Aria's POV

"I'm in my room!" I yelled as I slammed the door shut behind me, shrugging off my coat and hanging it on the hook by the door.

The house was eerily quiet, except for Mum's mid-rant in the living room with my older brother, Drew. Once she got into that zone, it felt like everyone else in the house ceased to exist.

I sighed and trudged into my room, letting myself flop face down onto my bed.

Ugh! School was getting worse with each passing day now that we were in our senior year.

But I was looking forward to the winter break, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Rubbing my temples, I reached under my bed, my fingers finding the cool, smooth wood of a small lacquered box.

I pulled it out; it was an old music box, a gift from my grandmother.

Inside, a tiny porcelain ballerina, poised on one leg, began to twirl as the faint melody of "Claire de Lune" tinkled out.

Next to it sat my silver ring, which meant much more than met the eye.

I stared at it until a voice made my heart jolt.

"Is Dad home?" I whispered to myself.

I pushed the box back under the bed, shut it quickly, and dashed out of my room.

My father stood in his usual thick coat with a brown leather principal's bag.

"I saw what you did with the Monroes," I said, crossing my arms.

He grunted without looking at me. "Be grateful, Aria. I was helping you."

"Helping me?" I scoffed. "You should have consulted me first. It's my time, my schedule. You can't just volunteer me for things without asking. I'm not part of your school supplies!"

"Don't raise your voice at me."

I bit down on my lip, trying to suppress my anger, and retreated to the kitchen where Mum was scooping white porridge onto plates.

"Here," I mumbled, grabbing the ladle from her.

Helping with dinner was safer than arguing with Dad.

We were halfway through setting the table when the doorbell rang.

Loud greetings followed.

Curiosity got the better of me, so I peeked out from the kitchen.

An unfamiliar boy stood in the foyer, smiling and laughing with my dad. He was tall, with bright blonde hair and grey eyes... just like mine.

I stepped out as my father waved me closer. "Aria, come help him with his things."

I walked toward him, brushing past my grinning brother, who leaned over to whisper, "Don't drool."

"What?" I hissed back, elbowing him.

Outside, the boy handed me a small bag and smiled. "Name's Kevin."

"Aria," I replied, matching his smile.

He repeated my name, then casually said, "It's a bit early to ask, but there's a party tonight. I'd love for you to come."

My mouth fell open. "Oh, um... I don't do parties."

Kevin raised an eyebrow. "No one 'just' has a social life. They make it."

I blinked, then grinned slowly. "I'll think about it."

He nodded and pulled out his phone. "Can I get your number?"

We exchanged digits, and when he smiled at me again, I felt like maybe my life didn't completely suck. I could make a social life. That would mean attending the party tonight.

He waved as he drove off. I was still standing there, giddy, when I whipped out my phone and dialled Lily.

"Girl," I whispered as soon as she picked up, "you will not believe what just happened."

🏒🏒🏒

I was halfway through smudging eyeliner on my upper lash line... badly, I might add, when I finally gave up, dropped the pencil into the makeup bag, and stared at my reflection.

"I look like I've been crying," I mumbled to myself, dragging my fingers through my hair.

They puffed out in different directions as if they had minds of their own.

I gave up on trying to tame them, too, and just fluffed the ends, hoping the curls would pass for 'effortless'.

I tugged on a dark sweater and paired it with yoga pants and ankle boots. Comfortable and cosy... perfect for the light snow that had begun to fall.

"Aria!" Mum's voice rang from downstairs. "You've got someone here!"

My heart thumped in my chest. Oh my God. Was it Kevin? I had texted him earlier to come pick me up. I checked my breath before rushing to the top of the stairs. But instead of Kevin, I found...

"Lily," I blinked.

Lily stood with one hand on her hip as she stepped into the hallway and looked me up and down.

"You are not wearing that," she said flatly.

I stared at her. "Um... I was going for comfy?"

"You look like you're going to a sleepover, not a party with boys. And possibly... Kevin boys." She dropped her purse and stalked right past me into my room. "We are fixing this."

"I don't..." I started to protest, but she was already flinging my closet doors open.

"No offence, but you dress like a soft pretzel," she muttered, flipping through hangers. "Cute, safe, and too twisted for your good."

She finally pulled out a fitted black top with long mesh sleeves and a pair of high-waisted jeans that had just enough rip to toe the line between 'trying' and 'hot'. She threw it at me and pointed. "Put that on."

I hesitated, holding up the outfit. "I don't know..."

"Trust me," she said, already plugging in my curling wand.

"I can't curl my hair. It never holds," I protested weakly.

"You're lucky to have me," she said with a wink, already sectioning my hair with her skilled fingers. "Besides, you want him to stare, don't you?"

I froze. "That's not why I'm going."

Lily snorted. "Sure. You're going for what, then?"

I rolled my eyes but sat obediently as she curled my hair into waves and dusted a little shimmer across my eyelids.

"You're glowing," she said, satisfied. "Now let's put some gloss on those lips, and... done."

I glanced at the mirror. I looked good... not like a different person, but like a more confident version of myself. A slow smile spread across my face.

Lily grinned at me through the mirror. "You're welcome."

Just then, we both heard a knock downstairs. This time, I was sure it was Kevin.

"Coming!" I called, practically flying down the stairs. And yes... it was him. He leaned casually against the porch rail, his hood down. His hands were tucked into the front pockets of his black jacket, and his eyes met mine the moment I opened the door.

"Hey," he said. "You look... different."

I blinked. "Good different or 'you tried' different?"

His lips twitched. "Good. Definitely good."

I resisted the urge to touch my cheeks... I was blushing, and I knew it. Behind me, Lily let out a low whistle. "Okay, wow. Hello, tall and..."

I cleared my throat, stepped outside, and shut the door behind me. "Kevin, this is Lily. Lily, this is Kevin."

"Nice to meet you," he said.

Lily leaned in close and whispered, "You didn't tell me he was going to pick you up. Anyway, text me if you survive." Then she winked and disappeared back inside.

"Uhm... Aria? I'm gay." Kevin said, and my jaw dropped.

Aria's POV

I cursed the moment I let a guy I just met drag me into doing something completely out of character for me.

If this were how he cultivated his social life, then I would gladly skip having one entirely.

On the couch before me was Kevin, engrossed in a make-out session with another guy.

Lily said it was hot, but I couldn't agree. I mean, I don't engage in these things.

I'm the principal's daughter, the one who's supposed to be home on nights like this, either studying or sleeping.

I had let my guard down simply because a guy asked me to a party.

A guy who is gay.

I chugged down my drink, a fruity concoction I found in the fridge of the party host.

My legs ached in my boots, and for a moment, I was tempted to take them off.

I took another gulp of my drink and scowled at the noise erupting from the house.

This was my second party ever. The first was Lily's birthday, and she wouldn't let me miss it for the world. I attended, but I had avoided the beer and dancing, which Lily insisted was the essence of the party.

"My, my... Who do we have here?"

Oh no. I recognised that voice.

It belonged to Jason, and he was the last person I wanted to see right now.

I glanced up and locked eyes with him. Tonight, he was dressed normally, in a plain long-sleeved shirt and sweatpants, unlike the first time I saw him.

"If it isn't my tutor. You know her? She's Principal Bennett's daughter, the one and only." Jason slapped the back of a guy standing beside him.

I let out a frustrated huff and decided to ignore him. If only he could read my mind and leave me alone.

"What's that? Beer?" Jason snatched my cup before I could protest.

I watched in disbelief as he drowned the contents. A smirk curled on his lips. "Does Daddy know you're at a party full of hot hockey players and drinking beer?"

I rolled my eyes, shot my middle finger at him, and turned away. But it seemed Jason wasn't going to let me off that easily. What was wrong with him? Was he drunk?

"Leave me alone," I spat.

Jason grinned slyly and leaned in closer. "You know I heard you dressed up thinking you were going on a date, and the guy turned out to be gay."

My eyes widened, and my mouth fell open in shock. How did he know that? His friend beside him shot me an apologetic look. Good to know he recognised that Jason was being a jerk.

In a drunken stumble, Jason stepped too close and fell on top of me.

A huge guy leaning on my small frame? We both toppled to the ground, me on the bottom and Jason on top.

I could smell the alcohol on his breath, and I scrunched my nose in distaste while trying to push him off, but I was unsuccessful.

"Get off me," I managed to say.

Jason's eyes fluttered open slightly as he cupped my face. I froze. His hands were warm against my skin, but rational thought fled me.

He gave me a look that screamed trouble. And just as I suspected, he leaned in and kissed my lips.

"Dary... don't leave me again, please," he murmured against my mouth before biting my lower lip.

My brain had completely shut down. It was my first kiss.

Despite the bitter, mangy taste of beer, I found myself getting lost in the moment until I heard the flash of a camera.

I broke the kiss, turning my head to the side and gasped.

The party had moved outside, and people were taking shots, laughing loudly. Oh no.

Coming here was the worst mistake I'd ever made. Someone helped pull Jason off me, and I looked up to see his friend from earlier and Lily rushing to my side.

My throat constricted, and I fought the urge to burst into tears. I was sitting in the sand, my clothing ruined, and my lips swollen, with glassy eyes.

I scrambled to my feet, pushing my way through the crowd amid the boos and jeers from the students. Tears stung my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.

"Aria... are you okay?" Someone held my wrists.

It was Kevin, gripping my wrists while his date or boyfriend stood beside him. I sniffed and nodded.

There was no point in saying anything. I had already embarrassed myself enough for one night. I tried to leave, but he didn't release my wrist.

"Earlier today, I'm sorry. I should have told you I was gay. I didn't know you'd dress up for me or anything. Are you okay?"

"It's okay, Kevin. Honestly, I'm fine," I mouthed, refusing to meet his gaze.

"Are you sure? Do you think we could still be friends?"

That pushed me over the edge. I snapped, "You know it's not fair to tell people I dressed up to go on a date with you. I didn't know you liked guys, so stop being a jerk about it."

Kevin let go of my arm and shrugged, a smirk playing on his lips. Bastard. "Well, you can't blame me. You were just too desperate. I could see the way you fawned over me..."

Little tears spilt down my cheeks, and I wanted to crawl under my bed and cry. But then, a hand rested on my shoulder, and I turned to see Lily and Jason's friend.

"You're going to apologise to her," he said to Kevin, his tone serious.

Kevin sized him up and seemed to realise he wasn't a match for a hockey player, but still scowled. "What the hell, man?"

"Apologise to her," he said. "You don't want to mess with a hockey player, do you?"

Kevin grunted an apology and then stalked off with his pitiful excuse for a date.

Now I was left with Lily and the strange guy, so I mouthed a thank you to him and admitted that coming here was a bad idea.

"So, how was the kiss with Jason?" Lily grinned.

I pushed her away and walked off, ignoring her shouts for me to come back.

Aria's POV

The snow outside had gotten heavier, but in a soft, pretty way, none of yesterday's slush and chaos.

I stood by my bedroom window, holding the curtain open just a crack, watching the flakes drift down in lazy spirals.

The world looked quieter when it snowed. Like everything was on mute, and I kind of wished my nerves were too.

Today was my first official tutoring session with Jason Monroe.

I closed the curtain with a sigh and grabbed my tote bag.

I'd packed it earlier with my old Algebra textbooks, a few sharpened pencils, a calculator, highlighters, sticky notes... maybe a little overkill, but better to be over-prepared than caught slacking.

Especially with him. I tucked the folder with the placement tests and zipped it up before slinging it over my shoulder.

I reached for my purse, still sitting on my desk, and paused at the door.

"I wish Lily were here with me," I murmured.

I didn't even realise I'd said it out loud. Everything just felt... off without her by my side. Lily was my buffer, my confidence boost.

She made walking into unknown situations feel like jokes instead of heart attacks.

Now I was going to a stranger's house alone to tutor a guy who my subconscious thought looked like he belonged to a Calvin Klein billboard.

Ugh. Not that I'd ever admit but Lily was right. Hockey players were hot. But Jason was not just hot. He was hot hot. Like unfair levels of hot. Like, why do you even have a shirt on, sir? It's kind of hot.

Only... the problem was, when he opened his mouth, all that heat turned into cold rudeness.

Whiplash much?

I locked my front door and trudged toward the car, tossing my things into the backseat before sliding into the driver's seat.

My breath fogged up the windshield for a second, and I sat there, gripping the wheel and trying to calm the jittery energy buzzing through me.

I was five feet tall on a good day. Jason probably bench-pressed people my size for fun. How the hell was I supposed to survive this arrangement?

"Just be professional," I whispered to myself. "Help him pass. Keep it cool."

I glanced at the folder again and bit my lip. Please, I prayed silently, let him have actually done those placement tests. Just so this doesn't turn into a complete mess.

As I turned into the familiar bend toward his street, my stomach twisted itself into knots. My fingers clenched a little tighter around the steering wheel.

This was fine.

Totally fine.

I pulled into the driveway, parking behind a sleek black car that screamed money and speed. Probably his. Of course.

This time, a maid answered the door instead of his mom. She was kind and polite, introducing herself quickly before ushering me inside and up the staircase. I muttered a soft thank you and followed her steps, feeling smaller with every one I took.

Jason's door was already open when she stopped in front of it and smiled at me before leaving.

I stepped inside.

Typical boy's room. Hockey gear everywhere. Sticks propped against the wall, jerseys draped over a chair, and posters plastered everywhere.

Not just random players, though. Most of them were him. On the ice. With teammates. Mid-celebration after a goal.

The colour scheme was grey and black. I sidestepped a hoodie on the floor and a stray Gatorade bottle before moving further in...

A low growl stopped me in my tracks. I froze, turning toward the sound just as Jason looked up from where he sat on a couch near the far window.

Another guy was slouched beside him. A tall, broad-shouldered guy with buzzed dark hair and a wolfish smile.

Jason's eyes locked onto mine. "Who let you in my room?" he asked.

I flinched, instinctively taking a step back.

The other guy snorted. "Dude. Go easy. She's a cute little thing." He grinned at me.

The other guy pushed himself off the couch and walked over, extending a hand.

"Name's Aiden."

"Aria," I said, trying to make my voice sound normal.

His eyes flicked down. Then he tilted his head, almost thoughtfully, before saying...

"You might want to change your pants. They're... stained."

My heart skipped a beat. "What?"

I turned slightly, reaching behind me. My fingers touched the fabric. It was wet and sticky. Blood. Oh my god. No. No. No. No.

I stepped back, my face burning so hot. My period. Right now? I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me whole.

I couldn't move, nor could I breathe. My fingertips were pressed lightly against the stain.