(song above dedicated to Spider-Man)

PETER:

I hear a female's muffled voice in my head as I sleep... At first I think it's―

"MJ?" I mutter but then―

"Get up! I won't tell you again!" Aunt May calls.

Oh I guess that was just in my dream that it was... nevermind.

"Peter!" she repeats.

"I'm up!" I lie, trying to grab the covers when I feel it's a tad chilly on me... but... that's when I realize my hands are glued to something and my feet won't move either. I frown and open my tired eyes to see.

"Holy mother―!" I stop myself when I realize I am hanging from the ceiling, both hands and both feet stuck to the drywall as if they are just... sticking or gravity has shifted... Has gravity shifted?

I suddenly peel off and land on the floor with a grunt of pain.

Nope. Gravity's normal.

I cringe and slowly put my hands to the floor to lift myself.

It's not long before that noise makes May open the door with alarm on her face.

But I am already standing completely normally again.

"Peter? What was that sound?" she asks in worry.

"I... just dropped my shirt..." I stutter, my expression blank.

She frowns... "...It sounded louder... than that."

"Oh yeah... ...I was... ...I was in it." I try to smile casually.

She furrows her brows at me with a suspicious and confused look before waving it off. "Alright well it's already fifteen after so you better get dressed―have you been working out?"

At first I think she's joking because of all of her jokes she always makes about me being a string bean so I laugh and say, "Yeah," and glance down at my shirtless torso―What the―?!

I look up at her again casually and cover my nipples with my hands as if I am a lady as I look terrified. "C-Can you give me a second?"

She gives me a look but just shuts my door.

As soon as she does this I breathe out heavily. What the hell?!

I run to my mirror and look at... a very toned abdomen and pecks and biceps and―I have a V?!

I am just looking at myself with complete and utter confusion on my face. When did...? How...?

I knew my body like the back of my hand―

Hand...

Suddenly I look down at my hand that had the bite mark on it but... find absolutely nothing... Okay nevermind I guess I don't.

I look like I have been working out for eight years!

Is this...? Am I dreaming?

I shut my eyes and try to will myself to fly...

Okay no. Not dreaming.

What is happening?!

I check my hand again and when I look closely I can see a very small bite mark scar that's almost completely gone... but it's there.

I take in a deep breath... The Oscorp labs... the files I saw next to the spiders. It was all concepts on creating super soldiers... you don't think...

I'm the new Captain America! I smile widely at myself.

"Peter how long does it take you to put on a shirt?!" Aunt May calls.

"S-Sorry! Coming!"

I grab my glasses to put them on and... What...? I take them off and frown... My eyesight is perfect? That has never happened in the history of... ...my life...

I shake it off and focus on putting on clothes. But I am so distracted that I end up wearing my shirt backwards. In fact I don't notice it until May points it out when I walk out of the door and I have to turn right back around to change again.

I don't have time to eat breakfast so I grab a protein bar and leap out the door―

"Peter!"

"Right!" I stop and turn to grab my science book that I almost forget.

Okay now I can go.

I run to the elevator, bumping into a neighbor on the way and surprisingly not falling over before I click the button and leap into the―my hand sticks and slams back into my body when I stumble and my head hits the side of the elevator wall. "Ah!" I say in pain, cringing as I hold my head. I frown and look at my thumb that I had pressed against the wall when it stuck... the feeling of a burning sensation―kind of like what you get when someone slaps you kinda thing―there from where I pulled it off. I shake my hand as if to toss the pain off and I click the first floor.

There must have been something sticky on the button but my head really hurts now. Ouch.

As soon as the doors open I dart across the lobby with my backpack slinging on one shoulder, almost running over a lady in a wheelchair before I leap through the doors and down the sidewalk. "Mr. Greyson wait!" I call as my feet repeatedly hit the concrete.

The doors for the bus almost close and I jump inside just in time.

"Almost late again," the cranky bus driver says with attitude in his voice.

"Last time wasn't my fault you left the bus stop half a minute early," I argue.

"Whatever I'm not a rib stop grilling me," he insists then shuts the door.

"Hey Parker, pass the tardy-sauce," Flash laughs. "Get it?" he lifts his hand to fist bump the old man.

He stares at him...

I sigh and walk to the back to sit down beside Ned when he scoots over for me. "Dude, you missed it," he whispers to me in excitement. "Tiffany Sanders totally looked at me today. You should have seen it. I swear... sparks were flying."

"Ned you've never even talked to her," I reply with a frown.

"Oh I have... ...in dreams but—they felt so real."

I snicker and shake my head.

"One day... mark my words."

"Yeah I'm sure of that."

"She's no more out of my league than Gwen was out of yours and you dated her."

"This is not about me and that is debatable," I tell him with raised brows.

"Oh come on she's the smartest kid in the school—"

"So am I... ... ...in close second." I hang my head.

"There it is."

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

I put my books in my locker at school and furrow my brows when I hesitate, thinking about that bite again when I look at my hand...

"Penis Parker!" I hear someone shout as they get closer and suddenly I am shoved into my locker and the door slams, locking me in.

"Not again..." I complain... "Hey let me out!" I yell. "Flash!" I groan, banging on the door. "Someone please let me out!" Finally I give up and sigh.

That's when some footsteps come to my locker door and stop. "Hello?" a female voice asks weirdly, probably finding it odd that someone would be trapped in here but... it's not uncommon for me.

"Hello, please open the door the combination is—"

"I got it," she cuts me off as she breaks in and opens the door. I look upon a familiar pale face with white blonde hair that is shoulder length and bangs across her forehead... and she immediately recognizes me.

"Oh hey Gwen," I smile.

She slams the locker door back on me and walks away.

"Greg saw it too. Yeah he thinks it's a Kryptonian rock or a crashed star ship from the future—" Ned is saying.

"Greg is the one who told everyone he was abducted by flying space hamsters," I reply in doubt.

"Okay maybe he's a little off but it was also on YouTube... ... ...briefly before it was taken down because they said that it was falsified."

"Yeah, exactly..."

"But it's not like it couldn't be aliens. Now that we know aliens exist and all."

"Oh it was definitely aliens," Dustin says when he sits across from us. "A meteor couldn't move that fast. And check out the shape of it," he shows us a screenshot he took with his phone that reveals a long and thin body to the dropping object.

"See?" Ned says to me.

"But we don't even know if that video is real. Why else would it have been publicly proven a fake and no one on the internet or news is talking about it?"

"Uh maybe because they don't want anyone to know," he leans in to whisper, "S.H.I.E.L.D..."

"You don't have to whisper, Ned. Everyone knows about S.H.I.E.L.D."

"Yeah how have we not talked about this?" Dustin intervenes. "Like are the Avengers working for some crazy cult now?"

"Of course not," I scoff. "Why would Hydra hunt their own agents?"

"I'm not sure—" Ned gasps. "Unless they don't know they're Hydra—That's nothing." He shuts himself down as he speaks and returns to his lunch.

My hand slams down on the table suddenly and both of them flinch including me... I just look at my hand with a confused frown and so do they and I remove it to see a crushed fly underneath. I make a disgusted look and wipe it off best I can while chuckling nervously but briefly. "Uh I got it," I say as if we had already mentioned the fly before...

They exchange a look.

"'Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world like a colossus?' might translate into 'Why is he so huge and obnoxious?'," the English teacher explains during class while the kid in the far back is in a deep sleep.

I try to pay attention as my heart races and I can't figure out why. I try to calm down and breathe but my pencil is tapping on the side of my desk with rapid speed and when I notice this I stop, Gwen glaring at me to quit it.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

I take another deep breath and just try to focus on the lecture, reading the words written up on the board best I can but... they seem to be blurring. I blink a couple times but nothing changes...

Suddenly I get a sharp pain in my head and a ringing in my ears and I cringe, the sensation stopping almost immediately and when I look around no one seems to notice... the teacher going on talking...

I shut my eyes and breathe again, subtly looking down at my hand at the bite mark that doesn't seem to look any different... Not really. I mean it looks the same as it did this morning with nothing there to indicate an infection. It's surrounded by tiny hairs and the small wrinkles that make up my skin with each cell—whoa what? I shut my eyes and clear my brain. When I look back up at Miss Grendal my eyes focus on the folds of her cardigan and the small strands of yarn that make up the fabric, a piece of lint on the left side of her upper shoulder— each strand of her hair—the movement of her muscles about to point to a word on the board and I know which one that it's going to be before it happens. The kid behind me is about to raise his hand... Aha there it is...

Another sharp pain occurs and I try not to draw attention to myself. But... I don't like this.

I raise my hand as well.

"What is it, Packer?"

"Uh it's Parker—uh nevermind. Can I use the restroom?"

"Well you need the pass to do that."

"Okay. Can I have the pass?"

"No." she turns and continues the lecture.

What? Ugh! Why does she hate me?

I sit back and just focus on breathing and calming my heart-rate.

I stop tapping my pencil again.

When I reopen my eyes I can see the girls to the right passing a note—no wait... they haven't done it yet. That's when I can hear a siren that sounds way too close to the school and I become alert but... then it fades—no wait. It's there it's just far away... in my head? I don't know but I can also hear the music playing out of Dustin's earbuds from here and he's all the way across the classroom. It's loud...

I flinch when someone's zipper from their jacket hits the edge of the metal bar on the seat just barely...

Is it hot in here or is it just me?

Holy crap who is shooting a gun?

Wait... that's eight blocks away...?

My breathing is ragged now and my heart is pounding in my chest. I can hear someone tapping their foot, a helicopter nearby, another police siren blaring in my ears, the kid to my left is about to shift spots, someone down the hall is skipping class to skateboard in the hallway, a bathroom stall door closes, our teacher flips the projector page over, Garrett whispers to his friend at the back of the class asking him what's wrong with me, someone is texting, the girl beside me shifts positions. Noises clutter in my ears like never before; loud noises of things all around me and my eyes scan the smallest of the different movements of anything it finds, almost close enough to see the cells themselves.

"Packer?" the teacher asks but I have gotten up and I run out the door, my heartbeat in my ears as I feel like fainting, my head incredibly heavy as I run through the halls with clumsy footsteps, a miracle I don't topple over and pass out on the hard and cold floor.

My feet hit the ground repeatedly as the school bell rings in my ears so loud I almost have to plug them, my vision blurring as I only seem to be able to focus on the small things and not the whole hallway.

I can't see where I'm going at all until I stumble and my hands hits something—I think a door—and I push them open, the outside air sending me with awareness of everything else beyond what's inside until I fall on my knees and hold my head, my brain going a hundred and one miles per hour as I try to focus on breathing...

Just breathe...

Just breathe...

Shut off your brain and breathe.

I stop for a moment and things seem to quiet... When I look up I see an ant in the grass, pulling along a crumb of bread from a snack wrapper as his buddy then joins him to help, their feet shifting the pebbles of dirt beneath them...

I blink and the image goes away...

I shut my eyes and take another deep breath, the cluttered noises quieting down when I force myself to focus on the present... just the present. The wind over the grass of the schoolyard, the kids playing soccer behind the third building, the sound of my heart beating way too fast...

But once I focus on those things everything else seems to fade.

My head is still light, as if filled with helium. My heart slows and my breathing returns to a normal state as I look down at my hands that tremble. I take another long and deep breath, my limbs steadying afterwards. But while my palms are facing up I realize there is grass stuck to them. When I try to pull it off, though... it doesn't come off...

I frown but then... remember the elevator and how my hand stuck to the—... And this morning! When I was on the ceiling...

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

I stop and look around, spotting the wall of the school as I casually stand up and approach it, the wind from the dark clouds above me making the flag blow to my right in an eerie way. Carefully I raise my hand and connect my fingers to the brick, feeling like a magnet to metal when I do and only pulling back in a certain way is enough to release it... I feel my fingers as if to find them sticky or something but of course I don't...

I stare up at the wall with my eyes scanning over the height... before I place my hand a bit higher and then hesitate with my other hand a few inches above it... Then I place my foot against the wall, making sure there's a good amount of friction to keep me up before I ready myself and pull my body off the ground with the last foot, securing it against the bricks before I take my hand off and place it higher, using all the strength I have to pull myself up—My foot slips and my hands still clutch onto the wall but I drop and return to standing. I look down at my shoes... and get an idea... So I remove them and try again.

I reach up to grab on again and then my other hand, followed by my foot and then the next, realizing how much better I can hold on... There's so much strength on my arms and legs it's like I don't even have to strain... I take a breath and pull my hand off the wall, reaching up to place it higher followed by the foot beneath it.

It's... working. And I do that over and over on the two story building until I look over my shoulder and realize how far I am off the ground only sticking to a wall. This is... so cool!

I smile and climb up higher until I reach the roof, my hands and feet sticking like magnets to metal as if it's some kind of electrostatic force that hooks me to any surface. This is the bite from earlier? Possibly? I can climb on walls like spider? Ceilings?

This is so wack...

I am sitting on the edge of the roof with the school bell rings and kids leave their classrooms and buildings to head home. I look down at my hands one more time as if to check they are glowing green or something but they look normal and... oh man... this is something else...

As I am walking home I pull out my phone and text Miss Storm: Hey since you're a shield agent and everything, do you know Captain America?

I glance up at the buildings but move aside before someone slams into me chasing someone else down the sidewalk... I wonder if—

The ding gets my attention and I look to see a text from her that reads: Yeah we're best buds.

I text back: Ask him if his feet stick to walls.

There's a pause for a moment but then she types back: He says no.

"I said 'Life in Queens', Parker. What the hell is this?" Mr. Jameson demands after slapping down the photos I printed out for him on his desk.

"It's an old lady feeding pigeons," I reason, saying it as if making it sweet somehow.

"'Life'. It means alive not 'Alive for Now'. This is supposed to make people want to visit Queens, not jump into the next ferry to Jersey. I expected more from you Glen."

"Uh—it's Peter. But that's not important—"

"Is this a homeless man?"

"Uh."

Someone comes into the room—someone who works here.

"Jenkins! New headline! 'Queens! The place you can buy crystal meth out of a vending machine!'" he says like he's a visionary.

"Look I'm sorry Mr. Jameson—I didn't really know what you wanted since you didn't give much of a platform for me to—"

"Oh so it's my fault you're a shitty photographer?" he points to himself.

"No," I say with wide eyes. "No I just... Okay is there anything I can do? I have a day free today I-I could... maybe take some more..."

He thinks on that with his jaw set but I can tell he's really considering my plea. "Tell you what, the layout has to be ready tomorrow afternoon so if you can get this done by tonight and bring them tomorrow morning you got a deal."

I clap with a triumphant smile.

"But I want double the amount of photos I asked for!" he points to me.

I point back. "Can I get compensation for film?"

He gives me the grumbling noise that means "yes".

"Yes! Thank you very much, Mr. Jameson! You won't regret it! I promise!" I say as I leap out the door.

This is going to be a piece of cake!

"This is impossible!" Ned complains. "You don't even know what to photograph!"

"Cool places... yuh know?"

"Peter, you don't go to any cool places. This isn't Times Square or... ... ...anywhere in Manhattan."

"There's plenty of things here—"

"Which is why you have taken one photo of a penis graffitied onto a brick wall behind the diner."

"That was a penis?"

"Exactly. So zero photos."

I groan. "Ned come on! I'll help you with your next science project."

"I get that for free. We're always paired up."

"I'll buy you a hotdog. Mustard and everything."

"Seriously?"

"Please?" I beg. But then my eyes catch something while we're walking past the sea food place. I would recognize that wavy auburn hair tied in a bun and freckled cheeks anywhere. MJ is finishing up her shift and heading out, leaving her apron there with her superiors before walking to the door, the sun highlighting her perfectly shaped face and beautiful emerald irises. She's wearing a short waitress dress that's a blue-grey; to compliment her hair and skin tone.

Is she walking in slow motion or is my brain just doing that?

Apparently Ned had been talking this entire time but I was completely drowning out his voice and didn't notice he was even speaking until now and he stops to look where I am, sighing and rolling his eyes. "You could at least pretend to hear me—" he starts.

"Dude—shhh! Be cool!" I cut him off.

He stops talking when MJ walks out, me pretending to be engaged in taking a photograph of the building across the street before I "just now spot her" and smile. "Oh hey! MJ, right?" I ask. Ugh, why did I ask that? I know her name! She knows I know her name!

She snickers and looks between me and Ned. "And you're Peter right?"

"P-Parker yeah... I mean haha..." I clear my throat. Why is my throat so dry? "So what are you doing here?" I blurt out.

She frowns at me and glances at the restaurant she just came out of, her name tag still on her uniform so obviously.

"Right—I mean... ... ... ...nevermind."

She laughs and looks down at the pavement for a moment before looking back up at me. Pointing to the camera, she comments, "There's that photography hobby you mentioned."

"Yeah he's a professional—" Ned interrupts.

"No—freelance," I correct then smile.

She lets out a light chuckle and looks at him for a moment before readjusting the bag on her shoulder. "I can show you a few places if you'd like."

"Oh that would be awesome!" I say way too quickly, my eyes wide.

Ned throws up his hands in defeat because I spent all that time begging him to help and just like that I've decided against it.

"Alright... There's a place just a few blocks from here that I think you'd find interesting. I'd suggest taking a picture of the restaurant I work at, but their food sucks so."

"Actually we were about to go to the—" Ned begins but he stops talking when I give him a look over my shoulder... "...Uh... I actually no... I have homework to do that I just now remembered so..." he starts backing up, "I gotta... go... do... that—okay bye." He finally leaves.

I chuckle nervously and look at MJ. "He's... he's so weird," I admit honestly. I clap and hop on my heels. "So should we go?" I ask much too eagerly as I gently skip that direction but then stop. "Uh that is..." I take a breath and play it cool. "I guess... we should like get going, you know?"

Her brows furrow and then a smile takes her face at my eagerness. "Come on," she falls into step beside me.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

"This building I'm taking you to was built in the forties. It started out as an automobile dealership and then it was bought by some rich family and turned into a bakery," she explains as we walk. She used a public restroom to change into some high-waisted white washed jeans that roll up at the ankle and a striped tee to replace her uniform that she keeps in her bag now.

"A bakery? I don't know—is that cool?" I chuckle a little, adjusting the strap that holds my camera on my shoulder as I look at her.

"The architecture is one of the most unique in Queens. It's no Times Square, but it's still pretty cool." She smiles at me. "You'll see. We're almost there."

I nod and look at my feet as I walk, trying not to let the conversation fall because of nervousness. "Uh so when's your audition?" I look up at her with interest.

"Tonight later," she looks straight ahead. "I just hope I get the part."

"Are you kidding? What I heard you practicing it was absolutely perfect," I try to say convincingly but I don't really remember what she said at all.

She blushes and glances over at me, "oh... really?" she seems doubtful.

"Yeah absolutely!" I take a breath and try not to sound so enthusiastic. "I mean... ... ... ... ... yeah I do..."

"Well, thank you..." she seems awkward as if not sure how to accept a compliment but gives me a small smile.

I feel my cheeks heat up when she smiles and I return it, looking back at my feet again to not be creepy.

She lets out a small laugh. "You're cute when you blush... you know that?" She looks down at her own feet as her hands fiddle with her bag.

"Wh-What?" I look at her with wide eyes. "Me?"

"No... that dog over there," she chuckles and points to a black lab as it runs by with its owner. Then she looks at me and elbows me softly in the side. "Yes, you Peter Parker."

"I'm not blushing!" I say defensively but if I wasn't before then I am now out of embarrassment.

"Mhmm... okay, okay so I guess it's some kind of allergic reaction then?" She raises her brows at me.

I chuckle. "Y-Yeah. I thought I mentioned before that I was allergic to oxygen," I say with a frown, playing along.

She shakes her head. "Wow...you poor thing." She puts a hand on my arm as her eyes turn sad in mock sympathy. "How have you survived this long?"

I pretend to start joking. "Oh my gosh!" I put a hand on her shoulder and look terrified. "Why didn't anyone tell me there was oxygen in the air?! What do I do?!" I ask like I'm about to die.

She snatches a cup of water from the hands of a guy who's busy texting and before the dude can gripe about it, she turns to me. "Maybe this'll cure you!" Throwing it in my face, she laughs and starts running down the sidewalk.

For a moment I am taken aback, the cold water shocking my nerves but I open my eyes and mouth to gawk at her but clench my jaw. "Oh you're so dead!" I take off after her, laughing the whole way.

"If you can catch me!" She yells back, her auburn locks flying behind her.

I laugh as I jog toward her. "That's not hard! You run like a girl!" I tease with a grin.

She lets out a laugh. "Yeah? I was about to say the same thing to you, Parker!" She turns to me with a challenging smirk before facing forward again.

I make an offended look. "Oh you're screwed now!" I take off her direction as fast as I can which is... surprisingly fast, my vision concentrating on her like an automatically targeted gun in cheap video games.

She picks up her pace when I gain ground but then I see her trip over a piece of re-bar that a construction company left in the middle of the sidewalk and her body falls forward.

My hand is on her back and shoulders and the other holding her waist as I keep her from falling, my eyes wide when I realize that I just caught her...

She takes in a breath and her brows furrow when she looks at me. "Wha...? How did you get here so fast?"

I stare at her for like a full minute and try to hide the fact that I also have no idea as to the answer to that question... so I just deny it. "Uh what do you mean, I was right next to you," I say convincingly... Well no it probably wasn't very convincing...

She goes to stand and straightens out her black button down open over her tee. "No... you weren't. You were way behind me." Pointing to the sign at the beginning of the block, she then looks at me. "You were way back there."

I laugh nervously as if she said a joke... ... ...but she still waits for me reply so I just shut my mouth and look past her up at the building. "Hey we're here!" I smile.

She rolls her eyes and looks up at the building that looks like it could take you back in time just by stepping inside. There were large windows that covered most of the front, minus the two rows of clean white bricks on either end. She points to a window on their right, "you can see them making their pastries and whatnot, which I think is pretty cool."

"Yeah it is! Hey let's take some shots! Go over there and look interested in watching them," I say as I take out my camera.

"Kay, kay," she says and then walks over to the window, putting her hand to her chin as she observes what they're doing as if in deep thought.

I laugh and put my camera down. "Try to look more excited."

She then points to the window with finger guns and a huge open mouthed grin as if she's just way too excited and I'm pretty sure I know what she's referencing so I start cracking up when I turn my camera to her.

"Hurry and take it, I can see them looking at me weird," she says through her smile.

I laugh again while I take a couple shots. "Your boyfriend won't be jealous that another guy is taking pictures of you for a newspaper, will he?" Wait did I just ask that? Why did I ask that?

"Uh," she snickers and bites her lip. "Ex boyfriend," she corrects.

Suddenly something inside me jumps and it's a weird feeling. Is it my new spider-sense?!

...No... no it's just butterflies.

"Oh..." is all I say and scratch the back of my neck nervously, hoping I didn't surface any bad emotions in her... "I-I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It was overdue. He turned into a real dick. He's been posting all these photos of him and his perfect new girlfriend. Really pissing me off," she huffs with her hands on her hips in frustration.

"Weren't you guys together still like last weekend?" I ask with a frown.

"Yeah. Seems girls were lining up to sleep with him," she makes a face and drops her hands, shaking her head.

"Oh did... I mean—" I stop myself before I ask that question.

"No I didn't. That lesbian? No way. I-I mean I'm never gonna..." she shakes her head. "Anyway. He and her have been writing public captions and expression their love all over the internet for people to see. It's disgusting." She flattens her lips.

"Well maybe we should show him how much fun you're having," I propose.

She starts to smirk a bit when she seems to understand what I'm getting at.

"I think we should take some selfies ourselves around town and upload them," I smile at her.

"But what about your photos?"

"Well we can just take some pictures with the camera and then some with the cell phone. Easy."

"My audition's in three hours."

"Then let's get going," I smile, sure of my plan.

A grin spreads on her lips and she lets out a breath and looks down. "Um well are we finished here?"

"Let's get one more."

"Okay." She throws herself against the window and plants both her palms against the glass in sudden interest in what they're doing in there and I start laughing.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

"Can you just tell me what you want?" the older man behind the counter asks, looking dead in the face.

"We need something crazy and colorful that looks insane," I tell him.

"Your booth will be featured in the Daily Bugle and if it's super cool then you'll be sure to get more customers," MJ adds.

"...Fine."

"Alright how about the birthday cake flavor on the neon blue waffle cone?" she suggests.

"As many scoops as you can stack on top. We can afford it," I tell him.

"And cover the whole thing in rainbow sprinkles!" she smiles widely.

He sighs deeply before looking at an invisible camera with a finished look.

"This thing is a monster," MJ comments when we get it. Luckily it's not as hot out tonight or else it would melt in two seconds.

"Let's get one in front of the booth," I say and take out my camera to stand back a bit.

She makes a funny face and uses her other hand to point to the sign, the elderly man behind the counter not smiling along but I think that would be a miracle.

I back up but trip over the chair.

"Hurry it's melting!" she warns.

"Yeah I'm fine, thanks."

She laughs and returns to her pose when I take the shot.

"Okay this way," I say and we walk over to a group of teens all eating their own desserts and socializing.

"Hey could we get a favor?" MJ asks.

All of us pose behind her cell phone and everyone in the photo makes a surprised face for the selfie with MJ at the front with her monster cone. It turns out great and we high five, almost dropping the thing when we do and both of us freeze, laughing a bit.

"So what was your name again? Like Glen? Rodney?" she asks me with interest as if she doesn't remember. We sit across from each other eating the diabetes cone separated into two bowls.

"Peter," I remind her, looking bummed.

"Okay, Glen. What's your taste in music?"

"The absolute best."

"Wow. Why not the worst? You got something against bad music?"

"No I'm fine with your taste existing, it's just not mine--"

She flings ice cream at me from her spoon.

"Ah! Why?!" I ask her when I wipe my face, the chunk of frozen cream tumbling down the front of my shirt.

"What do you even know about my taste?!" she demands playfully.

"Okay you want to go there?"

"I do."

"I heard you listening to Katy Perry and I'm not a fan--"

"Oh so because you don't like a super popular artist it means I'm the one with bad taste?"

"Yeah that's when I stopped stalking you."

"Okay fine well if that's how you wanna be, I hate your face and hair and shoes and the fact that you breathe."

I look at her deeply offended. "What's wrong with my shoes?"

She spits out ice cream with sudden laughter, her body falling against the back of the chair to try to contain herself, a napkin pressed to her mouth to dry it off as she tries to stop, almost choking herself.

I am laughing now too, her laugh being incredibly contagious.

"You gotta give it a cheesy caption about how cool all your new friends are," I tell her as we walk to our next location and she is posting the photo.

She starts typing. "'With friends like these, who needs anemones?'"

The both of us start cracking up.

"Alright stand over there," I shout.

"Here?" she scoots to the left, positioned in front of the globe behind the shrubberies in Corona Park, the fountains sparkling when the sun hits the water.

"Yeah perfect."

She puts her arms out like she's presenting the globe above her dramatically.

I take the shot and smile, loving her goofy behavior. "That's awesome."

"Now come over here to take the selfie!" she waves me over.

I sling my camera on my shoulder and walk over to her as she takes out her phone. She makes sure to get a good angle to see the globe and the two of us pose, making silly faces and taking one photo.

"Hmm..." she puts her hands on her hips. "We need something cooler."

"Yeah like a rocket."

"Or a dress made of meat."

"Or a skateboard?" I look over at some kids who are boarding nearby.

She looks at me with a smile.

We laugh as I run in front of her to get a cool shot of her boarding past the globe and I jog backwards with my camera in hand.

"Slow down!" I laugh.

"I can't go too slow I won't be moving at all!" she complains mid chuckle.

I get a shot of her laughing with her hair flying by, getting the globe behind her as she rides on the cement, whole body and skateboard visible and the sun shines through the metal bars in the globe. It's a great shot. But just to be safe I take a few more.

"Do I flip!" I cheer.

She glares at me and makes a face.

I laugh. "Oh, come on! It's easy!" I tease.

"Oh, it's easy, is it?!" she yells as she rides by.

I am crouched down to get a different angle. "Very easy."

"Okay smartass. You try." She gets off and gives me a look.

"No thanks," I pass, standing up.

"Oh are you chicken?" she challenges and steps up to me. "What's the matter, Parker? You allergic to skateboards? Are you afraid of the board? Huh?" she pokes my chest annoyingly.

"Knock it off," I try not to laugh. "This is your thing."

"What was that, Katy Perry hater? Chicken? Someone say chicken?"

"I can skateboard better than you," I tease.

"Prove it," she makes a face.

I hop on the board after a give her my camera, taking off around the circle as she crosses her arms and waits for more.

I flip the board while I'm riding and land it, rolling around the shrubberies.

"Boo! What else you got?!" she calls from where she is, laughing after.

"You wanna see a trick?!" I shout back.

"Surprise me," she says with doubt.

I do a ninety degree turn and kick off hard with my foot, rocketing faster than I would have thought possible straight for the globe. I'm just now realizing I have absolutely no plan at all. Maybe I can jump the shrubs.

The world flies past me and I push my back foot down hard to leap off the ground, the shrugs flying under me along with... the whole globe as my body shoots through the air and my spider-sense kicks in for the landing, making sure my stance is completely right as my mind and muscles work faster than I can even keep track and I land safely and perfectly on the concrete, stopping as soon as I can and hesitating for a moment before I cringe, realizing what I just did right in front of her. I wipe the pained look from my face and turn to smile at her. "How was that?"

She is staring at me with her mouth hanging wide open.

"Alright," I clap my hands together. "Let's head to the next site!"

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

"Are you sure this is the most pricey store in Queens?" She asks me.

I look down at my phone. "Yeah," I reply before heading inside. Okay I know what you're thinking. But we didn't talk about it and when she kept questioning me about it I just kept bringing up different ways to properly grill branzino until she gave up.

"Okay our challenge is to find the most expensive item in the store," she says.

"I'll raise you one. You're going to wear the most expensive dress in the store and pose for the photo," I suggest.

She snorts.

I frown. "What?"

"Come on... me?" she stops and looks at me. "Parker I'm not a model," she adds as she runs her fingers through her hair nervously, trying to act cool and casual but she's hiding self-consciousness.

"Uh, MJ you're the most beautiful woman I've met and you had boys asking you out before they knew what a boyfriend was," I say honestly. Oh my lord, where is all this bold honesty coming from all of a sudden? I need to stop.

She blushes deeply and tries not to look at me, glancing up at me from under her lashes, unsure of what to say.

I take a breath and look down as well, even though I meant it. I just shrug. "It's true." I kick my foot, attempting to just be confident at this point.

She smiles widely and lets out a chuckle. "Thank you, stalker," she teases with a genuine smile.

I smile back at her. "So let's find that dress then," I say stubbornly and walk further into the room, feeling her eyes on me when I do.

"This one's nine hundred," she calls from where she's at.

"This one is a thousand," I counter.

"Oh bingo! Four thousand!" she cheers.

I look over to see her pointing to a mannequin wearing a stunning floor length gown that actually looks like it's made of small shavings of gold. It has a slit on either side that goes up both legs and the collar cuts down past the chest in the center, hooking around the neck; a backless dress. The skirt drapes perfectly like a dress made for an actual angel. And all of the borders just swoop so naturally looking.

"That's..." I start but don't finish as we stand there looking it over.

"Yep—"

"Yep."

"Ma'am do you have this in a size five?"

People stare at us as we run carrying the dress to the makeup counter. "Hey I'm really interested in buying a lot of your products but first I'm gonna need you to put all of them on my face in a very beautiful way for free," she tells the women working there.

"I feel like both me and my dad would go to prison of I damage this dress," she says from behind the dressing room stall curtain.

"I can't relate. I own two islands off the coast of Peru," I say.

"Yeah? My credit card fails when I try to buy Ramen Noodles."

"Same!" I realize.

She laughs.

I chuckle and sit down--only to get back up immediately when she opens the dressing room curtain. "Alright. By the look of me, how much would you say I'd spend on a handbag?"

I almost don't even hear her because of how... stunning she looks in that dress... In fact, the English language has left my vocabulary and now I can only seem to speak some form of fish. I can't even make any sounds come out to answer her—oh man I hope my cheeks aren't red but they probably are.

"What? Is there something on my face?" she asks with a frown, holding back a bashful smile she doesn't want to show.

"Um... no—well yes. Beauty?"

She cringes at that.

"Yeah that wasn't a good one."

She giggles a tad. "No it was cute. I've heard worse."

"Well at least it wasn't the worst," I say nervously, my palms sweating before I chuckle slightly—or at least try but what it seems like its just a breath that comes out of my smile... That was worded weirdly. Sorry, I told you English has left my vocabulary.

"So..." she looks at me expectantly. "You ready to do this?"

"What?" I widen my eyes.

"The photo."

"Oh..." I shake my head as if to clear it of thoughts that shouldn't be there. "Right. Yes."

She chuckles.

"Just look like you're tired. Look like sleeping beauty just took five Nyquil's," I tell her.

"That would probably kill her."

"Probably." I get down on my knee to take the shot as she lounges on the fainting couch that rests against the mirror in the changing room that's probably larger than it needs to be. But you know how these expensive places are. She has her right arm that's closest to the mirror bent so that her fingers touch the side of her head around her ear, her foot on that side is propped up on the armrest and the other is lower but the heel of her shoe is resting against the leg and so propping her leg up a bit more awkwardly but in a good way. Models are never truly posed relaxed. They just make super stressful and awkward positions look relaxed. Honestly that whole industry is whack.

Anyway her other arm is draped down naturally with her hand looking graceful.

We also found the most expensive high heeled shoes here and it almost rivals the cost of the dress.

"Alright how's this?" she sticks out her tongue.

"You can try to make yourself look ugly but it's never going to work, sorry," I say honestly while I take another photo.

She laughs and I get a shot of that too. "Okay okay. Stop making me laugh."

"I'm just sitting here. How is that making you laugh?"

"I don't know! Now shut it!" she manages to stop smiling and takes a breath.

"Okay hurry we need to get out of here before we get more funny looks."

She tilts her chin up and parts her lips just slightly to give that classic model look for just long enough for me to snap it. "Got it! This is perfect!" I say when I stand up.

"Can I see?" she hops over to take a look. "Oh no! I look so bad!"

I roll my eyes and glare at an invisible camera like the man at the ice cream stand did.

"Okay fine. I'm not posing again."

I throw my arms up in defeat. "...Women," I sigh.

She giggles. "Okay hold on." She goes to the mirror with her phone and snaps a selfie in it of her whole attire to look super casually beautiful. When she posts it she types a caption that reads: "Too dressy for the gala? Oh well #TreatYoSelf"

Then she hops into the changing room to get back into her old clothes.

I look through the shots and the one where she's cracking up brings a smile to my lips. I look through some more with warm thoughts—that sounded weird that's not what I meant—

A thud gets my attention. "Ah... Shit..." she says in realization.

"What happened?"

There's no answer but she gets on her clothes and opens the curtain with a worried look before she holds up the high heel with... the very thin heel broken.

"How—?" I begin.

"It's so thin!"

"Shh!" I stop before I look over at the attendant who comes in just then and we both stare at her with wide eyes...

She stops and looks back at us the same way.

...

...I take the shoe and throw it back in the stall. "Run!" I take her hand and flee the scene as fast as we can.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

She stumbles behind me but catches up best she can as I run for it and we pass the expensive clothes left and right, both of us frantic.

We almost run into a lady shopping and immediately halt, taking a left to go around her as she looks at us with alert.

"Sorry!" MJ says through laughter before following me as we both run down the escalator, almost barreling through people on the way as she giggles. We take off outside as both of us laugh, running down the street and around the corner before we finally stop to catch our breath.

We are both laughing again as she pulls her strap to her overalls back on her shoulder. She still has her million dollar makeover on but her hair has come out of its do. It's still curly, though.

"We are so ghetto, man!" I laugh and give her a high five.

She returns it with her own laughter and keeps ahold of my hand with a goofy manner. "Dude that was lit!" she says with a mocking voice.

"Is that supposed to be my voice?" I ask as we swing our connected hands idly, my expression humored.

"No, not at all," she makes the voice again.

"Are you making fun of me?"

She lets out a giggle.

I laugh as well, with a wide smile, "Why do I sound like Kermit?"

She laughs harder and still holds onto my hand for balance to keep from falling over with amusement.

"We have one last stop before your audition." I say as we realize it's getting dark now, the sky deep blue above us as cars begin to turn their headlights on.

"Let's make it quicker than that one," she chuckles.

"Alright, then I'll race yuh!" I take off running.

"Wait! Where?!" she laughs before sprinting after me.

When we come to our destination both of us stop as we marvel at it.

"The Queens Giant," I answer her question.

She smiles widely before getting a closer look at the skyscraping monument.

"Alright, we're presenting this to the world so make it look good," I tease when I stand back with my camera.

She spreads her arms in a gesturing manner to the tree above her as she gives me a perfectly whacky face. I take the shot and laugh. "Perfect."

She smiles widely and gets her cell out to take a selfie but instead she looks at her newsfeed and scoffs.

"What?" I ask when I come to her side.

"Look at this. He's posting a photo of him kissing his sleezebag of a girlfriend with heart emojis all around that's so disgusting. Showing their love all over the internet for the world to see. Uck," she scoffs again. "Alright you know what? Two can play at this game. Get in this picture with me."

"Me?" I widen my eyes with confusion. "You think that I could make him upset?"

She makes a mocking face. "Of course you could. Geez, how low is your self-esteem? Have you looked in a mirror?"

A smile wants to spread on my lips, but I feel my cheeks heat up and I look down to hide it. "Nah I'm a big loser."

"Shut up, handsome and come be in this photo."

"If you insist." I move to her side and use the phone myself because I have longer arms, pulling the device far back so it can the tree in the background. We both smile but...

"You know that's good but it's missing something," I point out.

"What?" she frowns.

I pinch her side and she bursts into giggles so I hook my arm around her neck and press my lips to her cheekbone near her ear, snapping the shot just in time before she pushes me back. "Peter Parker!" she scolds, still looking amused as her laughter dies down.

I chuckle with a smile on my lips pulled back as I shift my foot and put my hands in my pockets, looking down to try and stop laughing.

"You little—aw," she corrects herself when she sees the photo. "Damn we look cute!" she admits.

I let out a small chuckle before I nod in agreement.

"I hate you but this is genius," she tells me before applying a filter. "Okay we need a fitting caption. Some song lyrics. Or something."

"Got it." I take the phone and type: It's like I've waited my whole life for this one night. Then I add a heart emoji after it and hand it back to her.

She is looking at me funny, a smile showing off her adorable dimples.

"What?" I ask with a slight frown but still grinning.

"Nothing..." But then something occurs to her before she posts it. "Are you sure this is okay? I mean everyone at school will think you're dating me."

"Are you kidding? That would make me so popular."

She lets out a laugh before uploading it.

I chuckle a tad because of her reaction. But even more true is, "Besides I'm not gonna date anyone else," I blurt out without thinking. Wait—no okay. Just play it cool. As if it was just super smooth. I smirk at her with eyes that reflect how I truly feel which is adoration before I let it hang by walking from her, her eyes watching me with warmth as a small smile lingers, her cheeks pink before she bites her lip and looks back at her phone again...

Yes! I'm so smooth.

I practically skip to my apartment door and then all way to my room, music playing in my head from the song that I stole those lyrics from, before I hop onto my bed and stare at the ceiling with a smile on my face like an idiot. I feel like I could puke rainbows and butterflies.

Honestly it's true. I practically "waited my whole life for this one night". I've had a crush on her since the playpen. And for a whole day and night spent with her... and all the fun we had? It's a dream come true. If I'm lucky she may feel anywhere near how I feel even though that's not likely. I didn't embarrass myself too much did I? Oh man I hope not. No way! Did you see the way she looked at me by the tree? She totally likes me! Unless that was just like an amused smile. Oh man was she laughing at me?!

No.

Oh I don't know.

And I don't care. That night was awesome!

I think through all of this as I look over our photos while listening to some upbeat indie hipster music.

I come across the one at the ice cream place then the one where she's laughing while riding the skateboard... I love that smile and it makes my heart flutter when I see it, remembering how fun that was—

The door opens and I spring to a sitting position as if caught red handed or something.

"Are you listening to Mumford and Sons?" May frowns.

"No," I lie.

She hesitates. "What's wrong with your face?"

"What?" I can't stop smiling, though. "Nothing."

"...Right... Okay crazy..." she slowly shuts the door again...

I wait a moment before pressing play again and lying back down.

That's when my phone goes off. I check and it's my Instagram messages. I open it up to see MJ sent me one of the photos she took that I wasn't aware of; one of me laughing as we walked down the street... Underneath she sends a winking face and then types, "Thanks for the fun stalker! Good luck with the freelance."

I smile as warmth fills my heart that flutters from her words and the emoji she used, a glad feeling in me before I decide to type back: "You too, model. Good luck with the musical," then send her a heart.

I smile to myself when I place the phone back against my chest and stare at the ceiling again, a comforting joy inside me...