If Midtown High ever held a popularity ranking for female students, Gwen Stacy might not receive the loudest cheers.
But she would almost certainly take first place.
By a wide margin.
Most students—the quiet majority—would probably vote for her without hesitation.
Lucas Kane would be one of them.
He still remembered when he had first transferred to Midtown High.
Back then, he kept mostly to himself and rarely spoke. Because of that, Gwen had mistakenly assumed he was being isolated by his classmates.
She had tried to help him integrate with the rest of the student body.
Lucas had never forgotten that.
But he also understood the reason behind it.
It wasn't because Gwen treated him differently.
It was simply who she was.
Kind.
If it had been any other student in the same situation, Gwen would have stepped in just the same.
Besides, there was a well-known saying.
Life comes with three great illusions.
And among them, one always ranks first by a landslide.
"She likes me."
Lucas had no intention of falling for that illusion.
The Queens courthouse soon came into view.
Lucas thanked Gwen again before stepping out of the car.
But as he started toward the building, he heard footsteps behind him.
He turned around.
Gwen had gotten out as well and was following him.
A question mark practically appeared over his head.
"You planning to walk back afterward?" Gwen asked casually. "The airport's pretty far from here."
"I'll just take the—"
"The driver's union is on strike," Gwen interrupted with a smile. "Subway operators are drivers too."
Lucas fell silent.
Gwen simply turned and walked toward the courthouse entrance.
"Come on," she said. "It's almost three. You don't want Judge Bross canceling your hearing."
Lucas opened his mouth as if to respond, then thought better of it.
With a small shake of his head, he followed her inside.
Family Court — Courtroom Three
Judge Bross tapped his gavel.
"Next case. Petition for early emancipation: Lucas Kane."
Lucas stood.
"Your Honor."
A representative from the Department of Child and Family Services also rose from their seat.
Judge Bross flipped through the documents Lucas had submitted.
After a moment, he looked up at the caseworker.
"I see here he's never been adopted. No foster placements either?"
The caseworker gave a slightly awkward smile.
"That's correct, Your Honor."
"May I ask why?"
"Lucas was always... different from the other children. Quiet. Very independent. Prospective adoptive families usually prefer more socially outgoing children."
The judge nodded slowly before turning his attention back to Lucas.
"You're requesting legal independence primarily because you need to rent housing?"
"Yes, Your Honor."
"And how do you plan to pay for that housing?"
Lucas answered calmly.
"My bank account currently holds thirty thousand dollars. That's enough to cover rent for a low-cost apartment until I secure stable employment."
"Thirty thousand?"
Judge Bross raised his eyebrows and located the financial documents in the file.
Then he paused.
No phone.
No computer.
No car.
Not even a driver's license.
Early emancipation requests from orphans were not unusual.
But this was different.
The judge had never seen a teenager cut every non-essential expense so thoroughly.
And it was even rarer to see an orphan who had never been adopted or placed in foster care accumulate thirty thousand dollars in savings.
Judge Bross looked back at Lucas.
"You have remarkable self-discipline, Mr. Kane."
"Thank you, Your Honor."
Lucas caught the subtle shift in wording.
Mr. Kane.
A title usually reserved for legally independent adults.
Judge Bross smiled faintly.
With a firm motion, he stamped the documents.
"Normally, I don't approve early emancipation," the judge said. "The adult world can be harsh."
He slid the paperwork toward the court officer.
"But in your case, Mr. Kane… I believe you're prepared."
"Congratulations."
Lucas accepted the stamped documents from the officer.
"Thank you."
"Court is adjourned for this case," Judge Bross said, tapping the gavel again. "Next matter."
Outside the courthouse, Lucas studied the official seal on the paperwork.
A small smile appeared on his face.
With this document, he was now legally independent.
Even though he hadn't turned eighteen yet, he could sign rental agreements on his own.
Which meant one very important thing.
He could finally leave the temporary shelter hangar.
The place had been packed with displaced residents ever since the alien invasion destroyed their neighborhood.
Tensions were high.
It felt like a powder keg waiting to explode.
Leaving sooner rather than later sounded like an excellent idea.
Lucas folded the paperwork carefully and started walking toward the subway entrance.
Then someone grabbed his arm.
He looked up.
Gwen stared at him with mild disbelief.
Lucas blinked.
Right.
Subways were part of the strike too.
"Sorry," he said.
Gwen shook her head, amused.
"Come on, Mr. Kane."
Lucas raised an eyebrow at the title but followed her toward the parked Corolla.
A traffic officer was standing beside the car, ticket device already in hand.
"Just a moment, officer!" Gwen called, hurrying over.
She quickly pulled a card from her backpack and handed it over.
The officer examined it.
It wasn't a business card.
It was a family identification card issued within the NYPD community.
A simple way to say one thing.
This person is one of ours.
The officer glanced at the card.
19th Precinct — George Stacy
He memorized the name and number, then handed it back.
"Move the car."
"Yes, sir. Thank you."
Gwen breathed out in relief.
The officer mounted his motorcycle and rode away.
She turned back toward Lucas, still holding the card.
"That was close."