UPDATE: Chapter 1 Re-Written

Here is the updated chapter 1 of my story! There are no major changes just yet. But some changes I thought were necessary. I will have an updated chapter 2 up as soon as I can!

Just so you know, my news yesterday (9/28) was that I am re-writing this entire story. There are some major changes I wanted to make (and small ones) and now that I am finally out of college, I can more easily focus on it! I will keep the "news" up until I have caught up with the original story line, but I am going to take down the chapters 2-7 as to not confuse anyone.

The reason for my re-writing is because I read back through and did not like how I wrote some characters and I want to make certain plot lines more clear and more deep. I had done a lot of drafting on this story over the course of college, and I was just never happy with what I wrote and would trash my ideas because I just wasn't sure where I wanted to go with the story, but now I have a much clearer idea. Plus, I think (and hope) my writing has improved a good bit since I wrote this in 2015!

Anyway, here is the new and improved chapter 1!

"He was a good person. He was nice and funny, he was brave. Maybe he didn't make all the right choices, but in the end, he died a hero. Harry was a friend and a son. He didn't deserve to die. Not when he had such a long life ahead of him. But God does everything for a reason. I can see Harry now, up in heaven, looking down at us on this grim – " There was a slight pause as the speaker got out a handkerchief to dry their right eye. " – on this grim day... And he's probably smiling – because, now, he sees how many people cared about him…" The speaker wiped another tear away. "Harry was a good guy and, everyone who meant him, ended up liking him." The speaker licked their chapped lips. "I miss him… I wish I could go back to tell him how much he means to me. But I know that he knows it without me ever really telling him. I hope now that he can rest in peace," Gwen finished with a tight throat.

She wiped tears from her eyes but more just kept coming as she unraveled. She turned around and started sobbing into her hands. Peter took her in her arms and then her father came and took her from Peter, nodding for Peter to go say a few words.

Peter nervously got up to the podium and swallowed, looking into the crowd of teary-eyed people. "Uh, I didn't write anything for Harry. Because, Harry's the kind of guy who never really cared much for English class," Peter chuckled, thinking back to all the times when they would joke around during English, not paying attention at all. "He was easy to talk to and he had this great sense of humor. We… we did everything together. The word friend doesn't even begin to describe our relationship." Peter shook his head and took a deep breath. "I always thought: what am I gonna do without this guy? And now, he's really gone," Peter frowned. "He taught me that you always need to live life to the fullest…" Peter's voice trailed off. "Harry, you were a good guy. And I wish you would've seen that before…" He looked into the crowd and suddenly became very self-aware. He swallowed hard and then continued. "I wish I could tell you how much Gwen and I loved you. How much we needed you," Peter sighed. "We had our differences and we had our fights, but in the end, we overcame them. Even when I thought you lost your way, you came back. If it weren't for everything that happened in the past year, maybe life could've been different for you. All I have to say to you is that, you weren't my best friend, you were my brother, and I am going to miss you."

There was thunderous applause from the crowd of people. A lot of faces were completely foreign to Peter, but there were some kids from school he recognized, including Mary Jane and, oddly enough, a teary-eyed Flash Thompson. Peter stepped down from the podium and walked back to Gwen and Captain Stacy.

Harry's mom went up to the podium afterwards. She spoke of how sad she was that she wasn't with Harry in his last moments and of the memories of Harry when he was just a child.

After the burial, a tall slender man with green eyes and dark brown hair walked to Peter, a man who Peter had never seen in his life in all the years he had known Harry.

"Hello," the man said, offering his hand.

His piercing green eyes were focused on Pete. "Hi, I don't believe we've met…" Peter replied, shaking his hand.

"I'm Henry Lyman, Harry's uncle. That was a heart-warming tribute you made up there. What's your name?"

"Peter Parker. I was Harry's friend," Peter said, though the words felt bitter in his mouth. "So you're –?"

"Emily's brother," he nodded as he gestured to Harry's mom.

"Yeah. Uh, I never saw you around the house."

"I only really visited when he was quite young. He was a sweet boy. Died too young. We always used to email each other. But I haven't talked to him since Norman's passing."

"Yeah, he became pretty distant after that."

"As anyone would imagine," Henry nodded. "What's your name again?"

"Peter Parker."

"Harry mentioned you in his messages. That explains why your name sounded so familiar when I heard it. From what he told me, you two were really close. I'm glad he had at least one positive influence in his life."

Peter sighed heavily.

"Here's my card. If you ever need someone to talk to about Harry, I'd be more than happy to."

The card included his phone number, his occupation as a lawyer (both sides of Harry's family are rich, go figure, Peter thought to himself), and his email address.

"Thanks. It – It means a lot."

Henry nodded and walked over to Harry's grave, deep in thought.

"Who is that?" Gwen asked, coming up from behind him.

"Harry's uncle."

"I didn't know he had an uncle. Weird that he never mentioned him."

"Yeah… It is weird," Peter said, half to himself. He thought about it a little more but shrugged it off. He couldn't muddle his mind with any more stressors.

A flash of green suddenly caught Peter's eye. He quickly made out a figure with a green tie and noticed a familiar face hiding inconspicuously under a black hat. Peter couldn't believe it. Mr. Osborn actually showed up at Harry's funeral. It made him sick. Peter thought of going over to him and yelling at him to leave but just as he was about to walk over to him, Gwen came up to him.

"How are you holding up?" She asked softly.

"I'm okay," he lied, feeling the sudden urge to burst out crying.

She nodded, understanding this and didn't press further. Mary Jane and Aunt May walked over to them.

Mary Jane spoke. "Hey, you guys, I'm so sorry about Harry." She wiped a tear from her face. "I can't believe he's gone… It's so tragic." She hugged both of them. "I can't imagine what you guys are going through right now."

She pulled away. Aunt May hugged them too.

Gwen's eyes were red with grief. "I just hope that he knows how much we loved him."

"I'm sure he does," Aunt May said, with a sad glint in her eyes.

"Yeah," Mary Jane nodded. "He was such a good guy."

After the funeral, Peter and Gwen went to a church and sat down for a while, deep in thought and reflection. Gwen knelt on a pew, clasped her hands together, and closed her eyes. Peter knelt beside her and put his arm around her as a tear floated down her face. She buried her head into his chest and sobbed. Peter, though trying to stay strong, started bawling too.


Peter's eyes felt dry and itchy after a long day of crying. He sat down in his bed and got out an old photo album. It was dated 9 years ago, filled with photos of Peter and Harry as children. It featured them playing games, getting dirty in the mud, having snowball fights, eating ice cream at the Silver Spoon with Aunt May and Mrs. Osborn.

Peter smiled to himself when he saw a picture of Harry and himself on the floor, laughing, sticking their tongues out at the camera. He put the photo album away and turned on the radio to listen to loud alternative rock music to avoid thinking about Harry's death. He spread out his body on his bed and closed his eyes for one peaceful moment. At the end of the first song, an announcement came on.

"Excuse us for this interruption. A report has come in that the villain known as the Vulture who broke out of prison just one week ago is on a rampage at Times Square, injuring 6 people, alongside Sandman. The police have been trying everything, but it seems that nothing is working. This brings us back to the question circling around New York City: where is Spider-Man?"

Peter pressed the OFF button on the radio and groaned. He sat up and looked at his closet door. He walked over to it and hesitantly opened it. He dug through a pile of clothes and random strands of webbing. At the very bottom of the pile was a dusty old box that seemed to be sitting at the bottom of his closet for decades, though it had only been three weeks. He pulled it out and opened it. The bright red and blue colored suit seemed like a faraway memory. He could hear a distant yet distinct voice repeating: With great power comes great responsibility.

At that moment, Peter realized that he couldn't give up on his cause. He needed to stay strong for New York City, for Aunt May, for Gwen, for Harry. He needed to fight back.

He pulled on his suit, attached his web-shooters on his wrists, and slipped on his gloves and mask.