The Amazing Spider-Man 3

Chapter 9

Before I knew it, I was falling in love again. I would steal glances at Mary Jane, watching her as long as I could. I quickly discovered that she went to the same college as I did, except we didn't share any classes.

Then, one day, she was moved to my technology class. And then, we became partners for a robot-building project. I was close enough to smell her sweet perfume. I had only gotten a whiff of it once before, when I saved her from the bridge, smelling like wild cherry blossoms.

"Have I met you before?" She asked.

"I-uh-I don't know," I said. "I've seen you before, in the hallways, but I don't think we've officially met." She smiled.

"I'm Mary Jane Watson," she said.

"Peter Parker."

"Yes, that name sounds very familiar."

"Oh?"

"I don't know...maybe not. Never mind." I smiled, and then reached for the metal wrench at the edge of the lab table. She reached for it too, and I accidentally grabbed her hand.

"I'm sorry," I said quickly, releasing her hand. "My bad." She laughed.

"No problem," she picked up the wrench and began to work on our robot.

I wanted to grab her hand again. It was difficult for me to focus on anything else for the rest of the class. Eventually, we managed to reach a stopping point just in time, and then the class was over for the day.

"Bye Peter!" She said, waving, as she left the room. I loved the way my name sounded with her voice. Just as beautiful as it did when Gwen said it.

Gwen.

Oh.

Everything suddenly came back to me at once: her almost dying, us breaking up for the umpteenth time, her leaving for Oxford. I can't get in another relationship. And what would Gwen do? I'd endanger Mary Jane just as much, and Gwen would hate me for it, because me being Spider-Man was the only reason why we weren't together now.

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The next few days were difficult for me, trying not to fall in love with Mary Jane. It was agony.

I will always be Spider-Man.

I will always have enemies, and they can hurt the ones closest to me.

I can't love another girl, not now. Not ever.

I was exiting the college campus when Mary Jane called after me.

"Peter!" A shiver ran down my back. She was running toward me. I turned to face her.

"Hey," I said.

"I was wondering if you wanted to go to the hardware store with me? I need to get a few more parts for our robot," she invited.

"Sure," I was already accepting her invitation before I could stop myself. I was going to say "wait...no I can't", but she spoke again before I had the chance.

"Great! We just need a few bolts and a smaller wrench," Mary Jane explained. "Is it alright if I meet you at your car in 5 minutes?"

"I-er-I don't have a car..." I said. "I-um-walk to school."

"Then I guess we could ride in mine," she said. "See you then!" She ran off before I could say anything else. What could hurt, anyway? It's not like we were going on a date.

Mary Jane drove us to the hardware store. Her car was a black Honda with a blue-tinted license plate. It was awkward to be driven around by a girl. Usually the guy drives. I tried to ignore that fact and focus on why we were really there.

We finally arrived at the hardware store, and Mary Jane pulled her car into a parking space. I reached for the door handle, but Mary Jane didn't budge.

"So are we going to go inside and..." And then she was kissing me.