What A Little Fame Can Bring

As Peter took a few steps away he heard what she said. He sighed and looked over his shoulder. “I thought we were friends,” he said and stepped away from her.

As the month drew on Peter had began to attune to his new found abilities. That and he designed and sewed himself a suit to wear. It came with booted bottoms he could wear under his clothes and a shirt and full head mask. He sewed pockets into his new backpack that he could hide the shirt and head mask. His job at the Daily Bugle was going well. With his abilities he was able to get alot of cool, interesting shots that he never could have before. And he came up with his superhero name, ‘Spiderman’. He thought it was corny, there had been a ‘Spider Woman’ but it seemed to fit him certainly.

As the weeks drew on he had foiled several crimes, several involving violent criminals though not on any scale as the Avengers. He was just one man and when he was up there swinging recklessly he felt...whole and alive and wonderful. It brought to him a new found confidence and self assurance. With money coming in, though his Uncle Ben had died, he still had enough to help his Aunt make ends meat and afford new clothes.

Harry and Serena had been dating for over a month. They went out to eat, dancing, to the movies, to sporting events, the zoo and he even managed to whisk her away on saturday excursions up state. He really liked Serena and felt that he might be falling for her. She wasn’t like alot of other girls. She wasn’t after his money, she had that already on her own. She was kind, respectful and let him be himself around her. It wasn’t easy being ‘Harry Osborn’. It carried with it a certain ‘expectation’ that he sometimes simply could not keep up. He could relax around her and, as they sat in his Jaguar Convertible with the top down, he kissed her softly. They went to one of his favorite places. Up on the heights where they could look down onto the city. With all of the lights and no one else around it was as if they were the only two people in the world.

The center console was between them and they had the seats all the way back which actually gave them a little room to make out. His left hand touched her right breast over her shirt as he tasted her tongue with his. She was a wonderful kisser he knew and she had turned him on quickly tonight. Her hand was around his neck pulling him close and she felt his hand move down her shirt to the front of her jeans to begin unbuttoning them.

For Serena the past month had been incredibly busy. Between her school work, the Osborn Corp. internship, helping her father with his projects, and dating Harry the past few weeks had flown by. Because of who she and Harry were they were rather quickly recognized together. They ignored the press though. They were teenagers and just wanted to have fun together. She met his parents and they seemed to like her. Obviously she came from a good family and was intelligent. She wanted to hang out more with Peter but she didn’t have the time. She did hear from him about what he was doing with his abilities and she supported him and thought what he was doing was great. Her offer about her father still stood but he never mentioned it.

That night she and Harry were parked alone together in his convertible. The top was down as it was a warm evening. They were making out as they lounged back on the seats. They had done plenty of kissing but nothing more than that. She had never gone beyond kissing with a guy before. She felt Harry’s hands beginning to wander and her heart began to beat harder in her chest. She felt flushed and her head was spinning. As she felt his hands begin to unbutton her jeans though she quickly realized that she wasn’t ready to go that far. She gently took hold of his hand and moved it away while continuing the kiss.

She could feel Harry’s lips curl into a smile when she set his hand aside. He liked that she wasn’t a pushover. He wasn’t really thinking of pulling her pants off just touching her between her legs. If she wasn’t ready for that then she just wasn’t. His heart was beating fast. It took courage as a guy to reach out those kind of feelers to a girl. There was always the risk of her getting angry and upset. He continued to kiss her and contented himself with just touching her over her clothes. After a while they just looked out over the city and leaned on one another. A thousand distant lights making it all a perfect romantic moment.

The next day Peter had done something as Spiderman that he felt bad about. He hurt someone because they got cocky and belligerent. He leaned up against his locker. His face all a distant frown. As Serena came toward the lockers he saw her then turned around to roll out his combination. “Hey,” He said without his usual enthusiasm he held in his voice whenever he saw her. It was abundantly clear Peter Parker had a ‘thing’ for Serena Stark and everyone, including Harry knew it. He and Harry were still best friends. But losing his uncle was taking his toll on Peter. He only had his Aunt now and they were struggling financially. He could take no credit for the things he did as spiderman. Spiderman’s exploits were no longer easily counted. The bugle didn't show him in a good light but the rest of the city loved him.

Serena was relieved that Harry didn't try to push her into having sex with him. She wasn't ready for something like that yet and didn't want there to be any pressure to sleep with him. She was alright letting him touch her over her clothes as long as he didn't try to get into her pants again. After a while they sat up and just looked out over the city as they talked.

The following morning Serena spotted Peter by his locker and she made her way over to him. She of course knew he was Spider-Man, but she kept that information to herself, although he was catching the attention of her parents. She could tell that something was wrong by Peter's facial expression and the way he avoided eye contact with her.

"Hey." She glanced around and didn't see anyone close by so she lowered her voice. "Is everything alright?"

“I’m just...I’m just missing my Uncle Ben...I guess. He always gives good advice and I could really use some right now,” Peter said. His face didn't hide the fact that he looked troubled and he felt upset as well. He felt...alone and secluded. Almost from the rest of the world. His Aunt was the only family he had and Serena and Harry were spending most of their time with one another. Peter had no one.

Serena’s heart went out to Peter. She could imagine losing her parents and then another family member. It would be devastating. She felt bad for not realizing the pain he was in. She gently made him look at her. “Peter, I’m always here for you if you need me. If you want to talk about what’s bothering you I’m happy to listen and offer some advice.”

Peter wanted to open up to someone, but Serena was a friend. He didn’t want to burden her with his problems. Not when it appeared things were looking up for her. He also didn’t think he needed advice from someone his own age. He needed wisdom more than anything. “Thank you Serena...for the offer,” Peter said diplomatically and stepped away from her.

Later on that day Harry sat with Peter in the cafeteria. Peter hadn’t eaten very much and he slid his tray to the side. Harry noticed that Peter was feeling down and he was trying to cheer him up without success. When Harry offered to buy him a new backback, his had gotten a large hole in it Peter went off in front of everyone.

“I dont need your money Harry!” he said as he stood then stepped away from harry in an angry huff. Harry could only just let him walk away. He turned to find Serena who only looked at him with concern in her eyes.

Tony Stark was visiting Norman osborn and taking a tour of his labs. He specifically asked to look at his special design lab where the capsule was. Norman was tring to recreate a form of the super soldier serum without success. Tony examined his formula and told Norman that it didn’t appear stable. Norman went into an angry rage and Tony left.

Later that evening Norman received a phone call from the secretary of defense of the US. They decided to pull the plug on their soldier program though Norman assured them the formula would work on schedule. They canceled their contract. Furthmore, do to how much resources Norman dedicated to the project, the board had decided to supplant Norman as head of the board for the company. After class Harry went to find Serena. He waited until she was done talking with her friends to approach her.

“What are we going to do about Peter? He seems very upset but he won’t tell me what its all about. Has something happened?” Harry asked. Once again he was insinuating that she was the cause for some reason. As if they had had an argument. He was a little jealous of Peter for several reasons. One of which was that he felt that He and Serena were better friends than he and Serena was. They were dating, and Harry loved her but they had different interests. Though they both had the sensibilities of people who were wealthy.

Serena sighed a little as she watched Peter walk away. She was trying to help him, but didn't really know what to do at this point. During lunch, Serena sat at her usual table with Melissa and some other girls. She was telling Melissa about her date last night with Harry when suddenly she heard Peter's raised voice. Peter never got angry and the fact that he was yelling at his friend. Her concern for him was growing by the minute, but she didn't know what to do.

After class was over she was at her locker getting the books she needed when Harry approached her. When Harry began to insinuate again that there was something going on between Peter and herself Serena got angry. She slammed her locker door closed and narrowed her gaze at him. "No, for the last time, nothing is going on between us. We're just friends!" She pushed past Harry and left to go find Happy.

Norman used his serum and capsule on himself. It appeared to work and he took notes to later throw it in everyone’s faces that he was a success. He was stronger and more agile. He had other inventions he was working on, one of which was a personal flight vehicle for the air force. That was going well at least!

The next morning when Serena opened her locker. It was packed full of red roses. Harry had someone gotten in her locker and stuffed it with beautiful flowers. When she stopped to look at them he appeared and covered her eyes. “Guess who? And before you say stupid jerk...I’ve already used that one on myself, for what I said to you,” He said. It was an apology and he hoped she would accept it.

He still felt there was something Serena knew that she wasn’t saying but there was little he could do about it if she wouldn’t come clean. He could only try to be there for Peter, if and when he came to his senses.

“Im throwing a party on Friday, think you can invite your posse?” Harry asked.

Serena didn't answer any of Harry's texts or phone calls that night. In fact, she turned her phone off and then deleted his texts and voicemails. By the morning she felt a little less angry because she had gotten some sleep. She still felt some irritation, but a lot of that vanished when she saw the roses in her locker. She even smiled a little at Harry's playful apology. She began to put her books away when Harry mentioned a party.

"That sounds like fun. Yeah, I can invite some of the girls. What time?"

Harry’s home was massive. With lots of rooms, lots of bathrooms and lots of space. The entire place was rocking with loud music and fully catered eats and drinks. There was even alcohol in several different forms including a red punch. The servers were all men and women that wore black and white uniforms. Peter reluctantly agreed to come and Harry handed him a beer though Peter didn’t really drink it. Everyone was having a good time and Harry was pleased that Serena was able to make it. All of her friends were there as well as just about everyone else.

“Glad you could make it Serena,” Harry said and then kissed her quite profusely in front of everyone. Peter wasn’t watching, he had been watching the game of beer pong that was being played. Two of their friends, Jesse and Colt were playing and asked Peter to play. He declined. Harry was organizing a game of 7minutes of heaven. Where people put their names on small sheets of paper and they were drawn randomly. 1 male in one pile and 1 female in another. There was a large closet just off of the main lounge near where everyone was and the two who were drawn would spend 7 minutes in the closet and whatever happened...happened. To get alot of people to join the game though Harry asked Serena to put her name in and he’d put his in as well. When they did it...everyone did it and Harry put Peter’s name in it as well, though Peter didn’t know. The first drawing put Melissa and their mutual friend Frank in the closet. There was alot of ooo’s and ahhh’ and alot of fairly nasty suggestions by several people of how to use the time but it was all in good fun and the two played it off well as they went into the closet.

Peter was looking at a few of the paintings on the walls as people started dancing on the small space Harry created to dance. He asked Serena to dance but it was not easy for them to enjoy themselves when Peter was alone and not really part of the party. After 7 minutes Melissa and Frank came out and Melissa’s hair was fairly messed up and both hers and Franks lips were red as if there had indeed been some serious kissing going on. Everyone laughed and high fived Frank. “He’s a pretty good kisser,” Melissa said and everyone almost fell over laughing at that. The next drawing came and it was Peter and Serena. Harry didn’t appear to be terribly pleased by that but he sucked it up.

“Peter...7 minutes of heaven!” Harry called out and Peter finally turned and stepped toward everyone, wondering what they were talking about. Harry mouthed ‘im sorry’ to Serena in hopes she would catch that. Everyone else chivvied them toward the closet though. Laughing and carrying on as they had with Melissa and Frank. Peter had no real choice but to play along as did Serena.

Serena had been to parties before, but those parties were always thrown by her parents in the Tower for people they knew. There was never anyone there her own age and she certainly wasn't allowed to drink alcohol. This was exciting for her and she took some of the punch that Harry offered her. There was loud music and lots of games and some people were dancing. Serena was surprised to see Peter there, but also glad. Maybe this party would help cheer him up. He still wasn't talking to her about whatever was bothering him and she had stopped asking him. Clearly he wasn't going to tell her.

Serena had never heard of 7 minutes in heaven until that night. Having been privately tutored for most of her life she had missed picking up on a lot of this kind of stuff. However, she was willing to put her name into the drawing. After the first drawing she and Harry decided to dance a little, though they both remained distracted by Peter. After Melissa and Frank emerged from the closet there was the second drawing. Peter's name was drawn first and then Serena's. She could sense the overall feeling in the room shift because everyone knew that Peter liked Serena. She glanced at Harry and could tell he wasn't happy. But in the spirit of the game and the evening Serena was willing to play along. She downed the rest of her punch and was already feeling the effects of the alcohol. She then went into the closet with Peter. Thankfully, the music was too loud for anyone to be able to hear them. She looked at Peter for a long moment as an awkwardness settled between them. She saw Peter start to open his mouth to say something and she suddenly kissed him.

Peter went to the party party because he wanted to appease Harry. Harry had been trying hard to cheer him up lately but Peter couldn’t stop thinking about what he did. He abused his power over another human being. Caused pain because he was angry and because he could and get away with it. It went against everything that he stood for and he kept hearing his uncle's words, ‘With great power comes great responsibility’. He felt as if had let his uncle down and it was tearing him apart.

He never heard of ‘seven minutes of heaven’ nor did he recall putting his name in to play that. He did have to remind himself there ‘was’ a party going on around him and he knew how he was acting. Making a show of being alone in defiance of the social event happening around him. He smiled as he saw all of the faces of those he knew at school, boys and girls and knew he couldn’t say no. His cheeks colored as hands grabbed him and chivvied him to the closet. He saw Serena being chivvied as well but unlike him she was smiling and laughing along with everyone else. What ‘was’ wrong with him? Why couldn’t he be more like Serena?

Once the doors were closed it was almost pitch black in the closet. There were coats on both sides but it left plenty of room for them. It was a massive closet. Peter could smell Serena. Her perfume, the fruitiness of the punch on her breath and the rest which was just her. He found himself in a room, alone with Serena! Serena who he thought about all the time. Serena who was his friend and could have been more if he had been smart. As he continued to go on with the list of things Serena was to him he suddenly felt her shift. He began to say something to her, the silence was becoming awkward, he felt her lips on him.

Peter had never felt anything so wonderful in his life. Serena’s lips were warm, and soft and moist and there was that electric feeling he felt when she touched him that he had felt before. His lips reacted to hers and Peter kissed Serena back. He didn’t want to stop either and even though his cheeks burned he took hold of her face as he kissed her. It, her lips, him kissing her, her kissing him...was wonderful.

Serena felt Peter kissing her back and it was the most perfect feeling in the world. It was electric and in that one moment and one kiss Serena knew that Peter was her soulmate. She loved him and would always love him. The kiss continued and deepened a little before they both slowly, and a little reluctantly pulled away. They couldn’t step out of the closet looking like they had been kissing. It would cause too many problems. Instead, they rested their foreheads against one another in an extremely loving manner and just enjoyed the moment.

Serena looked into Peter’s eyes and though nothing was said, a profound understanding passed between them. They both knew in that moment that they were going to be together in the end. So why rush it? High school had enough drama and they both had other things also going on in their lives that complicated things. There was no need to be hasty when they knew the ending. They could relax and let their love and friendship grow without the pressure of a relationship at the moment. The feeling was...freeing.

“I love you Peter Parker.”

Almost on top of her words, being able to speak at all after her kisses and the synergy of their own thoughts right then was difficult.

“I..hurt someone Serena,” Peter confessed. If he couldn’t confess to her, the woman he loved, who could he confess to?’ And he did see Serena as a woman. They were still just teenagers but he knew who and what she was just as she knew who and what Peter was. Not children, not really teenagers. Not with taking up the mantle of responsibility and threat of death both together. “I was angry and I hurt a man because I could. Because I could get away with it,” Peter said. The man was a criminal and he did have a gun but peter had disarmed him. Peter told the story, it only took a minute but it was clear that he was troubled by it. Greatly so and told her he was considering giving up being spiderman. That maybe he was to young and that he should try just being Peter Parker he told her.

“I love you to Serena and I can go on knowing how we feel about one another. How we know it will end up for us,” he said as he looked deeply into her eyes. “Be gentle with Harry, he will not understand. I know he has flaws but he is a good guy underneath,” Peter said and then kissed her once more then wiped her lipstick off of his lips. Just as he did the closet opened to the rush of light and the laughs and geers of their friends. Their hands were quickly filled with cups of punch as they were led out back into the fray.

Harry was looking at them and he appeared to be smiling at them. “Now that wasn’t so bad Peter, was it?” Harry said as he put an arm around both of them. “I’m totes jealous but you two are my favorite people in the world,” He said honestly. And to see Peter actual smile brought waves of relief to Harry. His best friend was back!

Serena was quiet and looked at Peter when he finally told her why he had been acting the way he had the past few days. He was feeling guilty about what he had done as Spiderman and was thinking about giving up being Spiderman because of it. There wasn't enough time for them to really talk about this now. Serena decided she would take some time to think over what she wanted to say and then write him a letter were she could properly compose her thoughts.

Just knowing that Peter loved her made her feel incredibly happy. She hoped that Peter would no longer feel so alone. Her heart was with him always. That final kiss was difficult to pull away from, but they both managed it and took a second to compose themselves so they wouldn't look like anything had happened. As the closet door opened and they were allowed out Serena took another cup of the punch and walked with Peter back into the heart of the party. She knew she would need to eventually end things with Harry, but she didn't want to hurt him.

Peter had decided to relax and have some fun at the party. He played beer pong and won ofcourse and danced and he was a quick learner at that and several of the girls were gushing over his moves though he was still a nerdy kid at heart. He had a bit to much to drink though and at the end of it Harry had his driver drive him home.

The school year continued on. They went to class, went to school events and continued with their Internship experiments. Serena had had a long talk with Peter about what happened and he decided that instead of setting Spiderman aside that he would learn from his mistakes and move forward. It was all her though, her ability to get him to see what he couldn’t and they both knew it.

It would be clear to Serena that Harry was ready to move their relationship to the next level. When they were alone he still made his moves and she still gently but firmly brushed him off. It was obvious he was crazy about her and he had taken her refusals in stride, until now. They were in his house and about ready to go for a swim in his indoor pool. They hadn’t changed into their swimsuits and they were kissing pretty heavily in the pool room. It was warm in there next to the heated pool.

“I love you Serena, and I want you, badly,” Harry said in between their kissing. She could feel his heart racing and his flesh was warm with desire for her.

Serena was glad that Peter decided not to give up being Spiderman. She explained to him that everyone makes mistakes. What differentiates those that will become great from those that will fail is whether or not they learn from those mistakes. Peter seemed to take what she said to heart and she was glad to know that he wasn't going to give up being Spiderman. She and Peter started spending more time together (when she wasn't with Harry). They worked on both of their abilities together and that brought them even closer together. Serena finally met Aunt May and though she could tell Peter was nervous about her being in their small apartment she thought it was perfect. Aunt May really liked Serena and gave her general approval to Peter, though he really didn't need it.

Serena and Harry were still dating, but it was clear to her that he wanted more than she wanted or was able to give him. Her heart belonged to Peter, though Harry didn't know that. She was fine with keeping things status quo, but when Harry began to push her for more in their relationship Serena began to think that she would need to end things soon. She had agreed to come over that day to go swimming, which she had done before. However, today as they stood in the pool room kissing rather heavily she began to think that perhaps he hadn't really invited her over to go swimming. She let him kiss her and she kissed him back though as she tried to figure out a delicate way of getting out of this without hurting him. She heard what he said, but she didn't respond to it as he probably was hoping for.

"We should probably get changed into our suits now..."

Harry sighed as she backed away from him. “Serena, what is it? I feel like I’m drowning here and you’re just...just trolling and watching me drown. I tell you how I feel and you...tell me we should go change? What’s going on here? If you don’t feel for me how I feel for you, just tell me,” he said becoming more and more upset. “Just tell me and we can stop pretending that this is more than it really is,” he said and saw her hesitate.

“Serena, you can be honest with me, I think I deserve at least that much,” Harry said but then wished he had those last words back.

“You think you deserve at least that? What the hell does that mean? You think you deserve sex from me? I’m not going to sleep with a guy just because we’ve been together for a while. I’m only going to sleep with a guy when I’m ready. I like you Harry but I’m not in love with you.”

Harry’s eyebrows rose higher and higher as the onslaught continued. He had no idea, in his mind anyway, that he demanded sex form her or that he ‘deserved’ it as she said. He wanted it certainly. Wanted to know what it felt like. He had never been with a girl but he wanted to know what it was like. Especially with Serena. He thought by continuing to show her that he wanted her, to tell her so and how he felt, that it would eventually happen. But he had never heard her say those things back. His surprise turned into a frown as he looked at her.

“Well I was hoping that you at least, could tell me you had feelings for me. And I don’t think I ‘deserve’ to have sex with you,” Harry said in a distinctly soft voice. She had hurt him and obviously he had been hurting her by pawing at her. It broke his heart to know that she didn’t really love him. But what was was and he could not make her feel something she did not. He did not know his eyes were watering but they were and he nodded to her.

Serena sighed as she looked at Harry. “Listen Harry, I don’t want to hurt you. I do like you, but not the same way you like me and I don’t think it would be a good idea for us to sleep together. I think maybe we should just end things and remain friends. That way maybe you can find someone else who shares the same feelings you do. I do t want things to end badly between us.”

Harry didn’t really like being the fool but in this he had been. He assumed too much about their relationship. Something their dating and the long talks and long walks and kisses were actually not leading toward. She had been shining him on, allowing him to think what he wanted to think...but for what? Because she liked the kissing and the things they did? Harry just didn’t understand. Was it her trying to find her feelings for him though? He thought that that was far more likely and the anger he felt was misplaced. If he acted like a fool and a jerk he would be one no matter how much he tried to say otherwise. He would not lose it in front of her though he wanted to force himself on her and show her what she could have had. But that was the anger talking to. That unbridled part of him that he kept hidden, most of the time.

He rubbed his forehead and surreptitiously wiped his eyes. “Well, I didn’t see this coming,” He chuckled then sniffed but his brow furled though he was grinning. “I think maybe, you should go Serena,” Harry said, his cheeks coloring with the embarrassment of it all. He didn’t understand what he did wrong. That was the hardest part of this. Girls and women as well, looked at him. Fawned over him, wanted to be where she could be if she wanted.

Serena had tried with Harry. Even after everything happened with Peter she had still tried. Harry was a nice guy after all but her feelings just hadn’t changed. In reality she probably should have ended things sooner, she just hadn’t wanted to hurt him. And yet here she was hurting him. She felt terrible but now it was over. She just hoped that once his wound had healed that they could be friends again.

She nodded a little when he suggested she leave. “I’m sorry Harry. I really am.” She then gathered up her stuff and left.