face, realizing she unmasked herself in front of her.

"You shi–"

"Language," Janet glares, walking over to her desk and pressed a button, causing the metal windows to raise, leaving the clear glass. "Pathetic. To think that those eyes are of a hero? Don't make me laugh."

"What the hell are you even on about?" Gwen glares, taking off her mask and stomping over to her.

"Just give up in being a hero, kid. It's the best for you," Janet waved her hand.

"What?" Gwen stopped, her eyes widening. "I am a hero. And I'm going to continue in being a hero. You can't tell me what to do."

Janet sighed, rubbing her temple. She is already starting to feel a migraine. "Give it up," Janet looked at her, sitting on her chair and facing her. "You don't have what it takes to be a hero. Leave while you still can."

Gwen's eye twitched. Who does she think she is?

Janet raised a brow, noticing the girl silently fuming. "Oh? No snarky comebacks? Sarcasm points?"

Gwen sighed in frustrations and laughed pettily. "...Your face makes onions cry."

Janet snorts unimpressed and leaned back on her chair. "Listen, what is your name?"

"Not obliged to tell you," Gwen glared at her but Janet shrugged. "Even with that fancy trick you have. Even if you have something to show for, you can't be a hero. Live your life to the fullest, kid. There's nothing good coming out of it."

"Oh, and you're the expert," Gwen crossed her arms.

"Why yes," Janet sarcastically smiled. "Give up in being a hero, kid. Trust me. Leave it behind."

(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ Next Episode: Saudade ♥

Published: July 10, 2023

Word Count: 3025