Snow’s Point of View

“You look happy,” Nia said, raising a brow as she spotted me walking toward her.

I didn’t even realize I was smiling until she pointed it out. My cheeks warmed slightly, and I giggled before pulling her into a quick hug.

“Just missed you,” I said, hoping that was enough to cover the swirl of emotions still lingering from yesterday with Kingston.

Nia didn’t buy it. She stared at me for a moment, narrowing her eyes suspiciously before shaking her head with a smirk.

“Uh-huh. Missed me, sure.”

I ignored her teasing, still smiling as she looped her arm through mine.

“Come on, let’s go find my boyfriend before he starts whining about me ignoring him.”

I let her pull me along, but a small knot formed in my stomach.

I didn’t know how I felt about being around Mason’s friends.

It wasn’t Mason himself. I actually liked how he treated Nia—he was sweet in his own way and clearly cared about her. But his friends? They were another story.

I didn’t like the looks they gave me.

It wasn’t direct, but it was there—lingering stares, quiet conversations that would stop when I passed by.

Maybe I was overthinking it. Maybe I was judging them too harshly. But I couldn’t forget the way they said my last name the first day we met.

White.

Like it was something rotten. Like it carried a weight I didn’t understand.

And I didn’t like that one bit.

Still, I followed Nia as she weaved through the crowded hallway.

The sound of laughter and chatter filled the air, blending into a low hum of noise that made my headache threaten to return.

“Where’s Troy?” I asked suddenly, realizing I hadn’t seen him in days.

“Oh, he’s on a family trip,” Nia replied casually, pulling me toward the cafeteria.

I nodded slowly, though it felt odd. Troy was usually around, sitting quietly beside us, contributing a sarcastic comment here and there. Without him, the group felt incomplete.

“You know,” I started, frowning slightly, “I don’t even have his number.”

Nia stopped mid-step, turning to stare at me.

“Wait, seriously?”

I nodded, feeling a bit embarrassed. “Yeah. I mean, we’re friends, but... I guess I never asked.”

Nia scoffed, pulling her phone from her pocket. “You’re ridiculous. Hold on, I’ll send it to you.”

Within seconds, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out to see a new contact: Troy.

“There. Problem solved.”

“Thanks,” I mumbled, saving the number.

“Now you can annoy him as much as you annoy me,” she teased, nudging me playfully.

I rolled my eyes, but a small laugh escaped.

We finally found Mason lounging near the back of the cafeteria, his friends gathered around him in their usual spot.

Mason grinned when he saw Nia, pulling her in for a quick kiss. I hovered awkwardly behind her, feeling out of place as their conversation picked up.

Cole and Xander were there, of course.

Cole glanced at me, while Xander barely acknowledged my presence.

The same quiet tension settled over me, just like before.

I hated it.

I hated feeling like I didn’t belong, like I was being silently judged for reasons I didn’t understand.

Was it my last name? My family?

Whatever it was, it made me shrink into myself, focusing on the peeling label of my water bottle.

“You okay?” Nia’s voice broke through my thoughts.

I nodded quickly. “Yeah. Just tired.”

She gave me a skeptical look but didn’t press.

Mason glanced over at me for a moment. “You’re quiet today.”

“I’m always quiet,” I mumbled, shrugging.

He chuckled. “Fair enough.”

Cole leaned back in his seat, arms crossed. “So, what’s it like being a White?”

His words were casual, but there was an edge to them.

My eyes snapped to his.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.

Cole’s smirk widened slightly. “Nothing. Just curious.”

Nia shot him a glare. “Cole, don’t start.”

He raised his hands in mock surrender. “Relax. Just making conversation.”

I didn’t respond. I just stared at him for a moment before looking away.

“Come on, Snow,” Nia said, grabbing my hand again. “Let’s go.”

I didn’t argue.

As she led me away, I felt Cole’s eyes on my back.

And for the first time, I wondered if I was in over my head.