11) Doubts

IN THE CAR 

Delilah opened the car door in a bloody mess, panting, and sat down closing the door behind her and the car quickly drove away. The car remained silent until a man broke the silence. 

"What happened Delilah? You look a little messy for killing an old lady" the man said.

Delilah froze and looked down ashamed and afraid. "Someone who calls himself Spiderman interrupted and he has supernatural abilities, similar to us. Sir". 

"Interesting. It's unusual for you to be put into this state. He's either very skilled or you're losing your edge. I hope it's the first, for your sake Delilah." Replied the man. 

"I won't fail again" shivered Delilah grasping her hand and making sure not to look up.

"Did you at least succeed in your mission" questioned the man. 

"No. Spiderman kept me away from her long enough for her to escape." She stated. 

"How disappointing Delilah. I had great hopes for you when I took you in. Don't disrespect me like this again. Understood" the man said in a menacing tone. 

"Understood" Delilah muttered. 

"Do you have any other info on this Spiderman?" said the man 

"He does what a spider would do. He can shoot web fluid and he's highly flexible and athletic, but that's all I know. He's around 6 foot as well." Delilah responded. 

"Interesting"

5 HOURS LATER ON THE CENTRAL PARK TOWER

Peter was sitting at the top of the tower looking at the view with his mask off and thinking to himself. He had very messily bandaged up his wound and cleaned his bloody nose. 'Am I really cut out for this? Can I really be a hero? Why does everything that could go wrong happen? Why can't I have something nice happen to me for once? Harry has life on easy mode and Flash is so popular. I just want to be someone. Not Peter Parker, someone better. Is that too much to ask?' 

Peter changed out of his costume and dropped down in a random alley placing his hood over his head. He started to walk around the streets of New York for a while, to try and take his mind off things. 

He eventually wandered into Central Park deciding to sit on the bench and stare into the distance and think about things. 

"Hey, do you mind if I sit here?" questioned a girl. She had long ginger hair and was very beautiful, anyone would think she was a model. She wore a black sleeveless shirt and baise beige trousers with black heels. 

"Yeah, I don't mind" replied Peter while scooching up to make some more room for her on the bench. "Have we met? you look familiar" said Peter 

"You go Midtown?" the girl replied.

"Yeah, I do" responded Peter

"Really? I'm Mary Jane! What's your name?" she replied. Mary Jane was probably the most popular girl in school and she was always friendly to everyone. She and Peter had met before in preparing for the middle school play. He was tasked with designing the poster and interviewing them for their school's paper. He was known for taking photos back then. 

"Peter Parker" he replied and smiled a little.

"Photo boy? It's been a while. how are you holding up?" she replied smiling and sightly backing away in surprise. 

"Could be better honestly, how are you though? Still trying to be an actor" Peter inquired.

"Yeah, I recently had an audition so I'm just waiting to see if I got the part. Fingers crossed" said Mary and crossed her fingers smiling. Her smile was radiant and captivated Peter.

"I'm sure you'll get it. You were very good in the school play" replied Peter

"Thank you" replied Mary. She looked at Peter puzzled and then pulled off his hood revealing a face full of bruises, plastres, and a piece of tissue in his bloody nose. "What happened?" she questioned. 

Peter looked embarrassed and shrugged it off "Nothing, don't worry about it".

"Was it Flash? He's such a hooligan" Mary replied. "You want to talk about it?"

"No. I'd rather we didn't" replied Peter. 

The two talked for a while longer and laughed with each other. Peter felt a lot better, the conversation helped him take his mind off what happened with Delilah and his doubts. 

"I better go now though Peter. It was fun though" said Mary. 

"Yeah it was" replied Peter

Mary took out a piece of paper and wrote her number on it before handing it to Peter. "If you ever want to talk, just give me a call".

Peter took the piece of paper and kept it in his hand "Will do" he replied staring at Mary Jane as she walked away. He looked back at the piece of paper and grinned before placing it in his pocket.

HOME

Peter opened the front door and ran up the stairs into his room. He placed the piece of paper on his desk and sat down on his bed. 

KNOCK KNOCK

"Who is it?" questioned Peter. 

"It's me, Peter". It was Uncle Ben and he sounded serious and slightly upset. "I think we should talk".

"Now?" responded Peter sighing.

"It's important. Can I please come in?" replied Uncle Ben

"Fine," said Peter

Uncle Ben opened the door and sat on the bed next to him clasping his hands. "I know it's hard Peter and it's a weird point in your life. But know me and May are here for you, we may not be your parents but we love you like a son Peter. Who did this to you?" questioned Ben. 

"It's fine Uncle Ben. Nothings wrong"

"You and I both know that's not true Peter. You can tell me why don't you realize this. I know what you're going through" said Ben

"You don't anything!" snapped Peter and he stood up from his bed. "Nothing goes correctly in my life. I'm the kid with no parents, no life, and nothing going for me. I'm endlessly tormented by Flash and I'm nothing compared to anything else. Harry is going to inherit one of the biggest companies in the world. How come nothing good ever comes my way? Whenever something good happens and I think 'Wow maybe my life can change finally,' it bites me in the ass tenfold later on. No matter how hard I try, how long I study. Nothing Changes. Why should I continue to work so hard just to be greeted by failure and the feeling of worthlessness? You know nothing Uncle Ben, you haven't spent a day in my shoes. No matter what I do nothing changes. I'm still a nobody. Worthless and pathetic puny Parker! That's who I'll always be"

"Let me tell you a story Peter," said Uncle Ben. He wasn't angry or upset. He spoke gently and softly, putting on his wisdom voice. 

"I don't want to hear one of your stupid stories again!"

"This is a new one. Sit down Peter" he patted the bed next to him and Peter sat down and shrugged his eyes.

"One day, a fox became very hungry. He went out to search for some food. He searched high and low but couldn't find anything to eat.

Finally, as his stomach rumbled, he stumbled upon a farmer's wall. At the top of the wall, he saw the biggest, juiciest grapes he'd ever seen. They were a rich purple, telling the fox they were ready to be eaten.

To reach the grapes, the fox had to jump high in the air. As he jumped, he opened his mouth to catch the grapes, but he missed. The fox tried again but missed once more.

He tried a few more times but kept failing.

Finally, the fox decided to give up and go home. While he walked away, he muttered, I'm sure the grapes were sour anyway. Do you understand the meaning?"

"What is it?" replied Peter uninterested. 

"Life is never easy Peter. It comes with many trials and tests, you just have to pass them. If we were given everything we wanted what would people have to strive for anymore? Those grapes were probably the best grapes that fox would ever have eaten. If only he tried a little more. Just because things are tough now doesn't mean we should give up and let them win. Fight till the very end for what's right and to prove yourself and others wrong. Be your own superhero, Peter. At the end of your road lies a golden palace and everything you want, you just have to keep walking. You are incredibly smart Peter, you have an amazing future ahead of you. Who cares about this Flash idiot, he probably has the intelligence of a cucumber. You have a gift. Use it. With great power comes great responsibility. I'll let you be now, goodnight" Ben stood up and left Peter's room closing the door behind him. 

Peter thought about what Uncle Ben had said to him and pondered for a while. He decided that Ben was right, why should he give up when he's only just started? He opened his laptop and looked at the piece of paper on the desk before starting to research the mystery woman Delilah.