Chapter 32

[Third Person's PoV]

It was lunchtime, and Felicia found herself seated with Peter and his friends, engaging in casual conversation. As they chatted, Flash, accompanied by his group of friends donning sport jackets, made his grand entrance.

Flash, flashing a charming smile, directed his attention to Felicia. "Hey, beautiful. Why stick with these losers? Come join us. It's not good for you to be hanging around with them," he suggested.

Peter, overhearing Flash's words, couldn't hold back his reaction. He mockingly made gagging sounds, quickly covering his mouth. "Oh God, please, stop. I almost threw up in my mouth," he remarked, extending his hand in a gesture signaling Flash to halt. "Don't ever do that ever again. That was disgusting. How can you not be embarrassed about yourself"

The table erupted in laughter at Peter's comical response, causing Flash to wear an infuriated expression, clearly not expecting such a reaction.

As Peter sat at the end of the long table, Flash seized his shirt with both hands, pulling him into a face-to-face confrontation.

"You think you're really funny, don't you, Parker?" Flash sneered.

Peter's expression turned serious. "Absolutely. I'm hilarious," he replied calmly.

Seeing Peter not taking him seriously, Flash threw a punch at Peter's face. Swiftly, Peter caught the fist and twisted it slightly, causing Flash to cry out in pain. "Stop it! Let go, you bastard!"

Peter then adopted a fake contemplative look. "Hmm, should I let go or not?" he teased, twisting Flash's hand further until he was nearly on the ground, pleading for release.

Observing this, Peter shook his head and firmly stated, "Just leave us alone, you dickhead." As Peter released Flash's fist, causing Flash to drop to the ground while holding his wrist in pain.

"I'll get you back for this, Parker. I swear it," Flash whispered to himself. Peter turned to him and asked, "What was that?"

Flash simply stood up and walked away, muttering, "Nothing," with his squad of goons following close behind.

Peter shook his head and sighed in response. Felicia glanced at Peter, raising a brow as she inquired, "So, do you have a bully or something?"

Peter scoffed, "Oh, please. Someone as great as I am could never get bullied... he's more like an abusive secret admirer," ending his sentence with a smirk.

This elicited a chuckle from Felicia as she shook her head. Their casual conversation continued in that vein.

Soon, after going back to some classes the school day came to an end. After returning from dropping MJ off at her house, Peter entered his own home to find Aunt May knitting while casually tuning in to the radio.

"I'm home, Aunt May," Peter announced as he walked in.

Aunt May glanced up and warmly greeted him, "Ah, welcome back, Peter."

Feeling exhausted from a lack of sleep and a full day at school, Peter collapsed onto the couch. As he settled down, he caught the voice he was anticipating the most — that of J. Jonah Jameson coming through the radio.

But Peter wasn't alone in tuning in; across the city, numerous individuals were also casually listening to J. Jonah Jameson's voice echoing over the radio waves. From bustling cafes to quiet homes, Jameson's distinctive tone had captivated the attention of many, drawing a diverse audience intrigued by his emphatic broadcast.

The airwaves crackled to life as J. Jonah Jameson's booming voice filled the city's radios. Passionately discussing Spider-Man and Ghost-Spider's recent appearance, declaring them as threats to society.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is J. Jonah Jameson, and I've got something to say about these so-called 'heroes' Spider-Man and Ghost-Spider. They're nothing but vigilantes, meddling where they don't belong, thinking they can take the law into their own hands!"

Jameson's voice was fervent, his words dripping with disdain. "What gives them the right to hide behind masks and swoop in, pretending to save the day? Do they think they're above the law?"

He ranted about the duo's interference, painting them as reckless intruders jeopardizing citizen safety. "These masked menaces have no regard for the lives of our citizens! Remember the bank incident? They barged in, thinking they were heroes, but they could've gotten those hostages killed with their foolish actions!"

The radio waves vibrated with Jameson's frustration. "And now, they've surfaced again, sticking their noses where they don't belong. They think they're some sort of saviors, but they're no better than common criminals, disrupting law enforcement and putting us all at risk!"

He questioned the necessity of their masks, demanding answers. "What are they hiding? Why conceal their identities if they're truly heroes? They're nothing but cowards!"

Jameson's voice resonated with conviction as he concluded, "Mark my words, citizens, these masked vigilantes are a menace, and they need to be apprehended before they bring chaos upon us all!"

The broadcast ended, leaving an air of controversy and dissent among the listeners, with some nodding in agreement while others debated the validity of Jameson's claims. As the city buzzed with speculation, the debate over the actions of these mysterious heroes continued to divide opinions.

Peter, upon hearing the broadcast, shook his head and chuckled softly. Intrigued, he turned toward Aunt May, eager to hear her perspective.

"What do you think about what he said, Aunt May?" Peter inquired.

Aunt May paused in her activity, her hands still busy as she contemplated the question. "Honestly, I'm not entirely sure. If anything, I can't help but feel empathy for them and their families," she replied thoughtfully.

Peter furrowed his brow in curiosity. "Empathy? Why is that?"

"Well, despite their recent appearances and limited actions, it seems they're genuinely trying to make a difference," Aunt May explained. "I mean, I can't say much about them yet; they've only just emerged. But it's clear that not everyone will appreciate their efforts, and it's starting to show."

"And it's their families I feel for the most," Aunt May continued. "The people who love them will always worry if they'll return home safely. One day, they might come back injured, and that's a whole other concern altogether."

"I see..." Peter murmured softly, contemplating Aunt May's words. 'I should probably tell them... but it has to be later in the future. If I tell them now, who knows how they would react. But if I wait and they see the impact I'm having on the city, maybe it'll make things better.'

"Well, I'm heading to bed, Aunt May," Peter announced, standing up. As he made his way to his room, Aunt May called out, "Sure thing, honey! I'll wake you up when lunch is ready!"

Upon reaching his room and resting his head on the pillow, Peter immediately drifted off into a deep slumber.

In his dream, Peter found himself in a groggy state, sprawled out on a large web. Suddenly, he sensed the web beneath him beginning to sway gently. Soon after, a soothing voice of a woman resonated through the dream realm.

"Sleep well, my little spider."

Peter sank deeper into a tranquil sleep, finally experiencing the rest he desperately needed.