I’m Not Becoming Spider-Man - Chapter 24: Trouble Brewing in the Band (Patreon)

“Can I help you?”

The voice on the other end of the phone wasn't her mother's. Harley's delighted expression immediately fell. She knew that voice. It belonged to Norma's secretary.

Was it really so difficult for her mother to answer a single call herself?

Harley swallowed her frustration and explained to the secretary that she wanted to rent an apartment. The woman agreed to pass the matter along to Norma.

When the call ended, Harley was visibly upset. Somehow Norma always managed to crush her expectations, again and again.

She had hoped her mother might give her advice or at least an answer. Whether Norma agreed or refused didn't matter nearly as much as showing that she cared enough to respond.

Instead, Harley felt no different from a dog that had been left to look after itself.

“Uh, are you okay, Harley?” Peter asked.

“I'm fine, Peter. Anyway, I've let them know. We should hear back in a little while. Now, what should we work on...” Harley paused. “Oh, speaking of work, how's the school paper coming along?”

“Don't remind me. Just thinking about it gives me a headache. We haven't put together the layout or the content yet, and Gwen and Mary Jane are busy with something else.”

“What are they doing?”

“The band. Mary Jane says she's found some suitable members, so they're getting ready to rehearse. I don't even know who else is in it.”

“Sounds like something to look forward to. I'll help you put the newspaper together after school, then.”

“I'd appreciate that, Harley.”

...

“So, we've finally got a full band,” Mary Jane announced.

“Hehe. I'm Felicia Hardy. I believe I'll be playing keyboard.” The girl beside her had long platinum-blonde hair and spoke with an easy elegance that suggested a refined upbringing.

“She writes lyrics too. And this is Gwen, our drummer.” Mary Jane turned and leaned toward Gwen's ear. “I hope you don't disappoint us.”

“If you're hoping I'll embarrass myself, you're going to be sorely disappointed.”

“Um...” Another girl, this one with short black hair, hovered nearby, looking as though she wasn't quite sure how to join the conversation.

“And this is Cindy. She goes to Midtown High with us,” Mary Jane said.

“Hi, everyone... I'm Cindy... I guess I'm playing... guitar?” Cindy Moon looked uneasy. Mary Jane had spotted her on the street, decided she looked promising, and recruited her right then and there.

“Bass, actually. I'm on guitar and lead vocals,” Mary Jane corrected her.

“Um...” Cindy timidly raised a hand.

“Is something wrong, Cindy?” Felicia asked, folding her arms. So far, the others seemed easy enough to get along with.

“What... is a bass?” Cindy asked, scratching her cheek.

For a moment, nobody said a word. Then Felicia doubled over laughing. “Hahaha! Mary... Mary Jane! This band is hilarious!”

Cindy's face went bright red. Had she said something wrong?

“A bass looks kind of like a guitar, but it's a different instrument,” Gwen explained.

“Oh...” Cindy wanted the floor to swallow her. This was mortifying.

“Come on, girls. Nobody's born knowing how to make great music,” Mary Jane said, apparently unbothered.

“Shouldn't we sort out somewhere to practice first?” Gwen asked.

“We could rent a cheap warehouse,” Felicia suggested. “Or something like that. Even a shipping container would work. Once we've got a place, we can take the first step toward becoming a band.”

“I hope you're all ready to buy instruments that suit you,” Mary Jane said. “We're trying things out this weekend. We'll start with some cover songs.”

“It's settled, then. Don't disappoint me.” Felicia smiled.

Today was only an introductory meeting for the new members, not a proper rehearsal.

“Where did you find her?” Gwen asked Mary Jane afterward. Even at a glance, Felicia carried herself differently from the rest of them.

“She's from Phillips,” Mary Jane replied.

“So you went recruiting on the day of the football game? That takes nerve. Our two teams were practically at war.”

“I happened to see her, thought she'd be a good fit, and asked. It's not like she was one of the players. Anyway, don't forget to show up when the time comes.” Mary Jane waved off the concern and left to get on with her own business.

Gwen shrugged and headed back toward class. After a few steps, however, she realized Cindy was following her.

“What's up, Cindy?”

“Uh... It's about... the bass...” Cindy could barely bring herself to ask. She didn't know the first thing about bass guitars. How was she supposed to choose one?

“Oh, all right. I'll help you.” Gwen rubbed her forehead. “I still can't believe Mary Jane found you.”

“I don't know how she did either... She just stared at me on the street, then came up and asked if I wanted to join a band. She said they needed a guitarist or something...”

“A bassist,” Gwen corrected her with a helpless look.

Mary Jane really was a force of nature. Somehow she'd recruited a complete stranger just like that.

“Right, right. A bassist...”

“And you agreed on the spot?” Gwen brought up her phone and looked through a few common, reasonably priced instruments. “Here, see if you like any of these. They're basic models, and none of them costs too much.”

“Well, I don't see why not...” Cindy murmured. She picked one from the screen. “What about this?”

“Hmm, not bad. It's easy for a beginner to learn on, and it should last you a long time. Good value, too. Besides, we're all Midtown High students. If you have any questions, just ask us.”

“Okay, okay... Oh, by the way, I'm Cindy.”

“I know. I'm Gwen.” Gwen thought for a moment. “If you're free sometime in the next few days, we could go shopping for instruments together. You really need to hold one in your hands to know whether it feels right.”

“I will be!”

“Then we'll pick a time and go together.”

“Mm-hmm!”

Once Cindy had gone, Gwen let out a relieved breath. She seemed easy to get along with. Felicia was another matter.

The girl attended a prestigious private school and was clearly from a wealthy family. Between someone like her and ordinary public school students like them, there was an obvious class divide.

“Oh, well. I should go tell Peter about this first.”

Gwen was in a good mood. From the looks of things, the rest of her high school years were shaping up to be anything but boring.

...

“The first installment of Batman and the football team's news... Don't you think that's a little repetitive? Is there anything else we could put in, Peter?” Harley asked.

“Science fairs, popular science articles... There's plenty we can use. If there's something you like, Harley, throw it in.”

“Hmm. Even when you put it that way, I can't think of anything,” Harley admitted.

“Didn't you say you wanted a food column or something?”

“Uh... Maybe let's not...”

“Knew I'd find you two here.” Gwen pushed open the newspaper club's door and walked in.