Snow’s Point of View

“How did you even become friends with them?” I asked, glancing at Nia as I pulled my hoodie over my head.

She was already dressed, adjusting her makeup in the mirror. Her purple curls were styled to perfection, and her outfit a fitted black dress with silver accents made her look effortlessly cool.

Meanwhile, I felt like a fish out of water, tugging at the hem of my borrowed crop top and jeans.

“Who? Mason and his brothers?” she asked, turning to look at me.

I nodded, sitting on the edge of her bed as I slipped on my sneakers.

Nia shrugged, letting out a sigh. “Honestly? I don’t know. It just... happened. We crossed paths at some point, and now we’re friends.”

“But they seem like bad news,” I said, my voice hesitant.

“They’re not,” Nia insisted, her tone firm.

“They’ve got their quirks, sure, but they’re not bad people, Snow. You just have to get to know them.”

I frowned, remembering the tattoos and scars I’d noticed on Cole and Xander.

Something about them unsettled me, even if I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.

“My brothers have tattoos too,” I admitted, “but Cole and Xander... they feel different. Like they’ve seen things.”

Nia’s smile faltered for a moment before she quickly recovered, waving me off. “You’re overthinking it. They’ve just had rough lives, that’s all.”

I wasn’t so sure, but I didn’t press further.

“Alright, come on,” Nia said, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward the mirror.

“What?” I asked, confused.

“New hairstyle,” she said with a grin, running her fingers through my hair.

By the time Nia finished, I hardly recognized myself.

She’d styled my hair into soft waves that framed my face, and the makeup she’d applied was subtle but flattering, giving me a glow I wasn’t used to seeing.

“Wow,” I mumbled, staring at my reflection.

“Told you I was good,” Nia said, smirking as she stepped back to admire her work.

I bit my lip, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness.

“Are you sure this is okay? I don’t usually... look like this.”

“That’s the point,” Nia said, grabbing her bag. “We’re going to a party, Snow. It’s time to loosen up and have some fun. Now let’s go!”

The ride to the party was filled with Nia’s upbeat chatter and music blasting from her car speakers. I tried to focus on the lyrics, but my nerves wouldn’t settle.

“Relax,” Nia said, glancing at me as she turned into a quiet neighborhood. “It’s just a party. You’ll be fine.”

“Easy for you to say,” I muttered.

As we pulled up to a massive house, my jaw dropped.

The place was huge, easily twice the size of Nia’s home, and the music thumping from inside was loud enough to feel through the car windows.

“This is it,” Nia said, turning off the engine.

“Whose house is this?” I asked, staring at the glowing windows.

“Just some guy Mason knows,” she said casually, climbing out of the car.

That didn’t make me feel any better.

The moment we stepped inside, the noise hit me like a wave.

The living room was packed with people, the air thick with the smell of sweat, perfume, and alcohol. Colored lights flashed overhead, casting everything in a kaleidoscope of reds, blues, and greens.

“Stay close,” Nia said, grabbing my hand as she led me through the crowd.

I nodded, gripping her hand tightly.

We weaved through groups of people, passing by couples dancing, friends laughing, and a few people who looked like they’d already had too much to drink.

“There they are,” Nia said, pointing toward a corner where Mason, Cole, and Xander stood.

Mason spotted us first, his face breaking into a grin.

“Nia! Snow! You made it!”

“Of course we did,” Nia said, letting go of my hand as she walked over to him.

I hesitated for a moment before following, my nerves flaring as Cole and Xander turned their attention to me.

“Didn’t think you’d actually show up,” Cole said, his smirk as sharp as ever.

“Neither did I,” I admitted, crossing my arms.

Xander chuckled softly. “At least she’s honest.”

“Hey, lay off her,” Mason said, throwing an arm around Nia’s shoulders.

“She’s not used to this kind of thing.”

“No kidding,” Cole muttered, though he didn’t press further.

Nia rolled her eyes. “Ignore him, Snow. Let’s go find something to drink.”

I nodded, glad for the excuse to step away.

As the night went on, I started to relax—just a little. Nia stayed by my side, introducing me to people and keeping the conversation light.

But I couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched.

Every so often, I’d catch Cole or Xander glancing in my direction, their expressions unreadable.

“You’re overthinking it,” Nia said when I mentioned it. “They’re just curious about you. It’s not a big deal.”

I nodded, though I wasn’t entirely convinced.

By the time we left the party, I was exhausted but strangely satisfied.

It wasn’t my usual scene, but it hadn’t been as bad as I’d feared.

“See? Told you it’d be fun,” Nia said as we climbed into the car.

“Yeah,” I said softly, staring out the window as she started the engine. “It wasn’t bad.”