Empire State University
Empire State University — the most prestigious and renowned institution in New York.
A symbol of excellence, tradition, and intellectual prestige.
Its red-brick towers, framed by perfectly trimmed gardens, stood in stark contrast to the city's constant noise, creating the illusion of a peaceful academic haven amidst the chaos of Manhattan.
Gwen walked briskly through the wide campus, her steps quick but full of energy. Her eyes shone as she passed groups of students chatting, laughing, debating theories, or simply basking in the rays of sunlight filtering through the trees. The young woman looked animated, almost electric — as if the hectic pace of her life had turned into fuel.
Soon, she reached the university's sports building. From inside came the muffled sounds of voices and instruments being packed away. When she pushed the door open, she was greeted by the familiar sound of laughter echoing through the gym.
Her rock bandmates were already dismantling their equipment — guitars going back into their cases, amplifiers being unplugged, cables carefully coiled. Gwen took a deep breath, a little embarrassed, and raised her hand in apology.
"Sorry, girls… I'm late again."
The others turned toward her — some smiling, some shaking their heads — but none looked truly upset.
"Relax, Gwen," said Felicia, adjusting her messy bun. "We just did a light rehearsal today. No big deal."
Glory leaned against her drum set, a teasing grin spreading across her face.
"But if you're late again, you'll have to rehearse solo, missy."
Everyone burst into laughter — even Gwen, who raised her hands in surrender.
"I promise it won't happen again."
"If I had a dollar every time you said that…" MJ murmured with a laugh as she packed away her guitar. "We could even play one more round now that you're here — but the cheerleaders are about to start practice. And if we delay the basketball team, we're dead."
More laughter echoed through the gym. Gwen laughed along, trying to hide her embarrassment as she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. That's when she felt a familiar presence behind her — a hand about to rest on her shoulder.
She turned — and recognized him immediately, even before he spoke.
Peter Parker.
"Hey! Hi, Peter!" she greeted, her face lighting up with a smile so natural and bright it made him hesitate for a moment.
"Hey, Gwen…" he replied, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. "I, uh… I was free today, so I thought I'd come watch your rehearsal."
Her smile faltered in surprise, then turned into a guilty frown.
"Oh no… I was so late I missed the whole thing! I'm so sorry, Peter!"
"It's okay," he said quickly, raising his hands in reassurance. "I showed up unannounced anyway."
Gwen chuckled nervously and, to lighten the mood, gave him a playful elbow to the arm.
"Then how about I make it up to you with some coffee? Or are you in a hurry to get back to the lab, Mr. Scientist?"
Peter blinked a few times, pretending to seriously consider the offer before replying:
"Actually… not today. The lab can wait."
"Perfect!" Gwen said, grinning. "Girls! Let's all grab a drink together. Arthur told me a new café just opened nearby!"
Felicia raised an eyebrow with a mischievous smirk.
"Ohhh~ speaking of him… when are you finally going to introduce us to your supposedly 'unbelievably handsome' boyfriend, huh?"
Gwen blushed and crossed her arms in mock indignation.
"I would if he weren't always so busy! But I promise, I'll get him to come to one of our rehearsals."
"You'd better," MJ teased. "Because right now, he sounds more like an urban legend than a boyfriend."
"Yeah, you haven't even shown us a picture of him!" Felicia added, giving Gwen a friendly tap on the shoulder.
"Well…" Gwen replied with a mysterious smile. "You know what they say — mysterious men are more attractive."
The girls laughed together, teasing and chatting about Gwen's secretive boyfriend. But behind them, Peter fell silent. His smile slowly faded as he listened, his eyes distant — empty, and just a little… sad.
"Hey, Peter!" Gwen called, snapping him out of his thoughts. "You daydreaming back there? Let's go!"
"Yeah, sure," he said, forcing a smile.
The group walked together down the hallway. Gwen, cheerful as ever, struck up a conversation with Peter while her friends chatted about something else.
"So, how are things going with Dr. Connors? Any progress?"
"More or less," Peter sighed. "We're still stuck on some parts of the research. But after that Oscorp field trip, I got a few new ideas. I want to test some of them with him later today."
The mention of Oscorp made Gwen's heart skip a beat.
An uneasy memory flashed in her mind — the spider bite… and the nightmare from the night before.
She saw herself transformed into something monstrous — a horrid spider-like creature staring at its own reflection in terror. A chill ran down her spine.
And then… something happened.
A sudden sensation — as if invisible alarms had gone off inside her head. A primal, instinctive warning.
"Gwen, look out!" MJ shouted suddenly.
Gwen turned — too late — to see a baseball hurtling straight toward her face. The object sliced through the air at high speed, and the impact would have been brutal.
But her body moved before her mind could react.
A soft 'puff' echoed as his hand lifted on its own — catching the ball just a few centimeters from his face.
Gwen stood frozen, staring at the object resting in her palm.
"Wh… what…?"
Her heart pounded wildly. Her body had moved on its own — far too fast for her to even register.
Impossibly fast.
"Gwen, are you okay?!" Peter rushed to her side, worried.
"Y-Yeah, I think so," she said, trying to mask her panic. "But… where the heck did that ball come from?"
"Probably some epic home run," Betty joked, pointing toward the adjacent field.
The girls laughed again, the moment of tension quickly fading — but Gwen remained still, staring at her own hand, unable to shake the feeling that something inside her had changed forever.
---
Later, at the university gate…
The sun was already dipping below the horizon, painting the buildings in hues of orange and gold. Gwen walked slowly, her pace unhurried, her mind in turmoil. She kept looking at her hands — as if the answers to her confusion were somehow carved into them.
A soft honk startled her.
She looked up to see a black car parked nearby. The driver's window rolled down, revealing a familiar face — a blond man with a firm expression but warm eyes.
George Stacy.
"Dad!" she exclaimed, clutching her chest. "You scared me."
"Sorry, sweetheart," he said with a calm smile. "Just wanted to get your attention. Everything okay? You seem distracted."
She hesitated, searching for a quick excuse.
"Oh, nothing much. I just… thought my hands looked really nice today."
George laughed heartily, shaking his head.
"Of course. That's from your mother's excellent genes — and maybe a little bit from me."
"A little bit, huh?" Gwen teased as she got into the car.
As her father drove through the busy streets, the city lights flickered to life, reflecting in her eyes. Gwen rested her head against the window, watching the blurred glow of passing buildings.
A faint smile touched her lips.
'Ahhh… I want to see Arthur…' she thought, her heart warming at the mere image of her beloved.
The car disappeared into New York's evening traffic, and the sun finally vanished below the skyline — giving way to a night that, unbeknownst to Gwen, would mark the beginning of something that would change her life 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."