Chapter 4

Chapter 1

The late afternoon sun streamed through Nevaeh’s bedroom window, casting golden rectangles across her hardwood floor.

Nevaeh’s bedroom smelled faintly like vanilla and coconut from the candle burning on her nightstand.

The room was quiet except for the music playing softly from her speaker.

Amanni was laying across Nevaeh’s bed like she paid rent there, scrolling through TikTok while occasionally laughing at something on her phone.

Meanwhile, Nevaeh was standing in front of her closet having what could only be described as a crisis.

“No.”

She tossed a shirt onto her chair.

“No.”

Another one followed.

“Absolutely not.”

A third.

Amanni looked up.

“You’ve rejected seventeen shirts.”

“I have not.”

“You have.”

Nevaeh glanced at the growing pile.

“…Okay maybe.”

Amanni rolled onto her stomach.

“What are we even getting dressed for?”

Before Nevaeh could answer, her phone started ringing.

Kai.

Amanni immediately grinned.

“Speak of the devil.”

Nevaeh answered.

“What?”

“Wow.”

Kai sounded offended.

“Hello to you too.”

“What do you want?”

“I can’t call my favorite sister?”

“You literally only call me when you need something.”

“That’s not true.”

“It is.”

“It absolutely is.”

Nevaeh snorted.

Kai laughed.

Then she heard music in the background.

Voices.

Someone yelling.

Probably James.

“What’s going on over there?”

“I’m setting up.”

“For?”

“The barbecue.”

Nevaeh paused.

“What barbecue?”

“The one I’m having tonight.”

“What barbecue?”

“The barbecue I’m having tonight.”

“You never mentioned a barbecue.”

“I literally texted you yesterday.”

Nevaeh checked her messages.

He had.

She ignored it.

“Oh.”

“Exactly.”

Kai sighed dramatically.

“Anyway, invite your friends.”

“Why?”

“Because they’re fun.”

“That’s debatable.”

“I already invited some people.”

Nevaeh narrowed her eyes.

“What people?”

Kai immediately became suspiciously quiet.

“People.”

“Kai.”

“People.”

“Kai.”

“…Daniela’s coming.”

Nevaeh immediately closed her eyes.

Of course she was.

Of course.

Amanni didn’t even need to ask.

The second she saw Nevaeh’s expression, she started laughing.

“Oh my God.”

Nevaeh pointed at the phone.

“Don’t.”

“Oh she’s coming, isn’t she?”

“Unfortunately.”

Amanni nearly fell off the bed laughing.

Kai’s voice came through the speaker.

“I can hear you both.”

“Good.”

“You guys are ridiculous.”

“No, Daniela is ridiculous.”

Kai groaned.

“Please try being civil tonight.”

“No promises.”

“Nevaeh.”

“Kai.”

“I’m serious.”

“So am I.”

Kai sighed.

“You’ll be there at seven?”

“Yeah.”

“Good.”

The call ended.

Nevaeh immediately tossed her phone onto the dresser.

Amanni sat up.

“So.”

“So.”

“Daniela.”

Nevaeh groaned.

“Can we not?”

Amanni ignored her.

“You know, I still don’t understand why you hate her.”

“I don’t hate her.”

“You literally call her The Problem.”

“Because she is.”

Amanni laughed.

Nevaeh turned back toward her closet.

She wasn’t in the mood.

Lately everything felt…

Different.

Not bad.

Just different.

Like she was stuck somewhere between the person she’d always been and the person she wanted to become.

For years she’d hidden behind oversized shirts.

Baggy clothes.

Dark colors.

Anything that helped her blend into the background.

It was easier that way.

Safer.

No attention.

No expectations.

No questions.

But recently she’d started wondering why she always made herself invisible.

Why she spent so much time trying not to be noticed.

Maybe she was tired of it.

Maybe she was tired of being the quiet girl in the corner.

Maybe she wanted something to change.

Even if it was something small.

Her eyes landed on a top hanging near the back of her closet.

She stared.

Amanni noticed immediately.

“Oh.”

Nevaeh looked away.

“No.”

“Oh.”

“No.”

Amanni sat straight up.

“OH.”

Nevaeh groaned.

“It’s not a big deal.”

“That top has been hanging in your closet for like a year.”

“So?”

“You’ve never worn it.”

“So?”

“You bought it and immediately got scared.”

“I did not get scared.”

“You absolutely got scared.”

Nevaeh looked at the top again.

It wasn’t even that revealing.

Just more fitted than what she usually wore.

A simple off-shoulder top.

Something normal.

Something most people wouldn’t think twice about.

But for Nevaeh?

It felt huge.

Amanni climbed off the bed.

“Wear it.”

“No.”

“Wear it.”

“No.”

“Nevaeh.”

“I’m not wearing it.”

Amanni crossed her arms.

“You want to know what your problem is?”

“I have several.”

“You spend so much time worrying about what people think.”

Nevaeh looked down.

Because unfortunately…

Amanni was right.

She did.

A lot.

“What if it looks bad?”

“It won’t.”

“What if I hate it?”

“Then change.”

“What if people stare?”

Amanni raised an eyebrow.

“And?”

Nevaeh opened her mouth.

Then closed it.

Because she didn’t have an answer.

Amanni softened.

“Neve.”

Nevaeh looked up.

“You deserve to feel pretty too.”

The words hit harder than expected.

Because nobody ever said things like that.

Not to her.

Not often.

For a moment the room was quiet.

Then Amanni shoved the shirt into her arms.

“Wear it.”

Nevaeh laughed despite herself.

“You’re annoying.”

“I know.”

Five minutes later she stood in front of the mirror.

And froze.

Because for the first time in a long time…

She actually liked what she saw.

The top fit perfectly.

Her hair fell over her shoulders.

The light makeup she’d put on made her eyes stand out.

She looked older.

More confident.

More like the version of herself she’d been too scared to become.

Amanni stared.

Then pointed.

“There she is.”

Nevaeh rolled her eyes.

But a smile tugged at her lips.

Maybe tonight wouldn’t be so bad.

Unfortunately, she immediately remembered Daniela would be there.

And just like that—

The optimism disappeared.

“Never mind.”

Amanni laughed.

“One look at Daniela and you’re going to be miserable again.”

“Correct.”

Little did Nevaeh know that across town, Daniela was about to have a very different reaction when she saw her.

The barbecue was already in full swing by the time Nevaeh gave up trying to avoid it.

String lights hung across Kai’s backyard, casting a warm glow over everything as the sun slowly disappeared behind the houses.

Music played from a speaker somewhere near the patio.

James was laughing so hard he nearly choked on his drink.

Nolan was flirting with Mia.

Again.

Mateo was trying—and failing—to stop him.

And Mia looked seconds away from throwing something at all of them.

Basically, a normal night.

Nevaeh stepped through the side gate with Amanni beside her.

Immediately, Kai spotted them.

“There you are!”

Nevaeh barely had time to react before Kai wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

“You’re late.”

“We’re three minutes late.”

“That’s late.”

“No it isn’t.”

Kai grinned.

“It is to me.”

Amanni pointed toward the grill.

“Who’s cooking?”

“Kai.”

“Oh.”

Kai frowned.

“What does that mean?”

“It means I’m praying for everyone.”

James nearly dropped his drink laughing.

“She’s got a point.”

“Traitor.”

“You burned hotdogs last time.”

“They were slightly overcooked.”

“They were black.”

Kai looked offended.

Nevaeh shook her head and headed toward the folding table near the patio.

She immediately stopped.

The plates were crooked.

The cups were uneven.

The napkins looked like they’d been thrown from across the yard.

“What happened here?”

Mia glanced over.

“The guys set it up.”

Nevaeh stared.

That explained everything.

Without a word, she started fixing it.

Rearranging the plates.

Straightening the cups.

Moving the condiments into actual rows.

Behind her, Nolan laughed.

“There she goes.”

“There who goes?” James asked.

“The mom friend.”

Nevaeh didn’t even look up.

“If I leave this table alone, somebody’s going to put ketchup next to the brownies.”

James slowly lowered the ketchup bottle he was holding.

Everyone burst out laughing.

“See?” Nevaeh pointed.

“Exactly my point.”

Mia smirked from her seat.

“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.”

Nevaeh glanced over.

Mia lifted her drink.

“If civilization collapses, I’m following you.”

Nevaeh laughed.

“Why?”

“Because somehow you’re the only competent person here.”

James gasped dramatically.

“I am competent.”

“You got locked inside a bathroom.”

“One time.”

“You were in there for forty minutes.”

“The lock was weird.”

“It said pull.”

The entire group lost it.

Even Mateo was laughing.

James looked personally attacked.

“This is why I have trust issues.”

“No,” Mia said.

“You’re why you have trust issues.”

Another round of laughter erupted.

For a while, everything felt easy.

Comfortable.

Nevaeh found herself smiling more than usual.

Talking.

Laughing.

Actually enjoying herself.

Which was strange.

Because usually she spent parties counting the minutes until she could leave.

Maybe Amanni had been right.

Maybe she needed to stop hiding so much.

Maybe—

The gate opened.

And everything changed.

Nolan noticed first.

His grin immediately widened.

“Oh.”

Mateo looked over.

“Oh.”

James looked over.

“Oh no.”

Nevaeh didn’t need to turn around.

She already knew.

Daniela.

Of course.

The universe simply couldn’t let her have one peaceful evening.

She sighed before finally looking.

And then—

Nothing.

Well.

Not exactly nothing.

Daniela looked the same.

Dark curly hair.

Confident smile.

That annoying amount of charisma she seemed to carry everywhere.

The kind that made strangers like her within five minutes.

Nevaeh rolled her eyes and returned to fixing the table.

Problem solved.

At least on her end.

Unfortunately…

Daniela wasn’t having nearly as easy a time.

The second she walked into the backyard, her eyes landed on Nevaeh.

And stayed there.

For a second.

Then another.

Then another.

Daniela forgot what she was about to say.

Which was concerning.

Because Daniela never forgot what she was about to say.

Ever.

Something felt…

Wrong.

No.

Not wrong.

Different.

Nevaeh was standing by the table, adjusting something.

Laughing at whatever Mia had just said.

The string lights cast a soft glow across her face.

Her hair fell over one shoulder.

And—

Wait.

Daniela blinked.

What?

Her stomach suddenly did something weird.

A strange little flip.

Like she’d missed a step going down stairs.

The heat in the evening air felt stronger.

Or maybe that wasn’t the air.

Maybe that was her.

What the hell?

Daniela looked away immediately.

Then looked back.

Because apparently her brain had stopped functioning.

Nevaeh wasn’t even doing anything.

She was literally standing there.

Talking.

Existing.

That was it.

So why—

Why was Daniela suddenly aware of every little detail?

The way Nevaeh laughed.

The way she tucked her hair behind her ear.

The way she smiled when she thought nobody was looking.

Daniela’s heart skipped.

Actually skipped.

And that was ridiculous.

Absolutely ridiculous.

A horrifying possibility crossed her mind.

No.

Nope.

Not happening.

Daniela immediately shoved the thought away.

She was probably tired.

That was it.

Just tired.

Maybe dehydrated.

Maybe hungry.

Maybe the sun had melted her brain.

Any explanation was acceptable.

Any explanation except the obvious one.

Because the obvious one was impossible.

Nevaeh finally looked up.

Their eyes met.

And just like that—

The familiar irritation returned.

Nevaeh raised an eyebrow.

Daniela rolled her eyes.

There she is.

The annoyance.

The attitude.

The human migraine.

Everything was normal again.

Right?

Right.

Daniela exhaled.

Definitely normal.

Completely normal.

Totally normal.

Then Nevaeh laughed at something James said.

And Daniela’s stomach flipped again.

Oh.

This was a problem.

A very, very big problem.

Because she could brush away the thought.

She could ignore it.

Pretend it didn’t exist.

Pretend her pulse hadn’t sped up.

Pretend her cheeks hadn’t suddenly felt warm.

Pretend she wasn’t noticing things she had never noticed before.

But her body wasn’t cooperating.

And deep down, Daniela knew one thing for certain.

Something had changed tonight.

She just wasn’t ready to figure out what.

For the next twenty minutes, Daniela did everything in her power to avoid looking at Nevaeh.

Which would have been much easier if Nevaeh would stop appearing everywhere.

Every time Daniela turned around—

There she was.

Talking to Amanni.

Laughing with Mateo.

Arguing with Mia over something stupid.

Standing by the drinks table.

Walking across the yard.

Existing.

Daniela hated it.

Because now that she’d noticed her, it was impossible to un-notice her.

“Earth to Daniela.”

A hand waved in front of her face.

Daniela blinked.

“Huh?”

Kai stared.

“Dude.”

“What?”

“I just asked you a question.”

“Oh.”

“You weren’t listening.”

Daniela immediately grabbed a drink.

“I was.”

“You weren’t.”

“I was.”

“You definitely weren’t.”

James appeared beside them.

“She’s buffering.”

“I am not buffering.”

“You had the exact facial expression of a laptop trying to update.”

Kai laughed.

Daniela rolled her eyes.

Across the yard, Nevaeh glanced over.

Their eyes met.

Again.

And once again Daniela felt that stupid little twist in her stomach.

Nope.

Still hated that.

Nevaeh looked away first.

Good.

Perfect.

Wonderful.

Everything was fine.

Daniela took a long sip of her drink.

Then accidentally choked.

Because Nolan had suddenly appeared beside Nevaeh.

And Nolan was flirting.

Of course he was.

That boy would flirt with a brick wall if it smiled at him.

Nevaeh looked unimpressed.

Nolan kept talking anyway.

Daniela watched him gesture dramatically.

Watched Nevaeh roll her eyes.

Watched Nolan make her laugh.

And then—

Wait.

Why was she watching?

Daniela immediately looked away.

Nope.

Not her business.

Didn’t care.

Absolutely did not care.

“You’re staring.”

Daniela nearly jumped.

Mateo stood beside her.

Looking suspiciously amused.

“I’m not staring.”

Mateo nodded slowly.

“Sure.”

“I wasn’t.”

“Okay.”

“I wasn’t.”

“Whatever helps you sleep at night.”

Daniela narrowed her eyes.

“I hate you.”

“Love you too.”

Then Mateo walked away before she could throw something at him.

Meanwhile—

Nevaeh was having her own problems.

Mainly because Daniela kept looking at her.

At first she’d thought she imagined it.

Then it happened again.

And again.

And again.

Every time she looked up—

Daniela’s eyes were already there.

Watching.

Nevaeh frowned.

Weird.

Very weird.

Because Daniela normally acted like looking at her caused physical pain.

Yet somehow tonight…

Something felt different.

Amanni noticed immediately.

Because of course she did.

“You keep looking over there.”

Nevaeh nearly dropped her drink.

“No, I don’t.”

Amanni grinned.

“You just did.”

“No.”

“You literally just did it again.”

Nevaeh looked away from Daniela so fast she almost gave herself whiplash.

Amanni started laughing.

“Oh my God.”

“What?”

“You’re both weird.”

Nevaeh frowned.

“What does that mean?”

Amanni nodded toward the opposite side of the yard.

Daniela immediately looked away.

Suspiciously fast.

Nevaeh blinked.

“…What was that?”

“Exactly.”

Nevaeh watched Daniela disappear into the house.

Something felt off.

And she didn’t like it.

Not because it was bad.

Because she couldn’t figure it out.

She hated not understanding things.

Daniela was easy to understand.

Annoying.

Loud.

Overconfident.

Obnoxious.

Simple.

Except tonight she wasn’t acting simple.

Tonight she was acting…

Nervous?

No.

Impossible.

Daniela wasn’t nervous around anyone.

Especially not Nevaeh.

“You’re thinking too hard.”

Amanni bumped her shoulder.

Nevaeh sighed.

“Something’s weird.”

“Maybe.”

“No, definitely.”

Amanni smirked.

“Maybe she’s finally realized you’re pretty.”

Nevaeh nearly inhaled her drink.

“What?”

Amanni burst out laughing.

The heat that rushed into Nevaeh’s face annoyed her immediately.

“Shut up.”

“Oh my God.”

“Amanni.”

“YOU BLUSHED.”

“I DID NOT.”

“You absolutely did.”

“I hate you.”

“No you don’t.”

Unfortunately…

Nevaeh couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Not because she liked Daniela.

Obviously not.

That would be insane.

She just wanted answers.

That was all.

Meanwhile inside the house—

Daniela stood in front of the kitchen sink.

Trying to get herself together.

This was ridiculous.

Actually ridiculous.

She’d known Nevaeh for years.

Years.

So why did tonight feel different?

Why was she suddenly noticing things she’d never noticed before?

The way Nevaeh smiled.

The sound of her laugh.

The confidence she’d seemed to gain overnight.

None of it made sense.

Daniela splashed cold water onto her face.

Then looked up into the mirror.

“Get it together.”

The mirror offered no advice.

Rude.

She took a deep breath.

One more.

Then headed back outside.

She could handle this.

It was Nevaeh.

Just Nevaeh.

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

Simple.

Easy.

Normal.

The second she stepped onto the patio, Nevaeh looked up.

And smiled.

Not at Daniela.

At something Kai had said.

But Daniela saw it anyway.

And immediately forgot every speech she’d just given herself.

Oh.

She was screwed.

By the time everyone sat down to eat, the sky had turned a deep shade of blue.

The string lights overhead glowed warmly, casting soft shadows across the backyard.

For once, everybody was actually seated.

Which was a miracle.

The long folding table was crowded with food, drinks, and way too many people talking over each other.

James was telling a story nobody believed.

Mateo was fact-checking him.

Mia was calling him a liar.

And Kai was laughing so hard he nearly dropped his burger.

“That’s not what happened.”

James pointed dramatically.

“It absolutely happened.”

“It didn’t.”

“It did.”

“You got stuck in a shopping cart.”

“Allegedly.”

“You sent us pictures.”

“Those could’ve been edited.”

Mia stared at him.

“You’re so unbelievably stupid.”

“Thank you.”

“That wasn’t a compliment.”

James smiled.

“I choose to believe it was.”

Laughter erupted around the table.

Nevaeh sat between Amanni and Mia, picking at her food while listening to the chaos around her.

Across from her sat Daniela.

Unfortunately.

Not that Nevaeh cared.

Obviously.

She definitely wasn’t noticing how many times Daniela laughed.

Or how her eyes crinkled when she found something genuinely funny.

Or—

Nope.

Not doing that.

Meanwhile, Daniela was trying very hard to focus on literally anything else.

It wasn’t working.

At all.

Then Nolan opened his mouth.

And immediately made everything worse.

“Daniela.”

Daniela looked up.

Nolan was smiling.

That smile.

The one that meant trouble.

“Oh no.”

“What?”

“I have a question.”

“That’s already concerning.”

Nolan placed a hand over his heart.

“Wound me why don’t you.”

Mateo groaned.

James groaned.

Mia groaned.

Everyone groaned.

Nolan ignored them.

“If you had to rate me from one to ten—”

“Oh my God.”

“—what would I be?”

Daniela laughed.

“A two.”

The table erupted.

Nolan looked horrified.

“A TWO?”

“Maybe a one.”

“That’s evil.”

“You asked.”

“I expected dishonesty.”

“You came to the wrong person.”

James nearly fell out of his chair laughing.

Nolan pointed accusingly.

“Fine.”

He leaned back dramatically.

“You’re only saying that because you’re trying to hide your feelings.”

Daniela nearly choked on her drink.

“My what?”

“Your feelings.”

“What feelings?”

“The overwhelming attraction.”

Mia gagged.

Mateo threw a napkin at him.

James looked ready to die laughing.

Nolan remained completely serious.

“Don’t fight it.”

“I’m fighting it.”

“I can see it in your eyes.”

“You need glasses.”

“You think I’m handsome.”

Daniela buried her face in her hands.

Across the table, Nevaeh rolled her eyes.

Normally she would’ve ignored this.

Nolan flirted with everyone.

Mailboxes.

Trees.

Random strangers.

It wasn’t unusual.

But for some reason tonight…

Tonight it was annoying.

Really annoying.

“Shut up, Nolan.”

The words slipped out before she could stop them.

The table immediately went quiet.

Everyone looked at her.

Nevaeh froze.

Oh.

Wonderful.

Now she had everyone’s attention.

Exactly what she’d always wanted.

Nothing but silence for a second.

Then Nolan blinked.

“What?”

“You heard me.”

Nolan looked genuinely offended.

“I’m being charming.”

“No.”

“I am.”

“No.”

“I absolutely am.”

“You sound like a rejected dating app.”

James immediately lost it.

Mateo nearly spit out his drink.

Even Mia laughed.

Nolan pointed at Nevaeh.

“That was personal.”

“It was accurate.”

Daniela stared.

Not because of the joke.

The joke was funny.

But because Nevaeh had jumped in.

Nevaeh never jumped into conversations like that.

Especially not when it involved Daniela.

Usually she ignored everything.

Stayed quiet.

Stayed out of it.

But this time she’d spoken up.

Immediately.

Without hesitation.

And Daniela couldn’t stop wondering—

Why?

The thought settled in her chest.

Dangerous.

Impossible.

Yet impossible to ignore.

Across the table, Nevaeh was suddenly very interested in her plate.

Because now that she’d actually spoken…

She wasn’t entirely sure why she’d done it.

Nolan annoyed her.

Sure.

But he’d annoyed her before.

So why had tonight been different?

Why had she felt this weird irritation every time he’d leaned toward Daniela?

Why had she wanted him to stop?

It made no sense.

Absolutely none.

Amanni slowly turned toward her.

A grin spreading across her face.

Uh oh.

Nevaeh knew that grin.

It was the grin Amanni got when she noticed something.

And unfortunately…

Amanni noticed everything.

“What?”

Amanni’s smile widened.

“Nothing.”

“Amanni.”

“Nothing.”

“Amanni.”

“Oh this is interesting.”

Nevaeh groaned.

Beside her, Mia looked between them.

Then toward Daniela.

Then back to Nevaeh.

Her eyes narrowed.

“Oh.”

Nevaeh immediately pointed.

“No.”

Mia smirked.

“Oh.”

“No.”

Mia took a sip of her drink.

“This barbecue just got way more entertaining.”

Across the table, Daniela felt her cheeks grow warm.

Not because of Nolan.

For once.

But because every time she accidentally looked at Nevaeh—

Nevaeh seemed to be looking back.

And suddenly the summer air felt a lot hotter than it had an hour ago.