12. Gwen Stacy

The past few days have been normal except for a single person. His whole life seems to have changed overnight.

"Hey Adam, did you notice? Peter's been acting weird lately."

"How so?"

Harry asked Adam with a doubtful expression. He couldn't put his finger on it but he was sure something was wrong with Peter. As his childhood friend and best friend for years he could tell if there was something wrong with Peter.

"Don't know. He just... just seems different."

Harry said doubtfully.

Haha.

Adam laughed and shrugged it off, "He is different. Do you really think there is another person who can talk endlessly like him?"

"Nope."

Harry agreed.

"What are you guys talking about?"

Elle came up to them and asked.

"Nothing. You going again this weekend?"

Adam asked.

"Um."

Elle nodded and looked down.

A weird mood started to set in. Harry felt like his friends were getting weird every day. First Peter and now them.

Harry asked somewhat doubtfully, "You guys seem... closer?"

Adam shot back, "You are just imagining things."

Elle also spoke up, "Yeah. The stress from all those meetings must be getting to you."

Harry looked numbly at his friends. They just made him think like he was the weird one for a second.

Harry asked back, "Yeah, right. How come both of you are in synch all of a sudden?"

"Hey Harry, why are you so flustered? I tell you mate, enjoy life. Those stressful gathering are getting to you."

And thus enters Midtown High's mouth artillery. Harry wanted to smack Peter's head when he saw his concerned expression.

Elle was trying hard not to laugh while Adam showed a sly smile. He patted Harry's shoulder and comforted him. All four of them went out.

Peter was officially starting his internship today. Harry was to bring him to professor Conner, as his best friend this was a jester.

Adam and Elle bid goodbye and went their way.

"Peter, please try not to speak too much."

Peter asked confused, "Huh? Why? Does Doctor Connor not like speaking? He spoke merrily last time we met though, is he kind of a workaholic?"

Harry rubbed his temples. He didn't know how to give an answer to his friend without hurting his feelings. In the end he simply chose to ignore the problem and proceeded towards Osborn Building.

They went straight to the topmost floor. This was where Peter would work, he had some contact with a scientist here and one thing led to another and suddenly he was an intern here.

Harry used his ID to get past a glass door. Don't be mistaken by this fragile door, this was military grade tempered glass. Highly durable, and capable of withstanding a small explosion.

Norman placed high importance to this place. He didn't want any mishaps happening here, also the type of research here would change the world. The amount of eyes staring here was staggering, as a shrewd man Norman knew this and would take precaution accordingly.

"Hello Doctor Connor, I am here with your new intern."

Harry greeted a middle aged man after walking in.

He looked amiable and gentle, he wore glasses but what was eye catching was his right arm, it was missing.

Peter greeted Connor, "Good Evening Doctor Connor."

"Ah Peter, Harry."

Doctor Connor's smiled amicably and welcomed them.

He looked at Peter and couldn't help but show appreciation, "Peter, did you think about the problem I gave you?"

"Yes! The gene bonding equation, the rate at which the introduced gene merge and duplicate it's properties. There should be a buffer of sort otherwise it would go haywire and fail."

"Good!"

Connor was pleased with Peter's reply. He continued to ask some more questions before proceeding to their research topic. Harry tactfully retreated, amongst their kind he would be a nuisance.

On his way out he spotted a gorgeous blonde girl.

Harry smiled and greeted her, "Hey Gwen."

Gwen was surprised, "Oh Harry. Strange seeing you here."

Harry rolled his eyes, "Oh, come on, this is my father's company. It isn't strange me being here."

Gwen shook her head, "No. It's strange you being here for no reason."

This gorgeous blonde was Gwen Stacy. A genius and beautiful woman, and the daughter of New York city police captain, George Stacy. And of course Peter's crush.

Harry dubiously gazed at Gwen as he said that, "I am here to drop off Peter."

Gwen noticed his gaze and looked away.

Harry smiled slyly and said goodbye.

As he walked out he smirked and said, "You know what's strange? A certain someone being here when that certain someone obviously has the day off."

He didn't wait for an answer and rushed out. Gwen stood rooted at her place and slightly blushed, but no one was there to see that enchanting picture.

She calmed her mood and walked in. Peter was excitedly discussing something with Doctor Connor, Gwen was dazed seeing Peter's passionate face.

She was a genius and a beauty. With a police captain as her father she had high standards for who she would fall for.

It was for this reason she had never fallen in love. But Peter's appearance changed everything, he wasn't dashing nor did he stood our among the crowd but he had a peculiar charm that drew her in.

He was honest, kind and very passionate about biotechnology. She liked how he stammered the first time he saw her, he was embarrassed to even speak to her but when it came to genetic research he seems to have become a completely different person.

This surprised Gwen, she felt curious about him. And when a girl gets curious about a boy it's obvious how it goes. Gwen was also aware of how she felt, she also knew how Peter felt about her but a thin layer still separated them.

"Gwen, Gwen!"

Doctor Connor's slightly raised voice snapped Gwen out of her daze. She was embarrassed but quickly hid it.

Handing out a file she said, "These are the research papers you asked me to compile."

Connor took the file and said, "Oh thank you. You could have given me this tomorrow, after all it's your day off."

Gwen didn't mind, "It's alright."

Connor introduced Peter, "Anyway, you should already know this person. He will be our colleague from today onwards."

Peter felt embarrassed seeing Gwen, he smiled awkwardly and greeted her.

"That's all for today Peter. These are the results of what we gained thus far, familiarise with it and come in tomorrow."

Peter nodded, "Ok."

He received the documents from Doctor Connor and got up to leave.

"You can also leave Gwen."

"Goodbye Doctor Connor."

Both Gwen and Peter walked out.

Gwen suddenly said, "Doctor Connor seems to favour you."

"Aha... haha."

Peter could only weekly smile.

Gwen found his actions to be cute, "If you have any doubts about the research, call me."

Peter rubbed his head, "Alright. But I don't have your number."

"Give me your phone."

She grabbed his phone and typed in her number and mail ID.

"Now we can stay in touch."

Peter's face brightened up like a lamp at night. Gwen was again attracted by that honest and foolish smile. She too smiled.