ELLA'S POV"You two have fun," my mom called out as she was leaving the house."Where are you going?" I asked."None of your business," she replied dismissively before shutting the front door behind her.I would have pressed further if not for Susan distracting me."So why the sudden call over?" I asked, turning to my best friend who was sitting on the couch.Susan's cheeks flushed pink. "Well...Liam invited me to a party next week." She paused, fiddling with the hem of her sweater. "Let me say it in his words: 'I don't have anywhere to go with to the party next week, do you mind if you could be my date for that day?'"Susan exhaled dreamily, hugging a throw pillow to her chest. "So judging from what he said, that means he doesn't have a girlfriend and he also finds me very important!"I laughed and nudged her playfully with my elbow. "At this point, what's keeping you two from dating already? You should just make it official."Susan's blush deepened and she bit her lip to suppress an

TRENT'S POVAs we gathered for practice, Coach's somber expression told me this wasn't going to be a typical pep talk. He cleared his throat, his gaze sweeping over the team."As you all know, with what happened recently, Jackson won't be playing with us in the upcoming game," Coach said, his voice solemn. "I heard he's been hospitalized, but his family hasn't disclosed the place he is yet. If any of you can contact him, I urge you to reach out."A murmur rippled through the group, and I shifted uncomfortably. The guilt of my role in leaking Jackson's medical records weighed heavily on my shoulders.Joe, one of the forwards, scoffed loudly. "Why should we reach out to him? He could have exposed all of us to that disease!""Yeah, Coach," another chimed in. "How do we know he didn't put us all at risk?"Coach's voice cut through the chatter. "I expected better from you, Joe. From all of you. Put yourself in Jackson's shoes for a moment. Imagine being in the hospital, scared and alone, w

Ella's POVI watched in numb horror as the paramedics wheeled Trent's lifeless body out on a stretcher. Other students crowded around, straining to catch a glimpse."Everyone stay back!" I shouted, raising my arms to create a barrier. "And don't touch anything they may have been in contact with!"Muttered gasps and whispers rippled through the onlookers. I hurried forward, waving my arms to disperse the gawking onlookers. "Ella!" Lucinda suddenly materialized at my side, eyes wide with panic. "Oh my god, is Trent going to die? Tell me he's not going to die!"I gripped her trembling hands, struggling to keep my own voice steady. "I don't know, Lucy. But we need to stay calm and let the paramedics do their job, okay?"As the last stretcher bearing Jessica's unconscious form was loaded into the back of the ambulance, I noticed one of the EMTs beckoning to me and Mrs. Zaytseva. We hurried over, our footsteps ringing with finality."You two will need to come with us to the hospital," the

TRENT'S POVI slowly blinked my eyes open, disoriented as the world around me came into fuzzy focus. An array of machinery surrounded me - IV stands, cardiac monitors beeping steadily, plastic tubing snaking across the bed. Wires and electrodes were adhered to my bare chest, trailing off to various devices.As my senses slowly rebooted, memories trickled back in flashes. The feverish chills racking my body...Ella's alarmed face swimming into view as I collapsed...the rash on my skin. With a start, I realized where I must be - the hospital, recovering from what I don't know.I shifted, relieved to find the strange rashes had faded from my exposed arms and torso. A pink envelope propped up on the bedside table caught my eye. Stretching over, I snagged it and flipped it open.The looping handwriting scrawled across the card made my chest pump: "Get well soon, Trent. I'm here for you, always. Love..."My cheeks flushed hot as I hastily turned the envelope over, half-expecting Ella's na

ELLA'S POV"Move it, people! We don't have all day!" Amelia barked at the students volunteers carrying boxes from the storage room. We still had over one hour until the Serpent Soirée kickoff, but of course she was rushing everyone like we were already behind schedule. Typical Amelia."And don't forget the good luck flowers and refreshments stands!" she yelled, spinning on her heel to face me with hands planted on her hips. "See why I said we don't need this rabble slowing us down? The volunteers you insisted on were more hindrance than help.""Maybe if you weren't treating them like slaves, they'd be more motivated to hustle."Amelia opened her mouth, nostrils flaring, but the last straggler finally emerged lugging the final crate. "Never mind, let's just get this show on the road," I said, turning away before she could retort.I led the way outside to where the festivities were already in full swing on the grounds. A high energy beat was thumping from the DJ's speakers as the basket