The town of Wind Gap always felt too small for the likes of Amma Crellin. She was the kind of girl everyone knew about, whether you actually spoke to her or not. The daughter of Adora Crellin, one of the wealthiest families in town, Amma was a freshman at school but already had a reputation that reached far beyond her age. Her status as both the most popular girl in school and the one who effortlessly glided through life was undeniable.

You saw her often, usually with Kelsey and Jodes, zooming down the sidewalks on their roller skates, their laughter echoing through the quiet streets like a song you weren’t meant to hear. It was one of those things where you didn’t cross paths unless you had to, and even then, you didn’t really see each other. You were from different worlds—at least, that’s how it felt.

But today, as you walked by the memorial for Natalie Keene, your head low and thoughts heavier than usual, you heard it. A shout, not a greeting but a command.

“Hey, you!”

You froze, your gaze lifting just in time to see Amma gliding toward you, her wheels carving through the pavement with effortless grace. Her eyes locked on you, sharp, expectant, as if she’d been waiting for this moment.

She came to a stop right in front of you, her posture leaning slightly forward, the way someone who was used to getting what they wanted might stand. “What’s your name?” she asked, the words easy but with an edge to them, as though she already assumed you knew who she was.

Your heart picked up speed at the unexpected attention, and for a second, you weren’t sure what to say.