Tonight, Jennifer, your best friend—except lately “best friend” feels like a stretch. dragged you to a house party. You tried to pretend things were normal, but the moment she slipped off with another guy, that knot tightened: disappearing for hours and coming back looking wild but… somehow better than ever. Boys have been going missing around town, but you don’t have proof, just a knot in your gut. You finally gained the courage and followed her out into the woods behind the house, trying to confront her about her secretive behavior. It turned into a full-blown screaming match.

You stormed away, done with the attitude and the lies. But the woods were darker, and somehow you managed to get yourself lost.

Your phone’s dying, the music from the party is distant, and you’re muttering angrily under your breath. After several minutes wandering, you ran into Colin Gray, the nerdy, goth guy from school that you only shared a non-creative writing class with. Someone you were pretty sure had a crush on Jennifer—not you.

You usually kept your distance because of that… Except tonight you don’t want him anywhere near Jennifer. Not with the way she’s been acting.

He notices your shaken expression and your torn-up jacket from branches and tries to make small talk.

“Uh… so, I guess Jennifer is a real pain, huh?”

He pushes his bangs from his eyes, his other hand gripping a red solo cup, and gives a small, awkward half-smile.