MCU: Spider-Man: Rise of Saint

Franklin stared at his class schedule - AP Chemistry, AP History, AP Calculus, AP English, Spanish 3. Junior year felt different. Half his high school life was over.

"Yo, Saint's taking all APs?" Keith looked over his shoulder. "Since when are you such a nerd?"

"Always been smart," Franklin said. "Just didn't try before."

MJ appeared next to his locker, her own schedule in hand. After a summer of late nights and lazy days, seeing her in school clothes felt weird.

"You taking every AP they offer?" She checked his schedule. They had History and English together. "Of course you are."

"Had to pick classes that wouldn't bore me to death." Franklin pointed at her electives. "You get your picks?"

"Art, obviously. And journalism for the school paper." She nodded at his blank electives slots. "You?"

"Meeting with the counselor today. Gloria's been on me about college prep stuff."

The hallways filled with students comparing schedules and summer stories. Keith walked up, fist-bumped Franklin.

"Yo, you see the basketball tryout sheet? Coach still saving your spot."

"Not playing this year either." Franklin shut his locker. "Too busy with other stuff."

"Like what? You quit last year and disappeared." Keith shook his head. "Whatever man. Your loss."

First period AP Chemistry. Franklin actually paid attention - not because he needed to, but because Mr. Thompson was finally teaching something interesting. Stuff he could actually use.

"Junior year is different," Mr. Thompson said, writing on the whiteboard. "These concepts will be crucial for college-level work."

In History, Franklin sat next to MJ. Their teacher talked about college applications, SATs, planning for the future.

"Your schedules tell me who's thinking ahead," Ms. Rodriguez said. "AP classes now mean options later."

At lunch, Franklin met with the guidance counselor. Her office walls were covered in college pennants.

"So," Ms. Carter said, "thought about what you want to do after graduation?"

Franklin shifted in his chair. "Maybe something in science? Chemistry or engineering."

"Good fields. Very competitive." She pulled out some pamphlets. "Your grades improved a lot end of sophomore year. Keep that up, get good test scores, you've got options."

Franklin flipped through college brochures. Schools he'd never considered suddenly felt possible.

"Start visiting campuses this year," Ms. Carter said. "Get a feel for what you want. And think about extracurriculars - colleges like well-rounded students."

In English, they got their first paper assignment. "Where do you see yourself in five years?"

MJ drew in her notebook while their teacher explained the prompt. Franklin watched her add details to a sketch of their classroom.

"Kind of a heavy question for day one," he whispered.

"Better get used to it." MJ didn't look up from her drawing. "Everyone's gonna ask about the future now."

After school, they walked home together. The air still felt like summer, but something had shifted. School felt more real.

"Coming over for dinner?" MJ asked. "Mom's making lasagna."

"Yeah, just let me drop my stuff at home first."

At MJ's house, her mom's lasagna filled the kitchen with the smell of garlic and tomatoes. They sat around the table, MJ's mom asking about their first day back.

Later that night, Franklin walked into his own kitchen. Gloria sat at the table with a cup of tea.

"How was dinner at MJ's?" she asked.

"Good. Her mom makes the best lasagna."

Gloria smiled. "First day go okay? Saw your schedule this morning - all those AP classes."

"Yeah, figured it was time to actually try." Franklin grabbed a soda from the fridge.

"Jerome would be proud," Gloria said quietly. "He always said you had it in you."

Franklin thought about his uncle, about all those talks about trying harder.

"Yeah," he said. "He did."

********

4 Months later

Franklin found Jerome's old Stark Industries badge while cleaning his desk. It had fallen behind a drawer - still shiny, Jerome's smile frozen in the ID photo.

He sat on his bed, turning the badge over in his hands. A stack of college brochures from his guidance counselor lay unopened on his desk. Ms. Carter kept pushing them on him, talking about his AP grades, about potential.

Jerome's voice echoed in his head: "Can't get into college with C's."

That was before. Before Franklin started trying. Before the spider bite. Before everything changed.

His phone lit up - MJ texting about meeting for lunch. Franklin put the badge in his desk drawer, grabbed his jacket.

The cafe near school was quiet for a Saturday. MJ already had a table, sketching in her notebook.

"You okay?" she asked when he sat down. "Seem distracted."

"Found Jerome's old work badge." Franklin picked up a menu he'd memorized months ago. "Got me thinking."

"About?"

"College." He glanced at her. "Jerome always pushed me about it. Said education was the key to a better life."

MJ set down her pencil. "That why you've been ignoring those brochures Ms. Carter keeps giving you?"

"Maybe." Franklin shrugged. "Never really thought about it before. But Jerome..."

"Would want you to go." MJ reached across the table, took his hand. "But he'd want you to go for you, not just because of him."

Their food came. Franklin picked at his sandwich while MJ told him about her art portfolio, about schools she was researching.

"NYU has a good art program," she said. "And Columbia's engineering department is top-rated."

"Engineering?"

"Come on. You built a working projector from spare parts. Created your own chemical formulas. You're basically an engineer already."

Franklin thought about his web shooters, about all the improvements he'd made. About how natural the science came to him once he actually tried.

"Maybe," he said. "Still feels weird though. Planning that far ahead."

"Weird how?"

"Like..." Franklin struggled for the words. "Like I don't deserve it. Jerome wanted me to go to college, wanted me to succeed. Then he died because I didn't act."

"That's not-"

"It is. He was always pushing me to be better, to use what I had. And I ignored him until it was too late."

MJ squeezed his hand. "So use it now."

After lunch, Franklin walked home alone.

In his room, he picked up one of the brochures, looking at MIT's engineering program. He opened his laptop and started reading about their admissions requirements.

His phone buzzed. MJ had texted: "Whatever you decide, I'm proud of you."

Franklin looked at Jerome's badge on his desk. Time to do better.

******

Three months after deciding to apply to MIT, Franklin checked his bag one last time. Train tickets, changes of clothes, MIT visit schedule. Gloria called from downstairs, reminding him they had to leave in twenty minutes.

His phone lit up - MJ was outside.

MJ stood on his front steps in her light jacket, hands in her pockets. "Thought I'd catch you before you left."

"Glad you did." Franklin closed the door behind him. "Gonna miss our lunch spot."

"It's just two days." MJ stepped closer. "Think you'll like MIT?"

"Hope so. Gloria's excited about it."

"And you?"

Franklin shrugged. "Just want to see what it's like. No pressure."

"Liar." MJ smiled. "You've been reading their engineering program page every night."

"Have not." He had.

MJ kissed him, soft and quick. "Text me when you get there?"

"Course." Franklin pulled her closer, kissed her again. Longer this time.

"Franklin!" Gloria called from inside. "Car's here!"

They broke apart. MJ straightened his collar. "Go. Be brilliant. Make those MIT nerds jealous."

The taxi ride to Penn Station felt longer than usual. Gloria talked about the schedule, about meeting the engineering department chair, about campus housing.

Franklin half-listened, watching the city pass by. He'd never left New York before. Even taking the subway to school felt far sometimes.

The station was packed when they got there. Their train to Boston left from Track 12.

"You okay?" Gloria asked as they found their seats. "Been quiet all morning."

"Yeah, just..." Franklin stared out the window. "Different, you know?"

"Good different though." Gloria squeezed his arm. "Jerome would love this. You visiting colleges, thinking about your future."

The train pulled out of the station. Franklin watched his city disappear behind them.

Four hours later, evening had fallen when they checked into their hotel near MIT's campus.

"Want to grab dinner?" Gloria asked. "There's a diner around the corner."

"Actually kind of tired." Franklin looked out their window at the campus buildings in the distance. "Big day tomorrow."

"Okay. I'll bring you back something."

After Gloria left, Franklin pulled out his phone to text MJ: "Made it to Boston. City's weird."

She replied almost instantly: "Bet they talk funny too."

"Haven't heard anyone say 'wicked' yet. Disappointed."

"Give it time tiger. Get some sleep."

Franklin laid on the hotel bed. Through his window, he could see MIT's buildings in the distance.