Spider-Gwen 2 || Hanging by a Thread

Bully Maxine || Gwen Stacy

"Get up, get yourself together, drive your funky soul"

-People Get Up and Drive Your Funky Soul, James Brown

A/N: I HIGHLY recommend that you loop the song for this chapter while reading. 

Heads turned and eyes widened throughout Columbia University's Department of Chemistry. Striding through the hallway with her head high and her shoulders back was Gwen Stacy-the insecure, morbid demeanor she'd had during the whole semester now replaced with a busy attitude as she disregarded all the stares aimed at her.

They're all perplexed because you've got a pep in your step again? The symbiote pondered, the unified disdain that it felt with Gwen causing a sneer to form on her lips. Sorry that you're loving life and not acting like your normally pathetic, downtrodden self, I suppose...

Gwen had good reason to feel bold and confident today-not only had she practically emasculated the Prowler about thirty minutes earlier, but she also had another training session with Miles planned for this afternoon... though her version of 'planned' was just 'showing up when she had time without telling Miles'.

Thinking about what an afternoon with Miles might bring about made Gwen want to leap through the air with every step. If it was anything like their last training session had been, then she was going to be left kicking her feet and twirling her hair...

"Hey, it's the sad girl from Chem I!!"

A slightly familiar voice made Gwen pause, annoyance prevalent in her expression as she looked to see two males, watching her with interest from a water fountain.

"What's gotten you in such a good mood?" The guy on the right asked, his eyes narrowed as Gwen met his gaze. Wasn't this one of the guys from Chem I that she'd noticed taking glances at her earlier in the semester? And now he was trying to pry into her personal life?

He must think that you've found a romantic interest, and is jealous that he cannot fertilize you-

Okay, gross!! Let's not go there, Gwen argued in her head, a frown of disgust forming on her lips at the way that the symbiote had to phrase a topic that she truly wasn't interested in discussing.

Then again... it was pretty evident that Gwen was a lot happier now that she was connecting with Miles. The symbiote might have been right... and Gwen wasn't sure that she really liked the needless jealousy being thrown her way.

She looked the guy on the left up and down, sizing him up before clearing her throat. He stood up a little straighter as Gwen did this, giving away an insecurity rather quickly that she decided to pounce on.

"Looks like someone can't pick up girls because he's five foot six!" She mocked, flashing a taunting wink as the male's mouth fell open.

"That... you... no!! That's-that's not true-" He stammered, trying to pick up the pieces of his fragile ego that Gwen had just shattered before she turned on her heels and continued walking to her Chemistry Lab class.

Gwen flung the door open when she made it to the classroom, paying no heed to the way it smacked against the wall from how hard she'd opened it. Every head in the classroom turned at the abrupt sound, eyes blinking in confusion as to why the quiet girl hadn't jumped or flinched at the loud noise, or opened the door in such an aggressive manner at all.

"Miss Stacy..." Professor Donnelly's callous tone reverberated in Gwen's ears, but Gwen ignored her at first, humming to herself as she walked to her desk and took out her laptop.