The first half of the day passed in a blur of unfamiliar faces, awkward introductions, and navigating class schedules in a building that felt like a museum crossed with an art studio. Stockholm students were cool in a way Lily couldn't quite describe like they knew how to dress without looking like they tried.
By lunch, her head was spinning.
She made her way up the winding staircase to the rooftop, where Jaden had told her to meet him. The air was cooler up there, fresher somehow. The city stretched out in every direction soft gray rooftops, distant church spires, and the shimmer of water peeking through the buildings. It was beautiful. Quiet.
And then came the voice.
"You must be Lily."
Lily turned. A tall girl stood a few steps away, blonde hair pulled into a slick ponytail, arms crossed over a designer jacket. Her tone wasn't curious it was territorial.
"I'm Brielle," the girl added, as if that explained everything.
Lily blinked. "Hi. Uh, nice to meet you."
Brielle gave a slow, fake smile. "Jaden's mentioned you. Ezra's new little sister. Cute."
There was an edge to the word cute that made Lily's stomach twist.
Before Lily could respond, the rooftop door opened again and Jaden stepped out, backpack slung over one shoulder.
"There you are," he said, smiling at Lily. "Told you it was the best view."
Brielle turned to him, instantly shifting gears. "Babe, I didn't know you were up here already."
She walked over and kissed him on the cheek, then wrapped her arm around his waist. Jaden gave her a distracted smile but looked back at Lily.
"You okay?"
"Yeah," Lily said quickly, forcing a smile. "Just… taking it all in."
She could feel Brielle's eyes on her like a spotlight.
"Well," Brielle said sweetly, "you'll be fine as long as you know where you stand."
Lily's breath caught.
Jaden frowned. "Bri—"
"I mean as part of the group," Brielle added, with a sugary smile. "You're Ezra's sister now. So you're basically like, our little cousin or something."
Lily didn't say anything. Her heart was pounding too loud to speak.
Thankfully, the door opened again this time revealing Ezra, walking in with a girl behind him. The girl had soft brown curls, a floral tote bag, and the gentlest smile Lily had seen all day.
"There you are," Ezra said. "Thought you'd ditch me."
"Never," said the girl, grinning as she turned to Lily. "You must be Lily. I'm Mia."
Lily's chest finally relaxed.
"Hi," she said. "It's really nice to meet you."
Mia gave her a warm hug like they'd known each other for years. "I've heard so much about you. Welcome to the madness."
Lily glanced over at Jaden and Brielle. Jaden was watching her with quiet concern. Brielle was scrolling on her phone like nothing had happened.
And that's when Lily realized something:
She'd walked into a world with its own history its own rules, ties, grudges, and unspoken claims.
And maybe she didn't care about the rules before…
But she was starting to understand why they existed.
The rest of lunch was awkward in that quiet, invisible way. Jaden tried to keep the energy light, cracking jokes and throwing in casual comments to loop Lily into the conversation. But Brielle stayed glued to his side, every touch, every look, a not-so-subtle reminder of her presence.
Lily mostly listened watching, learning, filing everything away like a mental map of who was safe and who wasn't.
Mia sat beside her, kind and soft-spoken, asking about New Jersey and what Lily missed most.
"My friends," Lily said truthfully. "Zoey and Harper. We were like a trio."
"You'll find your people here too," Mia said with an encouraging smile. "It just takes a little time."
When the bell rang and everyone stood to leave, Brielle gave Lily one last glance.
"Hope your first day isn't too overwhelming," she said, voice dripping honey and poison in equal measure.
As she disappeared down the stairs with Jaden at her side, Mia leaned in.
"She's always like that," she said gently. "Don't let her get in your head."
Lily looked at Mia. "Does she hate everyone… or just me?"
Mia gave a half-smile. "Mostly girls who look at Jaden the way you just did."
Lily flushed. "I didn't mean—"
"You don't have to explain," Mia said, voice kind but honest. "But… you should be careful."
Lily nodded, heart sinking.
She'd barely started this new life and already, she was walking on thin ice.
⸻
That night, the house was calm. Dan was in his office finishing up work, and her mom was on a video call with Lily's grandma back in Jersey. Lily padded down the hallway in sweatpants, heading to the kitchen for tea.
She didn't expect to find Jaden there.
He was sitting on the counter, eating cereal straight from the box, barefoot and sleepy-eyed.
"Oh—hey," Lily said, startled.
He looked up and smiled. "Midnight snack?"
"Tea," she said. "Helps me sleep."
Jaden hopped down. "Want me to make it? Ezra says I make better tea than your mom."
Lily laughed. "Okay, now I'm curious."
He got to work, humming softly as the kettle heated. Lily leaned against the counter, watching him.
"You okay after today?" he asked, not looking at her directly.
She hesitated. "Yeah. I mean… it's a lot. But it could've been worse."
Jaden nodded slowly. "Brielle?"
Lily shrugged. "She's… intense."
"She's complicated," he said carefully. "We've been together for a while. I guess she's protective."
"Of you?" Lily asked quietly.
Jaden looked up, eyes locking with hers. "Maybe. Or maybe just the territory."
The silence stretched. Lily's heart thudded so loud she was sure he could hear it.
He handed her the tea. "Here. Try it."
She took a sip. It was perfect warm, just the right amount of honey, and something floral she couldn't name.
"Okay," she said. "You win."
Jaden smiled. "Told you."
They stood in the kitchen for a long moment, the air between them thick and unspoken.
Then footsteps came down the stairs Ezra, in a hoodie and socks, rubbing his eyes.
"You two having a tea party?" he mumbled.
Lily laughed. "Something like that."
Jaden stepped back, suddenly distant again. "Night, Ez."
And to Lily: "Sweet dreams, Jersey."
He disappeared down the hall, and Lily stared into her mug.
Yeah, she thought.
Too deep.
Lily didn't sleep well that night.
Her mind kept replaying the kitchen scene the closeness, Jaden's voice, the way he'd said Jersey like it was a nickname only he was allowed to use. She tried to remind herself: he had a girlfriend. A long-term girlfriend. And she was living with his best friend.
But logic didn't stop her heart from racing when she saw him again the next morning.
It was Friday, and Stockholm High buzzed with the kind of low-key excitement that always came before the weekend. Ezra walked her to her first class, and she noticed the way people moved out of his way in the hall, offering nods or quick smiles. Ezra had that quiet popularity he didn't chase attention, but it found him anyway.
"You settling in okay?" he asked as they reached her classroom.
"Yeah," Lily said. "Mia's been really nice."
Ezra smiled. "She's the best thing that's ever happened to me."
There was no hesitation in his voice. No doubt. Just pure certainty.
Lily admired that. She wanted that.
But then she thought of Jaden his laugh, the way he looked at her when no one else was watching.
And she hated herself a little.
⸻
Later that day, Mia pulled Lily aside after lunch. They sat outside near a line of bicycles, the late-spring sun warming their faces.
"I figured you might want to breathe for a bit," Mia said.
Lily exhaled, grateful. "This week's been… overwhelming."
"You're doing great," Mia said. "Better than I did when I transferred here last year."
"You transferred?"
Mia nodded. "From Gothenburg. My dad's job moved us here. I didn't know anyone at first until I met Ezra. He was kind before he was anything else. That's what got me."
Lily smiled, heart softening. "You two seem solid."
"We are." Mia's eyes twinkled, then turned serious. "But… can I ask you something?"
Lily froze. "Sure?"
"What's going on with you and Jaden?"
Lily's heart dropped.
"I—nothing," she said too fast. "I mean… he's nice. He's just helping me settle in."
Mia nodded slowly. "Okay. I believe you. But… I think you should know something."
Lily's fingers curled around the strap of her bag. "What?"
Mia hesitated. "Jaden's not as happy with Brielle as he pretends. It's not really a secret everyone knows they fight a lot. But Brielle? She doesn't lose. And she definitely doesn't like to share."
Lily looked down. "I don't want to be that girl, Mia. I swear."
"I know," Mia said gently. "But these things… get messy. Fast."
Just then, Lily's phone buzzed.
Jaden: You free after school? Wanna see something cool.
Lily stared at the screen, her breath catching in her throat.
Mia glanced at the message over Lily's shoulder, then raised her eyebrows with a knowing look.
"You don't have to answer now," she said, standing. "Just think about what it might cost."
⸻
After school, Lily stood in front of the building, heart pounding. She'd told herself she wouldn't go.
But she didn't text no, either.
And when Jaden's car pulled up, music low, window down, and him behind the wheel with that crooked half-smile…
She got in anyway.
Too deep didn't even begin to cover it.