JAN 2007 - #19

Point of View: Peter Parker by Chip Caroon

We'd been talking about college, and our expectations.

"You think college is going to treat you better than high school?" Victor asked.

"Definitely," I replied. "More free time, and a chance to start over. Maybe increase my social status."

"Yeah, you still have some of your nerd image around. At least that's easier to hide in college."

"What makes you think I need to hide it?"

"The 'smart' people that get all of the answers and kiss the teacher's ass are the ones that everyone else secretly hates. Fortunately, the grades are all anonymous. Trust me, if you're the one screwing the curve, it's better that you don't advertise it."

"Won't people find out?"

"Find out what?"

"How smart I am?"

"To the people you surround yourself with, perhaps. But to the general public, the people you'll pass by on your way to class, you'll just be another person they pass."

I guess I was still thinking in a high school mode when it came to personal interactions with people. Instead of the small group of a couple hundred people that you'd been around for a decade or more, it was now thousands of people who you could share a class or dorm with and never know.

After contemplating that, I suddenly had to wonder why Victor was bringing up college. I mean, most seniors try to enjoy their final weeks without too much thinking ahead. At least not the heavy thoughts like that. Most kids are thinking about the parties and how they'd be spending time.

"So, why did you bring this college talk up anyway?"

"Because Natalie's going to USC."

I must admit, hearing that was a bit of a shock. She never made any real indication of going that far away. Sometimes she seemed a bit distant recently, and so was Victor, but I couldn't really tell if I was just overanalyzing them or not.

"USC. In California?"

"Yup. LA."

"I thought she'd be going to ESU with us right here in New York. Did she just tell you?"

"No. She told me back on senior skip day." Victor paused for a second. I could tell that he was trying to come to terms with the new situation."I keep telling myself that it'll be fine, and that our relationship will be okay, but I'm not convincing myself very well."

"That sucks."

"Things have been . . . different for us lately. I'm not exactly sure if we'll be able to maintain a long distance relationship."

"Who's maintaining a long distance relationship?"

I immediately recognized the voice of my girlfriend, Mary Jane, as she appeared with refills for our drinks.

The joy of seeing her, though, was dulled by confusion. I looked at Victor, hoping he would explain, since I felt as if I had no place to do so.

"Natalie's going to USC in the fall, MJ," Victor replied.

"That's in LA." I could tell Mary Jane could feel a bit of Victor's pain. She put her hand on Victor's shoulder to comfort him. "That's going to be rough."

"I know," Victor replied.

MJ glanced at her watch and then looked at me. I could see the playfulness in her eyes. "My shift ends in an hour. Have any plans for tonight?"

"Not yet, but I'm sure you have some for me." I smiled.

"Not really. But I figured that we could go do that thing . . . "

I glared at her. No, it's not that thing. But it's something that I don't really like doing with her that often, even though I know she loves it.

Oh boy, that really sounds wrong and really makes me sound bad.

"I thought I told you that I won't do that just anytime."

"You did on senior skip day . . . "

"Those were special circumstances."

"Is that a no?"

"Maybe. We'll see. Actually, there was a nice little place that I was hoping that we'd go."

"Where?"

"You'll see. Just wear something nice, but not too nice."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Something that you'd wear for a school picture, but not as nice as Sunday clothes."

"Gotcha," Mary Jane said, winking as she walked off.

"So, where are you taking her?" Victor asked, sipping on his soda.

"A club," I said dryly.

"A club. Getting ready for college early, huh?"

I couldn't hold back a chuckle.

"Hey, I know she likes dancing. I found a club."

"You gonna be able to get in?"

"It's one of those clubs that caters to the college crowd. Very strict drinking rules."

"So, you'll wake up in the morning with nice big black X's on your hands."

I sighed, having heard many stories of people who had to deal with cleaning off the magic marker. I wasn't sure if I should tell Victor about using rubbing alcohol, or let him learn the hard way in college.

Fortunately, Jimmy walked up, and I didn't have to make a decision. "Hey, guys. Mind if I join you?" he asked.

"Knock yourself out," Victor replied. As Jimmy pulled up a chair, he added, "No Carolyn?"

I was a little confused by this. It seemed a bit random, since Jimmy and Carolyn weren't quite as attached to each other as Victor and Natalie.

Or me and MJ for that matter.

A quick glance out the window, though, and I saw Carolyn walking away from the building.

"Uh, no . . . "

"How are things between you?" Victor asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Are you two together?"

"Not really. In fact, she's starting to scare me."

Victor was confused. I had to fill him in. "She took Jimmy to second base, but he blacked out before they got all the way there."

"And you don't remember it?" Victor wondered.

Jimmy shook his head.

I wanted to laugh. Because on the surface, it seems kinda funny.

"At least tell me you got all the way there."

Jimmy shook his head again.

"Bummer." Victor took another sip of soda.

Just then, I heard the high pitched yell of a girl fight. It wasn't too terribly loud, but it was enough to make me turn my head.

"Oh man, girl fight," Jimmy said.

"Hate to be in the middle of that one," I added, turning back around.

"Wait a minute," Victor noted, "that looks like . . . damn. It's Natalie!"

Jimmy and I jumpped up quickly, fully turning to see the fight. Sure enough, Victor was right. It was Natalie. She was fighting Liz Allen. And I could see Mary Jane standing behind her. Flash Thompson was on the other side of Liz.

Victor tried to get over to help Natalie, but I put my hand on his shoulder and shoved him back.

"Down, boy," I said. "That's one fight you don't want to be in the middle of."

"Dammit, Peter, my girlfriend's in that fight!"

"I'm sure she can take care of herself."

Mary Jane was trying to break the fight up. At that point, I wanted to go over and help, but I knew better. A girl had a better chance of breaking up a girl fight and not getting hurt than a guy. "Natalie! Liz! Stop!" It took some effort, but she was finally able to pull Natalie back. "What the hell has gotten into you, girl?"

Natalie used her right hand to brush her hair back. I knew she couldn't answer. Even if she had a reason, she was too shaken up to reply.

In typical fashion in this city, things are never boring for too long. Only seconds after Mary Jane pulled Natalie from Liz, the entire back window of the Crib shattered as someone crashed through it.

My heartbeat increased, and my teeth clinched when I saw Molten Man. I remembered him from the after prom party. He put Victor in the hospital for a couple of days.

I heard Jimmy cursing in the background about leaving his camera at home. I shared the sentiment, except that my camera was in Mary Jane's car.

I could only watch as Molten Man reached out to Liz. "You're coming with me," he said.

Liz began crying. "No, Max!" she shouted.

"You will obey me!" Molten Man exclaimed, wrapping his left arm around Liz. Liz started banging her fists against Molten Man. I could tell it was a futile effort, knowing that Molten Man's skin must burn to the touch.

"Hey, get off her!" Flash yelled, charging Molten Man.

Idiot, I thought. Of course, leave to Flash to try to be a hero, but end up making a jackass of himself. It took no effort for Molten Man to throw Flash over to our table. With only one hand.

Seeing my chance, I ran across the area and grabbed Mary Jane, pulling her to the back room.

"Give me your cell phone. I'm going to go get my camera out of your car and then call the cops."

She handed me the phone. "Be careful."

"You too. Stay back here."

When I got out to her car, which was parked out back, I turned the phone on. But the signal was horrible. I cut it off, and proceeded to get my camera out.

But when I looked at the film gauge, there was only one picture left. I quickly snapped it so the film would rewind. It seemed like an eternity.

I checked the signal on the phone again. Still bad.

Meanwhile, I saw Spider-Man jumping into the building.

I looked around in my backpack for the extra film. Naturally, the canisters got jumbled up and it took time for me to distinguish between the new and used film.

As I was putting the new film into the camera, I saw Molten Man take off with Liz. But I also saw the Crib beginning to go up in flames. I tossed the camera back in the car, and ran in to help.