The next morning, after breakfasting on the soup Aunt May had prepared the day before, I decided it was time to grace my local school with my presence. Besides it being my duty as a student, I had another motive. There was a high probability that this Spider Woman had gained her abilities on that ill fated field trip I had missed, and therefore, she might attend my school or even be in my class.
I had successfully missed the school bus, so I was about to walk when, not ten meters from my house, a car pulled up beside me.
Oh no. I know this sports car. Flash fucking Thompson. I instinctively turned away to avoid provoking the bully. A conditioned reflex, damn it.
No, no, no. I did not go through all the shit that happened in my past life to be afraid of Flash Thompson again. Don't even think about it, jock. This means war.
«Hey, Peter,» a female voice came from the car. «Late for the bus again? I can give you a ride.»
I froze. Of course. Peter's memories of his life had returned to me. But why didn't I remember this? This world is insane. Flash Thompson was a woman. Now, seeing her in person, I began to recall. This Flash, though she had the same arrogant and cruel character as her counterpart in my world, had never shown aggression toward Peter.
In fact, whenever she saw Peter trudging to school, Flash would stop and give him a ride. Nonsense. Flash Thompson trying to be friendly to Peter Parker. It was wild to me, but it was a fact.
I got into the car and, to my shame, felt relieved that there would be no confrontation.
«Another two weeks of skipping school,» the girl said cheerfully, with a hint of envy or even admiration. Not waiting for an answer, she continued. «Don't get me wrong, I'm not judging. What did you do this time? Invent some new cool science thing?»
She really understood the old Peter, I noted with surprise. She immediately tried to steer the conversation toward something interesting. Because otherwise, I would have ignored her. Not that it ever bothered Flash. If she couldn't get Peter to talk, she wouldn't take offense and would just keep talking about something herself.
«I was finishing up a previous article,» I answered, not going into details.
At least Flash certainly couldn't be Spider Woman. Wrong physique. Yesterday, I had gotten a good look at that upstart. She should be about my height and build. Flash was much more massive, especially in the chest area.
Who else among my classmates had changed gender?
The thought was strange, even shocking. But I couldn't remember. I hadn't noticed it right away, but this life's memories were returning to me as needed. In the morning, when I got home, I remembered myself. When I saw Aunt May, I remembered the family. Now, seeing Flash, I remembered as well.
At school, Flash lost interest in me because she met up with her friends, or rather, her minions. I was only glad about that. The last thing I wanted was to be seen everywhere with Flash Thompson, even if he had become a girl with a pretty face and an impressive figure.
«Parker,» someone called out to me at the classroom entrance.
I turned toward the sound. Behind me stood a tall woman in a strict suit and glasses. Yukka Sarasti, the physics teacher who had started working at our school not long ago. Having captured my attention, she continued.
«Come with me, Parker. The principal wants to see you.» Not only did the woman have an authoritative voice that demanded obedience without question, she also took me by the forearm to escort me.
I remembered that Yukka had always been like that. Even other teachers and the principal rarely dared to argue with this woman. And she was probably the only woman among them who showed no special deference to boys, including me.
Raising my eyebrows, I first looked at her hand invading my personal space, then at her eyes. You might as well grab me by the collar. But the woman didn't flinch.
I had my backpack on that shoulder, so I used it to free myself from Yukka's grip. I slipped the strap right onto the woman's wrist.
«That's unnecessary. I can find the principal's office myself.»
Sarasti didn't answer, only calmly watched as I entered the still nearly empty classroom and left my backpack. She went to the principal with me after all, staying slightly behind like a guard, but she didn't enter. She just watched me, as if I were about to run away.
The principal was a kind, plump woman a little over fifty. She had personally trained half the teachers currently working at the school and always got along with her students. I had never seen her shout at anyone.
«Peter,» the principal, who usually smiled slightly when addressing me, was noticeably serious this time. «I understand that the school curriculum doesn't interest you, but you cannot miss classes for weeks at a time. We don't have open attendance. We are responsible for the students. What if something had happened to you?»
I should explain why the school tolerated Peter's constant truancy. It was all about prestige. Even though men were required to receive a general education, most boys showed no interest in studying. Everything they needed to do well in this life, nature had already done for them by giving them a penis. That might sound crude, but looking reality in the face, that was how it was. Against the backdrop of such widespread idlers, Peter Parker, for all his laziness and apathy, looked favorable. He periodically participated in scientific activities, which brought prestige to the school.
I smirked. If only she knew what had happened to me this past week. I had been damn close to ending up in a police station, and then it would have been bad for everyone. For the school, which hadn't noticed a student's long absence, and for Aunt May, who, by law as my guardian, was supposed to live in the same house as me.
«I don't think you need to worry about that, Principal. I'm thinking about finishing school as an external student. You see, while working on my research, I've become closely familiar with the work of Dr. Connors. I think it would be convenient to get a job as her lab assistant. That way, I could also attend university classes. Or even enroll directly. I haven't decided yet.»
As I spoke, the principal's kind expression changed first to surprise, then traces of displeasure appeared.
«Peter,» she began cautiously. «This is a serious decision. Don't rush into it. Think about it. School isn't just about lessons. It's also about socializing with your peers...»
The principal had always been good at sensing her interlocutor's mood. Even now, before finishing her sentence, she realized she had chosen the wrong approach.
«But you know, since your research is so important to you, I think we could find a compromise. Besides, you do understand that taking exams early is a very complicated bureaucratic procedure. It would take a long time.»
«What do you mean by a compromise?» I asked with interest.
«Well, Dr. Connors is a respectable woman. I doubt she would let anything happen to you while you're working. And the school, if you don't disappear for months at a time, we could turn a blind eye to missing a couple of days a week...»
I raised an eyebrow.
«Or three or four. Just don't disappear for as long as you did last time,» the woman finally gave in.
«I think that will work for me.»
«Good,» the principal answered with a professional smile. «Go back to class.»
And so we agreed. The school gets its dividends. For another two years, all my achievements would positively affect the institution's prestige. And I get to attend freely with a minimum of problems and obligations.
It was unexpected but useful. Even though I hadn't thought about it beforehand, I hadn't lied. I really did plan to contact Connors soon, and I had a good reason. Her work with my father.
As I approached the physics classroom, I saw her. Mary Jane Watson. For a second, I caught my breath, just as I had at our first meeting. No, she seemed even more beautiful than before. Worlds changed, but something remained the same.
MJ turned around, as if sensing my intent gaze, and smiled when our eyes met.
«Hey, Peter,» she said casually. «Haven't seen you in a while.»
«Uh, yeah... I was working,» I stammered.
What is wrong with you? Pull yourself together, you wimp. Yes, it's Mary Jane, so what? You haven't been sixteen for a long time. You were even married to her for a short while, before the Trisolarian crisis ruined your lives.
«Hey, Mary Jane,» I continued, getting my thoughts together. «I just finished up some research.»
She almost kept a straight face, but her eyes gave away her surprise. Over all this time, you could count on one hand the number of times the old Peter had said anything to Mary Jane other than «yeah» or «uh huh» in response to a greeting. Damn, that guy was apparently free from the influence of love and hormones on his brain.
«It must have been something terribly complicated and important,» the girl suggested. «By the way, you missed a pretty interesting field trip. There were lots of spiders. I think you would have liked it.»
Why did she mention that?
Come to think of it, Mary Jane had the same build as Spider Woman. Could it be... but using her powers for fame in show business? Damn, that was so like Mary Jane.
«Yeah, I heard about it. So, how did the field trip go?» I tried to question her casually.
«Fine. Almost without incident,» MJ shrugged.
«Almost?» I latched onto her slip.
«Well, you know Liz is afraid of insects, and Flash got bored with the spiders quickly. Turns out she brought a toy spider on a string and dropped it down the back of Liz's collar. There was a terrible scream, but it was funny.»
«I see.» So Flash was pointedly friendly to Peter, but she periodically teased and even humiliated the other girls. «Did anyone get bitten?» I asked with a smile at the end, as if joking.
«Ha ha, no,» MJ laughed. «Let's go to class.»
«Yes, yes, of course.»
In the end, Mary Jane might not have noticed someone getting bitten by a spider, or she simply didn't want to tell me.
The physics classroom was already full of people, and my appearance, contrary to my fears, did not attract universal attention.
I thought it would be nice if MJ and I sat next to each other. We could continue talking during the lesson. But my memories told me the girl would go to her friends. By the way, there were no other boys visible in the class yet. I felt a little awkward looking at the dozen or so unfamiliar girls. They had all been men in my past world.
«Oh,» Mary Jane suddenly groaned. «We have that stupid test first thing this morning. I don't understand physics at all.»
This was an opportunity. I had to use it.
«I could help you,» I suggested cautiously. «Sit next to me.»
«But the teacher,» MJ began, «though with Sarasti, it might work. She doesn't care about anyone. Peter, would you really do that for me?»
«Yes, why not?» I answered calmly, inwardly rejoicing.
I had just thought about sitting next to MJ, and the universe presented me with a chance. Not bad, not bad. Maybe this was compensation for past failures.
«Osborn,» I heard Flash's voice. The girl jumped off the desk she was sitting on and walked toward the door.
I froze inside, afraid to turn around. What if Harry had also become a girl? Or even... what if Harry Osborn was Spider Woman? No, please, no.
Gathering my strength, I finally looked back, just in time to see Flash Thompson give Harry Osborn a quick kiss on the lips.
Fuck. This was too much for me. How insane could this world be?