It was easier to think upside down. Probably cause of all the blood rushing to my head. Or maybe that was the last dregs of sleep wearing off. Either way, I was working faster. I finished checking the bracelet and clipped it onto my wrist. Hopefully this worked. I pressed the on switch.

“Ow” I said wincing as sparks flew from my contraption and zapped my fingers. I sighed and dropped down from the ceiling, landing on the shed floor. I set the bracelet down and I looked around from a screwdriver. My heart dropped at the sound of fizzing behind me. I spun around to see the bracelet smoking slightly, an acrid smell oozing from the bubbling white liquid seeping from the gaps on the bracelets control panel.

“No, no, no!” I cried.

I darted forward, switching it off. The sizzling slowed down.

“Moron” I mumbled. I poked it, the web fluid still slightly warm. The battery had probably overheated and damaged the casing for the fluid. I wasn’t getting it open anytime soon. Dammit. I set the bracelet aside next to the other failed attempts and sighed. I sucked at this stuff. I was better at material science and mechanics. Gwen had always been the brains when it came to circuits and cells. I sat still for a few seconds, my mind blank. The smell the burnt fluid gave off knocked me back to reality.

“Come on you idiot. Don’t just sit there” I mumbled. I picked up one of the terrible blueprint drawings I’d made and started to look for where I’d messed up.

I didn’t have a name for the bracelets yet, but the aim of this whole thing was to create webs. As it turned out, I wasn’t exactly like Lucas. For starters I didn’t have any claws or fangs, and whatever the web was I didn’t have that either. My skin was adhesive at least. I’d had fun with that, even though it had taken an hour or so to get used to it. It had made cleaning out the shed a lot much easier.

Ah, there it was that made sense. No wonder the battery had malfunctioned. I grabbed a pen and began making a few revisions when a knock came from the shed door. I hid the blueprints quickly and put a box over the failed bracelets. I stood up and opened the door.

May stood in the garden and from her posture alone I instantly knew something was wrong.

“What happened?” I asked, stepping forward.

“It’s MJ, she’s asking for you but… she doesn’t seem well” May said. I jogged over to the house, May following closely behind. MJ stood in the hall, her hair messier than usual and her eyes bloodshot red. She didn’t look happy. At all.

“What happened?” I asked.

“I’m fine. Let’s go” she replied. I frowned.

“Go where?”

“Are you coming or not? I can leave without you” she snapped. I glanced at May behind me. She gave a silent nod, her eyes still filled with worry.

“Sure I’ll come, I just… what happened? Did… did your dad-“

“We can talk about it on the drive” she said, turning on her heel and slamming the door behind her.

I grabbed my shoes, quickly slipping into them before Aunt May wordlessly handed me my jacket. She kissed me on the forehead quickly, and I rushed out the front door, thundering down the front steps. MJ was already in her car, the engine humming. I slipped into the passenger seat and turned to her.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

“What happened?” I asked, concerned.

“We’re going to see Harry” she said. I jolted slightly as she pulled away, stepping a bit too heavily on the gas.

“Did he call you?” I said, uncertain.

“No” MJ replied. It was silent for a few seconds. I glanced at the time.

It was 12:30. On a Sunday.

“Don’t you have your theatre thing today?” I asked. She snorted, rolling her eyes.

“MJ?”

“This is more important Peter. Seriously, you’re a scientist but sometimes your so stupid” she said, clearly frustrated.

“Hey. I’m just worried, ok? You show up crying an-“

“I’m not crying”

“You look like you were”

“Well I wasn’t”

“Did your dad do-“

“Don’t. I’m warning you don’t even go there”

“I’m just trying to help. You’re obviously not ok”

“I’m fine. And it wouldn’t even fucking matter if I wasn’t” she said clearly pissed.

Another awkward silence.

“Are you-“

“Just be quiet Pete” she said. I turned to look back at the road, unsure what had just happened. She was clearly pissed. Was she like this because Harry hadn’t visited yet? I thought we’d gone over that. I glanced at her again, her gaze of determination more focused than usual. She was seriously angry.

“MJ y-”

“What did I just say?!” she shouted angrily, turning to me.

“Your seatbelt” I mumbled, gesturing to it awkwardly. She turned back to the road and went silent. After a few seconds she grabbed her seatbelt, pulling at it furtively as it resisted her. She only pulled harder, dropping the subtlety and cursing to herself before she choked back a sob. She threw the seatbelt at the window, the metal of the clip banging against the glass. She cursed again and pulled over, breathing heavily as she ran her hands through her hair.

“MJ what’s wrong?” I said, concerned. She ignored me, continuing to gulp down breaths.

“MJ?” I said, putting a hand on her shoulder.

“Just give me a second” she said, pushing me back.

“Ok” I said, pulling away.

I watched her for a few moments, as she breathed heavily. I felt helpless, unsure of what to do. Steadily MJ regained her composure before letting out a haggard sigh and leaning back in her chair.

“Sorry” she mumbled.

“It’s ok” I said awkwardly.

“No… it’s… I’m sorry I snapped at you earlier” she said.

“Really it’s ok” I said. We both went silence. I needed to say something. “What happened?” I asked, nervously. She shot me a look before turning back to face the road.

“There’s… uh… a student in my homeroom. He was a troublemaker. Not a bad kid, but not everyone adjusts well to boarding life. He skipped a few classes and was late a lot” she said, sniffing. “He’d just been suspended. The principal was reluctant, but she called me and I pushed for it. It was only for a week. He was supposed to spend time with his family, straighten out, y’know?”

She took a breath. “He and his Uncle got caught up in that metahuman fight. He got injured and his uncle didn’t… he didn’t…” she took another breath.

“The uncle was another kid’s dad. I had him for Physics. He was a good kid. And now his dad’s dead. He was devastated. If I hadn’t pushed for suspension the maybe… maybe none of this would’ve happened. And knowing I caused this, on top of all the stuff with Gwen. I tried to call her this morning y’know? I just… fuck”

Her hands were shaking, and I didn’t know what to do. I knew I needed to say something, but I was too afraid. What if I said the wrong thing? MJ might hate me forever. But still I needed to say something. My friend needed me.

“It’s not your fault. You couldn’t have known” I said, taking her hands. I can’t tell if her hands are trembling more or mine, but when she looks up at me, I can see the hope in her eyes. I pulled her into a hug as she broke down crying again. I’d never done something like this before. I wasn’t sure if it was right, if I needed to do more or if I was over stepping. But right now it didn’t matter, she needed a hug. And as I felt my eyes grow wet, I know I did too.

We sat there for a while, a hundred different thoughts flying through my head until I felt a sense of peace wash over me. MJ had stopped crying as well but we still held each other. I watched out the window as a few people passed and the occasional car.

“You can let go now” MJ whispered.

“Don’t want to” I said back. We both let out a chuckle, held each other for a bit longer and then slowly pulled away.

“That felt…“

“Good?”

“Yeah”

MJ rubbed her eyes and then turned the car back on.

“Are we-“

“Still going to Harry’s? Yes” MJ said. I went to say something but stopped. She was fixed on this, and I didn’t gain anything trying to stop her. Plus, I did want to see Harry. I needed to thank him for taking care of me.

“Lead the way” I said.

“We’re driving you idiot” MJ said chuckling.