The Amazing Spider-Man 3

Chapter 27

It was Saturday, the weekend again. Today was the day that Gwen and I were planning on going to the Stark Tower. I'd booked an appointment online, for just after lunch.

It was eleven o'clock in the morning, and I stood in front of the apartment door, reading the number over and over. 2016. I inhaled the fragrance of the flowers that I was holding in my left hand. Then I knocked.

Gwen answered the door several seconds later. She was wearing a casual blue dress and her hair was curled. She smiled when she saw me.

"You look amazing," I said.

"Hey, ground rule, remember? You can't tell me that," she pointed out.

"Well we're more than just friends now, aren't we?" I grinned. "These are for you." I handed her the flowers.

"Aw, thank you," she said, bringing them to her face to sniff. "They smell wonderful. And they look wonderful, too."

"Yeah, much better than last time I brought you flowers," I said referring to the time I'd stuffed some flowers in my backpack on the night I ate branzino with the Stacys.

"Oh, yes! Much better," she said, laughing. I smirked. She went back inside to put them in a vase, then returned to me. I took her hand. We left the apartment together, hand-in-hand. When we turned a street corner, I shot a web, carrying her away through the sky.

"You know, I can do this myself," she said.

"Well maybe I want to carry you instead," I replied.

"Alright, fine," she said. We shared smiles, then swung for another couple of minutes. I stopped swinging when we reached Gwen's favorite restaurant. "Ooh yay!" She exclaimed, realizing where we were.

After we finished our lunch, it was time to head to the Stark Tower. We walked through the entrance, checking in at the front desk.

"Ms. Potts will be right with you," the lady behind the desk said. I nodded, then Gwen and I sat on a couch. Gwen picked up a science magazine and began to read it. I just sat quietly.

A couple of minutes later, Pepper Potts walked in from the elevator. She was holding a clipboard, and her red hair was pulled back in a ponytail. I saw recognition flicker in her eyes when she saw me.

"Hello," she said, offering her hand. "I'm Pepper Potts, Tony Stark's assistant."

I accepted her hand first, giving it a shake. "Peter Parker," I introduced myself. "And this is Gwen." I released her hand, and she shook Gwen's.

"Nice to meet you," Gwen said kindly.

Pepper Potts escorted us around the building, showing us different rooms and gadgets, explaining what they were for and how they worked. Then, we entered the workroom that held Tony Stark.

"Tony," Pepper said. He looked up from his work.

"Another tour?" He said, annoyed.

"Yes. This is Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy," she said.

"Oh, that's nice," Tony returned to his work. Pepper pursed her lips, trying to hide her own annoyed attitude.

"Do you have any questions for Mr. Stark?" She asked us kindly.

Gwen thought for a minute, then spoke. "How were you able to construct such a high-tech suit in a cave with hardly any supplies? I've been experimenting with many things myself, but I always need so many materials..."

"I'm afraid that information is classified," he said.

"Oh, well alright..." Gwen began thinking again. "So you have an A.I. system...Jarvis, right? Um...what kind of things can he do?"

"That's a pretty big question, since he can do practically anything. His mind is like a computer, intelligence-wise. He can calculate anything, and can control anything inside the building. He is hooked up to The Stark tower, my own house, my Iron Man suits, and an earpiece that I wear," Tony answered. He seemed pleased to share the knowledge, perhaps just so he could boast about his intelligence.

"Very cool," Gwen said. She asked a couple more questions, and then Tony returned to his work. Pepper Potts took us back to the atrium.

"Well, that's it for our tour. You must know the place pretty well by now," she said to me.

"I guess so," I replied. "Gwen just likes this kind of thing, and she's much smarter than I am, so I thought she'd enjoy it."

"Oh, I did. This place is amazing!" Gwen said, admiring the many gadgets in the atrium alone.

Pepper laughed. "I'm glad you think so. I don't think I've ever seen someone your age so interested in a place like this before," she told Gwen.

"Well, she was the valedictorian her senior year in high school, so I guess it comes naturally," I bragged on Gwen, giving her a wink. She grinned at me.

"Oh! Well congratulations!" Pepper said.

"Thank you," Gwen replied. "I'd love to come back sometime."

"Maybe you can. Perhaps we could book an appointment?" Pepper suggested. "Maybe I can get Tony to leave his work for a little while to answer some more of your questions." I looked at Gwen for approval. She nodded excitedly.

"That would be wonderful!" Gwen exclaimed.