Super Human? •PETER PARKER 2•

Chapter 8

I jump from roof to roof until I reach close enough to the bridge of Queens. I can almost see the roof we used to sit on, but not really. I jump down and run across the bridge as fast as I can, passing some dogs and joggers on the way. I jump from roof to roof until I reach the right one, sure enough Spider-Man is laying on the cement slab, mask off, eyes closed breathing heavily. I don't want to be weird and watch him sleep, or whatever so I clear my throat. His eyes quickly open and he looks over at me. "Hey Peter," I say lightly. I'm still not super sure how to act around him since we used to be kind of friends and then we weren't but now we kind of are, but like I like him. Woah what? No... it's complicated.

"Hey," he says lighter than my light voice. "You okay?" He asks. I nod.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" I ask not wanting to be close to him since I feel awkward. I sit near the slab as he sits up slowly.

"I just," he pauses as I don't move from sitting a little further away. "I just got a sense that maybe you had a bad night?" He questions. I guess he wouldn't know what I was doing before the fit so maybe he thinks I was out or something. I shrug and shake my head.

"No my night was fine," I pause. Do I lie and say I went out and had sex with some guy like Felicia always does when she likes a guy, to make them jealous, or do I tell the truth and say I had a panic attack and fainted? "I went out," I say. Guess I'm lying today. Peter raises his eyebrows as if surprised.

"Oh, like, out out?" He asks. I nod.

"Yeah I was at the club with my friend, and had a pretty good night." Why was it I decided this was a good idea? He starts looking down as if trying to think but not wanting me to hear.

"What? Then how did I faint? Did she not have a fit?" He asks himself.

"Peter you good?" I ask pretending I don't hear him. "You came to this roof, makes me think something bad happened," I say. He seems genuinely confused about how I'm acting. It is as if I'm a different person. Why do I ever take advice from Felicia and then put in practice? Especially with Peter of all people, who I don't want to lie to.

"Stella, I'm," he pauses. "I'm really confused," he sounds quiet and actually kind of upset, but not in a mad way. More in a sad way. I furrow my eyebrows but don't say anything. "I just have been feeling really lied to. Not just with you, but mostly everyone around me and I'd thought you had a fit or something cause I felt like you did. I'd never felt anything that strong coming from you or really anyone so I'm just starting to think you aren't being totally honest with me." As he explains I feel my heart sink. I somehow knew he'd see through me, but I didn't think he'd be this upset by it. I don't know what to say since I'm afraid I'll make it worse. "Stella?" I look up rushing away from my thoughts.

"Sorry, I was zoning out," I say. It wasn't a lie but I couldn't bring myself to say I had no excuse. "You are right, I did have a fit last night."

"You must have known that I knew right?"

"I just didn't want you to get worried," I say without really thinking how he'd respond. He sits up a little. "That's stupid I know, but I just-" I stop talking not really sure what to say since he looks as though he isn't paying attention. He has sat up more and is on high alert. "Peter?" I ask. He stands and goes over to the ledge facing the city.

"I gotta go," he says as I start hearing police sirens. I nod as he whips away putting his mask on the the process. I sigh as I sit for a minute looking out the same way we used to. I really want to stop by Delmar's but I don't know if he is still in business so I vote against it. I get up and start heading back to my apartment as I hear the sirens get louder. My head will not stop all the noises around me. I try to ignore it as I walk but i hear it all, as if my powers are coming alive again, Mostly just hustle and bustle from the city. It aches but I can't just scream and cry in the street. "Keep walking," I hear Peter say in my ear. I furrow my eyebrows and look around stopping my feet which brings in more sound. I see him swing from a roof to another chasing after something, or someone. "Stella I'd like to see you later?" I hear him actually say. He not as close so I know it wasn't in his head and it sounds like he's practicing. "Why is that so hard?" He asks himself. Suddenly he lets out a big oof sound as if he was punched or dragged unexpectedly.

"Hey Spider, talking to yourself?" Black Cat asks.

"How is it you are always everywhere I am?" Spider-Man responses quickly.

"That's my business. We need to chat," Black Cat says. I find myself running towards them. I just gotta know what's going on. I hop up on a roof near by and look around to get a better view to maybe find where they are. I search for their voices but no one is talking, until I hear Peter sigh pretty close to me. I turn and see I hopped up right on one side of a huge AC unit that they are behind.

"I'm a little busy right now," Spider-Man says walking on his toes a little backwards towards where I am. I shift a little moving down to hide myself but still see the two of them.

"Too busy for some information?" Black Cat asks. He sighs again.

"What is it?" He asks. She steps closer to him swaying her hips with every step.

"Let's talk bodies," she starts. Spider-Man gives her a confused look as she eyes him up and down. "Mainly the one behind your suit, but that's for another time."

"Cat can you speed this up. I said I was busy," he seemed annoyed by the flirting today. Unlike the other day when he seemed to flirt with her.

"Awww, does the Spider not wanna play today?" She says in a whiny mocking voice. I can feel Peter roll his eyes just by his body language as he stops walking and crosses his arms. "Okay Spider, I just had a question about something that's been brought up in talks. Does the name Parker mean anything to know?" Black Cat asks. Spider-Man and I both perk up but he recovers quickly.

"Parker?" He questions. "Umm, no why?" He's trying to play it cool, but the awkward high schooler I once knew is coming out, a lot.

"Mr. Fisk seems to think May Parker, that lady you work with at that shelter in Queens, is some how related to you," she says not blinking an eye and actually keeping her cool.

"Oh?" He questions sounding a little more nervous. "What, Uh, makes him think that?"

"Well, he finds it odd that every time we look her up there doesn't seem to be a record of her," Black Cat explains as gun shots go off in the distance. Spider-Man steps a little forward towards the gun fire but Black Cat stops him. "Do you know anything about this woman?"

"Even if I did why would I tell you?" He's getting defensive now. I guess the lying thoughts are catching up with him. He really doesn't know if he can trust her or not, which is valid. He really can't, but he doesn't know that.

"I'm trying to help you Spider," Black Cat says backing up a little. "But if you don't believe them I won't tell you that the gun fire is just a random media ploy to make you look bad."

"Huh?" Spider-Man questions turning to her as he had been listening to the guns again waiting to jump off the roof.

"It's not important. What is important is if you know anything about this woman, and you care about her you might want to consider checking up on her soon," Black Cat says. She straights up uncrossing her arms and moving closer to Spider-Man taking his hand and turning him more to her so they are nose to nose. I wonder how her mask doesn't fall off or if it's glued to her face, not the point... whatever.  Spider-Man tried to step back but he can't seem to move anymore. "You won't hear from me for a couple of days," she says. His mask furrows moving with his face, I assume.

"Wait where are you going?" He asks. He sounds like he genuinely cares.

"I gotta lay low for a little while. Work some magic. See some people," she explains. "Don't worry spider I'll be back to my usual crimes in a few days," she lets go of his hand and starts to turn but he grabs her again. It's not forcefully but it's enough o turn her back.

"Is there anyway I can contact you? Besides meeting like this?" He asks. What the fuck Peter? I thought we had something, well, umm, maybe... it's complicated. Black Cat shakes her head.

"Not yet," she says with a sad smile. "I'm sorry." She let's go of his hand once again and runs off quickly before he can get her again. He sighs loudly once she's out of sight. Then notices the gun fire has stopped. He sighs again and then looks up.

"May," he whispers to himself. He swings off the roof heading towards his apartment. I stand there watching him leave and wonder if I too should stay away from Peter. Especially if he's gotta focus on his aunt for awhile and Felicia will be around the apartment more. I look up at the sky which is a nice sunny blue today. Odd weather for New York, especially since it's September. Though it is a bit chilly pre-usual.