Marvel: The Spider-Grind

The morning sun crept into the room, spilling through the thin curtains and pulling Peter from a restless sleep. Except it wasn't really Peter. It was him, a comic book nerd trapped in Peter Parker's body.

He sat up, rubbing his eyes as the realization hit him all over again. This wasn't a dream or some weird hallucination. It was real. And today, he was going to school as Peter Parker.

Don't mess this up, he told himself. You can't let anyone know something's wrong.

By the time he reached Midtown High, the nerves were hitting him hard. The building looked exactly how he'd imagined it: a classic high school with rows of lockers, bustling hallways, and groups of teens chatting loudly. It felt surreal to walk through those doors, knowing this was where so many iconic moments had taken place in the comics.

He spotted his locker easily, the number already etched in his memory from Peter's ID card. As he fiddled with the lock, he caught snippets of conversation around him.

"Did you finish the bio homework?"

"Can you believe the Hulk's still on the run?"

"Flash is going to try out for the football team again."

The chatter was normal, almost comforting. But his heart sank when a familiar voice called out behind him.

"Hey, Pete!"

He turned, and there was Harry Osborn, grinning as he leaned casually against the locker beside him. Harry looked just like he did in the comics, sharp features, confident posture, but with a warmth in his smile that immediately made him likable.

"Uh, hey, Harry," Peter replied, trying to match the tone.

Harry tilted his head, studying him. "You okay? You seem... I don't know, distracted or something."

Peter's stomach twisted. He's already noticing something's off. Stay calm.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Peter said quickly, forcing a smile. "Just didn't sleep well last night. Too much homework, you know?"

Harry chuckled. "Tell me about it. Mrs. Clarke's chemistry assignment almost killed me."

The conversation flowed naturally after that, and Peter found himself easing into the rhythm. Harry was friendly, funny, and exactly the kind of person who could pull anyone into a conversation. It was easy to see why he and Peter were friends.

In homeroom, the teacher clapped her hands to get everyone's attention.

"Alright, class, just a quick reminder," she said. "Tomorrow, we'll be visiting Oscorp for a science tour. Make sure you have your permission slips signed and turned in by the end of the day."

A murmur of excitement ran through the room. Oscorp. The name sent a chill down Peter's spine. That place was a ticking time bomb of disasters waiting to happen.

Harry nudged him with his elbow. "Excited to see my dad's company again, Pete?"

Peter forced a grin. "Yeah, of course. Should be cool."

Harry gave him another curious look. "You're acting weird today. You sure everything's okay?"

Peter hesitated, then leaned in slightly. "Honestly, I'm just tired, man. Didn't get much sleep, and my head's all over the place."

Harry nodded, accepting the answer. "Alright, but let me know if you need anything. You're my best friend, you know that."

The words hit Peter harder than he expected. Harry genuinely cared about him or, well, about Peter Parker. It made him feel both guilty and determined. He had to play this role perfectly, for Harry's sake and his own.

By lunchtime, Peter was feeling more confident. His cheat, rapid adaptability, was kicking in. The more he interacted with Harry, the more natural it felt to act like the old Peter.

In the cafeteria, Harry waved him over to a table near the window. Peter grabbed a tray and joined him, just as Gwen Stacy appeared with her own lunch.

"Mind if I sit here?" Gwen asked, her voice light and cheerful.

"Not at all," Harry said, flashing her a charming smile.

Peter tried not to stare as Gwen sat down. She looked just like he remembered from the comics: blonde hair tied in a loose ponytail, a bright smile, and an air of confidence that made her stand out. She was friendly, but not overly so, and he could tell she and Peter were just casual friends at this point.

"So, Peter," Gwen said, looking at him as she took a bite of her sandwich. "You've been pretty quiet today. That's not like you."

Peter tensed. Why was everyone suddenly so observant?

"Oh, it's nothing," he said quickly. "Just... thinking about that chemistry assignment. I totally blanked on half of it."

Harry laughed. "Man, you're really letting that assignment get to you. Don't worry, Clarke loves your work. You'll probably get an A anyway."

Peter relaxed a little, thankful for Harry's easygoing nature.

As the three of them talked, Peter found himself adapting even more. He mimicked the old Peter's mannerisms, his way of speaking, even his jokes. By the time lunch was halfway through, he felt like he was blending in perfectly.

That was when Mary Jane Watson walked into the cafeteria.

MJ was exactly as Peter had imagined—striking red hair, confident stride, and a magnetic presence that turned heads wherever she went. She walked over to a table where Flash Thompson and his gang were sitting, her casual demeanor making it clear she was used to being the center of attention.

Harry leaned over to Peter, lowering his voice. "MJ's looking good today, huh?"

Peter smirked, trying to play along. "Yeah, she's definitely got the whole 'it' factor going."

Unfortunately, Harry's comment caught Flash's attention. The school's resident bully turned in their direction, his eyes narrowing.

"What's that, Osborn?" Flash said, standing up and sauntering over to their table. His voice was loud enough to draw attention from the nearby students. "Got something to say about MJ?"

Harry stiffened, but tried to stand his ground. "Relax, Flash. We were just talking. No big deal."

Flash sneered. "Yeah, well, keep your mouth shut. MJ doesn't need losers like you drooling over her."

The tension at the table was palpable. Gwen looked uncomfortable, glancing between Harry and Flash, while Peter's mind raced. He didn't want to cause a scene, but he couldn't just sit there and let Flash bully his friends.

Flash leaned closer to Harry, his tone dripping with mockery. "What's the matter, Osborn? Daddy's money not enough to buy you some guts?"

That was it. Peter stood up, his heart pounding but his voice steady. "Back off, Flash."

Flash turned to him, surprised. "What did you say, Parker?"

"I said back off," Peter repeated, meeting Flash's gaze. "We're just trying to eat lunch. Go bother someone else."

But Flash wasn't gonna give up easily," Or what? What are you gonna do? Science me to death? Come on, you nerds can't even..."

Peter stood up, cutting him off. His mind raced, his cheat analyzing Flash's behavior and weaknesses in real time. He didn't need to fight Flash to win this.

"Flash," Peter said, his voice steady, "you talk a lot for someone who can't even solve basic algebra."

The cafeteria went silent. All eyes were on them now.

Flash's face turned red. "What did you just say?"

"You heard me," Peter continued, his confidence growing. "You spend all your time flexing in front of everyone, but when it comes to actually using your brain, you're out of your league."

Laughter rippled through the room. Flash's friends looked uncomfortable, shifting in their seats.

"Shut up, Parker!" Flash snapped, his voice rising. "You don't know anything!"

Peter shrugged, his tone almost bored. "Maybe. But I do know you're embarrassing yourself right now. Why don't you sit down before you make it worse?"

Flash's hands curled into fists, and for a moment, Peter thought he was about to get punched. But before Flash could act, a teacher walked into the cafeteria, her sharp gaze landing on the commotion.

"Thompson!" she barked. "What's going on here?"

Flash froze, his bravado crumbling under the teacher's glare. "Nothing, ma'am," he mumbled, stepping back.

"That's what I thought. Now sit down, all of you."

As Flash slunk away, Peter sat back down, his heart pounding. He'd avoided a fight, but just barely.

"Nice one, Pete," Harry said, grinning. "I didn't think you had it in you."

Peter shrugged, trying to downplay it. "Someone had to say it."

Gwen gave him an approving smile. "Well, you handled that better than most. Flash needed to be put in his place."

Peter returned the smile, relief washing over him. He'd passed another test, blending in just a little more with every interaction.

For now, at least, he was safe. But for tomorrow? He had to prepare for the much anticipated spider bite.

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