The Spider, The Night's Wave, The Tempest, The Archer

17

Nathan glanced at Peter. "I'll see you later. I promised Ned and Grace I'd help him build the spaceship."

Peter nodded. "Okay, see you later."

"Be careful, Peter. Please. I'd rather not tell my aunt how you died."

"Yeah, I will. Gee, thanks."

"You're welcome."

He walked away and made his way back to his apartment where Ned was waiting. "Shall we?"

Ned nodded. "Yeah, let's do it."

Soon, the sound of the news caught their attention and Nathan went to investigate. He saw Spider-Man on the TV trying to save a ferry and then saw Iron Man.

"Oh, man," he said. "I told you to be careful."

---

Peter walked down the hallway of his apartment wearing pink Hello Kitty pajamas and an oversized NYC tourist T-shirt. He knocked on a door, which May answered.

Peter whispered, "Hey."

May inhaled deeply and stormed inside. "I've been calling you all day. You didn't answer your phone. You can't do that. Then this ferry thing happens. I've called five police stations." Peter walked to May and stood behind her. "Five. I called five of your friends. Your cousin didn't offer any help."

"I'm fine."

"I called Ned's mother and Grace's mother."

"May, I'm okay. Honestly. Just relax. I'm fine."

May stood and faced Peter. "You. Cut the bullshit. I know you and Nathan left detention. I know you, Grace and Nathan left the hotel room in Washington. I know you two sneak out of this house every night. That's not fine. Peter, Nathan, you have to tell me what's going on. Just lay it out. It's just me and you two."

There was a beat, then Peter's eyes filled up with tears. "I lost the Stark internship."

"What?"

"Yeah."

"What happened?"

"I just thought that I could work really hard and he could, he would, you know. But I screwed it up." He sat down on the sofa next to him.

May hugged him and stroked him. "Oh... It's okay, it's okay. It's okay."

"I'm sorry I made you worry."

"You know I'm not trying to ruin your life."

"Yeah, I know."

"Just... I used to sneak out too."

"Yeah."

May scowled, then leaned in to sniff Peter's hair. "And take a shower. You smell. You smell like garbage. Then go visit Grace. She's worried sick."

"I know."

After showering, Peter made his way to Grace's apartment. He knocked on the door and Isla answered.

"Grace! It's for you!"

Grace walked up and her eyes widened as soon as she saw Peter. "Are you okay?! I saw the news and then you wouldn't return my texts or calls! Nathan didn't say much. What happened? Did you get hurt?" She paused long enough to see his expression. "Hey, are you okay?"

Peter slowly shook his head. "I lost the Stark Internship, Gracie."

She said nothing, but her arms tightened around his shoulders and Peter felt himself relaxing in her embrace.

---

At school, Peter was facing Principal Morita who said, "Peter, you're a good kid and you're a smart kid. So just try to keep your head straight, okay?"