Eight Legs For Three Ladies

Gwen Stacy got out of the cab and turned her face up to the sky. It was early spring and she was in a good mood. She was in love.

For months now, she and Peter had been going out. Casually, lightly, true, with Peter also being willing to take Mary Jane Watson out whenever she called upon him, but all that was soon to be in the past. Gwen had decided that whatever Peter’s foibles, she would no longer allow them to get in the way of their shared happiness. It was time to make things official. And, because she knew Peter was too softhearted to deliver the bad news to Mary Jane himself, she would have to do it.

She knew it’d be heartbreaking. Peter was a fine catch, after all, despite his moods and unreliability, but Mary Jane was a trooper. She’d bounce back, probably soon find a guy better suited to her, and in the end, she’d thank Gwen for putting the flailing connection between her and Peter out of its misery. Gwen was sure they’d all stay friends.

Her shoulder-length blonde hair fluttered in the warm breeze as she reached into her purse for a tube of lipstick and compact mirror. Mary Jane, she knew, could be rather immature and might rebel against the new status quo, even if it was in everyone’s best interests. Gwen put some extra color on her lips. She should look her best for MJ, to make sure the redhead knew that when it came to who finally got the man in their little love triangle… well, it really wasn’t a competition at the end of the day, now was it?

She saw Mary Jane sitting at the outdoor café they’d agreed to meet at and was forced to revise her opinion. Maybe it was a competition, because Mary Jane looked absolutely gorgeous, so good that Gwen even felt a bit jealous. She was just so delicious, with her mane of red hair, her stunning green eyes, her svelte little body that she showed off in such fashionable, daring outfits. Gwen knew that Peter preferred a classy lady like her (didn’t he?) but Mary Jane’s willingness to show off her hot body would certainly get his attention first. She looked all but naked, long bare legs emerging from her buttoned coat as if it were the only thing she had on besides her pumps.

Gwen sat down with MJ and they greeted each other as old friends, making light conversation and ordering their preferred coffee—overpriced, but they knew there wasn’t a dollar sign to be put on a good cup of coffee or the warmth of their meeting. After several minutes of catching up and idle gossip over the celebrity scene from Brad Pitt to the Fantastic Four, they worked their way with cups half-full to what had brought them out this afternoon.

“I’ve got good news!” Gwen announced.

“Great!” Mary Jane replied airily. “I’d hate to have you cry into my top. It’s dry-clean-only.”

Gwen stiffened—when had she ever cried into MJ’s top, except that one time, or that one other time?—she pressed on. “Lately, I’ve had some really mixed feelings about Peter. Not sure if he can be relied on, if he’s the right guy for me.”

“He is a lot to take in,” Mary Jane said sagely, albeit with a smutty twinkle in her eye.

Again, Gwen nearly paused before deciding to barrel on. “But I’m sure now that he’s the one for me. I’m going to tell him that we’re going to be exclusive and I expect that shortly after that, well…” Gwen flaunted her temporarily bare ring finger. “I’ll give him some time to save up, but I know he won’t skimp on an important thing like that…”

Mary Jane sipped her coffee. “That sounds lovely. I wish you the best of luck,” she said evenly.

This time, Gwen did pause, waiting for Mary Jane to say something more, but nothing was forthcoming. Mary Jane simply sipped her drink, seeming to relish its supple taste with more attention than she put into the conversation.

“That’s all you have to say?” Gwen asked.

“No, I think that about covers it.”

“Oh!” Gwen realized with a start. “Have you two broken up? You hadn’t said anything, and he hadn’t mentioned anything, so I assumed you were still—“

“Oh, we are,” Mary Jane trilled happily. “Pete’s picking me up at nine, actually, to see a play. It’s off-off-off-Broadway, so we can actually afford it. You know Peter, he might flake out, but then he has to make it up to me, and I’ve come to enjoy that just as much as making plans in the first place. After all, it is only off-off-off—”

“Have you not been listening to a word I’ve said?” Gwen interrupted. “I’m telling you that Peter and I, we’re ready to go to the next step! Ready to take things to the next level!”

“Well, youcertainly sound ready,” Mary Jane said, with a definite air of smugness to her voice.

Gwen firmly set down her coffee cup. “I’m trying to give you a chance to back off. You know, face defeat with dignity.”

“Oh, I’m sure you would know,” Mary Jane cooed. “Me, I don’t lose.”

Gwen coughed, such was her aggravation. “I have been very understanding about Peter taking you out, since all three of us have been keeping things casual, but now is the time for commitment. You really think Peter’s just going to keep hooking up with you when he could be in a committed relationship with me?”

“Yes,” Mary Jane said easily.

Gwen’s face twisted with distaste. “You’re a slut!”

“Uh-huh,” Mary Jane said, just as easily. “That’s part of my charm.” She leaned across the table to whisper to Gwen. “Why would Peter want some little daddy’s girl who’s never gotten closer to sex than peroxiding her hair blonde when he could have, well…” Mary Jane gestured down at the cleavage arrayed under her as she leaned over. “Someone who can keep up with him?”

“I can keep up with him!” Gwen protested. “I’m not some… good little girl… I have experience! Needs!”

“You’re needy alright,” Mary Jane quipped.

“Oh, this is ridiculous!” Gwen snapped. “I tried to give you the opportunity to do the right thing—can’t believe I’m debating this with you now—Peter will decide. And I’m sure you’ll be heartbroken to have your fuckbuddy run out of you, but maybe you can learn a lesson from this!”

“Pretty sure I don’t have anything to learn from you, but yes, fine, let’s go see Peter if you really want him to make a decision. I’m sure he’s very eager to stop having no-strings-attached sex with me so you and him can start picking out drapes.”

Gwen’s look soured, the blonde questioning herself for the first time, but she wouldn’t allow herself to be dissuaded. Peter would pick her! He would! And Mary Jane would find out that some things, guys liked much better than cheap sex and having fun!