Brysen's POV

The door creaked closed behind her, and the room fell into a strange silence, the kind that only comes when the weight of the world presses on your chest. 'Monday, Brysen, it's your race to survive.' The words echoed in my head, but they didn't provide comfort. Instead, they reminded me of the only thing that truly mattered now: survival. And to survive, I had to keep moving forward-keep fighting.

Today, I was supposed to race for the first time since... well, since everything changed. It felt like a lifetime ago when I could actually think about racing without it being a joke, but now it was all I had left. Marquis and Cody, my two closest friends, had always been the ones to bring some semblance of joy into my life. They were rebels, sure, but in their own chaotic way, they made me feel something-anything-other than numb. I hated how much I relied on them, but at the same time, I couldn't deny it. They were the brothers I'd never had, the ones I needed more than I cared to admit.

I wiggled my toes, testing if they still worked. I didn't even know why I bothered-of course, they were working. I was fine. I had to be.

My eyes drifted around the room, aimlessly wandering until something caught my attention: Amanda's bag. I couldn't believe it. For the third time now, she'd left something behind. First, it was her black hair tie that she always used to keep her hair out of her face, then another one, and now this-her bag. It was like she couldn't help but leave a piece of herself in my room, even when she didn't mean to.

Should I go after her stuff? What if someone noticed me sneaking around? The thought was enough to make me freeze for a second, but before I could make a decision, the door opened.

Keisha walked in, her hair in a messy ponytail and those big hoop earrings that always made her look like she belonged in another era. I couldn't help but smirk as she entered, her style loud and unmistakable. She was the last person I expected to find here. "Good morning, Mr. Coleman," she greeted with a playful tone.

I raised an eyebrow, the hint of a grin still playing at the edges of my lips. "I see you're rocking that disco vibe today."

She winked at me. "You like it? Had a good night out, you know."

"How was your date last night?" I asked, even though I'd already heard all about it. She'd practically forced me to listen when she came in this morning.

"It was a night at the disco with some guy I met on Tinder," she replied casually, as if it were no big deal. "But yeah, you can call it a date if you want."

I tried to hide my amusement but failed. I took a sip of my coffee, just to avoid laughing. "Careful, it's hot," she reminded me, even though I already knew.

I put the coffee down, feeling the burn of it still lingering on my lips. "So, when will Amanda come again?"

Keisha raised an eyebrow at me, clearly amused. "She just left. Why didn't you ask her yourself?"

I shifted awkwardly. "I don't know. I was wondering... does she-?"

She gasped, interrupting me mid-thought. "Do you like her?"

"What? No!" I protested, immediately looking away, my cheeks burning with an unwanted flush.

"Oh, don't be in denial," Keisha teased, her eyes glinting mischievously. "You're blushing. You clearly feel something for her."

I groaned and tried to look as nonchalant as possible. "Please, don't tell her."

Keisha stood up and gave me a knowing smile. "I won't tell her... but I'll let destiny handle the rest."

Amanda's POV

The car turned into a corner, and we drove into a gated subdivision that looked like it belonged in some magazine spread. Every house was massive, like something out of a dream. The kind of dream I had when I imagined a life beyond my current reality. There was even a two-story Victorian mansion with a black gate and a pool in the backyard, tucked away behind a set of pristine palm trees. It looked like the kind of place where secrets were hidden in plain sight.

"Look at all these houses," Sandy muttered, awe in her voice. Her eyes darted from one opulent mansion to the next as she tried to take it all in.

I couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy, though I quickly suppressed it. This wasn't my life. It never would be. I had come from nothing, and that fact was impossible to ignore when surrounded by such wealth.

As the car slowed down, my thoughts drifted to Brysen. I remembered the way he'd eaten a cheap fast-food burger the other day, how he'd bitten into it like it was the most precious thing in the world. His jawline had defied every expectation, and even though it was just a simple moment, it had stuck with me. Funny how the little things became the most unforgettable.

"Why are you staring at your burger like that?" Sally's voice broke through my thoughts, pulling me back to the present. "You okay?"

"Yeah," I mumbled, quickly swallowing my bite. "Just thinking about Brysen."

Sally gave me a skeptical look. "Anyways, Miles is getting married. He invited us to his big wedding, and I gotta say, it's making me jealous."

I chuckled at that. "How are you still single at 33?"

She elbowed me playfully, making me laugh. "I'd rather be single than with someone who doesn't care about me."

"That's my girl," I teased, but her serious expression silenced me. "I mean, my sassy independent Beyoncé."

She smirked at that. "You're lucky I like you."

We both laughed, but the mood shifted as we pulled up to the Coleman's mansion. It was everything I had imagined and more. A circular fountain greeted us at the entrance, and as the gates opened, I could feel my heart race in anticipation. I wasn't sure what to expect behind those walls, but I couldn't shake the rumors I'd heard. Dark secrets, affairs-there was more to this place than met the eye.

"You ready for this?" Sally asked as she stopped the car.

I took a deep breath, suddenly feeling uneasy. "I heard rumors about this place," I said, my voice quiet. "People say it's full of dark secrets. I even heard Mr. Coleman's been having an affair with his assistant."

Sally's eyes widened. "Stay safe in there, Amanda. Godspeed."

I hugged her briefly before stepping out of the car, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders. I looked up at the cloudy sky before walking toward the mansion's massive front doors. The cold wind brushed against my face as I took my first steps into a house that was anything but welcoming.

"Bye, Amanda."

"Bye, Sally," I whispered, the door closing softly behind me.

This was it. The start of something new... or the beginning of something I wasn't sure I was ready for.