Empire State University
Empire State University.
The leading and most prestigious university in New York. A symbol of tradition, prestige, and academic excellence. Its red-brick towers, surrounded by meticulously kept gardens, stood in stark contrast to the city's constant noise, creating the impression of an intellectual refuge amidst the urban chaos.
Gwen Stacy walked briskly across the vast campus, her steps quick yet full of energy. Her eyes sparkled as she watched groups of students scattered around the open corridors, laughing, debating theories, or simply enjoying time together. She seemed lively, almost electric, as if the rush of her life had somehow become fuel.
Soon, she reached the glass doors leading to the university's gymnasium. The muffled sound of voices and instruments being packed away echoed inside. As she entered, she saw her rock bandmates already wrapping up their rehearsal, storing their gear in cases and backpacks.
With an embarrassed smile, Gwen raised a hand and apologized:
"Sorry, guys… I'm way too late."
The girls looked up at her, but none of them seemed particularly upset.
"Relax, Gwen," one of them said with a shake of her head. "Today wasn't a performance, just a light rehearsal."
Another chimed in playfully:
"But if you're late again, you'll have to rehearse all by yourself, girl."
Laughter spread through the group. Gwen laughed too, but she didn't notice one strange detail: she had sprinted all the way from Arthur's house to campus, and yet she wasn't even the slightest bit out of breath. Not even a quickened heartbeat. Nothing.
"Well…" a third member said, slipping her guitar into its case, "we could play another song now that you're here, but the cheerleaders' practice is about to start. And if we hold up the basketball team, we'll never hear the end of it."
Her bandmates teased her a bit more, while Gwen, embarrassed, kept apologizing and tucking a blonde strand of hair behind her ear. At that moment, she felt someone approaching from behind.
Turning her head, she saw a hand about to touch her shoulder. She recognized the owner instantly.
It was Peter Benjamin Parker.
Or, as everyone knew him, simply Peter Parker.
"Hey! Hi, Peter!" Gwen greeted him, her smile so bright and spontaneous that it made his heart skip for a moment.
Peter scratched the back of his neck, shyly avoiding her gaze.
"Hey, Gwen… I… well, I was free today, so I thought I'd come watch your rehearsal."
Gwen's smile faltered in surprise. She clasped her hands in front of her and replied almost pleadingly:
"I'm so sorry, Peter! I was late. Something… hm… unexpected happened on the way."
"It's okay," he reassured her, raising his hands calmly. "I showed up without warning anyway."
Trying to break the tension, Gwen playfully nudged his chest with her elbow:
"So, how about I make it up to you by inviting you for a coffee? Don't tell me you're in a rush to get back to the lab."
Peter blinked a few times, hesitating. For a moment, he seemed lost in thought. But then he nodded.
"No, not today… there's nothing that really needs my help right now."
"Perfect!" Gwen said cheerfully. Turning to the band, she added: "You too, girls. Let's all grab a drink together."
Her bandmates cheered, clapping and whistling. But behind them, Peter's eyes dimmed with a hint of disappointment. Something inside him wished it could have been just him and Gwen.
"Hey, Peter!" the blonde called, snapping him out of his daze. "Let's go!"
"Yeah… of course," he said, forcing his smile back as he stepped up to walk beside her.
As they strolled side by side, Gwen struck up a conversation:
"So, how are things with Dr. Connors' experiments? Making progress?"
"We're still stuck," Peter sighed. "But yesterday's Oscorp field trip gave me some new ideas. I'll talk to him about it later this afternoon."
The mention of Oscorp made Gwen's heart pound faster. She remembered the spider that had bitten her the night before. And, even darker, the nightmare: herself transformed into a monstrous creature, a giant spider that had jolted her awake in terror. Just thinking about it sent a shiver down her spine.
That was when her senses flared.
A sudden instinct, like invisible alarms going off inside her head. Something was coming. Something dangerous.
Almost at the same time, a familiar voice shouted:
"Gwen, watch out!" cried Mary Jane beside her, spotting the basketball.
Gwen turned her head and saw a basketball flying at high speed, aimed straight for her. It had come from the next court, where the team was practicing in front of the cheerleaders. One show-off player had badly missed his mark.
The ball tore through the air. The impact seemed inevitable.
But the unexpected happened.
With reflexes beyond human, Gwen's hand shot up on its own. A muffled poof sounded as she caught the ball just inches from the back of her head.
She froze, staring at the ball in her palm.
"Wha… what…?"
She had no idea what was happening. Her body had reacted on its own, faster than her mind could process.
"Gwen, are you okay?!" Peter rushed over, alarmed.
She took a deep breath, trying to hide the panic boiling inside.
"I'm fine… it didn't hit me."
And, as if nothing had happened, she tossed the ball back to the players with a casual flick. The boys laughed awkwardly, the cheerleaders whispered, and the incident ended there.
But Gwen couldn't shake the feeling that something inside her was changing.
---
On the way to the cafeteria, her bandmates wouldn't stop chattering.
"Gwen, that was amazing! Where'd you learn to do that?"
"I was terrified! You looked like a total pro."
The blonde gave a faint, uneasy smile.
"Don't exaggerate… come on, I'm dying of thirst."
And so, surrounded by Peter and her friends, she headed to the cafeteria. But inside, her mind was racing. Every second, she recalled the spider, the strange strength in her muscles, the ball caught as if it were the easiest thing in the world.
This… couldn't be a coincidence.
---
Later, at the university gates
The sun was already setting, painting the skies with shades of orange and red. Gwen walked slowly, staring intently at her own hands, as if they held the answers she was searching for.
A honk snapped her out of her trance. She looked up and saw a black car parked nearby. The window rolled down slowly, revealing a middle-aged blond man with a firm expression but warm eyes.
It was George Stacy, Captain of the New York Police Department.
"Dad!" Gwen gasped, placing a hand over her chest. "You scared me."
"Sorry, sweetheart. Just wanted to get your attention." George glanced at her hands. "Something happen?"
She hesitated. How could she explain? Quickly, she improvised:
"I just thought my hands look nice today."
George chuckled confidently.
"Of course they do—that's your mother's excellent genes. And mine too, naturally."
Gwen rolled her eyes and climbed into the car without answering. As her father drove, she kept staring at her hands. Thoughts raced. The spider bite. The impossible reflexes. The strange energy surging inside her.
And without realizing it, she thought of Arthur. The thought made her cheeks flush.
What had happened today was something she could never have imagined, not even in her wildest dreams.
The life she knew was about to change forever.
(End of chapter)
---
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."
A/N: Final version of the chapter