Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Invite Gwen to Be a Dance Partner
The car was parked in the basement on the second floor. Ethan Hayes waited inside. According to the text message, Gwen was on her way down. When she finally got in, Ethan stared at her for a moment, long enough to make her uncomfortable.
"Is there something on my face?" Gwen Stacy asked, quickly pulling out a mirror to check. After a quick inspection, she felt relieved—no visible signs of change. Her mutation hadn't caused any obvious side effects.
Ethan smiled. "No, it's just that your skin looks smoother."
That comment made Gwen's heart skip a beat, and she glanced at herself in the mirror more carefully. Ever since her powers emerged, she had felt changes in her body, but she couldn't keep relying on Ethan to drive her around. She peeked at him out of the corner of her eye. His sharp profile, almost too handsome for words, gleamed in the sunlight. Her heart raced—he's so handsome, she thought. Smart, mature, and good-looking… How could I have overlooked him before?
"Hey, Ethan, if you keep staring at me, I might start to think you're interested," Gwen teased, trying to shake off her nerves.
Ethan smirked. "I might say the same to you, Gwen. If you keep looking at me like that, I'll misunderstand."
Gwen's pale face flushed pink, but she quickly changed the subject. "Ethan, have you asked anyone to be your prom date yet?"
Ethan raised an eyebrow at the sudden change in topic. Gwen's bright blue eyes were fixed on him, shining like gems, full of anticipation.
"I can't dance," he answered bluntly.
Gwen's disbelief was evident. How could someone like Ethan not know how to dance? But then, she remembered his past and felt a pang of sympathy.
"That's okay. I could teach you," she said softly before realizing how forward she was being. "I mean, if you ask someone to go with you, I can help you learn. You'll definitely stand out at the dance."
Ethan smiled. "The prom is definitely one of those moments people talk about for years. I don't want to miss it, but the problem is, the only girls I really know at school are you and Hannah."
Gwen breathed a sigh of relief. Hannah isn't a threat, she thought. But then, Ethan continued.
"Hannah mentioned that Julia—the cheerleader—might have a crush on me. She told me to try asking her."
Gwen's heart sank. Julia? That girl had a reputation for collecting experiences, and now she was going after Ethan?
"Julia?" Gwen asked, trying to keep her voice steady. "So, what's your plan?"
"I heard Harry Osborn already asked Julia, and she accepted. So no, I'm not planning on asking her."
His calm voice reassured Gwen, lifting the heavy weight that had settled on her chest.
"So, you're not asking anyone else?" she pressed. "This could be your only prom. It might be a lifelong regret."
Gwen was hoping, waiting. If Ethan asked her, she would say yes in a heartbeat.
"And what about you, Gwen?"
She blinked in surprise.
"Fleischer, Peter, Harry, and Jackson all asked me," she said, almost proudly. "But I turned them down."
She looked at Ethan expectantly, waiting for him to catch on. He smiled, realizing what she was hinting at.
"Haha, sounds like I still have a chance," Ethan said, grinning. He turned to face her directly and asked, "So, Miss Gwen, would you like to be my date for the prom?"
"Eyes on the road!" Gwen laughed, pretending to be annoyed, though inside, she was thrilled. Her heart was fluttering, and her cheeks were still warm.
"For your sincerity, I'll accept," she said, trying to play it cool.
"Really?"
"Really," she confirmed with a grin.
Since agreeing to be Ethan's date, their relationship had taken off. All the tension and distance between them seemed to melt away. Gwen even started coming over to his apartment more often, though she had yet to invite him over to her place.
Meanwhile, reports about the "Ice Demon of Hell's Kitchen" began circulating, but Ethan wasn't too concerned. No one seemed to connect him to the mysterious figure terrorizing the underworld.
He sent a message to Jessica Jones, but she didn't reply. It was clear she was avoiding him after their… encounter.
"This apartment was a bad idea," Ethan muttered to himself. Living next door to Gwen was proving difficult, especially if he wanted to maintain other… relationships. Her heightened senses would easily pick up on anything happening at his place.
To fix this, he called his real estate agent, Julia. "I need a new place, private, away from the city center. Something with a view of the mountains or the sea would be perfect."
This wasn't the cheerleader Julia from school—this was a sophisticated, mature woman who had already found his current apartment. They had shared a bit of flirtation before, and Ethan couldn't forget that.
As he waited, the weekend arrived, and while Gwen was busy with her internship at Oscorp, Ethan decided to look at properties on Long Island.
After a short drive, he met Julia at a grand estate. She wore a crisp white blouse and a fitted skirt that highlighted her figure.
"Mr. Hayes," she greeted warmly, flashing a smile.
"Ms. Julia," Ethan responded, opening his arms for a hug. Her perfume smelled like ripe peaches, and the contact lingered just long enough to stir something between them. Julia was in her prime—mature, experienced, and currently in financial trouble due to her husband's failed investments.
After the hug, Julia began the tour of the estate, which took nearly an hour.
"The house is perfect," Ethan said as they sat down to wine in the grand dining hall. "And at 12 million, compared to its previous 30 million price tag, it's a steal. But I'd like to pay in three installments."
Julia's eyes brightened. "That's no problem. Would you like to sign the contract today?"
Ethan swirled his wine, watching it reflect in the light. "Before we sign anything, there's just one more thing."
Julia leaned forward, interested. "What is it, Mr. Hayes?"
Ethan's voice dropped to a low, teasing tone. "Get down."
Julia blinked. "What?"
"I said, get down on the table," Ethan repeated with a knowing smile.
Julia, sensing his intention, smiled back. She knew how much this deal meant to her, both financially and personally. Twisting her hips seductively, she slowly lay down on the table in the hall, complying with his request.
Ethan took a sip of his wine, pleased with the arrangement
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