Spider Girl: Origin Story (Cimorelli)

Fire in the Lab

Katherine opens the door and Christina immediately steps inside.

"Where is she?" The oldest girl asks. "Is she okay?"

"She's fine, Chris. She's in the shower." Katherine walks to the couch and sits down. "I told you she could stay the night here. She can stay all weekend."

"I know." Christina sits on the couch too, leaving about two feet between them. "I just wanted to talk to her. If she still wants to stay after that then fine."

Katherine leans against the arm rest, tucking her legs under her. "So do you want to tell me what happened? All she said was you had a fight."

"She keeps lying to me." Christina pulls her knees to her chest and sighs. "And she's been getting in trouble at school. I know she's hiding something and I think Dani is in on it."

"Oh, you know Dani is in on it." Katherine gives the other girl a small smile. "They basically share a brain. Don't you remember when they were like eleven and spent an entire summer trying to catch spider man by sneaking onto our roof?"

"Yeah." Christina lets out a light chuckle. "This whole thing with Y/N has something to do with Spider Man. I know it does."

Katherine walks over to the staircase when she hears the shower shut off. "Y/N. Can you come to the living room when you're done?"

"Yeah. It'll be just a second." You call back.

Katherine returns to her spot on the couch. "I'm guessing Dani hasn't told you anything?"

"Of course not. They would never turn on each other."

Katherine glances out the window as the police cars and fire truck flies by. Once the house is quiet again, she looks back to Christina. "I do think you're too harsh on her, Chris. She thinks she's some kind of burden on you."

"I just..." Christina lets out a long exhale, "I was always like a third parent to Dani, Lisa, Lauren, even you and Amy sometimes. I always knew how to take care of you guys so when mom and dad died I wasn't completely lost. And I know Y/N grew up next door and she was basically always part of the family, but I never had to take care of her. She was never my responsibility but then one day she was."

"You didn't have to agree to be her guardian." Katherine says. "They would have found a foster home or something."

"I know, but I wanted to. I really did. I've just never really known what she needs from me."

Katherine moves closer to place a hand on Christina's knee. "Chris, I think all she's ever needed was for you to be there for her. Just think about this. Dani, Lauren, and Lisa got to grow up being practically raised by you. Y/N didn't. All she had were her parents and then one day she just didn't anymore. I'm sure it's confusing terrain for her too."

"I know."

Christina is silent for a few seconds before she stands up. "I feel like she should have been down by now."

"Me too." Katherine stands up and walks to the stairs. "Y/N?" When you don't respond, she jogs up the stairs and knocks on the door. "Hey, Y/N?"

Christina comes up the stairs too. She shares a look with Katherine, and then reaches for the door knob. She swings the door open but you aren't on the other side. But the window is wide open.

"I'm going to kill her." Christina grumbles.

Her and Katherine head back down the stairs and to the front door.