Spider-Man | Doesn't Need Help

CHAPTER 26

  “And what do you want?” I asked myself, looking at the people who seemed to be dressed normally but were looking around suspiciously.

   A moment ago they were somewhere else, then they started watching me, and now they were standing on the sidewalk next to a busy road, searching for something, or rather someone. And maybe that would be normal, if it weren't for the fact that this wasn't the first time I'd seen them all week...

  It was easy to guess they must be following me, but who sent them? I had a good relationship with the police, so who else?

  Normally I would have watched them longer and tried my best to find out what they wanted, but I couldn't.

  I supposedly got accepted for some internship at Stark Tower. If I'd known that damn test was for that internship, I wouldn't have even tried to write it correctly! In fact, I wouldn't have even attempted it! I knew the assignments were strangely difficult for my grade level, but I didn't pay much attention...

  I reluctantly retreated to my alley and change, and as soon as I did, I quickly dashed back to the apartment where I'd left my uniform and changed into clean clothes. Then I headed to the tallest tower in New York.

  From what I learned, only seven people in all of New York City achieved the minimum score of 90 percent, including me. I still couldn't believe it. After all, that's all there was... It wasn't that hard.

  This whole "internship" started at 4 p.m. and ended at 7 p.m. Which was good, because I wanted to go somewhere else today...

  It took me about twenty minutes to get to my destination, so I arrived a little late.

  Immediately upon entering, I saw crowds of people milling about. Were they normal people, businessmen, or security? Everything here was black and white, and honestly, it matched so damn well. Those white walls and black accents. Black couches, some columns, white doorsteps. You could immediately see that this room alone was worth millions. Even these people fit in so perfectly... And that made me feel even more overwhelmed. I didn't belong where I was now, in black pants and a blue sweatshirt.

  “Good morning,” I began as I approached one of the available receptionists, who immediately smiled pleasantly upon seeing me.

“Good morning, how can I help you?” she asked pleasantly.

  "I'm here about this whole internship thing..."

  "Oh, yes! I should have guessed, sorry, boy. What's your name?"
 
  I felt so... strange. Few people had been so kind to me. Besides May, Happy, and Ned.

  Everyone looked at me like I was a murderer, judging me without even knowing me. Even when I was still at Mr. Adams's, I wasn't looked at with such dislike, fear, or contempt. Now, I was either disgusted, feared, or, like Flash, ridiculed.

  So the fact that this woman was so nice was strange to me.

  Because she didn't know me, she didn't know my past.

  "Peter Parker."

  The brunette automatically leaned forward and focused on her computer, then started searching for something in her drawer, all the while smiling.

  May was weird at first too, always smiling and optimistic about most things. And now... Now it felt... Kind of normal to me.

  "Here's your pass. It gives you access to the entire thirty-sixth floor. Someone else will explain the rest," she explained quickly but clearly, handing me a blue card with my name and photo on it.
  
  A photo that was taken of me when I first started going to Midtown.