Chapter 8

Chapter 8 "Boy, am I glad to see you," Spider-Man said. He was stuck between the dreidel and the Hanukkah gelt. He held out his arm for a tug. Spider-Gwen did not move. "In case you missed it," Spidey added, "Venom is here and he's a bit of a handful. I could really use some help." Spider-Gwen crossed her arms. "So now you need my help?" she asked. Spider-Man hung his head. "What about when I needed your help?" she continued. "I ended up with

a book for my dad about a running exercise called a fartlek!" She tossed the heavy book to Spidey. He caught it with his free hand. "Heh, heh," Spider-Man laughed. "It has the word fart in it." "I know it was a bad choice!" Gwen said. "That's why I needed your help. And you weren't there for me." Spider-Man stopped laughing. He realized his selfish behavior was a lot like Venom's. More, more, more. Me, me, me. "You're right," he said. "I'm sorry. I should have helped you. All I've thought about today is myself." He sighed. "I even left Aunt May to wait in a really long line, just for a present for me. I knew she had other things to do. But all that stops now. As soon as

we take down Venom, I will make it up to you. I will stop being the spoiled, big- headed, annoying-" "Fartlek!" Spider-Gwen cried. "Um, what?" "Toss me the fartlek!" A hiss echoed behind Spider-Man. He threw the book to Spider-Gwen. She caught it and hurled it straight at Venom's chest. The villain flew backward just before it could grab Spidey.

Spider-Gwen shoved the large dreidel off of Spider-Man, freeing her friend. Then she charged at Venom. The alien got to its feet. It swiped at Spider-Gwen. She ducked. She kicked at it. Venom jumped out of the way. "You are not the spider we want," Venom hissed. "But you will do." Its gooey tendrils reached for Spider- Gwen.

"Gee, thanks," she said as she ran away. "You really know how to sweet-talk a girl."

She scaled the walls. Venom followed. She jumped between beams. The alien did the same. Venom was fast. It was gaining on her. It was only a matter of seconds before Venom would catch Spider-Gwen!