Sometimes the Best Isn’t Good Enough

Chapter 1

The Review

A/N: This takes place during the third movie. It’s all the arguments from SM3 in Peter’s point of view.

Disclaimer: I don’t own Peter Parker, Mary Jane, or the police scanner.

I felt bad. Mary Jane seemed to be so crushed over this review. I was trying to make her feel better but nothing seemed to be working. “You can’t take it personal, I told her. I know how you feel. Spider-Man gets attacked all the ti-”

“Spider-Man isn’t your real name! She snapped. At least you have something to hide behind. I don’t! And this isn’t about you it’s about me and my career!” Jeez.

I know MJ thinks that my advice doesn’t apply because I have a secret identity, but Jonah Jameson’s attacks get so personal sometimes, that sometimes it feels like he’s attacking me, Peter Parker. And it does hurt a little to think that most people don’t really appreciate what I do as Spider-Man. But how could I find a way to explain that to Mary Jane? I tried a different tactic.

“I know. Exactly. And all you have to do is believe in yourself and get right back up on that…”

“Don’t give me the horse thing. Try to understand how I feel.”

I tried. But I couldn’t understand why she was so crushed over just one review.

MJ sighed, obviously seeing I wasn’t getting it. “I look at these words and it’s like my father wrote them.”

Ohhh. Now I understood why she was so upset. Her father tore her down every opportunity he had. He never supported her ambition to be an actress and was her first and loudest critic. She wanted so desperately to prove him wrong and now it looked like he was right. At least in her eyes. I needed to be able to tell her I now understood and I was there for her.

And wouldn’t you know the police scanner chose that moment to go off. Apparently there’s a crane accident and people are in danger. I do feel bad for MJ, but I can’t just let people die because of that. She still seems upset, so I try one last attempt at humor before I go. “Go get them tiger?” I asked hopefully. She just sadly nodded. “I’m sorry,” I said softly, not just referring to the interruption but also to the review.

Then I change into my costume. Just before I go I ask her if she’d wait for me. No response, so I leave feeling torn up inside. I hate the way she was looking at me so full of hurt. I was giving my best and it just wasn’t good enough. I tell myself it’ll be okay. I’ll work it out with her and everything will be fine. After all she can’t be that shattered over one review. Could she?