Spider-verse: The Warp

Chapter 5: Turn Around

Miles

"You know, you could have just straight up told me you weren't coming back."

I watched as the girl whipped back around to face me, her eyes widening in shock.

"Wh-wha- I... Miles?" Her eyes narrowed in my direction, lips parting as I willed myself to appear before her. "Did you follow me?"

I ignored her question, "Couldn't you have just told me? I just- I don't understand," I didn't know what to feel. Anger? Confusion? Sadness? Resentment? "If you were just gonna up and leave and not come back, why come in the first place! Why give me hope!"

Maybe all of the above?

Her ashamed, sunken expression was only highlighted by the glow of the portal, making even her saddened features glow with a radiance unmatched. She was a true beauty. I didn't want that smile ever to leave her face, but I didn't know what to think anymore. I didn't know what to feel anymore. What the heck was the point of all of this if she was just gonna toss me aside like trash? Why did she come to see me, only to kick me to the curb? Her breath quivered as her eyes darted down to her shoes, "You don't understand."

My fists clenched at my sides, "Because you won't let me understand, Gwen! What is it? You're not allowed to see me? What is that lady, blackmailing you?"

Her eyes darted up to meet mine in alarm, "What? No! Jess is my-" she stopped and shook her head, "It's not like that."

"Then. What. Is it!" I pushed.

"It's nothing," her eyes suddenly froze over, her expression cold, "It's not your problem."

My brows furrowed and teeth clenched, "It's clearly not 'nothing' and it is my problem. The Spot is my problem. My mess!"

"No, The Spot is my mission and my responsibility." She countered as her eyes narrowed. She glances back to the spiral of light behind her as her lips pressed firmly into a line, "I won't screw this up. I can't have you get in my way, Miles."

I let out a breath as my gaze sunk. The ringing in my ears blocked out all other sounds and the weight in my chest suffocated me under its pressure. In almost a whisper I asked her, my eyes not daring to look at her, "So what was this? Was I just a convenient side quest on your mission?"

I was met with a silence that only pulverized the remaining ounce of hope left in me.

How could I have been so stupid?

"Miles-"

"So, you're really not coming back?" I cut her off. I needed to hear it again to make sure I hadn't misheard.

She gulped and shook her head slowly, "I'm sorry."

I nodded as my eyes darted to the ceiling trying to reign in the swell of emotion overtaking my body. "Please, just tell me why?" My voice cracked and I bit my lip in a failed attempt to retract my showcase of vulnerability.

Why did she even come? To drop as many bombs on me as possible and run off?

"I can't," she whispered, her lips lifting in a feeble attempt at a smile. Smiling for what though?