Webbed Up In Love

The Gala and The Final Decision

We patrolled for a little while, before heading back to my apartment to change and get ready for the event tonight. Peter wore his blue suit and I wore a blue ankle length dress. The crowd was huge, everywhere you turned there was more bodies to bump into. Peter tried to grab the last appetizer stick from one of the trays, but, someone else grabbed it first. I chuckled and pat his back sympathetically. We walked around for a bit looking for any familiar faces, more specially our boss. Peter tried to take a picture of a random couple, but I stopped him when the len's cover was still on. When he aimed the camera again, the couple had already walked off.

I noticed a familiar mop of dirty blonde hair over by the bar. He knocked a champagne glass off the counter, taking the entire bottle from the bartender. I sighed and grabbed Peter's hand dragging him over towards Harry Osborn.

"Hey." I said touching his shoulder.

"Might want to take it easy, buddy." Peter said beside me with a smile.

"Why? It's a party." Harry grumbled at him. "You'd be drinking to if you lost a bundle on some crackpot who you thought was gonna take you with him to fame and fortune." He slammed the bottle down. "Not to mention your friends. The bug's." He spat.

"Harry..." I tried to speak, but Peter pushed me behind him.

"Not tonight, Harry." He said firmly.

"Every night! Until I find them, it's 24/7." Harry glared at Peter and looked between the both of us.

"Parker!" J. Jonah Jameson's voice called out through the crowd. "Parker! Parker, are you deaf?" He slapped him on the shoulder. "I called you twice. Come on, what do you think, I'm paying you to sit around and sip champagne? John will be down in a few moments." He said looking at me and then dragged Peter away.

Peter looked back at me with concern but I shook my head and gave him a smile, to reassure him I'd be fine. Harry grabbed his champagne flute and gulped down the liquid in one swift motion. I reached up and grabbed the glass from him.

"Hey!" He tried to reach for it, but I held it away from him and put a hand on his chest.

"Harry." I sighed. "I think that's plenty of alcohol for one night."

"It's not. I can drink as much as I want. I'm ruined." He complained. He put two hands on my hand, that was on his chest. "Have a drink with me."

"Harry." I said firmly.

"Please. I need you." He pulled me closer to him.

"One drink, but then you're cut off." I pointed my finger at him and we sat down at the bar. He poured us both a champagne flute and gave me mine.

"I was worried about you the other day. You ran off before I could make sure that you were okay... Then, those bugs showed up." Harry scowled. "I hope they didn't touch you."

"No, Harry. They didn't. It appeared to me as though they helped. I heard the girl saved your life." I shrugged.

"She humiliated me. And they don't help anybody." He said raising his voice.

"Yes, they do. But, I'm not arguing with you about this again. It's not the time or place. We are here for Mj. Now here." I handed him a water bottle getting up from my seat. "Sober up."

I walked away towards the stage area as someone stood on it at the podium.

"Ladies and Gentleman, good evening. The committee for the Science Library of New York is pleased to present our guest of honor. He's the first man to play football on the moon." The audience and I laughed. "The handsome, the heroic, the delicious Captain John Jameson." She gestured to the stairs, and the band started playing Stars and Stripes Forever.