𝑰𝒄𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑭𝒊𝒓𝒆

𝑨𝒓𝒊𝒂

❄️

𝒜 fter three years, the dream is finally a reality."

I will change my current university to study the remaining two years at NextEra University.

I whispered the words into the silence of my room, letting them hang in the air like a vow.

As a fourth-year Music and Vocal Performance major, securing a full scholarship to NextEra University—a playground for the elite, the talented, and the untouchable—felt like winning a war I’d been fighting in secret. The nerves were a constant, humming vibration under my skin, but the thought of my inner circle waiting for me on the other side was the only thing keeping the panic at bay.

The morning sun arrived with a sense of inevitability. I dressed with precision, every layer of my outfit a piece of armor for the battle ahead. When I finally descended the stairs, the scent of fresh coffee and my mother’s quiet pride met me halfway.

She looked at me like I was already center-stage. "You look like a star, baby," she said, her voice thick with the kind of unconditional love that

made my throat tighten.

“Thanks Mommy".I said shyly.I had barely touched my breakfast when a

A sharp, demanding rhythm echoed against the front door. I didn't need to

check to know who was on the other side.

I swung the door open, and the world got a lot louder.

Daniella didn't walk into a room; she colonized it. My cousin and best friend had a vision of controlled chaos—bold style, sharp edges, green eyes and a blonde fringe that looked like it belonged on a magazine cover. Right behind her was Sydney, the anchor to Daniella’s storm. With her vintage aesthetic and perfect,dark eyes,classic brown curls, she looked like she’d stepped out of a high-end jazz club from the fifties.

They didn't wait for a greeting. They didn't ask for permission. They simply moved past me, their presence filling every corner of the house.

"Charlotte! Tell your daughter to move it," Daniella shouted toward the kitchen, already helping herself to the energy of the room. "We have an empire to build, and we’re already five minutes behind schedule."

"Im your Aunt BITCH not Charlotte," my mother said, laughing as she handed over a final travel mug of coffee. "Your mother is right—you talk at a hundred miles per hour. Try to be a little more like Sydney, just for this morning? A bit of calm before the storm?"

Daniella just grinned, tossing her blonde hair over her shoulder. "Calm isn't in my vocabulary today, Charlotte. But I'll try to keep the windows from shattering."

My mother’s expression turned serious for a moment as she looked at both of them. "In all seriousness, look after Ari.. It’s a big pond, and there are a lot of sharks. Keep her grounded."

"With our lives Auntie," Sydney promised, her voice soft but steady.

We finally made our move toward the driveway. Before Sydney could even reach for her door, Daniella snatched the keys right out of her hand with a

mischievous glint in her eyes. "I’m driving. Sydney’s car has the best sound

system, and this vibe requires a very specific playlist that only I can

manage.

Sydney sighed, though she was smiling as she hopped into the passenger seat. "Just don't get us a speeding ticket before we enjoy our first day."

The engine roared to life, and within seconds, a heavy bass line was pulsing through the seats. It was the kind of music that made you feel like the protagonist of a high-stakes movie. The city blurred past the windows as we talked over the music, our voices fueled by pure, unfiltered excitement. We debated which professors to avoid and which practice rooms had the best lighting for TikToks, the energy in the car rising with every mile.

By the time the massive, wrought-iron gates of NextEra University appeared in the distance, the laughter in the car had shifted into a focused, electric silence.

"Okay, listen to me," Daniella said, her voice dropping into that protective 'big sister' tone as we stepped out onto the pristine asphalt of the campus. She looked around the bustling courtyard with the eyes of someone who owned the place. "I’ve spent five years in the Drawing Department, Ari. I know every corner of this school. The Music Wing is through those glass doors and to the left. It’s the heart of the campus—you can't miss the sound of the grand pianos."

"And I’m just across the way in the Theater Block," Sydney added, smoothing out her skirt. As a fifth-year Acting major, she had an effortless poise that made her look like she was constantly under a

spotlight. "If the drama gets too much in the vocal studios, you know where to find me. Fifth-year seniors have the best lounge, and you’re always welcome."

They both turned to me, their expressions softening for a moment. The excitement was still there, but so was the weight of the moment. We were finally here.

"You’ve got this," Daniella said, giving my shoulder a firm, encouraging squeeze. "Go show them that you didn't just come here to study—you came here to take the lead. We’ll be at our own orientations, but we’re only a text away."

"Walk in like you already own the stage, Ari," Sydney whispered with a wink.

With one last wave, they turned toward the senior blocks, heading for their respective lines. I watched them go—Daniella with her confident, rhythmic stride and Sydney with her timeless elegance. They disappeared into the crowd of elite students, leaving me standing alone in front of the massive arched entrance of the Music Wing.

I took a deep breath, clutching the straps of my bag until my knuckles turned white. The silence around me felt heavy, charged with the dreams of everyone who had ever walked through these doors. For the first time in three years, I wasn't looking at Next Era from the outside.

I stepped forward, the cool air of the lobby hitting my face. This was it. My era had officially begun.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't see him until it was too late. I slammed into a solid chest, the impact sending my bag flying across the polished floor. Everything spilled out—my notebooks, my pens, my entire

life scattered on the marble.

"I’m so sorry," I muttered, quickly dropping to my knees to gather my things. I didn't even look up at first.

"Don't tell me you're sorry," a cold, arrogant voice snapped.

I paused, my hand resting on my bag. I looked up and saw a pair of ocean eyes.A long, curly black hair that fell perfectly around his face, and he was dressed head-to-toe in black, looking like a dark omen in the middle of the bright lobby.

"Since when did they start letting trash like you into this school?You think you can just bump into me and walk away like some pathetic ghost?" he sneered, his lip curling in disgust.

I stood up, slinging my bag over my shoulder, and looked him dead in the eye. "It’s my second time saying sorry today, and I really don’t want to ruin my day. So, excuse me."

Before I could take a second step, a rough hand gripped my arm, jerking me back with a force that made my shoulder ache.

"I wasn't finished talking to you ." he hissed, his face inches from mine, his breath cold against my skin. " Bitch! Are you—"

I froze. The word bitch echoed in my head, fueling a sudden, white-hot spark of rage. He was leaning in, trying to intimidate me, confident that I would shrink under his gaze.

I pulled back and delivered a swift, brutal kick right between his legs.

The sound of his breath leaving his lungs was the only thing I heard in the sudden silence of the lobby. He buckled instantly, his hands flying down as he collapsed to the floor in agony. I leaned over him, my voice a dangerous whisper. "That’s the last time you ever call me that word."

As I stood up to walk away, the silence was shattered. He started screaming, his voice raw with pain and fury. A string of insults followed me—vicious, ugly words that echoed off the marble walls. He was cursing,shouting that I would regret the day I was born, his face twisted in a mask of pure rage as he writhed on the floor.

I didn't stay to listen to the rest of his tantrum. I left him there, still yelling and humiliated, and started walking toward the Music Block. My heart was hammering against my ribs, but my head was held high. Behind me, the whispers started like a wildfire.

"Is she insane? She has no idea what’s coming for her," someone muttered.

"Did she seriously just take down James Asher?" another voice whispered in disbelief.

I reached the safety of my block, leaning against the door as I finally let out a breath. James Asher. I didn't know who he was, but I knew one thing for certain.

"Nice going, Aria," I whispered to myself, my hands still shaking. "First day, and you've already made an enemy of the school's golden boy. You are in so much trouble.