I’m Not Becoming Spider-Man - Chapter 23: A Strained Family Relationship (Patreon)

Harley watched the elevator doors close behind Peter and Mary Jane. With a happy sigh, she turned back into her home.

Her footsteps made no sound on the cold marble floor. She settled onto the sofa and stared at the dark television, which might as well have been another piece of decoration. Its screen reflected one solitary figure. Hers, and no one else's.

The smile slowly slipped from her face until there was nothing left of it.

The unlit apartment grew dimmer as time passed. Harley put her hands to her head.

“Peter?”

The sound startled her. A moment later, she realized she had spoken aloud without even noticing it.

But there was no one there to answer.

That was what her home had always been like: empty, silent, lifeless. As cold as a coffin in a morgue.

She remembered the bed at Peter's house. It was much smaller than her own and rather hard, yet once she pulled the covers over herself, it had felt wonderfully warm. Even his little bedside lamp, not especially bright, had made her feel safe.

Click!

The lights came on, and Harley sprang to her feet.

“Why were you sitting in the dark, Harley?” Norma asked.

“Hah. I didn't know you were coming home.” Harley sat back down.

“You can switch on a light whether I'm here or not. It costs practically nothing. Surely you're not stupid enough to worry about that.”

“If you came home every day, I'd leave a light on for you!”

Norma frowned at her daughter's tone. “I have a room at the company. There's no reason for me to come back every night. What are you, a baby who needs a doll to keep her company?”

“Then maybe I should move into the company too! There's never anybody here!”

“You can hire servants to help around the house. You don't have to do everything yourself. We have money, Harley.”

“I don't need money!” Harley burst out. She summoned the courage to say what was on her mind, but her voice faltered before the words came. “You... Why didn't you answer my call the day before yesterday?”

“The day before yesterday? A call?” Norma paused for a couple of seconds. “Maybe I was in a meeting. If there's something urgent, call my secretary. She can take care of anything you need. You know I don't have free time whenever you want it, and I shouldn't have to handle every little thing, right down to your homework.”

“Then do you even know what I was doing that day?!”

“What were you doing?” Norma asked as she went to the counter to pour herself some water.

In her mind, what could a high school student like Harley possibly have been up to? When Norma had been that age, her idea of a good time was playing pool with friends after school.

“You...” Harley had meant to say more, but the casual question made her laugh bitterly instead. She got to her feet and headed for her room.

Peter had been right. If Norma had answered the phone, even a refusal would have meant something. Acceptance or rejection, either way, Harley would at least have known her mother had listened. But she hadn't even been able to reach her.

“Hey, Harley! Don't just walk off. Explain yourself!”

“You don't care about me at all.”

“Harley!” Norma shouted angrily. “I've given you everything you asked for. What more could you possibly want? The best living conditions, all the money you need. Even if you didn't want to go to school, I'd let you. And still you keep acting as though nothing I do is enough!”

“Enough!” Harley shouted back. “I'm moving out tomorrow!”

“Where do you think you're going?!”

“None of your business!” Harley turned and left.

Norma ground her teeth together and hurled the glass in her hand to the floor.

She simply couldn't understand it. Without her, how could Harley possibly enjoy such a comfortable life?

Harley's grades weren't good, and she didn't want to attend a strict private school. Fine. Norma had transferred her to an easier public high school. She wanted a car, a house, toys, food. Norma had provided it all. Why couldn't her daughter understand?

When Norma herself had been Harley's age, she hadn't even been able to afford cake!

Back in her bedroom, Harley crawled into bed and thought again about the lovely time she'd spent at Peter's house.

Aunt May had been so kind, and her cooking had been delicious. The house was small, but it felt warm and welcoming. It wasn't even properly soundproofed. You could hear rustling outside, and a heavy step inside was enough to make the floor creak.

“Maybe I really should move out... Hmm... Rent an apartment? Yes, that's it! Then I can invite Peter and Gwen over. Mary Jane too! We could all live together!”

Harley began happily imagining her future. Then a rather dangerous idea occurred to her.

What if she invited only Peter?

Just the two of them living together, without Gwen or Mary Jane...

“Mmm...” Harley rolled from side to side, hugging the covers and burying her face in them. “Peter's so nice...”

...

At lunchtime the next day, Peter scratched his head as he considered Harley's suggestion. “Hmm... Moving out? That actually sounds like a pretty good idea.”

“Right? So when we move in together, we can...”

“Hold on. I meant it's a good idea for you, Harley. I don't really need to move out. Why did you suddenly decide you wanted to?”

“Well, hear me out, Peter. Isn't your house a long way from school? If we rented a place together nearby, it'd make things so much more convenient.”

She did have a point. Peter lived far enough away that getting to and from school took a long time.

“Hmm... I'd still need to talk it over with Aunt May and the others. And to be frank, I don't have that sort of money.” Peter shrugged. Money was the real obstacle. His family was hardly wealthy.

“That's okay. I'll pay your share.”

“No, no, Harley. Even if we're best buddies, we have to keep money matters straight.”

“Then how about this? You know how to cook, right, Peter? You could handle our lunches and dinners, and we'll count the rent as my payment for hiring you.”

“Huh. So I'd be your personal chef? Well, I still need to talk to Aunt May.”

“Gwen and Mary Jane could come too. If we all rented together, lots of things would be easier, wouldn't they?”

“You'll have to ask them how they feel about it.”

“I will.” Deep down, Harley wanted nothing more than a place with only her and Peter, but she knew that was hardly going to happen.

“Does your family agree to any of this?” Peter asked.

“I don't need to ask.”

“You should call anyway.” Peter had already guessed this was Harley's own idea. Renting an apartment while still in high school wasn't so simple, especially when a guarantor would be required.

“Fine, fine. I'll call right now.” Harley dialed the number.

She thought she already knew what would happen. The line would be busy, or the call wouldn't go through. That was simply how things were with her mother.

Beep!

The call connected!

Harley's face lit up with delight.