Chapter 57: A New Beginning

After more than two months of relentless efforts by Peter, Jessica finally woke up from her coma. After a period of recovery, she was now able to get out of bed and walk around the hospital room, albeit with assistance.

"Jessica's doing well," Peter said, a hint of relief in his voice. "She'll attend a few graduation ceremonies, but it's a shame her family can't be here to see her graduate."

James noticed the shadow that flickered across Peter's face. "By the way, this might be the last time she goes by Jessica Campbell. A family named Jones wants to adopt her, so she'll be changing her surname soon."

"Jessica Jones?" James replied, nodding. He had anticipated this outcome for some time and felt a strange sense of acceptance wash over him.

As they walked, Thompson bounded up behind them.

"Hey, guys!" Thompson shouted, leaping towards them. In a practiced move, James and Peter sidestepped, causing Thompson to stumble and crash to the ground.

"Oof!" he exclaimed, landing awkwardly. The sight of Thompson sprawling on the floor drew silent laughter from students around them who had previously faced his antics.

"Man, you scared me!" James said, pulling Thompson to his feet and brushing off the dust from his clothes.

"Careful! I might break my arm again!" Thompson grinned, now more accustomed to their playful jabs after transitioning from the class nerd to a more confident persona.

"By the way, I passed my medical examination and will be reporting to the army after graduation," Thompson continued. "What about you guys? Any summer plans after we graduate from Imperial State?"

James and Peter had both received acceptance letters from Imperial State University. Unlike Peter, who had applied for a general admission, James was a special recruit for their weightlifting program.

With his physical build, James had options, but after weighing the pros and cons, he decided weightlifting would be the simplest route. "Just show up, lift some weights, and I'm done. No mandatory training sessions like basketball."

"Right," Peter chuckled. "Basketball requires teamwork, and who wants to deal with that?"

Meanwhile, Gwen had also applied to Imperial State University, opting to stay in New York rather than study abroad at Oxford. Her decision was influenced by her work in Dr. Connors' lab, where she spent most of her time assisting with research on a lizard serum project.

As they entered the classroom, they spotted Gwen leaning over her desk, scribbling furiously. She looked up as James approached and planted a quick kiss on his cheek, causing a few students nearby to raise their eyebrows in surprise.

"Wow, you're really bold," James said, a bit taken aback by her forwardness.

"Hey, what are you working on?" he asked, reaching for her notebook.

"Secret!" she replied, slapping his hand away playfully.

"Really? Is it that big of a deal?"

Suddenly, a classmate shouted from across the room, "Big news! Tony Stark has been rescued and is returning to the U.S. soon!"

The announcement barely registered with James and his friends. To them, Stark was just another name in the world of arms dealing, detached from their high school reality.

"Great, but why should we care? He's just an arms dealer," James muttered.

Then another student chimed in, "And Norman Osborn just passed away."

The news hit differently. Peter froze, instinctively reaching for his phone to call Harry, but James stopped him.

"Let's wait until after school. Harry's probably busy dealing with family matters right now," he suggested, aware that Harry was likely overwhelmed.

James pondered the implications of Osborn's death. It seemed to arrive earlier than in the movies, but their world had never strictly followed the script. Harry had appeared in their lives earlier, and now, a few months ahead of schedule, his father's death brought a wave of somber reality.

A part of James felt empathy for Harry. Losing a parent was a profound blow, one he couldn't fully understand. He had been raised in an orphanage, never knowing the warmth of a family.

"I… I'm sorry," Peter said, sensing James' struggle to empathize.

As they waited in the classroom, thoughts of the future loomed large. After school, James accompanied Peter to the Osborn Building, where Harry was preparing to take over the family company at just seventeen.

A teenager whose life had revolved around vanity, travel, and fleeting romances was now thrust into the responsibilities of managing a vast business empire. The pressure must have been immense.

"Harry was my best friend during a tough time in my life. If it weren't for him, I don't know how I would have coped when my parents left," Peter reflected, his gaze distant.

James nodded, feeling the weight of Peter's words. "I can't imagine what he's going through," he replied, trying to find the right words.

As they arrived, the reality of their situation settled in. Life was changing rapidly, and with it, so were their relationships and responsibilities. The future was uncertain, but one thing was clear: they would have to face it head-on, together.

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