Spiderverse: A Miles Morales AU

A new week had dawned, and the tale of Miles' embarrassing moment had finally faded into the background noise of high school life. No one called him "Girl Power" anymore, and with each passing day, he felt a renewed sense of purpose. Determined to focus on his studies and stay clear of Gwen, he felt more resolved than ever. Since the incident with Harry, he hadn't seen her, and he hoped their paths wouldn't cross again. The drama was behind him, and he was ready to move forward.

After a long day of classes, Miles felt a surge of relief when the final bell rang. It was time for basketball practice—the one bright spot in his day. He had completely let go of any lingering admiration for Gwen, realizing it came at a steep price. Now, he was committed to channeling his energy into schoolwork and improving his game.

As he walked into the gym, the familiar scent of polished wood and sweat filled his senses, bringing a smile to his face. The gymnasium buzzed with energy, players laughing and chatting as they warmed up. Miles spotted the coach, who was organizing drills with the other players. He approached, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves fluttering in his stomach. This was his first practice back after a week of self-imposed exile.

"You missed last week's training. Care to explain?" the coach asked, his tone serious but not unkind.

Miles shifted uncomfortably, aware of the curious eyes on him. "I'm sorry, coach. Something really important came up," he lied, trying to sound convincing while avoiding the more painful details.

The coach studied him for a moment, weighing his response. "You better not miss any more training. Is that clear?"

"Yes, coach," Miles replied, determination hardening in his voice. He could feel adrenaline building; this was his chance to reclaim his focus and prove himself.

As the practice began, he joined the warm-up drills, feeling the rhythm of the game returning to him. He dribbled the ball, weaving in and out of his teammates, his mind finally starting to clear. But just as he was getting into the groove, he caught sight of Harry and his friends lounging against the bleachers on the other side of the court. They were whispering to each other, glancing over at Miles and snickering.

"Hey, Girl Power!" one of Harry's friends called out, waving and laughing. The others joined in, their jeers echoing through the gym like unwelcome ghosts.

Miles felt a flare of anger, but he forced himself to stay focused. Ignoring them, he concentrated on his shots, each basket helping him release the tension that had built up inside. Basketball was his sanctuary, and he refused to let Harry disrupt it.

As practice progressed, he could feel the familiar camaraderie building with his teammates. They exchanged high-fives and encouragement, their energy lifting his spirits. But Harry and his crew weren't done yet.

"Hey, Girl Power!" Harry taunted, strutting over with an exaggerated swagger and a malicious grin plastered across his face. "You ready for today?"

Miles kept his head down, focusing intently on lacing his shoes. He felt the anger bubbling beneath the surface, and for a moment, he wanted to snap back. But he knew better. Responding would only give Harry the satisfaction he craved. Instead, Miles took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm.

"You think you're so tough, huh?" Harry continued, undeterred by Miles' silence. "What's it like wearing that shirt? You should've seen the looks on everyone's faces."

The tension in Mile's jaw tightened, but he refused to give in. He could feel Harry's friends snickering behind him, and the urge to turn around and tell them to shut up was strong. But he pushed it aside. This was practice, and he wouldn't let them ruin it for him.

Seeing that Miles was ignoring him, Harry's expression shifted from amusement to annoyance. "You're just a coward, you know that?" he spat, taking a step back, clearly frustrated by Miles' non-response.

Harry turned and walked away, throwing a last glance over his shoulder as he rejoined his friends, who were still chuckling at his antics. Miles felt a rush of fury as they continued to whisper and laugh amongst themselves, but he was determined not to let it get to him.

"Focus, Miles," he muttered under his breath, reminding himself why he was here. He joined his teammates for drills and scrimmages, pushing himself harder with each movement. The sweat dripped down his brow, and with every shot he made, he felt the tension gradually dissipating.

He was playing against Harry. It was the newbies versus the pros in a practice game, and Harry, the best forward player in the school, was on the pros' team. Miles was both excited and anxious. This was his chance to prove himself, but little did he know that Harry had concocted a plan to humiliate him once again.

As the game commenced, the atmosphere was electric. The ball zipped across the court, players darting in and out, calling for passes. Miles felt the pressure but was determined to hold his own. However, from the very beginning, it was clear that Harry and his friends were targeting him.

During a fast break, one of Harry's friends on the opposing team threw the ball directly at Miles, hitting him square in the face. The impact was jarring, and he stumbled back, falling hard onto the ground.

"What was that?" the coach shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos of the court.

"Sorry, coach! I was trying to pass the ball! He just got in the way—it's not my fault!" Harry's friend shouted back, trying to feign innocence.

Miles, still dazed and holding his face, struggled to regain his composure. "I'm fine," he managed to say, forcing himself to stand up despite the throbbing pain.

The game resumed, but it felt like the entire opposing team was focused solely on him. Whenever he touched the ball, they were on him like vultures, tackling him mercilessly. It was as if they had decided that he was their target for the day, and it left him bewildered and frustrated.

Finally, the ball was passed to him again. This time, he felt a surge of determination. He wanted to show everyone that he could handle this. He dribbled past a couple of players, but just as he was about to make a pass to a teammate, Harry and another friend came barreling in from both sides, colliding with him hard.

The impact sent Miles crashing to the ground, pain shooting through his body. He screamed involuntarily, feeling the sharpness of his fall echo through the court.

The referee blew the whistle, signaling a foul. "That's a foul! Harry, you're out of the game!" the referee declared, pointing at Harry with authority.

Harry shot him a smug grin as he walked off the court, clearly pleased with the chaos he had created. But for Miles, the damage was done. He felt a mix of anger and humiliation wash over him as he lay on the floor, trying to catch his breath.

Miles wasn't strong enough to continue after that. He slowly made his way to the bench, wincing with each step, and sank down onto the seat, feeling defeated. His teammates exchanged sympathetic glances, but he could tell they felt helpless.

"Are you okay?" one of them asked, concern etched on his face.

"Yeah… just a little winded," Miles replied, though he knew it was more than that. He felt like he had let everyone down.

As the game continued, he could hear the laughter of Harry and his friends from the sidelines, and it gnawed at him. They were reveling in his misfortune, and it infuriated him. The game went on, and he watched from the bench, the sting of embarrassment mingling with his frustration.

With each passing minute, he couldn't shake the feeling of anger. He wanted to get back in the game, to show them that he was better than this. He just needed to gather himself, to find his footing again. But he wasn't given the chance as the game ended

The coach called everyone in for a huddle, praised the team for their effort. "Great job, everyone! Let's keep that energy up for the game next month" the coach announced, clapping his hands to rally the team.

As they broke the huddle and started to leave the gym, Miles spotted Harry and his friends lingering near the exit, still whispering and laughing. But this time, he held his head high. He wasn't going to let their childish behavior define him.

As he walked past them, Miles could hear snickers and hushed comments, but he refused to engage. "Keep moving," he thought to himself, feeling a newfound strength surge within him.

"Hey, Girl Power! What's up?" one of Harry's friends called out, clearly trying to provoke him.

Miles ignored them walking out of the gym and straight to the library. So he could meet up with Jason.