A friendly call

Although Mary Jane was smart enough to get a cab ride home, inside she felt as if she could've run the whole way. She didn't wait for the elevator. She was afraid of running into any tenants that she would know. Sprinting up the flights of stairs, she didn't stop to say hello or greet anyone. She needed to hide. As soon as her door was unlocked, she swiftly slammed it shut with a loud *Boom!* She slid down the other side, holding herself tightly as she finally was alone.

MJ was drowning in her thoughts.

*What would Peter think (if he wasn't galivanting with his superhero friends)? What would her family think (although she didn't care that much)? What would Aunt May think (although she would be too nice to say anything)?*

She got up angry, a fire of emotions building up inside of her that needed to burst. MJ looked at a picture of her and Peter. Picking it up she threw it down hard with a *Crash!*

"Fuck you Peter!"

She took a lamp off the table and chucked it into the wall. *Smash!*

"Fuck you Peter!"

She tugged the toaster off the countertop, slamming it across the room. *Crash!*

"Fuck you Peter!"

She kicked furniture. She tossed end tables. She made an entire mess of her and Pete's apartment.

"Fuck you Peter! Fuck you Peter! Fuck you Peter!"

She *huffed* out deep heavy breaths, looking at the once clean and orderly abode they had built, now all smashed and destroyed... mirroring her life.

She sunk down to the floor, exhausted. A quiet voice barely audible speaking out, "fuck you Peter..."

In tears, she heard her phone ringing at the kitchen table. She steadied herself and picked it up.

It's Katzenberg.

"Heyyyyy.... there Red.... "

It took her a second to answer, "...What do you want Nick?"

"Look.... obviously, you've seen the news, but, but... hear me out.... This isn't the worst thing..."

MJ was super pissed off, "Oh Yeah?! What could possibly be worse than about having my naked body groped and kissed on the FUCKING FRONT PAGE OF THE GODDAMN DAILY BUGLE!"

Katzenberg's chuckle was definitely audible to MJ.

"Yeah, laugh it up asshole... You fucking slimy piece of shit..."

Nick calmed her down, "Woah, woah, woah... baby.... MJ.... Red... yeah, it was a bit salacious of a photo, BUT.... guess how many calls I got for you to cover on magazines... Go on..... guess."

Mary Jane stood there silent. She didn't expect that. To the contrary, she expected to be excommunicado for any modelling gigs from baby formula to the local grocery store. She thought she'd be back to waiting tables.... if she was lucky.

She finally spoke up, her voice echoing her defeated spirit. "I-I-I.... don't know... How many?"

"Five... yeah... that's right. Ol' Nicky got you five magazine covers. Not just inside advertisements like a fucking car model whore. FIVE... fuckin'... covers."

MJ still didn't believe it. "Yeah... Juggs, Penthouse, Triple X, and... well... whatever other porno mags are out there."

Katzenberg laughed, "Hahaha... Shit I wish.... no baby... real magazines... fashion ones... big payday ones... Elle, Vogue, Style, Allure, and... another one I can't remember."

*Shit* she thought. *Those are big. I never, ever thought I'd make those covers.*

"Look baby... come on over... I'll get us a nice dinner, and we can discuss details," Katzenberg continued, "Plus... you're starting to really become a big star... No offense to your neighborhood selection, but uhhhh.... I wouldn't feel safe if I were you... People know you... You're gonna be a target... an easy one at that spot."

MJ didn't have the energy to argue.

He continued, "I'm sending a car over... We can figure out where you're staying after a bit."

Mary Jane looked at her smashed apartment. She felt as though this was the one lifeline being cast to her in an ocean of pain.

She quietly answered, "Okay."