The Setup

Chapter 5: Playing in Smoke

Briana walked as fast as her feet would carry her in her flats. 

She had made it halfway down the street when she realized that she had forgotten her purse inside the Osborn mansion. The last thing that Briana wanted to do was to turn around and go back into that dreaded mansion but she really needed her purse. 

 This time when she knocked on the door nobody answered but lucky for her it was unlocked. She was hoping she could grab it from the chair by the fireplace and leave without being seen.

 When Briana enter the large study she gasped, quickly running to an unconscious Norman Osborn."Are you okay!?" She gently shook the older man's shoulder. "Mister Osborn! Do you need me to call someone?!" The man seemed to be breathing, sitting up, his eyes fluttering a bit.

 "No...i'm fine" he promised the distraught girl who knelt before him with a look of deep concern etched on her young pretty face, she was like an angel before Norman's very eyes. 

 " I'm sorry if I was out of line" Norman finally got himself to his feet, taking a seat in his chair by the fireplace." there's no need to apologize" Briana took away all and any guilt he might have felt. " I mean it... it's okay" This man was a total creep and yes she was forgiving him, maybe a part of her took a liking to him. 

 "You seem like a bright kid, Harry's talked about you before. I can't imagine it being easy to pay for college at your age, especially on your own" Harry must have told him about her home life but if he did she didn't want to know about it. 

 " yeah...." a soft but hopeful smile graced her lips. " I guess it can be hard but I have the waitress job as you know..." Norman looked down shamefully. " I forgot all about that... you know she wasn't as pretty as you" Briana shook her head. "And you know I'm not the type of girl to talk down on other women... don't flatter yourself" she said with a playful smirk. 

 Briana seemed to be having a nice conversation with this odd man for once, despite the intensity in the room only 20 minutes ago. 

 Briana didn't see Norman for 2 weeks after their little meeting in the Osborn mansion but something odd did happen. 

 "I'm telling you, Peter..it's so weird, my college is paid for...in full" Peter furrowed his brows "that is rather odd" The two were at a local coffee shop together, exchanging notes for class. "You're telling me" she sighed, drumming her fingers against the table. 

"I'm grateful but it's unsettling...not knowing. I don't want to feel like i owe someone" Peter nodded his head. "Yeah" the blue eyed boy replied "i see what you mean". Briana had a nauseating feeling that she knew just who it was that paid off her debt but she didn't want to tell Peter. She trusted him to keep a secret, just like he trusted her to keep his...but this she just couldn't explain to him without feeling almost guilty.

 "I'll see you later, Peter" she said to her friend as he headed out with a nod of his head. He had things to do and she understood that.

 Briana stayed behind just a bit longer, her head resting in her hand, elbow on the table. "That's not good table manners" Briana gasped, looking up from her seat to see Norman Osborn looking down on her. "What, are you stalking me now?" She asked but that only earned a chuckle from his pursed lips. "You're an interesting girl, you know that? we can't talk here" Norman slipped a piece of paper into her soft pale hands. "Meet me at this address and wear something nice, preferably a dress" 

 He suddenly walked passed her as if he had never acknowledged her to begin with.