Spiders Crawl

Thirty-Three

After work I looked for Clem and found her in the coffee room. "Charlotte!" She rushed over to me holding two mugs of coffee. "Do you have any plans today?" Clem handed me a mug.

"Actually yeah, I have to meet up with someone." I put down the mug not wanting to drink anything now.

"Oh." She avoided my eyes and I wondered what to say.

"How about tomorrow?" I asked.

"Yeah!" She smiled.

"Hey, Clementine." Harry appeared behind and I cursed my luck. "Charlotte, you're back?"

"Yeah. James asked me to come back." I explained and he simply nodded. "I gotta go. I'm meeting up with someone."

"Charlotte, about earlier-" Harry didn't get to finish his sentence. I had slammed the door on my way out. I felt bad avoiding him, but I wasn't ready to talk about what I said. First thing's first: Goblin.

~
The rooftop was cold enough to freeze my webs. Where is he? As if on cue, his voice whispered in my ear. I jump up, startled. "What an entrance." In front of me stood Norman Osborne. Probably full of threats.

"I see you got my letter." He sat on a pipe and I was surprised he risked ruining his suit. "Don't worry. I didn't come to fight." He assured me. I sighed and leaned on one leg speading the other one out.

"What's this about. I'm guessing you found out I'm not with S.H.I.E.L.D anymore?"

"Right. By now, your assisstant already knows about you am I right?"

"The last thing I need right now is for you to be planning everything out for me. Knowing my identity should be enough." I complained.

"I need your help." He blurted out.

"What?" I tried to process what I just heard. Norman aka Green Goblin needs my help?

"It's a small job and I'll pay you and provide a home. I hear you're staying with the Parkers."

"And I like living there."

"As much as you liked living in your mom's house?" He countered. I didn't reply. I was kicked out. Still don't have enough money to pay one month of rent. "Come on, I didn't buy an old two story house for nothing did I?" He shook his head. He seriously needs my help? "Ten...nine...eight..." Is he counting down? "Seven...six..." What do I do, what do I do?! "Five...four..." Stop! You can't make me choose! "Three...two...on-"

"Stop!" The counting ceased and I could feel him staring at me. "I'll do it." Norman chuckled.

"You better work on that 'can't-work-under-pressure' problem. Won't benefit for either of us." Guilt rushed over me. I haven't even done anything wrong...yet. He pulled out a pair of keys and jingled them in front of me. "Mind you, I have a copy." My hand automatically grabbed the keys. "Can't wait to work with you," He leaned in closer. "Spidergirl." With that, he left the rooftop through the stairs and leaving me alone holding my mother's house keys in silence.

~

The Parker house was silent. Only the kitchen light was on where Peter and Aunt May's voice were talking. I tried sneaking up the stairs but Peter caught me. "Charlotte! You're back." He was holding a plate of food. "It's almost eight."

I checked my phone and he was right. 7:50. "Yeah well first day of work." I responded and continued up.

"Wait, are you ok? Anything happen?" I ignored him. "Are you mad?" I stopped at the entrance to my room.

"No. I'm just," Conflicted. "Tired." I said. "Been a long day. I won't be at school tomorrow. Gotta work."

Peter nodded but sadly. "Alright. Don't work yourself to death." He was leaving when he said, "I'm here for you." I closed my eyes and another rush of guilt fell over me. Maybe Norman doesn't want anything to do with them. I went into my room and locked it. I threw my phone on the bed and myself after it. Without bothering to change clothes, I fell asleep.

By the time I woke up, everyone had left and I was home alone. My cheek was wet from drool (ew), which motivated me to get out of bed and change clothes. My phone started ringing. I checked the name and Harry's was in caps with a couple of hearts next to it. Nova....

"Hey what's up." I talk and brush my teeth.

"Wanna go to the movies later tonight?" Harry asks. I brush louder trying to make up an excuse.

"Can't sorry. I'm hanging out with Clementine all day." I remembered and mentally thanked her.

"Oh, right. Maybe another time." He says defeated. I felt worse than yesterday.

Suddenly, my mouth, filled with paste, started speaking on it's own. "Hey, how bout this. I'll cut my girl day a bit shorter and we'll catch the ten 'o clock show?" When I stopped compromising, Harry replied with a quick "Sounds great." There was a silence before I said goodbye and hung up. Well this is great. I'm insane. I spat out into the sink and cleaned up.

Toasting bread was the quickest breakfast I could think of doing when I entered the kitchen, changing my mind instead. Aunt May had made me lunch to eat at work and a plate of eggs with bacon and pancakes next to it. I'm really going to miss living here. I wolfed all the food down and grabbed the bag heading out the door and to my car. Wait. Didn't I leave my car at the cafe? No, it was Aunt May's. I flinched when I realized how mad she's gonna be when she finds out I haven't gotten it back. "Can't worry about that now." I told myself getting in the car to drive towards the Daily Bugle.

I'm such a bad author. I don't update enough and I'm half making this up as I go with an idea half official. Hope you guys hold on a little longer with me.

Thanks for commenting and reminding me to update. Seriously, I would have forgotten. Life savers.

~Nyddles