Ultimate Spider-Woman: Change With the Light

Chapter 33: Thrill Ride

Many of the students attending the first day of classes at Empire State University's Fall 2007 semester were feeling decidedly mixed emotions. On the one hand, summer had ended, which meant more working and less partying for most of them. On the other hand, many of them were genuinely looking forward to returning to class, eager to resume their studies. Some students greeted old friends from previous years, others wandered around looking for classrooms, and still others were headed for the Administration building to try and work out any number of details with their schedules or their tuitions.

After all the chaos New York City had endured the past summer, particularly the gang war that had led to the Green Goblin's downfall and the destruction of the Maggia, the start of the semester provided an oddly comforting sense of routine, the feeling that everything was finally back to normal.

Gwen Stacy felt that way as much as anyone. She'd finally confronted and defeated the depraved Jack O'Lantern, rescuing her Aunt Nancy and the dozens of other people Jack O'Lantern had taken hostage to lure her into a fight. At the same time, Gwen had been thrilled to learn that her mother had returned to work in a full-time job at Richmond Industries. Almost all of the costumed supervillains she'd fought as Spider-Woman were now in prison, and although that new supervillain cartel, the Tomorrow Legion, was still active Gwen had every intention of continuing to do her part as Spider-Woman to fight it.

Walking across campus with her friends Harry Osborn and Liz Allan on their way to their morning classes, Gwen smiled serenely as she brushed her hair back from her face. She was ready to put all the chaos of the past year behind her, and try for a fresh start in a new school year.

SPIDER-WOMAN #33

"THRILL RIDE"

Harry was the first one to leave when they reached the Media Studies building. Waving goodbye to the girls, Harry flashed a wide smile as he headed for his first class, seeming happier than he'd been in a long time.

"Harry's pretty cheerful this morning," Gwen grinned to Liz as they continued on their way. "Was he really that eager for the semester to start?"

"Believe it or not, he was," Liz nodded. "He couldn't wait to get started on his Film classes. That's what he's switched his major to now."

"Wasn't he in Business before now? Or Finance?" Gwen raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, and he hated every minute of it," Liz replied. "He only took those classes because that's what his father demanded. Norman was the one paying for Harry's tuition. Now that Harry's paying his own way, he's a lot happier."

"He really deserves it," Gwen smiled. "He always used to seem like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders."

"So did you," Liz reminded Gwen. "You seem a lot better these days too, though."

"That's because I feel a lot better these days," Gwen did her best to suppress a giggle. "Not to mention it's really nice to just have a fresh start, you know?"

"Too true," Liz suppressed a smile of her own. "Say, wasn't Kitty going to be coming with us?"

"Her first class isn't for another hour," Gwen shook her head. "She wants to start getting some more sleep at night with classes starting and everything."

"Well, there you go," Liz chuckled. "Anyway, this is my stop," she continued, turning in the direction of one of the academic buildings as Gwen headed for the other. "I've got English this morning-how about you?"

"I got another one of Dr. Curt Connors' Biology classes," Gwen replied. "I was really lucky, too-you'd be surprised at how fast his courses fill up."

"No, I wouldn't," Liz laughed. "Take care, Gwen!" she waved, before turning and continuing on her way.