**Chapter 1: The Weight of Betrayal**

Miles Morales sat on the couch, staring blankly at the wall as the TV droned on in the background. The sounds of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse playing on repeat did nothing to lift his mood. In fact, it only seemed to make things worse. He couldn't help but think about the friends he had trusted, the ones he had wanted to be with so badly. The Spider-People, who had become like a surrogate family to him. But now, they were nothing more than a painful reminder of his isolation. It had been weeks since the incident. Weeks since he'd been left feeling broken and betrayed by those he thought he could trust. The memories still lingered, like an open wound that refused to heal. He couldn't shake the feeling of being used, of being nothing more than a pawn in their game. The doorbell rang, breaking the silence. Miles sighed, reluctantly getting up to answer it. He expected it to be some delivery or another, but to his surprise, it was Hobie Brown, aka Spider-Punk, standing on his porch with a concerned look on his face. "Hey, Miles. I brought some vegan pizza and a playlist of sad songs," Hobie said, holding up a pizza box and a phone. Miles forced a smile, trying to hide his emotions. "Thanks, Hobie. You're a lifesaver." Hobie walked in, setting the pizza and phone down on the coffee table. "Dude, I've been worried about you. You've been MIA for weeks. What's going on?" Miles shrugged, sitting back down on the couch. "Just dealing with some stuff, I guess." Hobie sat down beside him, putting a hand on his shoulder. "You know you can talk to me, right? I'm here for you, Miles." Miles looked at Hobie, really looked at him, for the first time in weeks. He saw the genuine concern in his eyes, the kindness and empathy. And something in his chest shifted. He felt a spark of connection, of attraction, that he couldn't ignore. "Hobie, I don't know if I can do this anymore," Miles said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I feel so lost and alone. I thought I had friends, people who cared about me. But it was all just a lie." Hobie squeezed his shoulder. "It's not a lie, Miles. I care about you. And I'm here for you, no matter what." Miles looked away, trying to process his emotions. He felt a lump form in his throat as he thought about the pain he'd been through. But with Hobie by his side, he felt a sense of comfort he hadn't felt in weeks. As they sat there in silence, Miles couldn't help but notice the way Hobie's hand felt on his shoulder. It was a gentle touch, but it sent shivers down his spine. He looked at Hobie, and for a moment, their eyes locked. Miles felt his heart skip a beat as he realized that he might be developing feelings for Hobie. But he pushed the thought aside, not wanting to complicate things. "Thanks, Hobie," Miles said, his voice a little stronger now. "Just having you here means a lot to me." Hobie smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Anytime, Miles. That's what friends are for." As they sat there, Miles couldn't help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, he wasn't as alone as he thought. And maybe, just maybe, he had found someone who truly cared about him.