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PETER (cont'd)

Let's get you home.

GWEN

Yeah... Yeah, let's go.

Peter makes sure Gwen is walking steady as they leave the station together.

INT. STACY APARTMENT - EVENING

Gwen unlocks the door to her apartment. It seems her dad has a longer shift tonight as he is nowhere to be found. Peter helps her inside, setting her down on the couch.

GWEN

I think I'll be okay now, Peter. Thank you.

Her hand sticks to his shirt.

PETER

If you say so... You'll... Let go, right.

GWEN

Trying.

Gwen yanks at his shirt, trying to let go, until... RIP. She tears off the shoulder piece of his T-shirt. Their eyes dart back and forth between each other and Gwen's hand.

GWEN

Sorry.

PETER

It's... Okay…

Peter is more shocked than anything.

Eventually Peter decides to leave.

PETER

Make sure you get to bed, okay? Stay cool and eat something maybe.

Gwen gets up.

GWEN

Wait, Peter.

She rushes over to him and hugs him. He wraps his arms around her too.

GWEN (cont'd)

It was a nice date, all things considered.

Peter smiles and the two stare at each other for a while, before Gwen leans forward and kisses him. They pull away after a few seconds. Gwen clears her throat.

GWEN (cont'd)

Get home safe, okay?

PETER

I'll be fine.

Peter leaves and Gwen goes to the fridge-freezer. She opens the door, pulls out an ice-pack and sits down on the couch, laying the ice-pack on her head.

Soon her stomach growls. Even though she had eaten earlier, she's already hungry.

She goes back to the fridge-freezer and starts scavenging for food. Inside she finds some meatloaf her dad made a few days ago. She starts eating like an animal.

After finishing the meatloaf, she goes back into the fridge looking for more food to eat.

Once done eating whatever else she could find, Gwen goes to her room and passes out on the floor.

FADE TO:

INT. STACY APARTMENT - MORNING

George comes home to find the door unlocked. He puts his hand on his holster as he opens the door.

He looks around, finding the fridge open and food everywhere. He closes the fridge before calling out.

GEORGE

Police! Show yourself!

George goes to Gwen's room and opens it. He immediately holsters his gun and runs over to her unconscious body.

GEORGE (cont'd)

Gwen! Gwen, are you okay? Can you hear me?

Gwen stirs in her sleep and opens her eyes.

GEORGE (cont'd)

What happened?

GWEN

Hmm?

George looks at his daughter, confused. A puddle of sweat sits underneath her.

GEORGE

The- The place is a wreck, I mean, are you alright?

Gwen sits up and rubs her head.

GWEN

Yeah... Yeah, I'm okay. I think I just had a rough night.

GEORGE

Were you drinking? I-I wouldn't be mad if you were, promise.

GWEN

What? No. Just felt a little sick, that's all.

George takes a deep breath.

GEORGE

That's good. Well, are you feeling better?

GWEN

I think so.

GEORGE

You can take some meds if you need to. And you don't have to go to school today if you're not feeling great, okay?

GWEN

I think I'll be fine, dad, thanks.

George leaves to the bedroom door and turns back for a moment.

GEORGE

I love you.

GWEN

Love you too dad.

With that, George leaves.

Gwen stands up and fans her soggy shirt. Strangely enough, she doesn't feel like she did last night at all. Not hungry, not nauseous, not sweaty.

She lifts her shirt to change when she stops, catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror. She holds her shirt just above her abdomen.

GWEN (cont'd)

Woah…

It seems that overnight she had developed a more muscular physique. She takes a moment to check herself out before lifting her sleeve to show her bicep. Though she isn't bodybuilder physique, she has more definition.

A smile crosses her face.

EXT. NEW YORK, STREETS - MOMENTS LATER

Gwen, in new clothes, chases down her bus again, but, like before, she barely misses it. She opts to take the "Shortcut" again to see if she can make it this time.

As she retraces her steps, this time she jumps over obstacles, evades incoming traffic as if it were instinct and vaults over high walls like they're nothing.

Eventually, she reaches her school and watches as the bus pulls in.

INT. SCHOOL - DAY

Gwen is in class. The room is silent as everyone works on their tests. Peter sits beside her like always and is astonished to see her better than ever. Gwen is very focused on her test.

Their biology teacher, PROFESSOR CONNORS, A one armed, older, man far too qualified for high-school teaching, calls his class to a close.

CONNORS

Alright, pencils down. Test is over.

Gwen sighs and slumps back in her chair. But something is off. Her pencil is still in her hand, despite it being open.

GWEN

(Whispering)

No, no, not this again…

She tries to pull off the pencil with her other hand, Peter takes notice.

PETER

(Whispering)

Is that still happening?

Gwen looks at him and nods frantically.

The class stands up to hand in their papers when Gwen is finally able to yank the pencil from her hand and put it down. She sighs in relief before heading over to the front desk after everyone else.

She offers Connors her paper.

CONNORS

Thank you Gwe-

He tugs, but Gwen stays stuck to the paper.

CONNORS (cont'd)

Did I forget the magic word or something, can I have your paper please.

Gwen smiles and laughs awkwardly.

GWEN

Y-Yeah, one sec.

She takes deep breaths and tries to let go when the two of them pull in opposite directions, tearing off the corner of the paper. Gwen gasps. Connors looks at the paper.

CONNORS

Well, at least your answers are intact.

Gwen stands there, holding her hands in front of herself, awkwardly smiling.

CONNORS (cont'd)

You are dismissed, Gwen.

GWEN

Oh right, yeah. Sorry, thank you. I-

She turns and leaves without another word. Connors shakes his head in his hand.

CONNORS

What is up with that girl?