Catch me – Chapter 1

New York aka the concrete jungle where dreams are made of. Well according to Alicia Keys and Jay-Z anyway. Why mention the big apple you ask? It's where I'm headed, where I'm about to start a new life. It hasn't been easy getting to this point. In fact it's been damn depressing.

For the last 17 years of my life I've been moved from pillar to post. My over ambitious father Michael had it stuck in his head that he was set to be the next great rock legend like Dylan or McCartney. Eventually he gave in to his failings and settled to be a college professor teaching music history instead. He was never happy doing that though. He was constantly moving us from state to state, college to college hoping to find some happiness, some fulfilment. He never found it and as a result our relationship pretty much crumbled and he turned to the drink. My Mum divorced him when I was 12, not being able to stand seeing him like he was and took me away. I never saw him or heard from him again. My Dad's story ended when he'd been found 'unresponsive' in an apartment in Kansas City when I was 14. Turns out alcohol had become his new priority and it was ultimately what cost him his life. I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss him sometimes. Even though he was a useless ass, in the end he was still my Dad. He was still a part of me.

From the age of 12 up to now my Mum Sally and me lived in Chicago where she worked any job she could get hold of just to keep a roof over our heads and food on our table. I hardly ever saw her. What with me being at school and then her working I may as well have been living on my own. A couple of years ago Mom got sick, like really sick and rather than it bringing us closer like you'd think it would, it just drove us further apart. She blamed me for getting her ill. Said that all the stress of providing for me, clothing me, feeding me, bringing me up was what made her that way. I tried to make her see sense, tried to show her that I loved her and that she was being stupid but she didn't see it. Any relationship we ever had died when my Dad did. She only took me with her when she left because HE was the person she loved most and she knew me being with him would drive him to the edge faster. She didn't do it for me, not like an outsider would assume. She was angry, angry at the world for not giving her a break, angry at me for and I quote leading her to an early grave. It wasn't the stress that killed her, it was stage 4 cancer and when her time came in all honesty I was relieved. She wasn't in pain anymore, she wasn't hurting. I wasn't being guilt tripped into thinking it was my fault and now I could finally make a life of my own, live where I wanted to live.

I never considered my Mum and Dad as family, not a proper one anyway. They were just the people I lived with. There was only one person in my whole world that I could ever rely on, only one person who had ever shown even an iota of kindness, my Mums older sister Aunt Penny. I hardly ever saw her. She lived in New York and didn't have a lot of money so couldn't afford to come and visit. We had the same problem so we couldn't either. Our relationship therefore consisted of telephone calls and letters, lots of letters. She always said there was a place for me at her home, if it ever got too much for me. She knew what my Mum and Dad were like. Time and time again though I would turn down the appealing offer, not wanting to give up on my parents. I never lost hope that one day they'd see the daughter that had been standing there all along. That hope was unfounded as you now know.

After Mum passed away a few weeks ago there was only one place I wanted to go. Only one place I could go. That was to New York and to my Aunt Penny.

So here I am. Present day Forest Hills, New York and I am settling myself in to my new room. Already I feel more at home here than I ever did anywhere else. If only I'd given in and come here a long time ago.

"Sweetie, can you come down and just help me with the groceries for a minute please?" Aunt Penny called as she came through the front door. No one had ever called me sweetie before.

"Coming" I yelled with a massive grin on my face, placing a pile of clothes on the bed and then rushing down the stairs.

"Wow you brought enough to feed an army" I observed struggling with the endless bags that were still on the porch.

"It's your first week here so I want to spoil you. I've never had anyone living with me before so I'm taking full advantage." Placing a slightly wrinkled hand on my cheek she smiled. I knew there was a reason I came here.

"You don't see me complaining Aunt Penny."

A couple of nights later, which also happened to be the night before I started at my new school I went for a run around the neighbourhood. I wanted to familiarise myself with the local surroundings. I couldn't imagine wanting to leave here anytime soon so the quicker I got used to the place the better.

As I turned back on to my street I couldn't help but stare in awe at the houses with their wrap around porches and the cars and the front lawns ahead of me. Most people take that stuff for granted but when you've lived your whole life either in college accommodation with your alcoholic father or resided in some backstreet apartment with a mother who could care less about you then you understand why I find this place so amazing. Now I had a home to go to and someone who cared about me. Someone who cared where I went, who I was seeing, when I was coming home. I'd never had a curfew before and I was excited when I got my 9pm on school night's limit. You can call me crazy if you want. I won't hold it against you.

"Oh that must be her" I heard my Aunt say from the living room as I came through the front door.

"Honey come in the living room will you? There's someone I want you to meet" she called to me with an enthusiastic air.

"I'll be right there" I voiced, giving myself just enough time to run my fingers through my hair and rub the sweat off my face. I wasn't exactly in the best state to be meeting people for the first time.

When I poked my head around the door and walked into the lion's den I was met with two of the kindest faces I had ever seen. One was of course Aunt Penny and the other was of a lady who seemed to be a similar age to my aunt but was also someone I'd never seen before.

"Hello" I said timidly, wondering who this new addition was.

"Pen you were right. She is the prettiest thing I have ever seen" the lady said with an excited grin, practically jumping out of her seat and then coming over to give me a once over.

She stared me up and down, got right up close to my face and then went so far as to rub a hand up and down my arm.

"You're a gem sweetheart. An absolute gem" she finished.

"I'm sorry I don't want to sound rude but who exactly are you?"

With that the still unknown lady and Aunt Penny doubled over laughing. By the way they interacted, it was clear they were close.

"Sorry honey" Aunt Penny started once she'd composed herself.

"This is one of my dearest and oldest friends May Parker. She lives just across the street with her husband and nephew."

"Well it's finally nice to be introduced." I couldn't help but giggle.

After 20 minutes of talking about my journey to New York and how they became friends I excused myself to the kitchen to make everyone a cup of good English tea. I had to take a break. I swear they didn't come up for air when they were talking alongside each other. They fed off the other, like they were perfectly in sync. It was a lot to take for someone who's not used to it. I wonder if I'll ever have a friendship like that?

"You should introduce her to your Peter, May. I can just picture their babies now. Oh, how gorgeous they'd be" Aunt Penny laughed out loud from the couch.

"Have you seriously got me married off already?" I shouted from the kitchen with a roll of the eyes.

"Oh don't listen to your Aunt honey. She was just messing around. You and Peter don't have to have babies when you get married" May joked, stepping into the kitchen and helping me carry the teas, winking at Auntie Penny when she was back in view.

"Haha very funny"

A half hour later Mrs Parker had gone home and I went up to bed. I needed a good night's sleep so I could take on the dreaded first day at a new school hell. Aunt Penny assured me that Midtown was the best school in the area. I would believe it when I see it.

The next morning and after a hearty breakfast of bacon and waffles Aunt Penny sent me on my way, a proud expression engulfing her entire face. She wanted to walk me that first day but I insisted I'd be able to find it on my own. I'm 17, I can handle myself. If not there's always Google maps for back-up right?

Eventually I found myself in front of Midtown High, home of the Panthers. Once inside I found the reception, got all my paperwork and schedule, had my locker assigned and then I was off to face the unknown. It was your normal high school from first impressions. Kids filled the halls, teachers screamed at the top of their lungs telling couples to stop sucking face outside the staff room. There was your typical group of girls, staring at themselves in their compacts whilst a circle of heavy breathing jocks drooled over them. I was never one for cliques myself. I'd usually end up with the strays or float from group to group just liking one or a couple from each. I never had a solid friend, if you want to call it that.

"260? 260?" Where the hell was this locker?

I walked around the halls for what felt like hours until I came to the hall which housed my locker. I could feel the stares from my fellow students as I walked by. I was the "new girl", a threat to the females and a fresh challenge for the guys. I ignored it to the best of my ability. It's quite easy actually. Well it is until they make a point of stepping right in front of you, giving you no choice but to acknowledge they are there.

"Can I help you?" I asked, already knowing I disliked the blonde cropped haired guy standing in front of me, surrounded by his minions.

"I just wanted to introduce myself. I'm Flash." He grinned full to the brim of cockiness. It took every ounce of me not to choke at hearing his name. Who calls themselves that?

"Ummm, well good for you." I smiled with mock innocence.

"Now do you mind flashing away from me? I don't want to be late for my first class."

Without waiting for a response, I pushed passed him and carried on walking, spotting my locker just up ahead. "Oooooh, she's a feisty one" I couldn't help hearing as they walked off.

Finally finding locker 260 I deposited all the stuff I wouldn't need until after lunch onto the shelves and started to personalise the inside. I still had a few minutes and I wanted to feel like it was actually mine. I had a picture of me and Aunt Penny, me and my parents before they went off the rails and one of the ever so sublime Justin Timberlake. Man, that guy is gorgeous.

Whilst I was doing that I couldn't help but overhear a basketball bouncing off something behind me. It turned out it wasn't bouncing of something it was bouncing off someone.

Sure enough it was Mr Flashy pants who had sprung the attack on the boy who was standing at the Midtown Science wall of champions. He looked like he was putting a photo in there or something.

"Oh, sorry" Flash voiced with fake guilt whilst his stupid friends laughed on either side of him.

"Morning Flash" the boy nodded, obviously used to these assaults. I could tell by his face he was fed up of him as I had become already.

The victim as I currently called him having nothing else to go on was intriguing to say the least. He had thick brown hair that stood up at every angle, chocolate coloured eyes that seemed older than their years, an endearing actually pretty handsome face and clumsy body language. He was constantly fidgeting, flicking his messy hair. He was kinda hot to be honest, well in an awkward, stand offish kind of way.

"Good morning Parker" Flash finished almost singing the words as he walked past the new object of my attention, not failing to rip the boys skateboard out of his hand and then chuck it down the hall.

The plank on wheels headed straight in my direction and caught me completely off guard. Before I knew it, it hit my ankle and led to me losing grip on all my papers.

"Oh crap" I voiced out loud as I knelt down to pick them all up. The last thing I wanted on my first morning was to make a spectacle of myself. I hadn't even made it to class yet.

"Oh jeez I'm sorry. Flash is a right moron" the boy said as he ran over, getting on his knees to help me.

"You don't have to tell me that. I only started 10 minutes ago and he's already tried it on with me." Why was he staring at me like that? Did I have something on my face?

"I'm not surprised" I thought I heard him say under his breath as we stood up.

"Ummm, what did you say?" I couldn't help but ask as he stood there, fidgeting even more than before.

"Oh nothing" he laughed off nervously. "I'm Peter by the way. Peter Parker"

"Do you have an Aunt called May?" I wondered after his name rang bells in my head.

"Yeah, how do you know?" Peter asked with a furrowed brow.

"I met her last night. She's friends with my Aunt Penny. I just moved in across the street from you." I smiled genuinely.

"Wait, you're the niece? My Aunt May has us married with kids you know." He laughed. He looked really nice when he did that. I just thought I'd point that out.

"Oh my god she's going on at you about that too?" Wow, I'm embarrassed.

"Pretty much" Peter confirming with a crooked grin which made me smile back.

Before we could say anything else the bell rang meaning I didn't have long to get to class. To be honest I could have stood there for a lot longer talking to the mysterious Peter Parker.

"Well Parker, it was really nice to meet you and thanks for helping me pick up my stuff. I better get to class. Don't wanna be late on my first day."

"Sure" he nodded grabbing on to his skateboard as the stampede of students started to push us in opposite directions.

"Wait, you never told me what your name was?" Peter called out in my direction. God I'm such an idiot.

"It's Lauren, Lauren Adams."

Did you like? I really hope you did. The aim is to go along the timeline of the first movie and right into the second. I saw it on Monday and it was fricking amazing. Let me know your thoughts. I'm going to try my best to update daily depending on the response, so get those reviews in lol! Loz x