Marvel: My Symbiote System

Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Gwen



The school bell chimed, and Ethan slipped into the classroom just in the nick of time.

Spotting an empty seat in the back row, he made his way over and plopped down.

'This isn't bad at all—back row, by the window, quiet, with a solid view. Total protagonist energy right here,' Ethan mused, a satisfied grin creeping onto his face.

By now, the classroom had filled up, and the teacher strode to the podium, preparing to start the lesson. Ethan, however, was content to let his mind wander. He gazed out the window at the scenery, daydreaming, until his name snapped him back to reality.

"Ethan," the teacher called, beckoning him to the front.

Blinking a few times, Ethan realized he'd been called up to introduce himself. He got up, made his way to the podium, and gave a quick, casual introduction.

While standing there, he scanned the room and spotted Peter Parker sitting in the front row. To his right sat the blonde girl he'd bumped into earlier in the hallway. She was watching him with curiosity, her head tilted slightly to the side, a faint smile playing on her lips.

After finishing, Ethan returned to his seat, and the lesson resumed. No sooner had he sat down than Peter turned around, looking a bit bashful.

"Hey, Ethan," Peter said, scratching the back of his neck, "thanks for, you know, stepping in earlier. Blocking that punch and saving my camera—it means a lot."

"Ah, no big deal," Ethan replied, waving him off with a grin. "You handled yourself pretty well too. Honestly, if you have stood for a girl, she might have developed a crush on you."

Peter chuckled, his shyness easing. "If only there were a girl who'd think like that."

The two laughed, and their conversation flowed effortlessly from there. By the time Peter turned back to pay attention to the lecture, they'd already made plans to meet up and tackle homework together later.

Ethan, on the other hand, returned to staring out the window. He'd already studied this material, so the lecture wasn't exactly riveting.

'Lucky me,' he thought, smirking slightly. 'This window seat's my saving grace—otherwise, I'd probably be doodling all over my notes or something.'

"Zoning out during class already?" a soft voice pulled him from his thoughts.

Turning, he found himself face-to-face with the blonde girl.

"I'm Gwen Stacy," She introduced herself, her smile warm and disarming. "You can just call me Gwen."

'Gwen,' Ethan thought, testing the name in his mind. It suited her. He smiled back. "Nice to meet you, Gwen. I wasn't zoning out exactly; I've already gone through this material, so I was just... mentally elsewhere."

Gwen nodded thoughtfully. "Got it. I thought you might've been struggling, and I was going to offer to help."

For a moment, Ethan was caught in her gaze. Her bright blue eyes sparkled, and he felt like he could see his reflection in them.

He quickly snapped himself out of it, keeping his expression cool and collected despite the sudden flutter in his chest.

"Well, that's kind of you," Ethan said. "But yeah, no need to worry. If I get stuck, I'll be sure to ask for help."

Their conversation flowed naturally, and Gwen's presence felt easy and comforting. Then, as if a thought had just struck her, she leaned in slightly, her tone turning serious.

"Flash is the school team's star player," Gwen said, her voice tinged with concern. "Do you really think you can handle him?"

Her words brought back the memory of his earlier encounter with Flash.

"Flash is such a jerk, always bullying other students," Gwen added, her frustration spilling over before Ethan even had a chance to respond.

Watching her puffed-up, annoyed expression, Ethan couldn't help but chuckle. "Relax. I accepted his challenge because I'm confident I'll win. I'll make sure to teach him some manners."

Seeing Ethan so self-assured, Gwen felt her worry ease a little.

Ethan's confidence wasn't misplaced, after all. Just a few nights ago, he'd been out taking down some local thugs, earning himself a solid haul of points. Using 100 points, he had upgraded his combat skills to intermediate and kept another 50 in reserve for emergencies. Now, he figured, was the perfect time to use a little more.

Spending 20 points, Ethan unlocked a beginner-level basketball skill set. Despite its "beginner" tag, it was more than enough for him. Combined with his already remarkable physical abilities, Ethan was confident he could not only handle Flash but also play in the NBA if he ever felt like it.

As Ethan and Gwen continued their friendly back-and-forth, Peter, sitting nearby, found his attention drifting elsewhere. Specifically, to the red-haired girl seated next to him.

'She's the one who was talking to Gwen earlier,' Peter thought, his eyes flicking toward her every so often.

Noticing his repeated glances, the girl turned her head toward him and raised an eyebrow, smiling softly. "Is there something on my face?"

Peter froze. He hadn't expected her to notice, let alone call him out. Their eyes locked, and the air felt heavy with awkward tension.

"Oh, no, no, it's not that," Peter blurted, his voice cracking slightly. "I just, uh... thought you looked familiar. L-like I've seen you somewhere before."

As the words left his mouth, Peter's inner voice began screaming at him. 'Seriously? That's what you went with? Even Uncle Ben wouldn't use a line that cheesy. What is wrong with me?!'

To his surprise, the girl laughed, her amusement lighting up her face. "Mr. Parker, that's an ancient pickup line, you know~. But I'll give you points for trying. I'm Mary Jane. Nice to meet you~"

Peter's face flushed red, but Mary Jane's playful tone put him at ease. She didn't seem annoyed—if anything, she seemed entertained.

Realizing he hadn't totally botched it, Peter started to loosen up. He steadied his nerves and leaned into his natural wit, cracking a few jokes that made Mary Jane laugh. As the conversation unfolded, her impression of him gradually improved.

From his seat in the back, Ethan caught sight of Peter's subtle victory and smirked. 'Peter really does have his moments when he's in the zone. Still, he's no match for my charm,' Ethan thought, mentally giving himself a pat on the back.

Ding-ding-ding-ding.

The bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. Students began streaming out of the classroom, heading home or making plans to hang out with friends.

Ethan got up from his seat and headed toward the basketball court, with Peter walking beside him. Gwen and Mary Jane followed along, their lively chatter filling the space as they walked together.

Along the way, the flow of students heading in the same direction grew thicker. News of the basketball showdown had spread like wildfire, and nearly everyone was eager to watch. Small groups moved in clusters, buzzing with speculation.

"I wonder who's challenging Flash. He's the star of the school team! That guy must be out of his mind."

"I heard the challenger knows kung fu and is crazy strong. Maybe he actually stands a chance."

"Strength? Please. This is basketball, not a strongman competition. Flash is skilled, not just big."

"Yeah, true. Brute force won't cut it on the court."

Ethan's group overheard the remarks loud and clear, but Ethan? He didn't seem the least bit fazed. In fact, he looked downright amused.

'The more they hype up Flash, the harder they'll fall when I crush him,' Ethan thought with a smirk. 'It's gonna be fun proving them wrong.'

Peter and the others, on the other hand, weren't as carefree. While none of them wanted Flash to win, Ethan remained a mystery. Sure, they'd seen glimpses of his confidence, but confidence alone didn't guarantee victory against a skilled player like Flash.

Despite their unease, they decided not to say anything. Ethan's relaxed demeanor radiated self-assurance, and the last thing they wanted to do was ruin his mood. All they could do now was trust that he knew what he was doing and silently hope he'd put Flash in his place.

 

 


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