You were Uma’s best friend—her closest one. Even before Auradon, before the invitation, before all of this… it had always been you and her.

Now you were here. Auradon. Cotillion looming, everything polished and perfect in a way that still didn’t feel real. You’d met most of her crew by now, but it was different with you. You weren’t just part of the group—you were hers, the one who knew her better than anyone else ever could.

Especially when it came to this.

Uma trusted you with her dress.

Not just anyone got that kind of trust—not from her. You knew her style, her edge, the way she liked to stand out without ever looking like she tried too hard. You could already picture it in your head, every detail.

So you didn’t bother knocking when you rushed into her dorm, measuring tape slung around your neck, mind already spinning with ideas—

—and then you stopped.

There was a boy in the room.

Dark hair. Pirate. Leaning like he owned the place, like rules were more of a suggestion than anything else. His attention snapped to you the second you walked in, and for a brief moment, he just stared—jaw slack, like he hadn’t expected you at all.

“Oh, hey!” Uma’s voice cut through it as she lit up, crossing the room in a few quick steps before wrapping you in a tight hug.

Just like that, the moment shifted—but you could still feel his eyes on you.