Ultimate Spider-Woman: Change With the Light

Chapter 8: Written in the Cards

"And five, six, five six seven eight!" Randy Robertson called out.

Right on cue, Gwen Stacy joined in on the tap routine she and her fellow dancers had rehearsed for over an hour and a half before. Clacking and hammering sounds echoed through the theater Randy had booked for the filming of his student film, a documentary chronicling the influence of black hoofers like Gregory Hines, Savion Glover and Sammy Davis Jr. and their influences on modern tap dancing.

Even without her spiderlike speed and agility, Gwen would have been among the very best, her feet poetry in motion and moving in perfect harmony with the beat as she left all her troubles behind. For her, the dance studio had been a retreat from the misery of home, and her mother would often stay to watch the classes, even joining in to teach every now and again, as Helen Stacy had been an aspiring actress and dancer before she had met the man who would become her husband.

"…And cut!" Randy finally ordered when he was satisfied with the footage he had gotten. "Great job, ladies! Take five!"

Sweating profusely despite the coldness of the theater, Gwen walked back to her schoolbag took a drink of water, before sitting down in one of the theater's seats and stretching her legs in the process. Looking around the room, Gwen raised an eyebrow as she caught the number of guys staring at her, most of whom quickly turned in embarrassment when she met their gaze. Sighing, she didn't notice Randy sitting down next to her until he spoke.

"You've got some amazing moves," Randy complimented her. "Have you ever thought of any other types of roles you'd be good at, like Dancin' or A Chorus Line?" he suggested.

"I'd love to," Gwen smiled ruefully, "but there's no way I could get a prominent part like that without some more experience under my belt. I'm stuck in the whole no-job-no-experience cycle right now, you know?" she shrugged.

"You mean how you can't get a job without more experience, but you can't get any experience because no one will give you a job?" Randy asked.

Gwen just groaned and leaned back in her chair.

SPIDER-WOMAN #8

"WRITTEN IN THE CARDS"

"I'd love more experience in just local community roles…but with things the way they are now, I really need the money right away," Gwen said, rubbing her eyes in frustration.

"Well, why don't you try for this off-off-Broadway production of A Streetcar Named Desire that they're running?" Randy suggested her. "You could land the role no problem, I'm sure!"

Gwen hesitated.

"Well…you really think so?" she asked slowly.

"Come on, don't be like that?" Randy said, waving his hand dismissively at her hesitation. "It's a paid role, it's a famous play, you'll get plenty of recognition! And besides, what have you got to lose if you don't get it?"

Gwen brightened at this.

"You know, you're right!" she finally sat up. "…And Randy?" she asked him as he stood up.

Randy turned around to look at her.

"…Thanks," she smiled at him.

Randy only smiled and winked, giving her a thumbs-up before he turned around again.

"Alright everybody, places!"

Walking home after rehearsal that afternoon, Gwen idly reflected on Randy's words, before thinking of her father and his derisive comments on how she had been wasting his money with her foolish choice of major.

Eyes narrowing, Gwen felt surer than ever of her choices.

The smell of smoke on the cold breeze brought Gwen to her senses, and before she realized what she was doing, she found herself running towards the source, running two blocks before she finally saw the burning house and the screaming woman outside it. Curiously, the fire department was nowhere to be seen, catching Gwen off guard.