Chapter - 9

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Chapter - 9: A Web Yet To Be Spun

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Mary Jane Pov

As I left the house, I checked my phone and saw a message from Harry, telling me he couldn't pick me up today because of some commitment with his dad.

"Ugh, again," I muttered to myself, feeling slightly annoyed but not entirely surprised. Harry had been getting busier lately, and it seemed like it was becoming harder and harder to spend time with him.

When I got to the bus stop, I noticed Peter standing there, waiting for the same bus. I had to admit, I hadn't seen him in a while, not since I'd joined the more popular crowd at school.

Even though he had been my first friend when I moved to Midtown, over the past year I realized how little I really knew about him. I couldn't help but think back on all the times he made excuses to pull away, always leaving me with the feeling that there was something about his life I just wasn't getting.

He was never interested in high school drama or even the other kids our age. That had isolated him even more from everyone else, but it didn't seem to bother him at all, like he had something more important on his mind.

But I had to admit, recently he had been acting strange. Even when Flash was trying to mess with him, Peter just seemed bored, like he was watching a simple insect...

He seemed, in a way, much more mature than the other guys our age. He didn't care at all what others thought of him, and I admired that about him.

I wish I could be more like him.

This is my impression of him: I know he's incredibly smart, kind, and... well, he has a really attractive aunt who could probably give me and my cheerleader friends a run for our money.

But memories of our last "encounter" at school came back to me, and I couldn't stop thinking about him—the way he was really surprising, his hidden confidence adding layers of mystery to the nerd I thought I knew.

As I approached him and offered a friendly smile, Peter completely ignored me, which irritated me a bit. I mean, I was Mary Jane Watson, a popular girl with lots of friends and admirers—it shouldn't be that hard to get his attention again.

Being ignored wasn't something that happened to me often, and I wasn't sure how to react. Feeling a mix of frustration and curiosity, I took a deep breath and decided to start a conversation anyway.

Maybe I'm just too used to guys wanting to keep talking to me or being annoyingly persistent, thinking I'm an easy girl they can get in bed to suck their dick.

Interesting... When did I become such a bitch? Well, I guess I can thank my messed-up family life and high school for that. I shake my head at the thought, and despite everything, I let out a small laugh.

"Hey, Peter. It's been a while since we last talked. How's it going?" I asked, hoping to break through the invisible wall he seemed to have put up.

He glanced at me briefly, but his response was short and distant. "I'm fine, thanks," he replied, then looked away, seemingly more interested in something happening across the street.

My irritation grew, but I didn't want to show it. "Well, if you ever want to chat or hang out, you know where to find me," I said, trying to sound casual, or at least pretending to.

"Sure," was all he said in response, his eyes fixed on the approaching bus. I bit my lip in frustration.

When the bus arrived, I couldn't shake the feeling of being brushed off. After all, I had put myself out there, trying to get a better understanding of Peter, and he had practically shut me down.

It was a new situation for me, and part of me struggled to accept it. What frustrated me the most was that I couldn't really figure out what kind of person Peter was beneath all that secrecy.

During the bus ride, I found myself replaying the encounter in my head. Maybe Peter was just naturally private, and I was reading too much into what had happened.

Or, maybe he didn't want to deal with someone like me anymore, considering my current social circle and reputation—which wouldn't surprise me at all, knowing how much he despised that kind of thing.

Despite my irritation, I couldn't help but feel drawn to his mysterious side. There was more to Peter, something deeper, and I couldn't help but be intrigued by it.

As the bus ride continued, I couldn't help but glance at the other students around us. Despite his recent changes, no one seemed to notice Peter or even mention the fact that he'd changed.

Now that I was paying more attention to him, I couldn't help but notice a difference: he wasn't wearing his usual baggy clothes that used to hide his body. Had he started working out? His muscles were definitely much more defined, something you'd expect to see on an athlete.

It was as if all of this had gone unnoticed, which surprised me. Normally, in high school, rumors and gossip spread like wildfire—especially when they involved someone considered the smartest person at Midtown.

But around Peter, there was an aura of respect and distance that made people think twice before interacting with him. As I watched him sitting there, I couldn't deny the maturity he seemed to radiate.

It was as if he were an adult surrounded by children, myself included, and that realization made me feel a bit embarrassed and inadequate in ways that hadn't changed from before.

Me, a popular girl with so many friends, unable to handle a simple interaction with him without being slightly affected—it made me wonder what it was about him that made me feel this way.

I also found myself questioning what else I had missed about Peter in the past year. There was definitely more to him than met the eye, and I couldn't shake the feeling of loss for having distanced myself for so long.

When the bus reached the school, students started filing out, and I couldn't help but steal one last glance at Peter. His composure and his complete lack of concern for what others thought of him left me astounded.

In contrast, I'd always been conscious of how I presented myself and what others thought of me. Being popular came with a certain set of expectations, and I couldn't help but wonder if that was why I was so drawn to him.

As we arrived at school, I noticed Peter talking to my friend Jessica Jones. They seemed engaged in a pleasant conversation, and I found myself watching them from afar.

There was something in the way they interacted that stirred a hint of jealousy within me. Why did she seem to have all of his attention, while I wasn't even worth a moment of his time?

Jessica was known for her outgoing, confident personality, and it seemed like she and Peter had no trouble connecting. I couldn't help but wonder why he seemed more comfortable around her than he had been with me.

As I watched Jessica and Peter from a distance, frustration and jealousy gnawed at me. She had a tall, athletic build, undeniably sexy, with her most noticeable feature being her big ass—something even I couldn't help but linger on for a moment longer than I should've.

Her long, slightly messy black hair framed her face perfectly, accentuating her piercing blue eyes that radiated a confident attitude, projecting a sense of self-assurance.

It was clear that she didn't conform to typical high school stereotypes.

In contrast, I couldn't help but compare myself to her. I had a petite frame, less muscular, but one that guys seemed to appreciate a lot. My long, flowing red hair cascaded down my back in waves.

Aside from my large butt, which many guys always seemed to stare at intently, my green eyes had always been considered one of my best features, so I didn't feel inferior to her at all.

Maybe it was because she was less popular and didn't have the same social expectations weighing on her? Or was there something else about her that attracted him?

Feeling a bit like a creep for watching them from a distance, I tried to shake off the jealousy and focus on my day. After all, I had my friends and my social circle, and there really wasn't any reason to obsess over someone like that... or maybe there was.

Perhaps, despite everything, that feeling of being left out and ignored affected me more than I wanted to admit. Feeling enough like a voyeur for now, I decided to retreat to my usual group of friends—Liz Allan and Sally Avril—who were chatting and laughing together.

Liz was the epitome of the popular cheerleader, with her perfect brown hair cascading down her back, and her body was that of the ideal athlete, complete with large breasts that could easily envelop a big cock.

She was always effortlessly charismatic and immaculate.

Sally, on the other hand, had a more eccentric, lively energy. Her blonde hair was often left loose to flow around her, with a petite yet sexual body in all the right places, making her practically the erotic dream of every guy in school.

When I joined them, they welcomed me with warm smiles, and the conversation flowed easily. They were my friends, and I appreciated the bond we shared, even though sometimes they could be real bitches.

As lunchtime continued, I tried to push aside my jealous thoughts and focus on the present moment with them.

But my curiosity about the interaction between Peter and Jessica kept gnawing at me. Unable to hold back my thoughts any longer, I eventually decided to bring it up with them, hoping it would help clear my mind.

"So, um, did you notice Peter talking to Jessica earlier?" I asked hesitantly, trying to sound casual as if I didn't really care about their response.

Liz, with her confidence and self-assured attitude, immediately replied, "Oh, I saw them chatting. It was cute, I guess. But let's be real, he has no chance with someone like Jessica. She's out of his league."

Sally, with her artistic and slightly detached demeanor, scoffed: "Seriously, does he think he has a shot with her? He's just your typical nerd, and she's definitely out of his league."

I felt a frown forming, a mix of frustration and irritation growing within me. I decided to confront their superficial opinions. "You know, it's not fair to judge Peter that way. He's actually pretty interesting, and have you noticed the changes? He's become really attractive lately."

Liz raised an eyebrow, seemingly unimpressed. But there was a hint of curiosity in her eyes as she responded, "Oh, please. He'll probably quit the gym soon and go back to being the same old nerd he was before, no matter how hard he tries."

Sally nodded in agreement, her indifference masking a hint of disdain. "Really, MJ, I don't get why you care. Peter isn't anything special. He's just a classic nerd."

I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm despite their condescending comments irritating me more than I wanted to admit. I couldn't even understand why they bothered me so much since it didn't directly involve me.

"You're exaggerating with your comments," I said, trying to maintain my composure without raising my voice. "Peter is so much more than you think. He's not weak, and he's not afraid to stand up for himself when it matters."

Liz, seeing how invested I was in the discussion, tried to diffuse the tension by changing the subject. "Well, if you say so. But come on, it's not worth wasting time talking about him."

Sally absentmindedly nodded, shrugging off with indifference. "Yeah, Liz is right. I don't understand why you're so worked up about Peter. In the end, he's just Peter… nothing special." Her words, delivered with a slightly derisive tone, struck me harder than I wanted to admit.

I had to suppress my frustration. It wasn't so much the fact that they were talking about Peter, but the way they did it: as if he had no worth, as if he didn't even deserve consideration.

Maybe I shouldn't have cared, but something inside me compelled me to defend him, even though I couldn't quite grasp why I felt so strongly about it. My friends were the ones who truly knew me and appreciated me for who I was, and I shouldn't let the situation with Peter and Jessica ruin that.

Yet, throughout the day, I found myself stealing glances at them whenever I could. There was a sort of natural chemistry between Peter and Jessica, a connection that seemed to come so effortlessly. And it deeply annoyed me that I couldn't create the same bond with him.

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Marvel: I'm Spider-Man in this Damn Reincarnation: 3 advanced chapters

Osmosian Sorcerer?: 3 advanced chapters

Son of Li Qiye?: 3 advanced chapters

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 Chapter - 10: Baxter Building - Chapter - 11: Night Walk - Chapter - 12: New Mask

 Chapter - 16: Demon Sorcerers - Chapter - 17: Onmyoji - Chapter - 18: The Power of Bao 

 Chapter - 7: Hobby - Chapter - 8: New Hunt - Chapter - 9: Past unknown

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