Snow’s Point of View

“What’s your best sport?” Troy asked casually as the three of us made our way toward the cafeteria.

I hesitated, unsure how to answer. Sports had never really been my thing, and I didn’t want to seem boring. “I’m not really a fan of sports,” I admitted softly, staring down at my fingers.

Troy nodded thoughtfully, his hands tucked into the pockets of his jacket. “Fair enough. Not everyone’s into it.”

“Good answer,” Nia chimed in with a grin, nudging my arm gently. “Troy here is a soccer nut. He asks everyone that question to see if they’ll play with him.”

I glanced at him, smiling faintly. “I’d probably just trip over my own feet.”

Troy let out a quiet laugh. “Fair warning, then. If you’re ever forced to play, just stick to the sidelines.”

As we walked, my head started pounding again, a dull ache that had been creeping in all morning. Having glasses was new and unfamiliar, and while they helped my vision, they seemed to be triggering more headaches than I’d anticipated.

I groaned softly, rubbing my temple. Nia, who had been walking beside me, immediately turned her head, her brows furrowing in concern.

“You good?” she asked, her voice soft but firm.

I nodded quickly, not wanting to make a big deal out of it. “Yeah, just a headache. I have pills. I just need to eat first.”

She didn’t look convinced but didn’t push it. Instead, she stayed close, her presence grounding me as we entered the noisy cafeteria.

The noise hit me like a wave, the sound of dozens of voices bouncing off the walls. I kept my head down, trying to focus on finding a quiet corner where we could sit.

Some people glanced at us as we walked in, but I ignored them, my head pounding too much to care.

Across the room, I spotted my brothers sitting with their usual group. Karsten noticed me first, his face breaking into a smile as he tapped Dimitrios on the shoulder. Within seconds, all of them were looking at me.

“Snow!” they yelled in unison, loud enough to make heads turn. “Come here!”

I stopped in my tracks, shaking my head quickly. “No,” I mouthed back, gesturing to Nia and Troy.

They tilted their heads in confusion, exchanging glances before nodding slowly and turning back to their conversation.

“Friends?” Troy asked, his voice cutting through the noise.

I let out a small breath, feeling the pressure in my head building. “Brothers,” I said simply.

That single word made both Nia and Troy freeze in their tracks.

“Your brothers?” Nia asked, her voice incredulous.

Troy’s eyes widened as he stared at me. “The Whites have a sister?”

I sighed, shaking my head slightly as I walked toward an empty table. “Yes, the Whites have a sister. And she just wants to sit down right now.”

More people were staring now, probably having overheard Troy’s reaction. I could feel their curious eyes on me, but I tried to block it out. All I could focus on was the throbbing pain in my head, which seemed to be getting worse by the second.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Nia asked as we sat down, her voice filled with concern.

I nodded, resting my elbows on the table and burying my face in my hands. “I’m fine,” I muttered. “Just... need a minute.”

Troy and Nia exchanged a glance, but neither of them said anything. I was grateful for the silence, even if it was short-lived.

Across the cafeteria, I could hear my brothers’ laughter, their voices booming over the noise. Normally, I’d feel a sense of comfort knowing they were close by, but right now, I just wanted peace.

“Here,” Nia said, sliding her bottle of water across the table. “Take a sip. It might help.”

I looked up, giving her a small smile as I took the bottle. “Thanks.”

As I drank, Troy leaned back in his chair, watching me with a mix of curiosity and concern. “You don’t look fine,” he said bluntly, though his tone wasn’t unkind.

“I’ll be fine,” I insisted, my voice firmer this time. “It’s just the glasses. I think they’re giving me headaches.”

“You should talk to your doctor about that,” Nia said. “Or get them adjusted. It might just be the fit.”

I nodded, making a mental note to do that, but the thought of going back to the hospital wasn’t exactly appealing.

The noise in the cafeteria seemed to grow louder, and I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to block it all out. My fingers pressed lightly against my temples, and I let out a slow breath.

“Snow,” Nia’s voice broke through my haze. “Maybe we should go outside for a bit. Fresh air might help.”

I opened my eyes and nodded slowly. “Yeah, that might be a good idea.”

As the three of us stood to leave, I glanced back at my brothers.

Karsten caught my eye, his smile fading into a look of concern as he raised a questioning eyebrow. I gave him a quick thumbs-up, hoping it would ease his worry, before following Nia and Troy out of the cafeteria.