Can I just say that this new reboot of Spider-Man was the BEST. I've seen it five times. And Andrew Garfield is just mighty attractive ;)

I have this story planned out in my head and I really hope you like the way it turns out.

Constructive criticism welcomed!

Favorite, review, alert. All that good stuff!

Thank you for reading!

Need You Now

Peter Parker lived hidden behind the masked hero known as Spiderman. Between juggling school, Aunt May, and his duty to protect New York City, he found himself making time to stop at the same place every night. He stayed up late at night perched at the top of the building right across Apartment 2016. He was soaking up everything about her as his eyes followed her every move. It had been a month since they talked. Peter wanted so desperately to have some sort of contact with her. Every single time he had the urge to swing across the street and knock on Gwen's window, the voice of the Captain rang through his mind, loud and clear. "You're going to make enemies, Peter. People will get hurt, sometimes those closest to you. I want you to promise me something. Keep Gwen out of it," the Captain's voice would repeat over and over until Peter would kick the foolish idea of talking to Gwen out of his head. He needed to keep his promise if he wanted to keep her safe.

There were occasions when Gwen would meet Peter's eyes, and they would share a short, brief unknowing glare. Then one of them would abruptly walk away in the opposite direction. Peter occasionally felt her eyes burning a hole through his back.

Neither knew what the other felt.

The past month had not been so easy for Gwen. While the OsCorp building was being rebuilt, Gwen tried her best to not let her thoughts wander to Peter during her free time. Sometimes she'd look out her window, hoping he'd be there. He never was though.

Couldn't Peter see that Gwen was hurting on the inside? She had lost her father, but she didn't expect to lose Peter also.

Peter woke up that Friday morning in pain. Peter was surprised how long he had lived in New York City never noticing just how much went on in the dark city streets at night. He took a look in the mirror, shirtless and in his boxer briefs. He winced as he spun in a circle to see his entire body. There was a large purple bruise on the left side of his face, his arms were covered in spots of green, blue, black, and purple, the left side of his torso had a deep cut from a knife which he had stitched up, and there were scratches all along his legs. He stayed up so late, he also had dark circles around his eyes.

He went back to his room and pulled his clothes on for school.

Zipping up his hoodie all the way so the marks on his neck couldn't be seen, he headed downstairs. He thought about the night before.

Peter swung with ease across the city to make a quick stop before he went home. He was tired, exhausted, and overwhelmed. He had just fought three burglars, saved four women from being assaulted, and went to help a couple who had gotten into a bad car crash. He could feel the bruises already forming. Sometimes Peter hardly noticed the pain anymore; he got used to the pain from minor injuries. One of the burglars had managed to stab their small blade into his side, it was bleeding badly but Peter decided he'd stitch it up later. Every night after fighting, no matter how much pain or discomfort he was in, he stopped by Gwen's.

Lately, he felt as though he needed to make sure Gwen was safe. He had been feeling odd the past few couple of days for whatever reason. He took his usual position across Gwen's apartment window and came to the realization she was perfectly okay. She was in her bed sound asleep. Peter felt calmness spread throughout his body. Then suddenly, a Cadillac pulled up outside the front door of the apartment building. A visibly tired, frustrated man stepped out. Spider-Man got that tingly feeling again as he watched the man disappear inside the building.

He left a little bit earlier to school than usual after saying good-bye to Aunt May. He skateboarded his way there especially slow. He decided he'd take the long way there. He couldn't shake the weird feeling he got last night off his mind. The long way to school also included passing by the front door of Gwen's apartment building. The door did open as he rode past, but it wasn't Gwen.

"Hey! You go to Midtown with me. You're in my biology class," the tall, built boy called out, lifting an arm. The boy started jogging to Peter.

Peter stopped himself and waited for the boy to catch up to him. Peter adjusted his glasses, pushing them up his nose. "Yeah, yeah. I think I've seen you around before, uhm you're…"

"Harry Osborn," he said, extending his hand. People pushed past them.

Peter shook it and picked up his board from the floor. "Peter Parker." Peter tucked his skateboard under his arm.

"Mind if I join you?" Harry motioned towards the direction of the school. He shifted his backpack to his other shoulder as he waited for an answer.

Suddenly, Peter felt something wrong. So very wrong. The section on the back of his neck in which the spider bit him a mere two months ago was hurting, tingling.

Harry raised a hand in front of Peter's face. Harry stood uncomfortably waiting, shifting from foot to foot. Peter shook his head and looked down at the sidewalk. He knitted his eyebrows together.

Harry placed an arm on his shoulder. Peter winced. That scratch was still a little tender.

"Peter? My dad left early to go to work. He couldn't give me a ride. Mind if I walk with you?" Harry asked.

Peter nodded. They walked for a while in silence, the sound of the city filling their ears. Cars zoomed past, people pushed them along the sidewalk. Each step Peter took reminded him of how badly hurt he was.

"What the hell do you do in your spare time, Peter Parker?" Harry joked, as he examined Peter's face.

Peter's mind was elsewhere. He managed to snap himself out of it. "Hmm?" he asked.

"No offense, but you look like shit," Harry pointed out.

Peter shook his head disregarding Harry's comment. "Oh. Yeah, well, it's nothing."

Harry nodded, assuming it wasn't his place to ask.

Peter had seen Harry around school often. Harry lived the normal high school life: high schools games, parties, girls, class. He never knew his name though.

"Osborn," Peter thought, "Sounds familiar."

They arrived at school just in time. Other students were walking quickly to their classes. Some who didn't care if they were late just stood there laughing, having a fun time with their friends.

"Three minutes till first period. Better hurry! See you in biology," Harry said, jogging towards the front of the building.

Peter stood there for a second. The feeling disappeared suddenly. Wincing at the pain in his side, he walked up the front steps of the school. He pulled open the door ignoring the glares and murmurs of the other students in the hallway. The bell rang and Peter was grateful. All the students dispersed, walking to their different classes. Peter knew all of his new, fresh injuries every day made him the talk of the school.

"Think he's abused at home?" some girl would ask.

"Maybe he's in a gang," they would suggest.

Peter smirked as he strode down the halls toward his locker. He opened it, as the last of the students disappeared into classroom doors and around hallway corners. He shut his locker door loudly. It was completely quiet in the deserted hallway. He was thinking of the man he saw walking into the apartment building.

He was greeted walking into his first class with a couple gasps from the students who noticed his bruises, and the teacher shaking her head. He did his best to hide the wounds by putting on layers and layers of clothing, stitch up wounds and clean himself, and not wince in pain when he walked.

He tried to look his best when at home especially because he couldn't take the looks of worry Aunt May would give him. She would hug him longer than necessary as if she was trying to hold together the mess she though Peter was. She never asks him about where he goes late at night or why he comes home looking the way he does. He was grateful for that.

"Late again, Mr. Parker," Mrs. Harper scolded.

"Sorry. Won't happen again," Peter said.

Peter walked to the middle aisle and took the seat behind Gwen. She was playing with a pen in her hand. Peter placed his backpack down beside him.

"Don't make promises you can't keep, Mr. Parker," Mrs. Harper said.

Peter stared at the back of Gwen's head. He wanted there to be some way to show Gwen that he cared for her. He needed to show her that he was only doing this so he could protect her.

He leaned forward in his seat and grabbed the front edge of his desk with his hands. He whispered quiet enough for just Gwen to hear.

"Yeah, but those are the best kind."

She turned slightly to the side poised and ready to say something. She hesitated then turned her head back to look straight forward. Her ponytail swayed slightly. She lifted her pen to her mouth and smiled. She smiled.

Peter slouched back in his seat. Immediately, the voice of the Captain invaded his mind. His mind was now being used against him. "Keep Gwen out of it," he would repeat over and over and over.

Mrs. Harper then finished her lecture and gave them the rest of class time to catch up on their essay due Monday. Gwen quickly turned around and placed her hand on the back of her chair.

Peter stared at her. He marveled in her beauty. The way she would tuck her hair behind her ear when she was nervous. The way she would play with her hands in her lap when she didn't know what to say.

After looking him up and down, she met his eyes. They stared at each other for a short minute.

"You look bad," she finally said.

Peter blinked. He stumbled on what to say. It was amazing, boggling, that even after he had gotten over his fear of talking to Gwen Stacy for the first time, he was still nervous around her. She just had that power over him. "Uhm, what?"

"The bruises and cuts," she pointed out.

Peter then fidgeted again with his collar.

"I figured you would get used to seeing me like this. All beat up," Peter joked. He chuckled as he started doodling on his paper.

She gaped at Peter. She examined what was visible of his neck, hands, and face. She felt like throwing a book at him. She wanted to yell at him to be more careful. She saw the way he limped almost every day and the way he fidgeted to pull his jacket collar up to hide the marks on his neck. It hurt seeing him like that. It hurt because she wanted to be the one to take care of him. She wanted to be the one to make sure he was okay, to stitch up all the wounds and make him better.

Couldn't he see that him staying away from her was not protecting her, but hurting her? She wanted to be there for him. She wanted him to be there for her.

The bell rang.

"I'm not ever going to get used to it," she said.

Gwen stood up quickly. She shut her book loudly then placed it into her bag storming out of the classroom.

Peter quickly packed his things and followed her out. She tried her best to find her way to her next class as quickly as she could through the swarm of students.

Peter caught up to her and stood in her way.

"Move," she demanded refusing to look up to meet Peter's eyes.

"What did I say?"

"You're not invincible, Peter. You may have these powers, but you're still human," Gwen whispered.

She wanted Peter to know she cared about him. She worried day and night whether he would make it home safe. She wanted him to know that, but she refused to show how desperate she actually was. The past month was spent remaining strong for her family as well as for herself; now was not the time to show just how truly weak she was.

"I-I know. I'll be careful," Peter said.

Even as she tried her hardest, she still could not look past the bruises plastered along his neck and jaw. She couldn't ignore the aching in her chest that yearned for Peter. She felt her throat thicken with a cloud.

She felt a cool, wet tear slowly wiggle down her cheek.

The single tear held all of her hurt, her pain, and her suffering.

She quickly stepped around Peter avoiding his concerned gaze.

Gwen walked away rather swiftly as Peter stared after her, wishing he could wipe it away. All of it: his mistakes, Gwen's pain, and the promise he had foolishly agreed to.