The sun broke gently through the sheer curtains of the Snow family home, lighting up the soft, tidy interior with a golden haze. Birds chirped lazily outside. Scott rubbed his eyes as he sat up in bed, hair tousled, face still swollen with sleep.
"Are you not going to take care of me today?" came a teasing voice from the hallway.
Scott blinked hard and stuck his head out the door. It was Summer, leaning against the wall in her robe, smiling smugly with a steaming mug of tea in her hand.
He groaned. "No. No, no, no. Nurse Scott is off duty. You're Gran-Gran's problem now."
From the kitchen, the scent of cinnamon toast wafted through the air as Gran-Gran , their feisty 70-something grandmother, let out a cackle of laughter. "Good! That boy needs to stop hovering and go learn something."
She marched in, her silver hair tied in a bun, wearing a flowered robe and fluffy house slippers. She cupped Scott's face, planted a dramatic kiss on his forehead, and said, "Go learn, young prince. And tell that principal of yours I said hi."
Scott grinned. "Will do, Gran-Gran."
Minutes later, books packed, hoodie thrown on, and keys in hand, Scott opened the front door—only to freeze.
Waiting by the car were Sky and Kyle, his two closest friends, dressed clean and leaning casually against the black SUV.
"What are you two doing here?" he asked, eyes narrowing in suspicion.
Kyle smirked. "We thought we'd bless you with our royal presence this fine morning."
Sky laughed. "Let's ride together. Come on."
Scott hopped in the backseat. The driver started the engine, and they drove off. As they approached the school, the gates swung open slowly—and that's when they saw them.
Sevira and Alex, standing by the drop-off curb, waving to a tall man in a crisp black suit obviously their dad. Scott's heart skipped.Sevira's hair glowed in the morning light, her blazer slightly oversized, eyes squinting in the sun.
She turned—and caught Scott looking.
Their eyes locked for just a moment. A slow, unreadable look passed between them. But neither said a word. No smile. No wave. Just something… quiet.
Alex, being herself, was all laughter and conversation. She greeted Sky and Kyle with an easy charm. Then the group walked into the school together.
From the shadows of the courtyard, two junior girls were watching with wide eyes.
"Wait. Did I just see SKS walk in with the new girls?" one whispered.
"SKS doesn't walk with people," the other hissed.
Lizzy, sitting nearby with a straw in her smoothie, overheard. Her face froze.
"What?" she said sharply. "What did you just say?"
"Um… we were just saying they came in together. Probably nothing."
Lizzy narrowed her eyes. "Or probably something." Her jaw tightened. "Find out."
Later that day, Sevira and Alex were in the chemistry lab, goggles on, beakers bubbling as they giggled over a failed experiment that looked like purple lava.
"Maybe you're the problem, Alex," Sevira joked, stirring a solution slowly.
"Nope. My genius can't be questioned," Alex said with a wink.
Just then, in the music rehearsal room across the school, Scott, Sky, and Kyle were surrounded by Lizzy, Kira, Abby, and a few others. The air buzzed with instrument notes and chatter. Lizzy danced to the rhythm, spinning close to Scott with a deliberate sway of her hips.
Scott barely noticed. His mind was elsewhere.
He stood suddenly. "I'll be right back."
He stepped out, hands in his hoodie pocket, casually heading down the corridor.
Back in the lab, Severa blinked suddenly. Her vision blurred. The colors of the chemicals began to swirl oddly. She clutched the table.
"Alex…" she whispered. "I think I need to go to the restroom…"
"Hey—are you okay?"
"I'll be back."
She walked out, unsteady. The hallway spun around her. She stumbled once. Then again.
Before she could collapse, arms caught her.
Scott.
He held her gently, alarmed. "Sevira!"
She was barely conscious. Without hesitation, he lifted her into his arms and rushed her to the school sickbay.
The nurse checked her and said she needed rest. When she opened her eyes, Sevira saw two blurry figures—Alex and Scott—hovering over her bed.
"Are you okay?" Alex asked, gripping her hand.
Scott leaned in. "What happened?"
Sevira blinked. "I… I don't know. Maybe low sugar."
Scott narrowed his eyes, but didn't press. "I'll get her some water," he said, stepping out.
As the door closed, Sevira closed her eyes again.
"Mom… I can feel it. Something's wrong with you. I know you are sick. I'm sorry I can't be there for you."
She didn't say it aloud. Just to herself.
Alex gently stroked her wrist. "Don't pretend to smile when you're not okay."
The next day, Sevira was back at school, looking better.
She walked beside Scott by the lockers.
"Why weren't you at school the day before yesterday?" she asked, casually.
"Summer was sick. I had to take care of her," he said with a shrug.
She raised an eyebrow. "Who's summer?"
Scott grinned. "My sister"
"Oh okay. Thanks for yesterday." She smiled.
"You don't need to thank me, I glad you feel better." He smiled.
She smiled back.
Later that week, Sevira and Alex were in the music room, practicing vocals. Sevira was humming a melody when the music teacher, Mr. Jackson, entered.
"You—what's your name?" he asked.
"Sevira."
"You're not in my class. You should be."
Alex raised her hand. "She's with me."
"Then I want her in my next session. If I don't see her there, you, Alex, will lose marks." He left in a huff.
Sevira blinked. "That man has issues."
Alex shrugged. "Welcome to the music department."
In the next class, Sevira stood on stage as the other students watched curiously. Scott sat in the back row, arms crossed.
Then she sang.
Her voice—pure, powerful, haunting—filled the room like light. Time seemed to freeze.
Scott was stunned. He'd never heard anything so beautiful.
After class, he approached her quietly.
"You…" he began. "You have a voice that can silence a storm."
She looked at him, flustered. "Thanks."
"I just want to stare at you when you sing," he added with a teasing smirk.
She blushed, looking away quickly.
Scott just grinned and walked off like it was nothing.
But Sevira's heart was racing.
It was just after lunch break. The afternoon sun filtered through the classroom windows as the bell rang, signaling the return to lessons. But not everyone was focused on class. Lizzie sat by the window, her legs crossed casually, peeling the wrapper off a strawberry chew. She wasn't in the mood for lectures — not when she'd spotted the new girl.
Emma.
Fresh transfer. Long braids, a confident walk, designer sneakers, and a pair of silver headphones casually tucked around her neck. Rumor had it she was from a wealthy family — not just wealthy, but old money rich. Quiet, poised, and already attracting whispers.
Lizzie narrowed her eyes and chewed slowly.
"Who does she think she is?" she muttered, loud enough for her bestie Kira to hear.
Kira shrugged. "I heard she's in advanced science. Might be smart."
Lizzie rolled her eyes. "She's probably here to make a scene. Let's see how long she lasts."
Without warning, Lizzie crumpled the sweet wrapper and flicked it across the room — and it landed directly on Emma's desk.
Emma looked up sharply, eyebrows arching. She stared at the wrapper, then back at Lizzie.
"Was that an accident, or are you just bored?" Emma asked, her tone calm but cutting.
The class turned silent. A few gasped, sensing a showdown. Kira whispered, "Uh-oh…"
Lizzie stood up slowly, taking her time to stretch. "Oh, it was intentional," she said with a wicked smile. "Just welcoming you."
Emma gave a small laugh, unimpressed. "If that's your version of a welcome, maybe go back to class clowning. You'd do better there."
That did it.
Lizzie reached for the cup of juice she had left over from lunch — a dark berry punch in a clear plastic cup — and before anyone could stop her, she tipped the cup and splashed the contents straight at Emma.
A collective gasp echoed in the classroom.
Emma jumped up, stunned, her cream top soaked and her notebooks ruined. The red juice dripped from her clothes and fingers, but she didn't flinch. Her jaw clenched. Her hands shook.
And then…
"That's enough!" a voice snapped from the doorway.
It was Sevira.
She had walked into the classroom just in time to witness the end of the attack. She marched over, calm but fierce, her protective instincts kicking in.
"You've got issues, Lizzie," she said firmly. "And I suggest you fix them before someone else does."
Lizzie tossed her hair. "Mind your business, new girl."
"I am making it my business," Sevira snapped. "Now back off before you embarrass yourself even more."
Scott and Sky, standing by the hallway lockers, had caught the last part of the altercation. Scott's eyes flicked from the red-stained Emma to Sevira rigid posture. He stepped closer, but stayed quiet — observing.
Sevira , Alex, arrived moments later, having heard the commotion. Alex , always with a towel in her bag (thanks to cheer practices), rushed over and handed it to Emma. Alex gave her a dry sweater she kept for after gym.
"Come on, let's get you cleaned up," Sevira told Emma gently, ignoring the stares from the entire class.
As they left, Lizzie crossed her arms, fuming. She couldn't stand the attention these girls were getting — especially with Scott watching. He hadn't said anything, but his eyes were definitely on them. That bothered her more than anything else.
Later
By the time they entered the cafeteria, Emma was dry and changed, sitting among the group like she'd been there all year. She laughed at a joke Sky cracked, already settling in like family. Sevira has introduced her to the SKS
"So you sing?" Scott asked, curious.
Emma nodded. "Yeah. I was in the academy choir in my last school. I also play piano and a bit of drums."
"Whoa," Kyle said, impressed. "We need more hands in music class."
Sky added, "She can probably replace Kira when she throws one of her diva tantrums."
Everyone laughed — even Emma.
Just then, their music teacher, Mr. Jackson, walked by with a clipboard.
"Emma Anderson, right?" he asked.
She nodded politely.
"Music room, tomorrow, second period. Audition," he said, walking off without another word.
Emma blinked. "Did I just get drafted?"
"You just got snatched," Sky said with a grin.
Sevira, still seated next to Emma, smiled. "Welcome to MY High. Where drama finds you — whether you like it or not."
By the time they got home, the sun had begun to set, painting the sky in streaks of gold and deep blue. The street was quiet except for the chirping of birds and the distant sounds of children playing. As the front gate creaked open, the scent of fried peppers and thyme wafted from the kitchen window.
"Grandma!" Sevira called out as she stepped into the house, her backpack sliding off her shoulder.
Their grandma, a tall, elegant woman with silver-gray locs wrapped into a bun, stepped out from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a floral apron.
"My babies!" she said with a wide smile.
Alex ran into her arms, followed by Sevira.
"We missed you," Sevira said.
"Missed me? I was only gone for a few hours," Grandma chuckled. "How was school today?"
They all looked at each other, bursting into a chaotic recap of the day's drama.
"You won't believe it, Grandma," Alex said excitedly. "Lizzie's drama again—she poured juice on a new girl!"
"She what?" Grandma's eyes widened.
"Hmm. That one needs discipline. Back in my day, one look from the head girl and she'd behave for weeks," Grandma muttered, shaking her head. "So what did you do after that?"
Sevira told her more about their day.
"That's my girl," Grandma smiled, touching her cheek.
Just then, the front door opened and in walked Courtney, still in her work uniform — a navy-blue pantsuit, heels clicking gently on the tiled floor. She looked exhausted but lit up the moment she saw the girls crowded in the living room.
"How you guys doing."
"Fine." They chorused
"How was work?" Her mother in-law asked.
"Went quite well but stressful." She smiled dropping her bag.
"We were just telling Grandma about our day." Alex said.
"I wouldn't miss the gossip for anything," Courtney said, sitting with them and grabbing a piece of chin-chin from the table. "I need to stay in the loop. I may be your mom, but I'm not about to let my teenage daughter have a movie-worthy life without me watching every scene."
They all laughed.
The mood settled into something warm and comforting — like a soft blanket after a long day. But then Grandma stood up and clapped her hands softly.
"Well, it's almost time. I'll be heading back to Los Angeles tomorrow morning."
"Nooo," Alex groaned. "Can't you stay the weekend?"
"I wish I could," Grandma said, smoothing Alex's hair. "But you know your Grandpa — he's already calling me five times a day."
"We should help her pack later," Sevira suggested.
"After dinner," Courtney said. "Come help me in the kitchen. We're making Grandma's favorite.
The girls squealed and rushed to the kitchen.
Just as they finished setting the table and arranging plates, the front door creaked open again.
"Daddy's home!" Alex called.
Mr. Mark, tall and kind-eyed, stepped in, carrying his briefcase and car keys.
"Right timing, Dad!" Sevira said, hugging him. "Dinner just got ready."
"Perfect. I could smell the soup from outside," he chuckled, kissing Courtney's forehead and giving Grandma a hug. "My queens at work again."
Soon, they all gathered around the dining table, bowls steaming, the air filled with delicious aromas. Plates clinked. Conversations flowed.
As they ate, the family joked, talked about school, shared memories, and teased each other until their stomachs were full — not just from food, but from warmth. Grandma shared one of her old choir stories that made even Courtney laugh till she snorted.
Later That Night
After clearing the table and saying goodnight to Grandma and their parents, the girls headed upstairs. Sevira and Alex changed into their pajamas, brushed their teeth, and climbed into their beds. The soft hum of the radio filled the room — an old-school playlist Grandma had turned on earlier still playing faintly.
Alex turned toward Sevira, "Today was kind of crazy, right?"
"Yeah, it was good night. Sleep well." Sevira said going to her room to sleep.
She lay quietly for a moment, then whispered
"I wonder what's happening in Kerion tonight…"