Spiderverse: A Miles Morales AU

Miles finally arrived home after a long day at school, the exhaustion from navigating a new environment settling in. It was only his second week, but he found himself contemplating joining the basketball team more and more. The thought sparked a mixture of excitement and nerves within him.

"It's my second week; I should meet with the coach tomorrow and discuss it," he mused aloud, pacing a bit in the kitchen. "It's time I become part of something."

As he opened the fridge, the cool air wafted over him, but the shelves were disappointingly bare. He sighed, feeling the familiar pang of hunger. "I'm famished," he muttered, eyeing the empty shelves. "Guess it's pizza time."

He pulled out his phone and quickly scrolled through his favorite delivery app. As he placed his order, thoughts of the basketball team swirled in his mind. He imagined the camaraderie, the thrill of the game, and the friendships he could forge.

"Maybe this will help me feel more at home,"  he said to himself,  tapping the screen to finalize his order. "It's time to take that step."

After confirming the delivery,  he slumped onto the couch, feeling a mixture of anticipation and anxiety about the next day.  As he waited for the pizza to arrive, he reflected on his old school and the friends he had made through sports. Joining the team here could be a fresh start—a way to create new memories.

Just then, a thought of Gwen flashed through his mind, distracting him from his earlier reflections. "She's really beautiful," he said softly, they had attend math class together and he couldn't stop staring, a smile creeping onto his face despite the disappointment that followed.  He remembered what Jason had told him about her being Harry Osborn's girlfriend, but that didn't stop the admiration blooming within him.

"I just want to get to know her,"  he continued, the weight of longing heavy in his voice. But a shadow of doubt crept in. "But that'll be impossible… She's too pretty for me."

The self-doubt hung in the air as he sank back onto the couch, his pizza momentarily forgotten. He couldn't shake the feeling that someone like Gwen was out of his league, and the thought stung more than he expected.

Miles leaned back, staring at the ceiling, wrestling with his feelings. "Maybe it's better to just focus on joining the basketball team," he muttered, trying to shift his thoughts away from Gwen. "I can't let this distract me."

Ding dong! The doorbell rang, snapping Miles out of his thoughts. His heart raced with anticipation as he quickly rushed down to the door, knowing it was his pizza order.

He opened the door,  greeted by the sight of the delivery person holding a steaming box. "Thanks!" Miles said with a smile, taking the pizza and feeling the warmth radiate through the cardboard. He felt a wave of relief wash over him—nothing like a good meal to brighten his mood.

As he shut the door behind him, he made his way back to the kitchen, setting the pizza down on the counter. The delicious aroma wafted up, and he couldn't help but grin. "Finally, some real food," he said to himself, pulling out a slice and taking a big bite.

The gooey cheese and savory toppings hit the spot, and for a moment, all his worries faded away.  He settled onto the couch, flipping on the TV as he enjoyed his meal. But as he chewed, his mind wandered back to Gwen, her smile, and the way she had captivated him even from across the cafeteria.

"Maybe I'll just start with a friendly chat,"  he thought aloud, contemplating how he might approach her when the time was right. "No harm in being friends, right?"

"Tell that to Harry Osborn," Jason's voice echoed in his head, cutting through Miles' hopeful thoughts. The reminder of Harry—Gwen's boyfriend and the one person who could complicate everything, made his heart sink a little.

Miles sighed, rolling his eyes at his own enthusiasm. "Yeah, right," he muttered to himself. "As if it's that easy."

He took another bite of pizza, trying to shake off the anxiety creeping back in. The idea of approaching Gwen felt more daunting now, especially with Harry's reputation looming over him. "What if he thinks I'm trying to step in?" he wondered, feeling the weight of uncertainty settle over him.

But as he chewed, he reminded himself that he was here to make friends and explore new opportunities, not to get caught up in fears. "I'll just be myself," he said, trying to convince himself. "I can handle this."

Taking a deep breath, Miles decided that he wouldn't let the fear of Harry or any other obstacles hold him back. If he wanted to get to know Gwen, he would find a way starting with the basketball team. Maybe once he got settled there, he'd feel more confident.

"Wake up, son," said Jeff Morales, gently tapping Miles on the shoulder. Miles stirred, still half-asleep, sprawled out on the couch after demolishing a huge hunk of pizza.

"Hey, Dad, what's up?" he mumbled, rubbing his eyes and trying to shake off the sleepiness.

"All good," Jeff replied, dropping his briefcase with a soft thud as he kicked off his shoes. "Just still trying to fit in at my new job. How about you? Making any new friends at school?"

Miles sat up, his mind racing back to the day's events. "Same here. I'm trying to fit in too," he said, a hint of excitement creeping into his voice. "I made a new friend. Jason, and he's super kind. And I was thinking about joining the basketball team. How's that?"

Jeff's face lit up with a proud smile. "That's awesome! Basketball is a great way to meet people and get involved. You played back at your old school, right?"

"Yeah, a bit," Miles admitted, feeling a surge of confidence. "I think it could be fun. Plus, I might get to know some of the guys better."

"Just remember, it's all about teamwork and having a good time," Jeff encouraged, settling into a chair across from him. "You'll find your place. Just be yourself, and things will fall into place."

Miles nodded, feeling reassured by his dad's words. "Thanks, Dad. I really hope so."

They shared a moment of comfortable silence, both lost in their thoughts about fitting into their new lives. "I guess we're both just figuring it out, huh?" Miles said with a chuckle.

"Exactly," Jeff replied, grinning. "We're in this together.

The next day at school, Miles was filled with anticipation as he rushed to meet the coach and talk about joining the basketball team. He was so focused on getting there on time that he barely noticed where he was going. Suddenly, he bumped into someone—a young girl—knocking her bag from her shoulder and sending it tumbling to the ground.

"Oh my God, I'm so, so sorry!" Miles exclaimed, his heart racing as he quickly bent down to help her.

"Why don't you watch where you're going?" she replied, a hint of irritation in her voice. But as he reached for her bag, he realized it was Gwen—the girl he had been crushing on since the first day he saw her. Time seemed to freeze, and his heart pounded heavily in his chest.

He froze momentarily, struggling to find the right words. "I—I'm really sorry. It wasn't intentional," he stuttered, locking eyes with her, feeling both exhilarated and nervous.

"It's fine," Gwen said, a small smile breaking through her initial annoyance as she took her bag from him. She swung it back onto her shoulder. "I was lost in thought, so I'm sorry too."

Miles couldn't help but get lost in her beauty, the way her hair caught the light and the kindness in her eyes. For a moment, he was speechless, just staring at her.

"I'm Gwen," she said, tilting her head slightly. "What's your name? You must be the new kid."

"Y-yeah, I am…" he managed to say, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm Miles."

"Nice to meet you, Miles!" she replied,  her smile widening. "Welcome to the school. It can be a bit overwhelming at first, but I'm sure you'll fit in."

"Thanks," he said, feeling a mix of joy and embarrassment. "I'm actually on my way to meet the basketball coach. I'm thinking of joining the team."

"That's awesome!" Gwen exclaimed, her enthusiasm infectious. "The team is great, and they have a lot of fun. You should definitely go for it!"

As they stood there, a moment stretched between them—both nervous and excited. Miles felt a surge of hope. Maybe this was a sign that he could not only join the team but also get to know Gwen better.

"Anyway, I should let you go," she said, glancing at the clock on the wall. "Good luck with the coach! I hope to see you around."

"Yeah, for sure!" Miles replied, trying to sound cool as she turned to walk away. As he watched her go, he couldn't help but smile, feeling a warmth in his chest. Today was turning out to be more than he had expected.