Fresh Start
"It's back to school, folks. And in their infinite wisdom, Mayor Dingus and the city clown-cil are welcoming back the town's most notorious costumed killer Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man. Ladies and gentlemen, you are watching TheDailyBugle.net. as I have an exclusive interview with CatCo's Kara Danvers in National City. Welcome, Miss Danvers." announced J. Jonah Jameson on his show.
Kara Danvers had taken a seat near him. With a natural smile, Kara replied punctually.
"Thank you for seeing me, Mr. Jameson."
"From someone who lives in the city of Supergirl, the one that symbolizes truth and justice, do you have to admit that a young offender named Peter Parker should be in prison and not in a high school?" asked Jameson.
Always natural, Kara replied with a smile:
"May I ask you a question, why do you think Peter Parker or Spider-Man is a criminal? What do you base your assessment on?"
Feeling insulted, the editor-in-chief rebelled:
"He's a cold-blooded murderer! He attacked London and murdered Mysterio!"
"If you are referring to the attack in London, Peter Parker was cleared." rectified the journalist of National City with a calm tone. "The authorities have discontinued the charges against Peter. And it has been proven that the video of Mysterio that was sent to you anonymously was tampered with in order to make Peter Parker look like a murderer!"
But Jameson was always up.
"He's a threat to the city of New York! Every day, he puts lives in danger with his filthy webs! How many people will have to get hurt before someone stops this dangerous criminal?"
"With all due respect, Mr. Jameson, I live in National City, but I don't miss the news when it comes to Spider-Man. And to my knowledge, Spider-Man never put anyone in danger! He saves lives like Supergirl, Superman or even Flash of Central City! Every time he appeared to stop any crime, no one was hurt or killed. So, again, what makes you say that Spider-Man is a public danger? And don't talk to me about Mysterio! I've done my research on him! This man was a dangerous psychopath, ready to put lives in danger for unearned recognition."
"That's exactly what this dangerous criminal sticking to the walls does!" said Jameson, angry. "Like during the Star City's Crisis."
While in his office, the screen displayed images of the battle against the Anti-Monitor. All were worn on Spider-Man.
"As you can see in these images, we can see Spider-Man fighting our brave heroes with the complicity of the Anti-Monitor." continued the editor.
Trying not to laugh at the stubborn man's stupidity, Kara resumed with a natural tone.
"Again with all due respect, Mr. Jameson, there's absolutely nothing on these images that proves that Spider-Man was in cahoots with the Anti-Monitor. All I see are heroes fighting to defeat this cosmic being. You can't say that Spider-Man is a threat just because of that!"
"And the material damage that followed his passage? The ferry at Staten Island that was cut in half, Washington Monument, Venice Grand Canal, Tower Bridge. You are going to tell me that it is earthquakes that caused all these damages that could have made innocent victims? And this wretched boy dares to walk quietly through the streets of our city as if nothing had happened. Do you think that's fair, Miss Danvers?"
"If I may ask you another question, Mr. Jameson, do you have a grudge against Peter Parker or Spider-Man?" Kara asked, always with a smile on her face.
Jameson was disconcerted.
"What are you talking about? He's the same person! Mysterio said it!"
"Not quite! Peter Parker's a young man like everyone else. An ordinary citizen of New York and Spider-Man fights for justice and security for all of us. And without the intervention of Spider-Man, a class of high school students would have lost their lives. You mentioned the ferry cut in half that was saved by Spider-Man and Iron Man. Everyone I interviewed in my column told me about the good that Spider-Man brings to people. It has become an inspiration to them. And I remind you that Spider-Man fought against the Anti-Monitor and it's shameful to spread slanderous rumors against him. I know you have your own opinion of this young man, and I have someone else with me who has a very different view. You must know Cat Grant, who was once the head of CatCo and is now a press officer in Washington. She agreed to join us on your show."
Jameson appeared stunned.
"What? Nobody told me that slut Grant would show up on my show!"
"Miss Grant, you're on!" announced Kara with amusement.
Immediately, the screen changed to show the image of Cat Grant.
"Thanks Keira. J.J. Jameson. It's been a while! I still remember you as a little amateur journalist trying to make a name for himself in the field of journalism."
After recovering from his shock, Jameson looked furiously.
"C.J. Grant! Unpleasant! I remember too when you were just a little gossip columnist for Perry White! And you have claimed the success by proclaiming yourself Queen of All Media! There's no escaping the past, C.J. Grant!"
Offended, Cat Grant put him back in his place.
"C.J. Grant is past! It's Cat Grant now! Don't make yourself any dumber than you already look, J.J. Especially with your lies about Spider-Man! Why all the fuss for a kid? You're acting like Parker stole your lunch! What did that boy do to you that you treated him like that?"
"Don't take me for a fool, Grant!" said the editor. "I know you got all this by kissing Supergirl's ass. You became her media darling, which led to your position in Washington."
"Believe what you want, J.J. I didn't have to spread ridiculous gossips to get promoted! You are pathetic to repeat the lies of your so-called hero Mystério. Um, Mysterio! A name straight out of a worthy '70s dud. And you, J.J. are such a horrible person who lies as you breathe to the point of losing our critical sense. By attacking this poor kid, you are only proving that you aren't a real journalist, but a lackey of a megalomaniacal psychopath who is just spreading hate messages. Are we really in America? When I watch your show, - if you can call it a television show, - I feel like I've fallen into an alternate universe. Your media rags are a real garbage. I do believe that your journalistic instinct is not what it used to be, my poor J.J. Perhaps it's time you consider retiring. I will certainly inform Mrs. Jameson that you need to have your blood pressure problem monitored. Which would explain why you're so gullible to believe the lies of a psychopath to drive Spider-Man..."
Jameson jumped out of his seat and yelled at the cameraman.
"Shut this off! Shut this off! Shut this off!"
Amused, Kara remained calm.
"Well, it was a very awesome show!"
In the evening at Happy's apartment, Peter tried in vain to remove the green paint from his suit. Seeing that he couldn't get the paint off his suit, he grabbed a piece of cloth nearby to use it, revealing a huge crate with a Stark Industries logo on it. Intrigued, he glanced at it. It was a revolutionary machine with impressive technological processes that Happy had probably borrowed from Stark Industries.
His cell phone rang, interrupting him in his thoughts.
"Hello?"
"Peter, it's Alex." says a voice on the other end of the line. "Nia told me what happened today. Are you okay?"
Peter sighed as he saw his suit still containing the green paint on it.
"I'm trying to clean my costume... it won't go away... but I'll manage, don't worry!"
"I feel sorry for you that you have to go through this." replied Alex embarrassed. "Even Kara worries about you."
"Tell her I'm fine." Peter replied naturally. "I'm the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. I can handle anything."
"No one is foolproof, not even Spider-Man. Even Supergirl has her limits. There is nothing wrong with asking for help. I saw the reports on Mysterio supporters."
Peter appeared overwhelmed with impotence.
"I knew it was gonna be hard even though I'm cleared for Quentin Beck's death. The video has been all around the city. Many people still consider Mysterio a great superhero."
"They are dumbs, Peter." says Alex. "I know Jameson by reputation and according to Kara, who gets it from Cat Grant, he is known for talking nonsense in order to get ratings. His business is to publish lies and dirty rumors. You must wait for the storm to pass. Don't play into the hands of these morons. It will be even worse. In time, they will move on. Be patient, Peter."
"Thank you Alex." the young man replied with gratitude. "Kara is very luckily to have a sister like you."
Alex laughed a lot.
"You have a lot in common with her."
Peter laughed with her, then resumed his seriousness.
"I'm going back to school tomorrow. The first time I've been back to school since all this. I believe this is the first time I have been back since our world changed during the Crisis."
"Nervous?" asked Alex.
"The reaction of my classmates. There are many who did not know me when no one knew that I was Spider-Man. And now that the secret is out and they know that Spider-Man is going to be in with them..."
"Just be yourself, Peter. That's all you have to do. Go to class, do like you used to, and pay no attention to what they say about you."
"We'll see."
In the evening, Peter was lying on the couch and making a video call with MJ. The latter asked him if he had sent his applications to go to college.
"I literally just finished my MIT one. You?"
"Same." replied MJ.
"Imagine if we both got in? And Ned?" suggested Peter with ecstasy.
But MJ was not convinced.
"Yeah, but... we have to take scholarships so we could actually go."
"Come on. You got good scores, and good grades, and..." Peter said.
"You think I'm being too pragmatic?" she asked.
"No, no, no, no. Well... Kind of. That's okay. That's one of my favorite things about you."
"Right." says MJ. "What are your other favorite things?"
"I love your relentless optimism." replied Peter. "Supergirl is the queen of optimism, but you are even more so."
"Do you think I'm more optimistic than Superman's cousin? Wow, flattered." said MJ moved.
"I really like how you're a people person."
"I love people. Love 'em so much."
"You like sports."
"I think the Mets are gonna go all the way this year." said MJ.
Then snoring resounded.
"What's that noise?" she asked.
"Oh, that's... That's Happy. Look." answered Peter, taking the phone to Happy so she can see.
Happy was lying on a couch with a device on his face to help him sleep.
"He gave his room to May, so he's sleeping down here." explained Peter.
Wanting to change the subject, MJ asked Peter.
"I have a weird question. Does any part of you feel relieved about all of this?"
Peter knew she was referring to her secret identity that was revealed to the public. He thinks about it for a moment before answering.
"Ever since I got bit by that spider... I've only had one week, where my life has felt normal. Well, kind of normal, I guess. And... that was when you found out. Because then, everyone that was in my life that I wanted to know... knew. And it was perfect. But now everybody knows. And... I am the most famous person in the entire world... and I'm still broke."
Both of them laughed gently at this sentence.
"I'm... excited to see you tomorrow." replied MJ lost in her thoughts.
"Yeah, me too." assured Peter.
Then a voice startled the young man:
"Wrap it up."
Peter jumped to see Happy who seemed to be awake on his couch.
"You both like each other. We get it. Hang up. There's no new ground being broken, okay? I need my eight hours."
"Have you been listening this whole time?" asked Peter surprised.
"Hi, Happy." MJ said on the screen of Peter's phone.
"Not by choice." grumbled the head of security at Stark Industries.
"MJ says hi."
"Hello." said Happy before falling asleep.
The next day, Peter was finally back in school after the Crisis. He hoped that it would go smoothly. But being Spider-Man didn't give him the least privacy. When he arrived at Midtown High School, a huge crowd had gathered in front of the school entrance.
Betty Brant, his classmate and ex-girlfriend of his friend Ned, commented on the event for the school newspaper:
"We're covering the first day of senior year for Midtown High's most famous student, Peter Parker! Go get 'em, Tiger! Or should I say, Spider? The crowd has continued to grow here all morning long at the Midtown School of Science... The crowd seems evenly divided between supporters of Spider-Man, and protesters."
Betty couldn't be more right in her description. The crowd divided into two parts stood separated by a barricade, howling or cheering at the approaching couple. Peter and MJ walked holding hands, aware of the weight of their situation and the fact that everyone was cheering or exulting. Ned, head down, followed behind them.
As the couple walked, one of Spider-Man's supporters revealed a t-shirt with MJ's portrait printed on it. The supporter was screaming in front of the whole crowd.
"MJ! MJ, WE LOVE YOU! MJ, ARE YOU GONNA HAVE HIS SPIDER-BABIES?"
A security guard walked near them, to avoid a detractor attack on them.
Suddenly, an angry protester raised his voice to be heard:
"MJ, you know he's a murderer, right?"
Other protesters posted signs showing Peter's face with red horns drawn over his head. And others calling him the murderer of Mysterio.
"MYSTERIO FOREVER! YOU KILLED HIM, YOU MURDERER!"
And Spider-Man supporters who would wave their phones and beg them to take pictures.
"Peter! MJ! Do a TikTok with us!"
"Hey, let's see you and MJ kiss! Come on! Peter! MJ!"
Across the school, Alex and her girlfriend Kelly Olsen were staring at the crowd yelling at Peter. Both women felt sorry for the young man from Queens.
"Well, it's going better than we expected." declared Kelly with an ounce of pity for Peter.
"Finally, the kid is doing well until then." said Alex embarrassed for him. "I can hardly imagine what he must be going through right now. Poor Peter! He fought to save the universe! He fought against the Anti-Monitor risking his life! He really doesn't deserve to be treated like this! "
"We knew it was going to be hard for him." she reminded her girlfriend.
"High school, I have memories." said Alex while looking at the Midtown High School. "You see, when I was in high school in Midvale, at that time, Kara was doing her superhero stuff in secret, all over town, and I was always afraid she'd get exposed. And with what Peter's going through, I have a glimpse of what our life in high school might have been if everyone had unmasked us."
Annoyed by the fans who were too ecstatic to see Peter and MJ as a couple, Ned turned to them.
"Back off, guys!"
"Who are you?" asked a high school girl with her phone in her hand.
Everybody knew MJ was Spider-Man's girlfriend, and nothing about Ned Leeds, his best friend and confidant?
Frustrated, Ned was outspoken:
"I'm Ned Leeds. I'm Spider-Man's best..."
"...Spider-Man's best friend." says Flash Thompson who had just joined him.
Very proud, he showed himself in front of the students and out a big book with his head printed on the cover.
"You come at my boy? You come at Flash Thompson. You wanna read about our inspiring friendship? You can now from my new book, Flashpoint. One spider, two hearts, a million crazy-ass memories. Check it out."
Alex and Kelly looked at each other with a frown and frowning.
"Do you know this Flash Thompson?" asked Kelly.
"No, I've never seen him before." Alex replied confused. "And I don't think he's a friend of Peter's. Flashpoint?! Where did he get that name? At Central City's Barry Allen?"
Meanwhile, Peter and MJ were approaching the entrance to the school. But security came to search Peter with metal detectors. MJ stayed back until his turn.
Embarrassed, Peter joined the school. While Betty continued her report.
"Keep watching Midtown News all year as we bring you upclose and personal coverage of Peter fighting his biggest battle yet: college admissions."
As soon as Peter entered his high school, he was greeted by three of his former teachers: Roger Harrington, Julius Dell and his coach Andre Wilson. Peter could see that Mr. Harrington and Dell seemed ecstatic by his presence, while his coach didn't seem to be pleased with his presence. The young man didn't know what to think. He hadn't seen them for a long time. In the meantime, there was the Crisis. It was the first time he had seen them since his world had changed. And he wondered if his former teachers were still the same as before.
Ecstatic, Julius Dell was the first to speak:
"Peter. We would love to... Welcome you back... To Midtown High. Where we shape heroes."
Roger Harrington pointed to the wall behind them where a stand with several Spider-Man souvenirs and a portrait of Peter Parker was stored. Above the stand was a banner that said, "Where we shape heroes".
"Or murderers." says Andre Wilson, grimly, not sharing the enthusiasm of both professors.
"Stop it." replied Mr. Harrington firmly in a low voice before turning to Peter. "It's an honor to serve you... Sir."
He punctuated his sentence by making a military sign to the young man.
"It's not! Mysterio was right." the sports teacher replied with indignation.
Annoyed, Mr. Harrington made him shut up, before speaking again to Peter.
"Some of the students put this together for you."
But the coach continued to denigrate Peter by calling him the Mysterio's murderer. Mr. Dell, paying no attention, replied, all ecstatic.
"You did a great job. I hope you have time to stop and check it out... And feel free to walk... Or, or swing through the hallway... Or crawl on the ceiling to avoid everybody."
"I helped a little bit." added Mr. Harrington.
"We all know you can do it." said Mr. Wilson still grimly.
"Stop it. You're embarrassing yourself!" the Roger Harrington reprimand.
Ignoring his teachers, Peter made his way through the hallway, with all the students around him, who took pictures or filmed him with their phones, without any regard for his privacy.
"You didn't see anything about Peter?" asked a high school girl to her friend.
"That he was Spider-Man? I always thought Parker was a loser." she said, eyes fixed on him. "He was a good actor!"
"We were lab partners. Did you know that?" said another student not sharing the enthusiasm of all students.
Unfortunately, Peter had still more trouble to come. The only students on his side were MJ and Ned. Although the students didn't think of him as a murderer they had no empathy for his private life. They wanted to see Peter flitting with his webs in the corridors, or crawling on the wall. And as soon as the gym class came, everyone wanted to see Spider-Man in action. And to his great dismay, the sports teacher encouraged him to see him crawl up the wall to humiliate him.
At the gym, Andre Wilson was booing at Peter, encouraged by the other students.
"Climb it! Climb it! Climb it! Climb it! Climb it! Climb it!"
All students followed the sports teacher. Sighing with annoyance, Peter slowly approached and jumped on the wall of the gym. The auditorium became silent. In a deathly silence, Peter climbed up, each impact resonating heavily in the gym.
"Look at that sticky bastard go..." commented the grumpy coach.
Peter stopped his climb and remained glued to the wall, totally and emotionally exhausted. It wasn't the back-to-school he hoped for.
He heard someone yelling:
"FREAK!"
And he was relieved to hear the bell ring.
The young hero from Queens and his friends walked through the high school hallway. They passed a booth where Flash was discussing his book with students.
"I'm where he gets all his best ideas. That's why he calls me his Spidey-Mentor…" he explained proudly.
He greeted Peter who passed by. The students form a mob, chasing after the unmasked webhead. One stepped out from somewhere off to the side.
"Oh my God! He's so cute!" exclaimed a girl with glasses.
For the school newspaper, in order to have more information about Peter, Betty Brant had set herself up to interview teachers who knew the young man from Queens. It started with Mr. Harrington.
"What's it like, being Spider-Man's teacher?" asked the high school journalist.
"Well, Peter's, um... Peter's always been more than a student to me." replied the teacher. "He's also been like a son. Who's also my little brother."
"So, what do you think about these crazy Mysterio conspiracy theories that are spreading online?" she asked again.
"My ex-wife, for example, she's been spending a lot of time online. And, y'know, th… The Internet is a wild place that really beckons people like her who are a- A little lost. And kind of have forgotten where they came from, and who they are, and... And that they love someone very much. Sometimes you just forget these things and you end up in a subreddit... believing Mysterio..."
Feeling that he was moving away from the subject, he asked with confusion:
"Sorry, what was your question?"
Later, she interviewed Coach Wilson.
"So, what do you think about these crazy Mysterio conspiracy theories that are spreading online?" she asked again.
"There's a conspiracy theory that Justin Timberlake was in N'Sync at one time." replied Mr. Wilson. "And then you look it up, and... Oh, he was in N'Sync."
"So, you never noticed he had extraordinary athletic abilities?" asked Betty.
"I mean, it's a… It's science school." replied the coach a little embarrassed. "So... two pushups is extraordinary athletic abilities. Now that I think about it, there were some times that he was... sicking to the wall, or... He… He had this stuff coming out of his wrist, but... I didn't really think much of it, I... I just... I... I been doing this a long time, it's just... It's a lot of kids."
After the coach, Betty interviewed Flash Tompson about his book Flashpoint in which he claimed to be a close friend of Peter Parker aka Spider-Man.
"In your book, you revealed that the name Spider-Man was your idea. Were there any others that you tossed around before settling on Spider-Man?"
"Yeah, uh, there were a few, y'know." said Flash abruptly. "Arachno-Kid. The Bitten."
Betty continued the interview with a sceptical look.
"I noticed, uh, that in your book, I'm not mentioned once."
"No, no." replied Flash embarrassed as he started to leaf through his book. "I'm pretty sure you are."
Then she changed her question.
"What do you say to the people who claim that you're not really friends with Peter Parker?"
Flash seemed distressed, then bemoaned.
"Y'know, it hurts, because... Y'know, I..."
Later, she was with Ned. Although she seemed more to talk about her breakup with him than to bring up the subject of Spider-Man.
"So, what is an appropriate text to send to an ex-girlfriend in the middle of the night?"
Embarrassed, Ned looked at his feet, not knowing what to say.
"You look great, by the way." she said by the way.
"Thank you. You look... As beautiful as ever." replied Ned hastily.
And finally, she had an exclusive interview with Peter.
"What do you think of the rumors circulating about your alleged complicity with the Anti-Monitor to destroy the Universe?"
"Uh... these are all lies!" replied annoyed Peter. "I have never been an accomplice of this space monster! And I don't see how that could be possible! He wanted to kill us all! And I fought him with the Green Arrow before he died. There was also Supergirl, Superman, Flash, Black Panther, the Legends, the Guardians of the Galaxy... Uh... Thor and what's left of the Avengers... There was also Batwoman... The electric guy… Uh… Black Lightning and also the X-Men... but I never worked for the Anti-Monitor. He even wanted to kill me."
Betty then changed the subject.
"Tell me... If the spider that gave you your powers were here right now, what would you say?"
Peter was stunned by the question and left speechless. While Betty continued.
"Would you say Thanks? Or Thanks for nothing?"
"I... I would s... I would say Thanks!" Peter answered.
Later, she announced to the whole school from Midtown High's news.
"You can catch the rest of my exclusive interview with Peter Parker today at lunch, only on MNN. Up next, Lady Liberty is getting a makeover, and some of Midtown High's very own artists share their ideas of what she look like. We'll be right back after this important message from Principal Morita about cafeteria safety."
After school, the only place where Peter could be quiet was on the roof of the high school. He lay down with MJ who was reading a newspaper from the New York Post.
"Can we just like, stay up here all day?" asked the young man. "It is so crazy down there."
While reading the newspaper, MJ came across an article that made her laugh.
"Wait, this one's good. Some suggest that Parker's powers include the male spider's ability to hypnotize females, which he used to seduce Jones-Watson into his cult of personality..."
"Stop! Stop!" said Peter in a wild laugh.
"Yes, my Spider-Lord." said MJ amused.
Peter did not know if he had the ability to hypnotize women with his powers, but he was unwilling to try the experiment. In his current dire situation, it was the last thing he needed.
He and MJ both laughed, then turned to each other. As they were about to kiss, Ned suddenly arrived, apparently exhausted. He joined them in sighs.
"Finally, some privacy." he exclaimed relieved. "It is so crazy down there!"
Then he sat down in front of them, speaking.
"So, I was thinking... When we get into MIT, we should live together."
"Yeah, for sure." approved Peter.
"Yeah. Love that." MJ nodded.
Ned took out his laptop which displayed the image of a flyer on the Massachussets Institute of Technology. With a smile of enthusiasm, he added.
"This is gonna be us."
"Yes. Minus the frisbee. And the smiling." MJ replied.
"MIT's obviously the dream..." added Peter. "But if we match up our backup schools, either way, we'll all be together in Boston. New school, new town. I can Spider-Man there. I mean, they have crime in Boston, right?"
"Yes. Yes, they do." his girlfriend nodded.
"Yeah, wicked crime." added Ned not losing his enthusiasm.
"Yeah, so it'll be like a fresh start." said Peter confidently.
But he noticed that MJ didn't look as happy as her friends.
"I don't know. I just feel like if you don't... If you expect disappointment, then you can never really get disappointed."
"Come on. It'll be a fresh start." Peter insisted with confidence, taking her hand. "And... we'll all be together. And if it doesn't work out for Boston, we can still try college in National City. Alex told me it's great too. Sure, there will be aliens, Supergirl, Dreamer, the Martian... but it doesn't matter, what matters is that we all three fresh start..."
MJ was relieved and nodded the young man.
"Yeah. You're right. Fresh start."
"Fresh start." added Ned, laying his hand on Peter and MJ's.
Time passed by. Peter and his friends no longer saw the days or weeks that passed. They sent letters of application to several different colleges. All had negative feedback.
Finally, the last letter for MIT arrived. Excited, Peter joined MJ and Ned in a cafe where his girlfriend worked as a waitress at coffee shop.
They took place at a table next to the counter.
"Okay. Ready?"
"I feel like I'm gonna puke." moaning anxious Ned.
"Well, don't, because... my boss will just make me clean it." says MJ as nervous as he.
"This is our only shot." Ned stammered. "It's here, or nowhere. The one before that was National City. If we don't get accepted, I don't know what we're gonna do, guys!"
"Ned, don't be pessimistic!" Peter was as tense as his friends.
"Okay. You guys ready?" asked MJ.
They discover their letters. After reading for a moment, they looked up and looked at each other with disappointment.
"No." said MJ softly staring at Peter.
"No." admitted Peter before turning to Ned.
The latter read her letter with disappointment.
"In light of recent controversy, we are unable to consider your application at this time."
"This is so not fair." Peter murmured.
"Life is unfair, Peter." declared a horrible familiar voice behind them.
All three looked at the entrance to see Lex Luthor with a sweet look.
"Come on, guys, why do you look like someone killed your dog? Oh, I know your colleges have rejected your applications. Policy at the colleges sucks! It must be that deans of the faculties are not fans of superheroes and their acolytes. Although... I heard that Spider-Man is more considered an outlaw vigilante than a superhero... What a shame that the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man isn't able to fly and have a super-force like Supergirl and her cousin! But if you're interested, I have some connections with some colleges... Just a phone call from me, your applications will be accepted and you three will have a prosperous future."
The three friends cast contemptuous looks at the bald man. Peter had told them who Lex Luthor was before the Crisis and that he was the sworn enemy of the Kryptonians.
"What do you want?" asked MJ, throwing Lex with furious eyes. "Do you want to eat or drink something?"
"Lex Luthor. If I'm not mistaken, you are MJ Watson, Spider-Man's girlfriend." says Lex in a condescending tone.
"We know who you really are." Ned replied. "And whatever you have to tell us, we don't care! "
"And we have no desire to talk to you!" retorted MJ firmly.
Furious, Peter came to him with a hostile look.
"Mr. Luthor. I think we didn't get each other the last time. We are not friends. We will never be friends. And we are not interested in what you offer us! But… How do you know that our applications were rejected?"
"I have my ways, kid. It helps to have a lot of money." said Lex shrugging. "I hate to burst your bubble, Spider-Queens, but I warned you about what was coming. You think being cleared of Quentin Beck's death would solve all your problems? You got it wrong about the whole situation, boy! It was only a beginning! The world is cruel to aliens and freaks like you. And your friends supporting you causes a lot of trouble. I don't predict a bright future for you and your friends. Your girlfriend MJ will probably go on to do the little jobs of selling hot dogs. Hopefully they'll take your pal Edwards with her as a fast food waiter. But you, Peter, besides crawling and sticking to the wall, what else could you do? You don't have much left. And it's certainly not Supergirl and her band of superheroes who will help you find a college that accepts you or a decent job... Think about it!"
"For someone who claims to be a savior of humanity or a philanthropist, you have a curious way of showing it, given what you tell us to cheer us up." MJ replied dryly.
Then he took the way out of the cafe humming with a cheerful air.
"Good luck to you three. You'll know where to find me when the time comes when you're just good at selling hot dogs or fast food at local McDonald's."
And he left the restaurant without a word.
Peter took his place with his friends. All three shared a disappointed look. Although they hated to admit it, Lex Luthor wasn't wrong. Their future was not at all promising. How to fix this?
"This is so not fair." Peter moaned frustrated. "I mean, this is so not fair. I didn't do anything wrong. And you guys definitely didn't do anything wrong. I fought to save the universe. I don't understand!"
"Expect disappointment, and you will never get disappointed." said MJ with sympathy, repeating the words she had spoken a few months earlier.
Then, Flash Thompson went back into the cafe excited. He was apparently admitted to Boston University. He was all cheerful. But when he noticed the disappointment on the faces of Peter, Ned and MJ, he was dismayed.
"You guys didn't get in?" he assumed.
"Yeah." Ned replied firmly. "Because we're actually friends with Spider-Man."
He had had enough of the big ego of Flash Thompson who pretended to be a great man with his book which was a bunch of nonsense about Spider-Man and his supposed friendship with him.
"Uh, yeah... I better get going." he said after a embarrassed silence. "There's a, mixer for new admissions... and... Sorry, guys."
And he left the cafe without a single look to his comrades.
Eventually, MJ tore up her letter.
"You know what? I wouldn't change a thing." she said as she returned to her job.
"Me neither." added Ned, tearing his own too, but he quickly changed his mind. "Although, I coulda just showed this letter to my parents."
Without a word to his friend, he patted him on the back and left the coffee shop, leaving Peter disappointed at the table, thinking of his not so promising future. He was Spider-Man, the Paragon of Responsibility. What did he do to deserve that? And MJ and Ned were not responsible for it, and they were being punished too? If only Mysterio hadn't revealed his secret to everyone, things would be much different. He promised Oliver Queen that he would be worthy of being Spider-Man, but this heavy burden seemed to escape him. He could live a life without college, but his friends didn't deserve it! The thought of seeing MJ and Ned selling hot dogs or fast food all their lives was horrible for him. He had to do something.
Ruminating at his defeat, Peter started to look at the Halloween decorations still hanging inside the cafe. He noticed on the decorations of lights in the shape of witches' heads. Heads that looked like Doctor Strange. His ally Master of the Mystical Arts. He first met him when he was fighting Thanos with the Avengers, and then he also fought the Anti-Monitor during the Crisis.
What if he could solve his problem with his powers? Reverse time so that Mysterio doesn't reveal his secret? Could it work? Could Doctor Strange be the solution to all these problems?
He contacted Alex Danvers.
"Alex?"
"Peter, what's up? MJ, you and Ned have received your answers for MIT?" asked the young woman.
"We didn't get in." he replied.
"Geez, that's sucks." replied Alex distraught. "I'm so sorry for you. After that, it may not be so bad. They can change their mind. Not all is lost."
But Peter wasn't as enthusiastic as she was. He told her about Lex Luthor's visit to the cafe where MJ worked and what he had said about his insecure future.
"Lex! What poisonous and sneaky snake!" Alex yells out in rage. "Whatever he told you and your friends, don't take it seriously!"
"Alex, I may have a way to solve my problem and that of Ned and MJ."
"What would it be?" asked Alex doubting.
"Doctor Strange, the wizard of New York." says Peter overexcited.
"The one who lives on Bleecker Street in Manhattan?" exclaimed Supergirl's sister, astonished. "What do you think he would do?"
"Use his magic to reverse all the chaos caused by Mysterio." explained the young man. "I'm going to his house."
"Peter, I'll meet you there." said Alex when she cut off the communication.