Spiders Crawl

Twenty-one

I opened my eyes to find my face closer than I wanted to Harry's face.

"Gaah!" I pushed him off the edge of the bed, waking him up. I heard a thud letting me know he reached the floor. "I'm sorry!" I scurried to the other side when suddenly, I was pulled to the floor. I landed ontop of him. We both laughed till our sides hurt.

When we stopped laughing, Harry looked into my eyes and silence filled the room. "Did you know your eyes are really brown?" He said and I could feel my eyes blush intensely. I see him lean in slowly, his eyes still looking into mine.

"Miss Charlotte, Mr. Harry," We hear the maid enter the room and we scatter. She still sees us before we get into position. "Oh! I apologize." She turns to leave but I stop her.

"It's alright! What up?" She moves 45 degrees, refusing to look at us. 

"Miss Charlotte, Mr. Osborn wants to see you." She ran off. I sighed. It'll take a while for her to look at me again.

"I might be late for school. You might as well get going." I tell Harry as I take out the clothes I plan to wear for school.

"Nah, I'll wait. I got science first period. We're dissecting a frog today." He made a sour face and I couldn't help but punch his arm lightly.

"Fine, but get ready to pay my breakfast on the way." I said. He nodded and left. I hadn't realized how close Harry and I have gotten until I noticed that my bed already smelled like him. Shaking my head, I tidied up before going to Norman.

I knocked on the door and entered upon hearing his voice. "You wanted to see me?" He nodded and gestured to the seat in front of him. I felt a bit embarrased that I was still in my pajamas and I didn't bother to change clothes.

"Charlotte," He called my name as if I were a five year old. "It has come to my attention that you haven't been completely honest with me." I furrowed my brows. "In this house, we hold no secrets between family." It flattered me that I was considered family, but I was starting to get worried. He leaned in closer. "I know your secret. No one can hide one forever." He stared at me with such certain eyes that made me question whether he did know or not. It was way too soon.

"What do you mean?" I tried to sound confident. It must have worked becuase he backed off a bit.

"All those nights out in the last months. Stupid excuses for such small things. The fact that you tend to act as if you have one." He listed off his observations. "Spending time with Parker..." He let the last one hang. I looked at him in disbelief. 

"What? Peter?" I felt like laughing so hard. I quietly exhaled in relief. He didn't know my secret. He just thought I was with Pete!

"Are you dating Parker?" He looked at me so serious, I couldn't hold it in. I burst out laughing.

"Me? And Pete?! Mr. Norman, me and Peter are just friends!" He waited till I stopped laughing to continue.

"Good. Then you're not dating anyone?" He leaned back in his chair. I was about to answer certain of no, but then Harry flashed into my mind. He must have picked up on my hesitation. "Do you have anyone in mind?" 

"Uh...H-Harry?" I couldn't believe I said that. I felt so sure about it, but it came out so doubtful. Norman stood up and circled his desk to reach me.

"I can see you're still working it out. If you ever do become sure, I give you my blessing." My eyes widen.

"You mean m-marriage?!" He gave out a small laugh and left. I was still confused by what he meant but discarded it. I had to get ready and I couldn't have Harry late for school.

"See ya lunch." He let go of my hand and went opposite of me. I didn't feel like gym, even if Ava always managed to make my day. 

"Hey, Charlotte!" Ava called me from the end of the hall. Speak of the devil. She seemed in a hurry.

"Ava? Where you going?" Sam and the other ran past her. Including Peter. 

"Nowhere specific. Shouldn't you be in class?" She asked.

"I was gonna ask you the same." I ran towards her but she ran away. Now I knew there was something wrong. I followed her to a classroom too late. 

Detention

There was a mission. I should really go after them. I changed my clothes in the class and went the same way they did.

I appeared behind them, making them jump. "Isn't that the school entrance?" I heard Danny whisper to Luke. 

"Yes it is. I have an identity to y'know." Spiderman gave me a gesture to stop talking. "So what's the mission?" I faced Fury.

"Green Goblin." The name struck me personally. He knew who I was. I couldn't have that. "And," Fury walked towards me. "He's looking for you." The team stared at me in silence.

"How do you know?" I asked, feeling uneasy. He walked away, but I knew he meant for me to follow.

"I know Spidergirl is with you brats. I need her, for I made her who she is. You would do wise to hand her over. It's time she stopped acting like the hero she dreams to be." The video ended. Everyone looked at the holographic screen in disbelief.

Finally, White Tiger broke the silence. "What does he mean by, "I made her who she is"?" I knew everyone was thinking the same because they all seemed interested to know. 

"More importantly, Spidergirl? Original much?" Nova joked. I gave a small smile behind my mask, which quickly faded.

"Guys," Spiderman stood in front of me as if to avoid any attacks. "Spidergirl, right?" I nodded feeling a bit embarrased. "She got her powers the same as me. Oscorp. That means, Green Goblin works there." I was grateful for him. He was the only one who knew everything.

"Spiderman's right." Iron Fist stepped up. "We can't doubt Director Fury's decision now. We need to focus on the enemy." The others seemed to agree and in that moment I realized I wasn't fully trusted yet. No matter how many badguys I bring in, no matter how much time I spend with them at school (without them knowing who I was), it didn't add up enough for trust. I can't blame them, I've never really fought with them. Show them what I can do.

"Spidergirl?" Powerman brought me back to reality. "Are you ok with the plan?" Everyone stared at me again.

"Sure, but can you repeat it so I can make sure I heard right?" I stood up straight and decided on one thing:

Gain their trust. 

At least until they don't look at me as if I were the cause of everything.

"Alright. Got it." My phone vibrated and a message from Harry showed up.

Where are u? Lunch already.

"I gotta go. Actually, we all have to go. It's lunch." They changed their clothes while I remained the same.

"Aren't you gonna change?" Iron Fist questioned.

"Yeah, just not here. I'm still keeping my identity a secret." I waved them goodbye and me and Peter left them.

"Go, they take some time to get here. Change and go meet Harry before he gets lonely." He told me. I stopped at the last part.

"H-How did you know it was Harry?" I tried to sound convincing but I obviously failed.

"I saw the way you smiled when you checked your phone. Now go!" He pushed me out before I could say something.

Is it really that obvious?!