That night, Gwen didn't go home—she stayed at the apartment. Lucas had already prepared a room for every member of the Stacy family on the second floor, right next to his own.
Time passed quickly, and before they knew it, graduation day had arrived. Lucas and Gwen had officially finished high school.
Lucas didn't plan to continue studying. Chief George Stacy didn't object—he simply said his son was old enough to make his own choices. But Lucas could see a faint trace of disappointment in his father's eyes.
Seeing that, Lucas tried to lighten the mood. "Come on, Dad. You know I'm not cut out to be a cop. And Gwen—she's your little girl. Even if she became one, you'd never stop worrying. Soooo…"
Lucas grinned and yanked over his two younger brothers, who were still in elementary school.
"You should start training them! Cops need early training, right?"
To Lucas's surprise, that argument actually worked. George nodded solemnly. "You're right. The eldest can't be relied on anymore. I'll just have to count on the little ones."
The two boys shivered under the combined pressure of their father and big brother. If they dared complain, they'd be in for a triple beatdown once they got home.
It was fair to say the two youngest Stacys had the least human rights in the family—no say in anything, constantly bullied by Gwen, who could handle both of them with one hand.
The good news? Gwen had actually been accepted into MIT. A true prodigy through and through.
Peter and Felicia had gotten in as well—something that blew Lucas's mind. He'd never expected quiet, mischievous Felicia to be such a hidden academic ace.
Mary Jane, on the other hand, didn't make the cut and chose to attend college in New York instead.
After the graduation ceremony, everyone went their separate ways, but the most anticipated event was still to come—the graduation prom, set for three days later.
Proms were a long-standing tradition in America—a rite of passage for graduates. Some schools rented fancy venues, while others hosted theirs in the auditorium. Midtown High was the latter.
The student council had been decorating the hall for a week straight. It was both a farewell for seniors and a welcome for new students.
Meanwhile, Skye had already launched the Devil May Cry website, but after all this time, they still hadn't received a single commission. Not even a casual inquiry. It left her so frustrated she spent her days glued to the computer and the office phone.
Skye was already a homebody—now she was practically part of the furniture. So Lucas decided to drag her to the prom too, just to get her out of the house for once.
Three nights later, Gwen showed up at the Devil May Cry office.
She was stunning—wearing a flowing white dress that made her fair skin glow under the lights. Her golden hair was tied back neatly, radiating youthful energy and elegance all at once.
Lucas sat on the couch as Gwen twirled in front of him, showing off her outfit. She had clearly spent hours preparing. He knew better than to make the wrong comment—one word out of line and she'd toss him out the window.
So Lucas wisely poured on the compliments until Gwen was smiling ear to ear.
A few minutes later, the office door opened, and Skye stepped in. Both Lucas and Gwen froze for a moment.
Skye was wearing a dark green dress, her black hair flowing freely over her shoulders. There was something effortlessly mysterious about her, and her figure—fuller and curvier than Gwen's—made her look stunning.
"Wow, Skye, I had no idea you had such a great figure!" Gwen gasped, looping her arm through Skye's. "You always wear those baggy clothes—I never noticed!"
Standing side by side, the two girls were completely different yet equally breathtaking—Gwen all bright energy and youthful charm, Skye radiating mystery and allure.
For a second, Lucas wondered if skipping the prom and just staying home with them might actually be the better option.
When the three arrived at school, Peter, Felicia, and Mary Jane were already there.
"Hey, man, I'm so jealous," Peter said, shooting Lucas a playful look. It was hard not to be—Gwen and Skye each had an arm wrapped around Lucas's. Peter looked like he might shoot a web at his face out of sheer envy.
"Get lost, man," Lucas said, rolling his eyes. Then he caught sight of Felicia and did a double take.
She looked incredible tonight—dressed in a sleek black gown that perfectly matched Peter's black suit. The two of them standing together looked… well, like a dangerously attractive couple.
Lucas smirked. "Here's some advice, Peter—stop wasting time being a simp. Look around you for once."
Peter blinked. "What do you mean, 'look around'? Who are you talking about?"
Lucas gave him a long, exasperated look while Felicia rolled her eyes so hard it was a wonder they didn't get stuck.
"Where's MJ? She not here yet?" Gwen asked, glancing around.
"Oh, she's already inside," Felicia replied with a shrug. "Off saying goodbye to her boyfriends."
Mary Jane was known for her bold, outgoing personality. She'd dated several of Midtown's most popular guys, and tonight, she was apparently making her rounds to part ways with them.
Still, she was flirty—not promiscuous. There was a line she didn't cross.
Everyone except Peter knew the truth—Mary Jane's heart had always been set on Harry Osborn.
Peter's expression dimmed. Years of pining, and still, he didn't stand a chance against a rich ex.
"Forget it, man," Lucas said, slapping a hand on his shoulder. "I told you ages ago, MJ's not the one for you. Maybe you should start paying attention to the girl right next to you."
He physically turned Peter's head—and there she was, Felicia, in all her black-dressed glory.
For a moment, Peter was speechless. She really did look incredible.
"Look at it this way," Lucas continued with a grin. "If you're gonna be a simp, might as well switch targets. And this one? She's every bit as gorgeous as MJ—maybe even more. Plus, you're going to the same college. You really wanna watch someone else sweep her off her feet?"
Peter glanced between Lucas and Felicia but said nothing.
Felicia, meanwhile, was chatting happily with Gwen and Skye, the three of them heading toward the auditorium together.
"Hey, what are you two whispering about back there?" Gwen called over her shoulder.
"I bet they're plotting something shady," Felicia laughed.
"Hurry up, boss! We're not waiting for you!" Skye added, waving as the girls disappeared into the crowd.
By the time Lucas and Peter followed, the auditorium was already packed.
Groups of guys were joking, gaming, and holding beer-drinking contests with those ridiculous helmet dispensers. It was chaos—pure, unfiltered teenage energy.
The couples, meanwhile, were either out on the dance floor or tucked into corners having "deep conversations."
The girls, ever more composed, gathered in small clusters, chatting, laughing, and occasionally sneaking glances—or throwing flirty looks—at the boys.
When the clock struck the hour, the lights dimmed, and the prom officially began.
The host was none other than Betty Brant, Midtown's self-proclaimed gossip queen, who'd dreamed of being a journalist or news anchor since she was a kid.
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