Family

Chapter 6

"Did I tell you I have to go to the Daily bugle?"

"...yes".
-
Apparently Gwen completely forgot about taking me to work. She was heading towards Oscorp instead. With being all emotional, I guess she wasn't thinking straight. Neither was I.

"Thanks, Gwen" I wave back, about to leave.

"You want me to stay?" Gwen asked from the window.

"You go ahead. I don't know how long this is going to take. Hopefully short" I inform.

"Well, make it long. I'm getting more makeup" she glares, trying to hide her smile.

She starts driving away, heading uptown.

"I'm sorry!" I yell, not noticing all the people around me.

"Bye, Peter" she yells from her car, mixing into the traffic.

As much as I didn't want to be alone, I wasn't. The city was much more crowded than the school, and the schools hallways are extremely narrow. I fit better in a locker than those hallways. And that was before the powers. So many cramps.

This was a whole new cramp though. Inside of being compressed into one spot, you're constantly spun in circles, people passing you on both sides of your shoulders. The traffic is just as bad as the street, and there are just as much assholes.

As I squeeze through the noisy crowds, I make my way to the front of the Daily Bugle. It was a nice building, I guess. With only working here for about a year, I never had a whole opinion on it. I sure do have an opinion on the owner, however.

J. Jonah Jameson. The judgment caller. The abuser of my life. My boss.

He's never appreciated my work. I don't think he's appreciated anyone, or anything. I've gotten so many pictures of spiderman for him and he just yells at me. He wants me to make spiderman look like a menace. From personal judgement, I know that's not the case.

The front door was bigger compared to other structures in town. Don't know why though. I guess it was just to show off. Yeah, I can see that.

"ID" the security guard asked, checking all reporters and employees.

"Hey, Tim" I greet, showing my employee badge.

He just stared at me, looking pissed off at the world. Honestly, I don't doubt him. New York can be terrible, especially the inhabits, and he has talk to them all day. He also has to greet Jonah everyday. What a living Hell.

I place my badge in my pocket.

"Go ahead" Tim instructs, looking back at the front door.

"Thanks". I start walking past, feeling very awkward.

And this is why I have social anxiety.

It was some what busy today. No one was in a hurry though. Everyone was too tired to do anything. That's Monday for you.

I don't work on Mondays, however. It's weird being here. Feels like everyone is watching you. I feels like they're are all wondering-

"Why are you here?" Madison asked, seeming very confused.

Madison was very...enthusiastic. Even on a Monday, she's hyper. Starts the day with 6 coffees with no effect at all. She just likes the taste. That's really the only thing I know about her because I can't anything else she says without going to a brand new subject. She can be annoying, but se only really talks to me for about a minute per work day. She gets coffee for the employees in the building. Figures.

"I was called in by Jonah" I confess, not wanting to start a conversation but couldn't get away from it.

"Oh, that sounds exciting. What for?" She asks again.

Another thing about her...she asks a lot of questions.

"I'm not sure, actually" I reply, not wanting to give any context to starting a new subject.

She'll always find a way.

"Oh, a secret. I love secrets. So devious. Can I tell you a secret?"

"No, it's fi-"

"I drink up to 6 coffees a morning" she whispers in my ear, giving me a headache.

She has already told me this but I didn't want to upset her. I'm not sure if her crying is as bad as her enthusiasm, and I don't want to find out.

"Wow...that's a lot" I react, acting shocked.

"I know, I just love coffee. You want one?" She asked.

"I-". I cut myself off.

This could be my chance to leave. I need enough time to get to the elevator and to Jonah's office. I'm gonna have to be quick.

"Yes...actually two".

"Coming right up" she runs off quickly, leaving me less time to get to the elevator.

I make a run for it, trying to beat her. I know she's fast at making coffee so I have to book it. People were staring but I didn't care. This was an emergency.

I manage to get to the elevator door, pressing the button. It was taking forever so I kept pressing it. Don't tell me I'm the only one who doesn't not that. Everyone does.

"Come on, come on" I worry.

The door opens, with no one inside. I dash in, pressing the top floor button. I see Madison off in the distance bringing two coffees, running. How is that even possible? She's wearing heels?

I keep pressing the button, hoping the door would close in time. Just before she could get in, the door closes.

I sigh in relieve. As I get comfortable, the elevator music starts.

"Just what I needed".
-
"You're fired"

Wait...what just happened? Things are going to fast.

"What?" I ask, shaking my head.

"I said you're fired" Jonah repeated.

"Wha-why!" I ask, very confused.

"You're not doing your job, Parker. I've told you to write about how Spiderman is a menace. Not this crap" Jonah hands over the paper I partly wrote.

"He saved those people" I defend.

"I'm tired of hearing that, Parker. It's a lame excuse for a stupid villain".

"He is not a villian" I glare.

"And you're not an employee here. You haven't been doing your job. It's my responsibility to hire those who do what they're told. To be good enough to man up and get what the people want. The people don't want a good ending. They want the truth" Jonah explains rashly.

"I am telling the truth".

"How would you even know. You don't know him personally" he argues.

If only I could shove it in his face.

"I know he's a hero" I try to reason assertively.

"And I know you're fired. Don't argue, Parker, or I'll throw you out the window!" Jonah demand.

I don't know what's his problem. He's never been this aggressive. He's been rude and a jackass but not this. It actually scared me, more than he usually does.

I grab my camera and make my way out. It all happened so fast. Too fast.

"Here's your coffees, Peter". Madison handed me the coffees, still having a massive smile.

I take the coffees, acting nicely. I walk away, not wanting to talk to anyone.

I get to the elevator, waiting for it to open. I get in, full of people, everyone on the phone.

"Should of took the window".