Chapter 2

Chapter 2

After coming home from the exhibition, I transferred the captured spider into a jar and tightly closed the lid and put it away in a safe place. After that, I started looking at the flask, specifically the few drops of liquid that the spider had left in it, trying to bite and get free.

I collected this liquid with a pipette, and poured it into an ampoule. To test it tomorrow in the school lab, since my microscope wasn't really up to it. And I didn't have any other equipment.

Just as I finished laying out my things, there was a knock at my door, followed by Aunt May's voice.

- Peter, are you in here? - came her voice.

- Yes Aunt May. - I replied, whereupon the doorknob slid down and the door opened to where my aunt stood.

- Peter, you're back so early. Has something happened? - She asked me worriedly.

- No, nothing's wrong Aunt May. It's just... it's just that the exhibition was much more boring this time. So I decided that I'd rather spend time with you than be bored, so I came home. - I smiled at her, and then I came over and gave her a hug.

- Oh Peter, that's so sweet! - Aunt May grinned, and hugged me back too.....

All day I helped her clean the house, as I didn't always have time for that. After that, we had dinner watching one interesting comedy movie, and then went to bed...

***

The next day.

When I got to school, I went straight to the lab. Thanks to my grades, I had access to the lab.

Once inside, I took a drop of the spider toxin and began to look at it under the microscope. To my surprise, there were a lot of atoms mixed in there that behaved very strangely. This piqued my interest, so I loaded the toxin into a biochemical analyzer. The machine began its work, and in ten minutes I had a list of all kinds of compounds that were present in the toxin.

When I read the data, I was really worried. Because according to the data, this toxin could easily kill a person. Or it could cause all sorts of mutations. Putting the data in my bag and then destroying everything from the system, I ran to Gwen's classroom, as I was very worried about her.

As I approached the door, I began to look around their classroom, but still didn't see Gwen. My brain was immediately hit with an attack of fear that something might have happened to Gwen.

- Parker, what are you doing here? - A man's voice suddenly sounded behind me.

Turning around, I saw Mr. Harrington, one of our teachers.

- Mr. Harrington, I was looking for Gwendalyn Stacy, because I wanted to borrow some notes from her. - I lied to him immediately.

- Oh, knowledge is good. You should exchange notes with each other more often. You're both incredibly smart, and I wouldn't want geniuses like you not to know something. - he smiled.

- Thank you, Mr. Harrington, so can I ask where Gwen is?

- Of course! Ms. Stacey called this morning to let me know she couldn't attend class. She said she wasn't feeling well.

As soon as I heard those words, my heart sank and the color must have drained from my face.

- Mr. Parker, I understand you want to visit her, yes? Then could you give her these reference materials? We're going over a new topic, and I don't want her feeling better to affect her grades. He gave me a stack of papers.

- Sure. - I agreed, because it was a great chance to visit her.

After taking the papers and asking for the address, I quickly ran out of the school, telling the teachers that I had forgotten to turn off the iron at home.

***

As it turned out, Gwen lived pretty close to my house. And only three kilometers from school. So after running non-stop, eight minutes later, out of breath, I was outside her house.

Taking a deep breath of air into my lungs, I calmed my loudly pounding heart, and then walked to the door to ring the bell.

I waited for a few seconds, but no one opened it. I rang it again, and waited again.....

I repeated my actions several times, but no one opened the door. Fearing the worst, I turned the doorknob. And to my surprise, the door was unlocked.

As I slowly made my way inside, I heard the sounds of water and shrieks.

I rushed towards the sounds and without thinking I opened the door and froze. Gwen was standing there, under the jets of water pouring from the broken faucet, wearing only her underwear.

- Peter? What are you doing here? - Gwen was surprised, holding the broken faucet in one hand and trying to block the incessant flow of water with the other.

- A, uh... - I began to mumble, as the girl that I like, stood in front of me half-naked.

- Never mind, help me shut off the water first. - she threw a glance at the flow of water.

- Yes, of course! - I nodded, and rushed to climb under the washbasin to shut off the water. I found the faucet pretty quickly, and after a few seconds the water stopped flowing.

- Done. - I said as I got to my feet, my gaze once again fixed on her incredible body.

There was silence between us.

- Have you seen enough? - I heard her voice.

- No, I mean yes, I mean no. I didn't! - I was embarrassed, and then, guessing what she wanted me to do, I left the bathroom and closed the door behind me.

I wanted to punch myself as hard as I could. After all, I didn't know why, but I was acting like a typical nerdy idiot who was being talked to by a girl for the first time.

I waited for about ten minutes, and finally Gwen came out of the bathroom dressed.

- So Peter, why are you here? - she asked me.

- Um, Mr. Harrington said you weren't feeling well and wanted me to give you these reference materials. - I pulled some papers out of my bag.

- And, that's it? - Gwen wondered.

- Uh, yeah. - I scratched my head awkwardly.

- Finally, the tension drained from her face. And Gwen smiled.

- Okay, thanks Peter for bringing me the materials, and for helping me with the water. If it wasn't for you, I probably would have flooded the whole house. - she grinned.

- Ah, it was my pleasure. And that apologizes to me.

- Hmm? For what? - Gwen wondered.

- Well, I mean, I saw you almost naked. And I hope you won't be mad about that. - I smiled awkwardly.

- It's nothing. You didn't do it on purpose, but to help me. So never mind.

- Uh, then. If you're okay, I'll be on my way. My mission accomplished. - I started to say goodbye before I did anything else stupid.

- Okay, bye, Peter. I'll see you at school. - Gwen walked me to the door, and then I said goodbye to her once more and left, almost jumping with happiness. I finally got to talk to her at least once...