MARVEL -BLACK SPIDERMAN

Gwen felt strange. Her body was uncomfortably warm, her pulse thundered in her ears, and her thoughts were hazy. She pressed her hand to her chest as if that could slow the rapid rhythm of her heart.

"My body feels hot," she muttered, trying to brush it off. Her mind scrambled for an explanation. "Maybe it's just the school newspaper... It probably got me worked up."

Peter wasn't convinced. He frowned, studying her flushed face. "Is that all, Gwen? Are you sure you're okay? No other symptoms?"

She hesitated, taking a deep breath to steady herself. "It's better now. It felt like the weakness you get after a hard workout... but I'm fine."

Peter folded his arms, his expression skeptical. "Maybe you should see a doctor."

"I'll think about it," Gwen said quickly, unwilling to admit something might be seriously wrong. "But it's probably nothing."

When Peter finally walked away, Gwen sighed in relief. She rested her head against the desk, one hand pressed to her temple. Her pulse throbbed uncomfortably under her fingertips, her breaths shallow. She glanced at her smartwatch and winced at the reading: her heart was beating over 140 times per minute.

She gave a weak laugh. "My heart's racing faster than an astronaut's during takeoff. Great."

Gwen stole a glance at Peter, who was heading for the door. Her cheeks flushed an even deeper shade of red. There was something about him—his presence, the energy he exuded—that made her pulse quicken. She felt her heart leap every time she looked his way.

"Don't be ridiculous," she muttered to herself. "It's just Peter. I'm not some lovesick fool."

But the heat in her cheeks told another story.

Peter, oblivious to Gwen's turmoil, left the classroom. His thoughts raced as he retraced the oddities he'd noticed. Something about the atmosphere in the school was off. There was a peculiar scent in the air—a mix of spices and sweetness, almost like a volatile oil. It reminded him of the strange pheromone-like scent he'd encountered during his fight with Frank.

He suspected that the new biology teacher, Antonia Aguilar, might be the cause. There was something unnatural about her presence, something he couldn't quite place.

Peter headed straight for the staff office, where he found Miss Fish, the strict and eccentric French teacher, lecturing two seniors for skipping class.

"Billy Deloitte and Henry Tennant, you'll both have detention for the next two days!" she barked, shooing them out of the room.

When she turned and spotted Peter standing in the doorway, her eyes narrowed. "Peter Parker. What are you doing here during school hours? This better be important."

Peter didn't flinch under her sharp gaze. "I need to speak with Miss Aguilar. Is she here?"

Miss Fish arched an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. "Miss Aguilar isn't here. She took a leave of absence."

Peter frowned. "Do you know why?"

Miss Fish's lips pressed into a thin line. "No, and frankly, it's none of your business. She's a teacher, not a student. She doesn't need my permission to take leave."

Her tone turned even frostier. "If you ask me, you kids are far too interested in Miss Aguilar. You'd all be better off in church, praying for protection from the devil's temptations."

Peter ignored her sharp tone. "Do you know anything about her? Like where she lives?"

Miss Fish's stern expression faltered slightly. She sighed, rubbing her temples. "Why do you need to know, Parker?"

"It's important," Peter said firmly. "I wouldn't ask if it wasn't."

Miss Fish hesitated before finally relenting. "Fine. Her address and email are in the faculty records. I'll write them down for you."

She scribbled the information on a scrap of paper and handed it to him with a resigned sigh. "Here. Now get back to class before I change my mind."

Peter took the paper and nodded. "Thank you."

As he left the office, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and saw a text from Gwen: "Peter, come to the school swimming pool."

He frowned. The swimming pool? Gwen wasn't on the swim team, so why would she want to meet there? Shrugging off his confusion, Peter made his way to the gym.

The indoor pool was quiet except for the gentle lapping of water. Peter stepped inside and spotted a figure moving gracefully in the water. Gwen's pale form sliced through the pool like a mermaid, her strokes smooth and practiced.

Peter stopped in his tracks, watching her for a moment. She seemed so at ease in the water, her earlier discomfort forgotten. The sound of her splashing echoed through the vast space, the stillness otherwise unbroken.

"Gwen?" Peter called out, his voice carrying over the water.

She paused mid-stroke, turning toward him. For a moment, she looked startled, as if she hadn't expected him to show up. Then she swam to the edge of the pool, resting her arms on the side.

"Hey, Peter," she said, her voice breathy. Her cheeks were still flushed, though this time it might have been from exertion.

Peter walked closer, crouching down beside her. "Are you feeling okay? You seemed off earlier."

Gwen gave him a tired smile. "I'm fine. Just needed to clear my head. Swimming helps."

Peter wasn't convinced. He could still see the faint redness in her face and the slight tremor in her hands as she clung to the pool's edge.

"Gwen, you should really see a doctor," he insisted. "This isn't normal."

"I'm fine," she said again, more firmly this time. "I just needed some fresh air—or, well, water."

Peter sighed, knowing he wouldn't get anywhere by pushing her. "Alright. But if you start feeling worse, promise me you'll get checked out."

Gwen nodded, her gaze softening. "I promise."

As Peter stood to leave, Gwen's voice stopped him. "Hey, Peter?"

He turned back, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah?"

Her cheeks turned a deeper shade of pink. "Thanks... for caring."

Peter's expression softened. "Of course, Gwen. That's what friends are for."

As he left the gym, his mind returned to the mystery of Antonia Aguilar. There was something about her absence—and the strange scent in the air—that didn't sit right with him. He would have to investigate further, but first, he needed to figure out what was happening to Gwen.

Back at the classroom, Peter studied the address Miss Fish had given him. If Antonia Aguilar was connected to the strange phenomena at school, he needed answers—and fast.

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