Chapter Text
"Jacky, I know it's time to get up. I know it's the last day, but you can't skip this. The bus will be here any minute. It's the science trip, you've been talking this up for months."
Jackson hears his aunt's soft, spoken voice call from the kitchen. “Oh my god, it’s today!” He picked his head up and almost immediately threw off the messy blankets, racing out of his room and towards the bathroom, almost stumbling over himself.
Brushing his messy ebony hair and splashing his face with some water as he was brushing his teeth.
He then hastily pulled up his shorts and finished by pulling a simple blue striped shirt over his head as he made his way out to the main room of the small apartment. "I didn't think that was for another week. Oh, Hana is going to kill me for being late." The teen tried cleaning his glasses while grabbing a small plate.
“Slow down sport,” a hardy but noticeably aged masculine voice said with a chuckle in their tone. “I’m sure Aunt Sally doesn’t want you to break the good china.”
“You can’t get china like that anymore, they just don’t sell.” The woman smiled warmly.
"Besides I can't let you go out looking like that." The elderly man came over and started fixing Jackson's hair. Then he took the wrinkles out of his shirt.
He was astoot and persistent with helping out on the tidiness of his nephew.
"Uncle Ben, I'm fine. A few of those can't hurt that much. I Need to make myself not look 100% like a nerd."
“And what's so wrong about being a nerd? I am the captain of nerdology.”
"F-Flash is also going on this trip." Jackson reluctantly admitted
With that name a small, silent moment passed over. Jackson pressed his glasses higher up his nose. A detailed, but not fond memory of having to search the school's dumpster for hours just to find them.
Flash was the high school bully. Popular, great with ladies, captain of the football team and it didn't help that he looked like a model. Everything that Parker was not.
"Ya, he's also here. Sure, set to just make the last day miserable."
"And let the boy try, you got fire in your soul, kid. Got that Parker Pride." Uncle Ben raised Jackson's chin. "Why you just gotta remind him of what you have over him?"
"And what might that be Unc."
"Your brain handsome." Sally came and sat next to him.
“I’m not sure,” Jackson reluctantly said. “All he is, is a brute who responds to force and he is praised for that.”
“Then make sure that you outsmart him.” Sally said, “Brawn will eventually have to bow down when it knows its defeat.”
"Thanks, Aunt Sal, but I don't think he's smart enough to know that he lost." A small, chipped smile. A small, stray crumb of food left on his lip.
"Now get going champ. The bus is here and both of your friends are waiting." Uncle Ben tossed him his backpack.
"What? How do you,"
"Jacky!! Come on!" Everyone heard Mia's voice coming from the bottom floor.
He walked out and down a few blocks to the bus stop where he saw a girl with chocolate brown hair and emerald green eyes. Standing next to a dirty blond hair boy with grey storm eyes..
“Hey Jackson!”
“Morning Jackson!”
The two waved and flashed a small smile.
"Hey guys, you two seem full of energy. Did your test go well?"
“Aced the French Revolution test… as expected.” His blonde haired friend exclaimed with pride.
“As if we had any doubt about that Xander” the brunette rolled her eyes in a sarcastic manner.
“I was mostly finished, before flash and his group accidentally spilled their coffee over it. The Teacher said she didn’t have any more copies and that it was an accident.”
“Why do the teachers always side with him? Why can they never see what he is really up to?” Jackson questioned no one in particular.
“Because he is popular.”
“Thank you Xander, if that wasn’t obvious enough.” Jackson rolled his eyes “one day we will have the power to get back at him.”
“If only.” Their brunette friend crossed her arms.
“Oh have some faith Mia.”
She rolled her grassy green eyes and smiled.
“One day we can make it that he and his cronies will not pick on us again.”
“AS IF NERDS!!” Everyone turned in the direction of the new voice only for Xander and Jackson to be hit in the face with water balloons.
“Ahh they’re not even water, it’s expired milk!” Xander was spitting out the remaining milk.
Standing there was a tall muscular 17 year old who in some cases could pass for a child supermodel. His sandy blonde hair captured the sun and his mischievous grin sat on his smug face as he casually tossed another water balloon in his hand.
His glacier blue eyes locked their azure gaze on the small, nerdy boy in front of him.
Jackson covered his face with his arm seeing that the balloon was aiming for him but Mia just shot her hand out and caught it. “Nice going flash.”
“Ugh, the little squirt got security. Give it back girly and let me finish my fun.”
“Hm… if you want it back that much then here.” She threw it back at him, luckily he dodged just in time but his lackeys weren’t so lucky and got covered in chunky milk.
“AAHHHHH!! It’s in my hair!” One of the girls that was following Flash like a dog screamed.
“Oh god Lizz! Here take this.” Flash took his Jacket and started to swat at her head.
“And that will keep them busy for a while.” Mia said satisfied.
“Maybe Uncle was right, wouldn’t hurt to get a little bigger.” Jackson looked at his frame. Stick thin. “I mean what soon-to-be senior gets confused with middle school.”
“Oh shut up at least you're tall.” Xander said before getting in the bus that just arrived.
“They’ll say I’m short.” His grey eyes narrowed and he huffed.
“Honestly I don’t see a problem with any of it.” Mia said as she took her seat beside Xander, Jackson on the other side of the bus across from them. “It’s not like you want to join any athletics professions that need you to be tall.”
“That’s the thing. Hana played a prank on me and signed me up for football trials come this summer.” He said, sighing as a small smirk pecked out of the corner of his lips, “Ah that girl still has a sense of humor.”
“The Watson girl? How are you two doing anyways?” Mia said with a curious tilt of her head.
“I want to show her to my uncle and Aunt Sally, but she’s been really busy with this reporting thing. She is sure it will take off soon.” He had a small smile full of pride for his girlfriend. “I’m meeting her today though.”
The bus soon arrived at the Connor’s biology and entomology research centre.
As the students filed out they met up and the teacher went to do a headcount and meet up with some of the parent chaperones.
Jacks eyes spotted a relatively new black jeep. Hanas car. He went over and tried to open the door but Hana didn’t see him and accidentally opened the door and smacked him with it.
“Ahhh!” Jackson stumbled back. Checking if his glasses were broken.
“Don’t you know not to sneak up on a girl like that?” She joked. Leaning over, she fixed his glasses and smiled, “there.”
“Thank you.”
“Mom would be mad if you broke into her car.” she smirked, “Now I won’t mind if you give me a little something here.” She pointed to her cheek. Jackson obliged and gave her a small peck.
“Flirty as always.”
“I try,” Hana smiled. “Give me a second to get my portable interview equipment from the trunk. I really hope Dr. Connors and Mrs. Phylis would give me time for an interview.”
“What big question do you even have for them?” Jackson led her to the front door. “You’ve been talking about this for weeks now.”
“Mostly things about Osborn and how he’s running his company. I prepared a list of a couple but mom helped me with some improvised things too. You can never know when things go off script.”
“And how’s she doing? That headache is still getting her?”
“It’s getting better, it is still there but she is doing fine.”
“That’s good to hear. Say, after this, you want to….Maybe get something to eat?”
“Are you asking me on a date?”
“Only if you say yes.”
“Sure, after school we can get something to eat.” She grinned
“Can it Lovebirds, we have science to do.” Mia came. “Sorry Hana but I’m gonna need to borrow him.”
“You seem very cheery.” Xander poked Mia in the side with his pen.
“Duh, Connors is like the best in the world when it comes to this stuff.
He’s got like 9 labs through the island and they’re all animals.”
“Oh ya right, Connors. Sorry Han. I’ll see you later.”
“Oh yes you must be excited for the tour yourself. Now if you excuse me I need to ask about that big interview at the end and talk to Dr. Connors about that too before we get started.”
They then saw their friend walk inside the group of teachers and chaperones talking to the handsome man in the lab coat.
Xander, Mia and Jack also headed inside. Mia being a little
More eager to see everything.
It was fun to see her this way, she’s said for the entire school year she wanted to be a Zoologist, and this was her best chance to have some of the schools notice her.
“Come on. The reptiles are the money makers here.” Jackson tried leading them towards the main attraction.
Swinging open a large metal door, the inside room looked like if you captured the Amazon in a single room.
Every reptile on the planet was here and standing in front of a large tank was the leading science in all things reptilians.
Doctor Curt Connors.
“Ahh it’s him!” Mia said, starry eyed. Xander and Jackson swore her voice went up an octave.
“Mr-I mean Dr. Connor.” Hanna raised her hand, herself a bit starstruck as well. “If you won’t mind after you give us this tour can I have an interview with you. It’s for the student news. Please. Also, do you mind recording on the tour?”
“Well, I think we should go off and get our own thing going. Let the girls have their fun.” Xander said heading for a different room of the building.
“Aren’t we supposed to stay with the group?” Jackson said
“I mean we should be I don’t even see Jade.”
“I hope she isn’t absent, she’s gonna miss out.” The sea green eyed boy said with a hint of sympathy.
The two subtly broke away from the group to check out another part of the laboratory independently.
“Hey, I think we should check this part out.” Jackson made his way over to the spider exhibit.
“And here I thought you weren’t as dumb as I thought.”
You still don’t have that crippling phobia of spiders do you?”
“And what if I do?” Xander crossed his arms in protest.
“I dare you to touch one of them.”
“You have officially lost your mind. Besides, don’t you see the big ass do not enter sign?”
“…..ya. But it’s just a sign, it can’t stop us.” he tried to sound tougher than he actually felt.
“That is literally all it does!”
“Cmon, where’s your teenage rebellion spirit.”
“My father won’t like that I screwed up one of his investments.” Xander said nervously
“Osborn already forgot about that; he’s got a million lined up.”
“You're right nerds. Daddy won’t be proud of you ruining his business.
Lucky for you I’m here to help.” Just the sound alone made him want to gag. Mixed in with terrified of what's gonna happen.
Both boys turned around to see Flash standing right behind them. Arms crossed cocky and proud. A few of his brain dead friends standing by his side.
“Best it flash. Don’t you have work to do!” Xander tried to sound tough. It didn’t work.
“In fact, yes.” He swiftly answered. Grabbing the two boys by the back of their necks and dragging them to the front of the spider door. Slowly cracking the frame open.
“NO, NO, DAMNIT FLASH!” Xander tried to pry flashes grip from his neck but he wasn’t able to generate enough force.
Jackson tried to use his longer arms to maybe slap Flash across the face but even that failed.
When the door cracked open the cold stale air bled through into the hallway and, with a smug smile and a look of satisfaction Flash tossed them in there like they were just sacks of potatoes. Chuckling the entire time.
“Don’t be too long in there! Can’t have you skipping class nerds! Hahahahaha!”
He then walked away leaving them in the exhibit.
The two boys frantically kept trying to open the door but it was locked.
Jackson pounded it, letting out one more hiss. “Who locks a door from the outside?” He shouted in frustration.
“We are trapped! We are trapped in a room full of spiders!” Xander panicked
“STOP PANICKING DAMNIT!”
“YOUR PANICKING DAMNIT.”
“Alright shut up, just. Come on, we’re both smart.” He closed his eyes and tried to think of some sort of answer. “Maybe there’s some sort of key here.”
“Where is there a key in a spider infested room?” Xander looked around trying to look for a way out.
Both boys started to explore this back closet of Satan.
The cool AC air running down their necks, the light tapping of glass as every 8 eye arachnid came to look upon them.
“They can’t even see that well! Stop looking at me!” Xander tried to keep his heart from beating out his chest.
Jackson on the other hand sort of dropped his worry. Seeming to be oddly memorized by them all.
Coming up to one of the glass panels, he placed his palm on the glass, and 40 spiders followed. Outline the shape of his hand. Jack liked it, but wasn’t sure why.
“Jackson get your hand off the glass! What if we are caught? They will find our fingerprints. They will know we were here.” Xander exclaimed
“…… huh.
Oh ya. Ya let’s just keep looking.”
After around a minute both boys found what they were looking for. The key to the locked door stood on the top shelf in the back of Cornor.
“Who designed this room? Why is the key up there!” Xander groaned.
“Shut up and get on my shoulders. Just try and grab the thing.” Jackson got to his knees.
“You think you can hold me?”
“No, but do we have a choice?”
Xander got on his friend’s shoulders and they started to reach for the key.
Now to say they did this in an elegant manner would have been a terrible lie.
It was wobbly and looked more like a failed circus act. Somehow Xander managed to finally grab the thing. But not before he felt something brush against his hand.
Convinced that judgment was today, he reeled back so hard he caused Jackson and himself to fall straight on their back.
They wobbled and then crashed into one of the many cages.
They crashed into one of the towers of cages. Glass shattered and hit the floor.
Sprinting back up to their feet like their skin was on fire. Xander tried to unlock the door.
He turned around and saw maybe around two dozen spiders now roaming free on the floor.
With more adrenaline in his veins than ever before. He shoved Xander out of the way and slammed the key into the keyhole.
The door clicked open.
The two boys ran back towards where the group of students were, just trying to get away from that room.
Making it back to the main room. Connor was in the middle of a lecture talking about Alligator teeth.
Xander just went over to the left side of the hall and started writing something down.
Mia and Hana were both up at the front of the crowd. So Jack just decided to stick back and watch.
‘You know, it is close to Uncle Ben and Aunt Sally’s reunion. I wonder if they would do something fancy or just a day in the park?’
“So let me get this straight, the difference between the teeth of an alligator and crocodile is the arrangement giving the alligator a much of an overbite look to them. What effect and advantage does it have for them in the wild?”
They continued to watch as he answered her question and continued on with another lecture about their predatory practices.
Jackson thought he felt something crawl up him. He tried to wave it away and went back to watching the doctor’s lecture.
Mia came up next and started listing her own set of questions. He swore she didn’t stop breathing for at least 3 minutes but the doctor answered each one of them with a smile.
That same itching sense came back traveling up his left arm. Again the teenager just swatted it away but this time it didn’t leave.
Then a sudden pitch and terrible itch shocked Jackson, instinctively he swatted his arm. Lifting his hand up. There laid dead was the sole body of a colorful spider corps.
Its bright red and blue exoskeleton shined in the dim fluorescent light.
His face contorted going from shock then horror and guilt and panic. Biting the side of his lip as he stared at it from out of his peripheral vision trying hardest to focus back on his friend’s interview.
He swiped the dead arachnid to the ground and grinded it into the floor.
Then he just went next to his friend and tried to find something to take his mind off.
“Alright that should be about it, I thought I had you best on the chameleon, you got to give me props on that.” Mia said.
“Ah you were a close sweetheart, but I’m the scientist here now why don’t you–Oh you must be Parker.” Doctor Connors saw Jackson make his way to the front. Trying to suppress his nerves. “Your friend here spoke highly of you.”
“Oh, hello Doctor Connors. Ya that’s me and I hope she didn’t raise the bar too high, hehe.” Jack nervously rubbed the back of his neck.
“Just enough.” Mia said with a smile.
“You have a question for Dr. Connors here? Don’t be shy now tiger.” Hana encouraged
“Oh. Han, haha didn’t see you there,” He turned his head and nervously chuckled.
“You alright?” Her outwardly reporter persona faulted slightly as she let a sympathetic frown place itself on her face. Hitting pause on her phone and signaling the student holding her camera from another part of the crowd to stop rolling. “You look nervous. Did something happen?” Hana placed the back of her hand across his forehead.
“Oh–ugh…No it’s nothing! Flash just gave me a bit of trouble.”
“Are you sure? I’m not trying to defend him but Flash was one of the recent people who asked dr. Connors how much the bear could kill while we were in the mammal area. Grant it was a bit morbid; it did lead to a lecture on the difference on the difference on what type he was talking about.”
“You trying to be smart is so repulsive I’m ashamed anyone believes it.”
“Oh you hurt me Parker. I thought we were friends.” Flash faked hurt.
‘Should lock you in that damn room.’ The pain in Jackson’s hand shot up his systems.
“Right, right flash. I mean ugh– sorry. I saw Osborn and didn’t want to get in trouble.” He laughed nervously again.
“You saw dad?” Xander raises his brow at the excuse.
“Oh no not pops. I mean uhh–Hi Doctor Connors I’m Jackson Parker. I’ve been wanting to talk to you for a minute.” He went to shake the doctor's hand, only to realize that he went for the wrong arm remember that he only had one.
Jackson pulls back feeling even more embarrassed.
Hana glances from Dr. Connors to her boyfriend a couple of times. She knew she really wanted to ask more and have a big one-on-one interview with him at the end but she had a feeling her boyfriend needed her more.
Hana let out a small defeated sigh. “Sorry big interview.” She said under her breath.
She then focused on her boyfriend and smiled. Hana then started to usher him back towards the lobby. “Cmon, how about we get you some ice cream and I can show you the mammal exhibit. I know how you like horses and those coyotes, though I prefer wolves.” She chuckled
“Thanks, sorry guys. Just, don’t feel too hot all of a sudden. Thanks doctor.”
“No problem,” the doctor politely smiled. “Is he usually like that? He seems rather pale?”
Pale? I don’t think so?” Xander shrugged
“That shrimp is always pale.”
“Shut up, nobody asked you!” Mia shouted at the bully
Soon after the tour wrapped up everyone walked back out to the front of the building where the school buses were.
“Hey, sorry guys. I-I think I’m gonna walk home. Think it would be good to stretch my legs.”
“I don’t think that’s allowed,” Xander argued.
“But school is super far for a walk.” Mia said confused
“I insist. I just needed to clear my head.” Jackson said
“I still don’t think this is a good idea.”
Hana walked away from her mother after they said their goodbyes, hearing this she had a concerned expression. “Jackie, at least take my metrocard.” She gave it to him.”I don’t think this is a good idea but at least you will have a means to get around easier.”
“Thanks Han. You’re the best. Churros on me, I’ll make it up to ya.” And then he just started walking.
Walking down the main road, his head started to beat and a small bead of sweat was making its way down his forehead. But he was still able to walk.
After an hour and several subway stops later he finally made it to his apartment door.
“Jackson, you are home already?” His aunt said with slight confusion “Has it been six hours already? Did schools change their hours since I was there?”
“Oh hi Aunt Sally. No it’s fine,” he curtly greatly. “Hey I’m sorry to be rude but. Is dinner ready?” The teenager asked, “I’m super hungry.”
“Not for a while but I can get a snack ready for you in the meantime.” Sally suggested
“You’re the best. Hey unc.” Jackson waved as he made it over to the couch and started snoozing before even hitting the couch.
“20 bucks he’s been chasing girls around.” Uncle Ben chuckled.
“Make it 40 bucks old man.” Sally said with a devilish grin in her wrinkled eyes
“You’re on to talk Sally, I think I have a better hip than you.”
“By just a little. But I have the better back.”
When Jack woke up it was the black of night. A plate of food was sitting on the coffee table in front of him with two glasses of juice.
Looking around he saw the clock strike 2:00 AM. He also saw that uncle Ben was asleep in his chair, with his aunt assumedly down the hall.
Now it had been almost 10 years since they had gotten into a fight so Jack assumed his Uncle has decided to stay with him.
“Thanks Uncle Ben. But let’s get you to bed.” Jackson came over and without any effort picked up his uncle and carried him to his room. Softly placing him on his bed next to Aunt Sally.
It wasn’t until he returned back that he then realized just what he did.
“He’s at least 200 pounds, how did I?” Jack looked at his hands not sure how he was able to pick up a full grown man.
He also didn’t have much time as the headache came right back and the only urge he had was to eat.
He tore into the plate, almost biting into the glass itself.
He chugged the drinks before he could even taste them. He wanted more. Looking inside the fridge, the first thing that caught his eye was a leftover meatloaf.
He didn’t even bother to warm it up, he just devoured it. After taking half the fridge with him. Parker's hunger seemed to go away and funny enough his headache also.
He went into his room. He didn’t know how much he ate before he passed out, but enough to feel satisfied for the night.