Photos of "Unrequited" Passion

Chapter Four: The Return to Work

       A couple weeks have gone by since I've returned to the office, and things have been strangely normal. People were a little nicer in the beginning, but it's back to the regular ragging on the nerd of the office (me). I've started wearing my glasses more, especially since i haven't been in my suit and i don't have to worry about them breaking in my bag, or losing them in an alleyway. My stories have been increasingly lower in quality, and I'm trying my best to get back to how I was, but not getting out there and doing spidey things has really gotten me in a creative slump. I've even asked some coworkers for ideas, which i only did when MJ and i broke up... God that seems so long ago now, and it HAS been so long ago now. It's also been quite some time since boss has asked about... the pictures. It's honestly surprising, but it may have to do with him knowing I'm Spider-man now. I think about our whole situation sometimes. That's a lie, a lot. I enjoyed it more than i realized, and now that i'm not doing it as often, i kinda miss it. The thought of Big Boss himself---..... I was distracted, so I went to go get a definitive answer from him about if we were continuing or not.

Opening the door to his office, not having been called there, he looked up from his papers in disinterest. "Parker! I don't remember yelling at you to get in here."

"You didn't sir, i came to talk to you about something"

He sits up in amazement, having the rug pulled out from under him.

"Oh! Well, What is it?"

I start walking over, not an ounce of anxiety in my bones

"It's about the pictures."

"You mean our, special pictures?"

"Yes, those. I've had a question for some time now and I want it answered."

"UHHnhhnm.. WHat did you wanna ask??"

At this point, the adrenaline wore off and now the stress hit me like a truck.

"Well you haven't really, asked for-- ABOUT them since i've gotten out of the hospital, and since you've known about my uh... My secret, so i was wondering if you... you know...."

"Hah, if i'm gonna be honest Parker i didn't think you would still be interested in that deal! So i haven't felt the need to ask."

"oH i-its not that I'm not interested in the deal i was just questioning if our situation was any different now that things have changed between us."

"Oh no no nothing has changed between us. Spider-man is still that wall crawling menace and you're still my VIP. If you still wanna get me exclusive pictures for my, project, then we can continue right where we left off."

"Would it be right away? I still have some pictures left over from before and some more recent ones--- IF you want them by today."
"OH uh yea sure, if you, have them on hand."

Sadly I didn't. They were in my locked drawer at my desk. In them, I tried some new tricks for getting angles I could only get using my webs to string up the camera somewhere.

"Well uh, i haven't worn the suit too much recently because i'm letting my back heal a bit more, but, i think these will do for now."

"Ahh yea yea yea still healing, just bring them by later. Thank you Parker."

"Ill get back to my desk boss, ill have that article on the homeless shelter ready by the end of the day"

"You uh... YOU BETTER! God knows editors these days aren't as fast as the good old days. That's one one thing i like you Parker, you remind me of when things were good, when the media wasn't full of lies and deceit... Like articles praising spIDER-MAN!!"

He starts to rant about how every other news outlet brags about Spider-man being this great dude, but I make my way out to avoid an even longer tangent. I get to work, helping people fix the printer again. In doing so I noticed a Jameson sized dent near the bottom where he most likely kicked it. Unsurprisingly, the dent was causing the problem. After I was done, it worked even faster than it did while I was gone. I left to do some interviews, getting not much info as my press pass wasn't enough to get me interviews with the people I needed. I returned to work basically empty handed, and sat at my desk. Time passed quickly as I wrote, and it was nearing the end of the day as Triple J walked by my cubicle. He was looking through some papers, but before he passed he stopped and spoke to me.

"Did you need something sir? My article isn't done yet, but it will be."

"Oh I'm sure you'll get it done on time. But hey, there is something I wanted to offer you. You know, I used to be a pretty great photographer back in my day."

"Are you offering what i think you're offering???"

"Well if what you think i'm offering is a private lesson then you're correct! Your work is good, but I feel like I could teach you a few things from back in my day."

At this point people around my area of the office start listening in, and turning their head our way in silent surprise.

"That's such an honor! Are you sure, I uh, thAnk you I mean haha. Oh speaking of, here are those pictures I told you about earlier."

I handed him a small envelope filled with a new kind of lewd images, I didn't feel too nervous giving them to him until I realized everyone was watching. I was going to take them back, but he had already grabbed them from my hand.

"Ah yes yes, oOGH Parker these are--- Good. Very good."

At this point, Jameson had a blush painted across his face, clear for anyone to see. And they did. Whispering could be heard as coworkers notified others of the situation, and more peoples heads popped up above the cubicle walls. Triple J takes notice of this very quickly, his anger becoming defensive.

"WHY AREN'T YOU ALL DOING YOUR JOBS???? WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT ME FOR, DON'T YOU HAVE WORK TO DO???"

Everyone (including me) shot back to typing and editing as soon as possible. I gave JJJ one last glance, and it looked like he was going to say something, but he walked back to his office instead. I never actually got that article done because of the missing interviews, but I called many people to make a second appointment with who I needed. At the end of the day, I saw Jameson leaving early, he was too far away for me to catch him in time, but we hadn't discussed where or when the private lesson would be. I called him as soon as I got off, and he told me the details. Room 413, as soon as he got back, make sure to bring the suit. I was confused about why he needed me to bring the suit, but I wasn't oblivious to how he was. This "private lesson" might end up being a lot more than I thought it would be.