(Snow, Secrets & Fevered Truths)
"Three… two… one—go!"
Aria Larkspur shot forward like a flame slicing through white silence.
Beside her, Rhea Carter pushed off with equal force, grin sharp, eyes lit with challenge. Snow sprayed behind them as both girls carved down the slope, wind screaming past their ears like an audience cheering for chaos.
No referee.
No rules.
Just pride.
And Aria?
She didn't lose.
Not unless fate got involved.
---
Halfway down, Aria had already taken the lead.
Her movements were smooth—too smooth. Every turn calculated, every glide efficient. She cut across the shortest path, stealing the best angle like a thief in broad daylight.
Rhea clicked her tongue behind her.
"Damn, she's fast."
But she didn't slow.
Instead, she chased.
---
The finish line came into view.
Victory sat right there—waiting.
And then—
A random idiot appeared out of nowhere.
Right. In. Her. Path.
Aria's eyes widened.
"Move!"
The guy? Frozen. Brain offline. Soul buffering.
"Oh, fantastic," Aria muttered. "A human traffic cone."
With seconds left, she swerved sharply, skis cutting a wide arc to avoid crashing into him. Snow exploded under her feet as she redirected—
—and just like that, her perfect lead vanished.
Rhea didn't hesitate.
She slipped past, seized the opening, and crossed the finish line first.
---
A second later—
Aria flipped cleanly into the finish, landing with effortless grace like she hadn't just been robbed by destiny itself.
She pulled off her helmet, breathing steady.
"I lost," she said casually, brushing snow off her sleeve. "Fine. I pay up."
Rhea blinked. "You're… not mad?"
Aria smirked.
"I don't cry over accidents. I just remember them."
Savage. Calm. Dangerous.
---
Rhea hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"My condition is simple."
Aria raised a brow. "If you say 'buy me food,' I'm revoking your win."
Rhea laughed. "Relax. Just a question."
"…Go on."
A pause.
Then—
"Do you like Ethan Vale?"
---
Silence.
Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.
Aria didn't look away. Didn't flinch.
"Yeah," she answered plainly.
Not shy. Not dramatic. Just truth.
---
Rhea studied her face… then suddenly smiled.
"I knew it."
She shoved her hands into her jacket, casual again—but her eyes sharpened.
"Good. Then we're rivals."
Aria blinked. "Excuse me?"
"I like him too," Rhea said, completely unbothered. "And I don't lose."
Aria stared at her for a second… then laughed.
Not offended.
Impressed.
"Bold," she said. "I respect confidence."
Then her tone dipped, sweet but lethal:
"Just don't confuse courage with winning."
---
But Rhea wasn't done.
"There's something else," she added. "He told me he has someone already."
Aria froze.
Just slightly.
Barely noticeable.
"…Did he?" she asked lightly.
Rhea nodded. "Yeah. But I've never seen her. So either she's invisible—"
She tilted her head.
"—or fictional."
---
That one hit.
Not loud. Not obvious.
But sharp.
Like a needle sliding under skin.
---
Aria smiled.
Perfectly.
"Maybe you just don't have clearance," she replied.
Rhea chuckled. "Or maybe someone's getting played."
---
They didn't talk about it after that.
But something shifted.
---
That night—
Aria returned home quieter than usual.
Even Ethan noticed.
She didn't tease him.
Didn't argue.
Didn't smirk.
Just… distant.
---
By midnight, the situation escalated.
"She's burning up," Marie aunt said, worry clear in her voice.
The doctor checked quickly. "High fever. Likely from the cold exposure. Keep monitoring her temperature every two hours."
"I'll handle it," Ethan said immediately.
Marie aunt tried to protest. "Sir, you have work—"
"I said I'll handle it."
End of discussion.
---
The room fell silent.
Rain began pouring outside, thunder cracking across the sky.
Inside—
Aria lay curled under blankets, pale, fragile.
Too fragile.
Ethan frowned.
"This reckless woman…" he muttered, dipping a cotton swab in water and gently wetting her lips. "Can argue with the world but can't handle weather."
---
He stood to get more water—
And suddenly—
His wrist was grabbed.
Tightly.
---
He froze.
Aria's eyes were still closed, brows furrowed, breathing uneven.
"…Don't go…"
Her voice was barely audible.
Broken.
---
Ethan's expression changed.
"I'm not leaving," he said quietly. "Just getting water."
But her grip tightened.
Like she was afraid he'd disappear.
---
Then—
Tears slipped from her closed eyes.
Silent. Continuous.
And her voice… cracked.
"…Ethan… I missed you…"
"…they said I shouldn't disturb you…"
"…mom… dad…"
Words shattered. Out of order. Pain spilling without control.
---
Ethan stilled.
Completely.
Something in his chest twisted—hard.
For the first time…
He wasn't seeing the sharp-tongued, cunning Aria Larkspur.
He was seeing someone else.
Someone younger.
Alone.
Left behind.
---
His voice dropped.
Soft.
Unfamiliar.
"I'm here," he said.
And this time—
He didn't move.
Not even when the water went cold.