By the end of the week, Nova was exhausted.
Not from classes. Not from the workload.From the attention.
No matter where she went, someone was always looking. Staring just a little too long. Whispering just a little too loudly.
"She's different.""She's always alone.""She's gotta be someone important, right?"
Nova tried to block it out. She kept her head down. Avoided eye contact. Disappeared between the pages of her books.
But being invisible was starting to feel impossible.
"Okay, you're officially sketchy."
Nova blinked. She looked up from her notes to see Jules sitting across from her at the library table, chewing on the end of a pencil and staring at her like a puzzle.
Nova raised a brow. "Excuse me?"
"You," Jules said, gesturing. "You disappear after class. You don't talk about your family. You've never invited us over. We don't even know your last name."
"I do," Zane called from the next table, popping his head up. "It's Nova 'Stay-Out-of-My-Business' Something."
"Zane," Jules deadpanned.
"What? She's mysterious. It's part of her brand."
Nova rolled her eyes and went back to reading.
Then Troy leaned in over Jules's shoulder. "You know what you need? A sleepover."
Nova looked up again, eyes narrowed. "Excuse me?"
"Sleepover," he repeated. "Movies. Bad snacks. Oversharing. You. Us. Bonding. Healing. Maybe a ghost story if Zane doesn't cry."
Zane flipped him off with a grin. "You're banned from my house."
Troy ignored him. "We'll do it at Zane's place. Big house. Loud music. Total chaos."
"No thanks," Nova muttered. "I like peace."
Jules smirked. "That's cute. You think you'll have a choice."
Later that day, Nova walked alone through the quad.
For a second, she allowed herself to imagine it.
A night away from the mansion.No walls watching her.No cold silences.Just laughter. Noise. A mess that wasn't hers to clean up.
She hadn't had that in a long time.
Too long.
That evening, back at home, she stood outside Leon's office for almost five full minutes.
Hand hovering near the door. Nerves in her throat.
She'd have to convince him.
And after that? Survive the wrath of the four watchful dragons waiting on the stairs.
Still...
Maybe, just maybe—
It would be worth it.