NOVEL NEXT Chapter 10: Summer Vacation
Chapter 11: Summer Vacation*
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George and May were relaxing in front of the TV enjoying a show, while Peter and Gwen were in Gwen's room. The room felt cozy, with walls covered in posters of Gwen's favorite music bands and movies, and various knick-knacks adding a personal touch.
"So, comics, huh... good excuse, Peter," said Gwen, raising the topic as they sat on the carpeted floor, playing Uno. The bedside lamp cast a warm glow, making the moment feel more intimate.
"Ah... yeah, although it's not entirely wrong, Gwen," replied Peter, grinning as he placed a card on the pile. His smile showed a mix of confidence and a bit of awkwardness.
"Hm? What do you mean? You're really making comics?" asked Gwen skeptically, raising an eyebrow while her eyes looked sharply at Peter.
Peter returned her gaze, smiling meaningfully and said, "Sorry for never telling you about this. But yeah, I'm making comics. More precisely, I'm remaking comics."
"Remaking?"
"Yeah, I told you before that I have memories from another version of myself in a world without superheroes, right?"
"Yeah? What's up with that?" asked Gwen, confused but interested to hear more.
"There was this one manga that was my favorite in that world, but it doesn't exist here. So yeah, I want to remake it. And I hope a lot of people will like it as much as I do," admitted Peter with a small smile, showing his nervousness towards the end of the sentence. Peter's voice sounded calmer though there was a slight tension.
"Oh, I see. Are you sure you want to do that? Won't it be a problem later?" asked Gwen, worriedly, her hand pausing from holding a card.
"Don't worry, for some reason, that comic or manga was never made here," replied Peter confidently. He had done his research and found out that the original author of the manga, Kohei Horikoshi, either had never been born or hadn't yet been born in this universe, giving Peter the chance to introduce his work to the world.
The topics in it would also fit well with a world that has real-life heroes. Whether it becomes popular in the future or not isn't a concern for Peter. What matters to him is bringing it to life in this world, and that's enough.
"If you're sure, then okay. So, do you already have a finished comic?" asked Gwen with enthusiasm, eager to read her friend's creation. Although it was technically copying, since Peter said it was never released, she believed there wouldn't be any issues.
"Ah? Well, haha... not yet. I'm still in the process of brainstorming and recalling the parts of the story," admitted Peter again with a regretful face. He scratched his head sheepishly.
"Eh... that's no fun. Here it is! Uno!" said Gwen as she placed her card on the pile, her face filled with competitive spirit.
"Haha... sorry, Gwen." Peter grinned, this time placing a reverse card, a skip card, and then a +4 card, ending the game and claiming victory.
"What!? You jerk, you nerd!" replied Gwen with an annoyed tone seeing Peter's triumphant grin. Gwen threw the remaining cards with a little frustration but also laughter in her eyes.
"Haha! What can I say? I'm awesome!" Peter teased, his grin widening.
"One more time! This time I'm gonna win!" ordered Gwen still annoyed, quickly gathering all the cards to start the game again.
In the midst of their exciting game, Peter suddenly remembered something. "Oh yeah, Gwen! I almost forgot. How about we go to the amusement park with Ned the day after tomorrow?"
"Amusement park? Seriously? Like kids?" asked Gwen skeptically.
"Why not? We could have fun. Besides, it's been a while since we went to a place like that. It could be a great moment to refresh," replied Peter enthusiastically.
"Yeah, it sounds interesting. Especially with Ned, it'll definitely be fun. Have you told Ned yet?" Gwen, who was a bit skeptical, began to be interested in the idea.
"Not yet, but I'm sure he'll agree. Ned always loves stuff like this," said Peter while imagining the excitement they would feel.
"Alright then, I agree. The day after tomorrow we go to the amusement park. Now, focus on this Uno game, I'm gonna win this time!" Gwen said with determination.
Peter laughed and nodded. "Alright, Gwen. We'll have fun at the amusement park, but now, let's see if you can beat me at Uno."
They continued their game with enthusiasm, while thinking about their plan to go to the amusement park with Ned the day after tomorrow.
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Summer in New York is the perfect time for outdoor fun. And as promised, two days later, Peter, Gwen, and Ned decided to spend their day at Coney Island, the famous amusement park located on the Brooklyn shoreline.
The atmosphere was full of excitement and energy, with the sound of laughter, screams of joy, and the aroma of delicious food filling the air. They departed from Queens using the subway, taking the F line directly to the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station.
An hour later, they were greeted by the Wonder Wheel, Cyclone, and various attractions like Thunderbolt and bumper cars. The park also offered arcade games, circus performances, and food stalls selling delights like Nathan's Famous hot dogs.
Additionally, the beautiful beach and pier were packed with visitors enjoying the summer vibes. While Coney Island wasn't as luxurious as Disneyland, its classic charm and festive atmosphere made it a favorite destination for locals seeking fun and adventure. The sun shone brightly in a cloudless blue sky, and the sea breeze refreshed their every step.
"This is going to be an amazing day!" exclaimed Ned enthusiastically as they entered the amusement park. "I can't wait to ride the Cyclone roller coaster!"
Gwen smiled, linking her arm with Peter's. "Me too! But we have to try all the other rides as well."
Peter nodded in agreement. "Exactly, we've got plenty of time to try everything. Let's start from here!"
The trio headed towards one of the park's most famous attractions, the Wonder Wheel Ferris Wheel, which offered spectacular views of the entire amusement park and the beach.
After a short wait in line, they finally boarded a gondola and slowly ascended. The view from the top was breathtaking, with the expansive beach on one side and the cityscape on the other.
Gwen and Peter held hands, enjoying the refreshing breeze, while Ned busied himself taking selfies against the beautiful backdrop.
"I feel like I can see the whole world from up here," said Gwen with a wide smile.
Peter nodded. "It's truly amazing. I'm glad we finally got to visit this park."
"Heheh... yeah, someone's been very busy," Gwen replied, resting her head on Peter's shoulder.
"Not just one person, though." Peter chuckled, squeezing Gwen's hand gently.
Ned silently observed their behavior, trying to keep himself busy to mask his actions. They had been close since childhood, but at the beginning of the semester, Peter, who had previously liked Liz Allen, shifted his attention to Gwen. Not knowing what caused the change, he just hoped his friend would be happy no matter his choice.
After descending from the Ferris Wheel, they tried various other rides, including bumper cars, the haunted house, and arcade games. They laughed and had fun, savoring every moment together. Gwen deftly controlled her bumper car, while Peter tried to dodge her sudden attacks. Their laughter echoed in the air, drawing the attention of other visitors who joined in the joyous atmosphere.
In the haunted house, Gwen tried to remain calm in the face of sudden attacks from various ghosts and monsters. Peter, on the other hand, couldn't help but let out a slight feminine scream when startled. "Pretty scary, huh?" Gwen teased. "Ha, I was just pretending to be scared," Peter replied with an embarrassed smile.
As they moved to the arcade games, they competed in shooting games and car races. Gwen managed to beat Peter in the shooting game, making Peter sulk while Gwen laughed with satisfaction. "You're really good at this!" Peter praised. "Of course, Tiger," Gwen replied with a confident smirk.
They continued to enjoy their time together, capturing moments with funny photos and keeping beautiful memories in their hearts.
However, fate played a little trick on them. In the midst of their fun, Gwen felt something was off. Her instincts as Ghost-Spider made her always alert to the danger around her. "Peter, something's not right," she whispered as they rested on a park bench.
Peter looked around. "What do you mean, Gwen?"
"I'm not sure, but something's making me uneasy. We need to stay alert," Gwen replied.
Shortly after that, they heard screams from the direction of the amusement park entrance. A group of armed thugs seemed to be trying to rob one of the ticket booths. Panic quickly spread among the visitors, and people started running for cover.
Peter quickly grabbed Gwen and Ned's arms. "Come on, let's get out of here!" he said firmly. Ned didn't understand why they were moving hurriedly, but he followed without questioning.
After finding a safer spot, Gwen said, "I need to go to the restroom for a moment. You guys stay here." Peter nodded understandingly, while Ned just looked confused and anxious at the situation.
As Peter and Ned moved away, Gwen ran to a secluded corner and quickly changed into her Ghost-Spider costume. She climbed to the roof of one of the amusement park buildings and began observing the situation from above.
With her sharp vision, she could see the armed thugs intimidating the park visitors and staff. "Come on, hand over the money, or you'll regret it!" one thug threatened, brandishing a weapon.
Gwen watched from a distance, assessing the number of thugs and mentally preparing herself. She counted about five thugs, each armed, spread around the amusement park entrance.
Gwen took a deep breath and sprang into action. She leaped from the roof, using her webs to swing from one spot to another quickly.
In the midst of the panic, she created a thick fog around the thug area to confuse them. The thug wearing a black leather jacket and khaki pants, with a plain black ski mask, began to panic. "What's this? I can't see anything!" he shouted.
Gwen swiftly moved among the confused thugs, releasing webs that ensnared their legs one by one, causing them to trip and fall. "Hey, guys! What are you doing? Robbing ticket booths at an amusement park? Seriously?" Gwen asked in a cheerful, skeptical tone, while rescuing the staff who had become victims and bringing them to safety.
The thugs tried to find a way out, but Gwen used her ability to disappear and move undetected. She approached one thug from behind, who was wearing a torn T-shirt and jeans, with a green ski mask, and quickly incapacitated him with her web.
"I don't know what madness is in your heads, but I have to stop you," Gwen said firmly. The thug struggled in vain to free himself. Gwen smiled in satisfaction, even though her face was hidden behind her mask.
When the other thugs began to realize her presence, Gwen vanished to avoid detection and used her webs as radar to detect their movements.
She saw one thug trying to escape and immediately chased him. With incredible speed, Gwen caught the thug and knocked him to the ground. A loud thud was heard as the thug fell, shocking his comrades.
The remaining thugs felt cornered and started shooting at her. Gwen dodged gracefully, leaping and moving between obstacles as another thug, wearing a brown bomber jacket and cargo pants with a blue ski mask, began shooting at her. "Stop moving, you damn spider!" he shouted angrily.
"Wait, who shoots in an amusement park? You guys seriously need a vacation!" Gwen retorted, leaping from one spot to another with agile movements, using her web to pull the thug's gun and then his wrist. The thug looked confused and said, "What the heck is this?!"
With movements resembling a dance among the shadows, Gwen created more fog to cover herself and ambush the thugs from various directions.
In no time, all the thugs were incapacitated and tied up with webs. The night was broken by the sound of webs being thrown and the brief screams of the thugs.
"Enough fooling around, guys! Now you rest here and reflect on your poor decisions," Gwen said in a tone like a mother scolding her naughty children.
The thugs could only emit pained groans or muffled cries as their mouths were covered by webs. Gwen smiled behind her mask, feeling satisfied with her work.
The police who arrived on the scene were amazed to see Ghost-Spider in action. They quickly apprehended the subdued thugs and secured the area. The visitors who had panicked began to feel relieved and appreciated Ghost-Spider's swift action.
One of the police officers shouted, "Thank you, Ghost-Spider! We don't know how we could have handled this without you!" Gwen just nodded and smiled behind her mask.
Gwen quickly left the scene before her identity could be revealed. She disappeared into the shadows, changing back into her regular clothes in a secluded spot. After ensuring no one saw her, she rejoined Peter and Ned who were waiting in a safe spot.
"Ned, Peter, are you guys okay?" Gwen asked as she approached them.
Peter nodded. "We're fine. The police arrived and handled the situation."
Gwen smiled. "Thank goodness for that."
Peter glanced into the distance, watching the scene unfold. "Looks like the police have caught the thugs."
Ned sighed in relief. "Ghost-Spider is amazing. She came in and saved all of us."
Peter looked at Gwen with admiration. He knew how brave Gwen was in the face of danger. "Thank you, Gwen," he said sincerely.
Gwen just smiled and put her arms around Peter and Ned. "Come on, let's continue having fun. The day's not over yet."
As they resumed their outing, the situation elsewhere was not as positive.
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At the nearby police station, following the incident, the police quickly began an investigation to understand the motives of the thugs who attempted to rob the amusement park. After interrogating the suspects, the police discovered that they were members of a gang struggling financially.
The gang planned the robbery at the amusement park, thinking the place would have large amounts of cash from ticket sales and food. They also believed that the crowd and panic among the visitors would make it easier for them to escape.
However, their plan fell apart thanks to the swift action of Ghost-Spider. The police secured evidence, including weapons and the recovered cash. Further investigation revealed that this gang had planned robberies at several other locations, but all their plans were now thwarted.
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"So, is there something you want to talk about regarding what really happened at the amusement park earlier?" Ned asked Peter with a serious tone, his eyes sharply focused on Peter.
Peter, surprised by Ned's question, responded nervously, "W-What do you mean?" Peter's voice trembled slightly, revealing the tension he was trying to hide.
"Why did you suddenly hold hands with Gwen back then!?" Ned spoke with a panicked and somewhat curious tone. His hands fidgeted restlessly, reflecting his intense curiosity.
They were currently in Peter's room, just the two of them. The room was filled with superhero posters, books, and electronic gadgets scattered across the desk. For some reason, Gwen hadn't joined them in continuing their activities, and Peter, knowing her secret, knew she was getting ready to save the day elsewhere.
Peter, who panicked thinking Gwen's identity was almost exposed, sighed in relief. However, the worry returned as he thought about Ned's question regarding their behavior and his sudden forgetfulness about Liz.
Peter remembered he had fallen for Liz during the freshman orientation. For an entire semester, his mind was filled with various scenarios on how to ask her out. Gwen used to tease Peter about it, and had even helped him form a group with Liz for an assignment once.
But since the new semester began, after he joined forces with his alternate selves or whatever, he couldn't look at Liz the same way he looked at Gwen. And after spending time together, both before and after Peter shared his secret, their bond deepened from inseparable childhood friends to something more profound.
"Ah… that. Well, it's nothing. We're still the same as always," Peter tried to evade the question, raising his hands and avoiding eye contact. His face flushed, and he felt nervous.
Ned also knew about Peter's crush on Liz during the first semester. However, after the second semester, Peter was always busy, and whenever they spent time together, Liz was never part of their discussions. Ned noticed that Gwen's behavior towards Peter had become closer than usual.
He would have usually ignored it, but after seeing their behavior on the Ferris wheel, he finally realized everything. How Liz was no longer mentioned in their conversations, and how their closeness seemed to happen suddenly.
"What do you mean, nothing!? I'm sure there's something between you two! You suddenly forgot about Liz and now you're dating Gwen!?" Ned still spoke with a panicked tone but now also had a hint of anger. His eyes widened, demanding an answer from Peter, who was trying to lie to him. "Why didn't you two say anything!?" he continued.
"Calm down, buddy! I swear we're not dating or anything!" Peter answered with the same panicked tone, trying to reassure his friend. He felt cold sweat beginning to trickle down his temple.
"But… you two.." Ned stammered, still feeling a bit angry. He wanted to believe Peter, but he wasn't sure if Peter was being honest about it.
Peter sighed, feeling a bit relieved seeing Ned had somewhat calmed down. "Okay, I admit I have feelings for her. And even though I'm not entirely sure, I think she feels the same way. But we haven't gotten to that stage yet. I think the way things are now is enough for the moment," he said with a slightly sad tone, confessing the embarrassing truth to Ned. His face looked somber for a moment before he tried to smile.
And Peter thought, no, Peter was certain that their feelings were mutual. Both hoped that things would always remain like this without changing. Peter feared that if the relationship didn't work out, it would be difficult to return to being the inseparable friends they were. He was afraid they couldn't have fun and enjoy the city if they took things further.
Ned stared at Peter, unsure of how to respond to the confession. "If you say so, then alright. But why the sudden change of heart? You don't have feelings for Liz anymore?" Ned asked again, raising his eyebrows in curiosity.
"I… actually, I don't really understand it either. It's just that, after not seeing her for some time during winter break, I might have lost those feelings," Peter lied a bit and continued.
Peter also realized that if he wasn't with Liz, he wouldn't feel that bad. But if he wasn't with Gwen, he felt like he was losing his mind. This was a sad truth.
Although Peter had to admit Liz's charm was incredible, Gwen had become the love of his life, starting from their friendship nine years ago. Whether he was late to realize it or just didn't want to admit it, that was the truth.
Ned, hearing this, nodded, even though he noticed Peter's strange behavior, he didn't make an issue out of it. "I just hope you'll be okay no matter what you choose, buddy." Ned then patted Peter's shoulder affectionately while smiling reassuringly.
"Thanks, buddy." Peter gave a thin smile, acknowledging his friend's support. It was good that he didn't dig deeper into the topic. Gratitude flickered across his face.
Peter and Ned spent the next moments talking about various light-hearted topics, trying to divert attention from the sensitive issue they had just discussed. The atmosphere in Peter's room became warm and comfortable again, reminding them of their earlier days as inseparable children.
After a while, Peter felt more relieved, as if a great burden had been lifted from his shoulders. He knew, no matter what, their friendship would always be a crucial part of his life. Despite the feelings and changes happening, Peter hoped they could continue to have fun and live life with enthusiasm.
"I'm glad we can talk like this, Ned," Peter said sincerely, looking at his friend with warm eyes.
"Me too, Peter. We can always support each other, no matter what happens," Ned replied with a warm smile, showing how valuable their friendship was.
They both exchanged a glance, understanding the importance of their friendship. Even though the world around them kept changing, their bond remained strong and unshakable.
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