Chapter 37
Miles stared at his phone like it had just punched him in the gut.
Gwen’s blog post sat open, the words “signing off” blaring like a siren in his head. It didn’t feel like just a blog post. It felt like a goodbye. A quiet, crumbling kind of goodbye he wasn’t ready for.
His feet moved before his brain caught up. He didn’t even knock when he found her near the back of the library, hood up, headphones in, curled up with a sketchbook that she wasn’t even using.
“Hey,” he said, gently.
She looked up. Her eyes flicked over him. Then back down.
Cold. Distant. Not Gwen. Or maybe the Gwen she was when she was protecting herself.
“You okay?” he asked.
“I’m fine.”
“Gwen…”
She sighed, still not looking at him. “Miles, I just… I can’t do this right now.”
And it hit him—she wasn’t just pulling away. She was hurt. She wasn’t shutting him out because she didn’t care. She was doing it because she did.
“Please don’t end us like this,” he whispered. “We don’t have to be okay right now, but… please don’t leave it like this.”
She didn’t respond. Just kept her head down as he stood there, heart breaking quietly in his chest.
The quad was loud with conversation and music, students scattered on picnic blankets and beanbags. Gwen sat with Amaya and Ganke, sipping a smoothie, eyes hidden behind sunglasses. She barely said a word.
Miles approached, cautiously.
“Hey.”
Ganke smiled at him. “Sup, man.”
Amaya offered a tight smile.
Gwen stood up immediately, brushing imaginary dust from her jeans. “I’m gonna go.”
Amaya glanced between them and excused herself, following Gwen a few steps behind.
“Hey, wait—what was that?” Amaya asked.
“What?”
“You left the second he showed up.”
Gwen exhaled, her steps quick. “I don’t want to be around him.”
“Look, I don’t know what he did. But I’ve seen you with him. You’re not pretending with him like you do with everyone else.” Amaya touched her arm. “I’m just saying… don’t let anger ruin something good.”
Gwen didn’t respond. But the words rooted themselves in her chest.
Later that evening, Gwen found a small package outside her dorm door.
Inside was a tiny, handmade clay charm—a spider with music notes on its back.
And a note: “Thought this would make you laugh. Like old times. Meet me on the rooftop? If you want.” —M”
She hesitated. For a long time.
Then finally… she went.
He was sitting on the rooftop edge, headphones in, feet dangling over the side.
Gwen sat next to him, silent at first. He handed her one earbud.
When she put it in, a soft track began to play—an old indie tune she once told him reminded her of feeling safe. Of being understood.
He didn’t say anything. Just let the music speak.
She closed her eyes for a moment. Maybe… maybe he wasn’t just Spiderman. Maybe he was still her Miles, too.
When Gwen slipped back into her dorm, the lights were on.
Her mother sat on her bed.
Her father stood with his arms crossed.
“Mom?” Gwen blinked.
“We need to talk,” her mother said gently.
“You’ve been distant. Not sleeping. Your grades are slipping,” George added. “We think… it’s time to come home.”
Gwen didn’t even know what to say. Her world, already shifting, tilted even more.
“But—”
“No decision tonight,” her mom interrupted. “Just think about it. Please.”