lelanidebbiee

----
Synopsis:
Rea Jones has always felt like a ghost in crowded rooms. Suffering from enclophobia—the fear of crowds—she dreads her first day at a new school, where the hallways are a maze of unfamiliar faces and suffocating noise. She’s convinced she’ll be invisible, just as she’s always been.

But then she meets Milo Carter, the easygoing artist who sees past her silence, and Elena Vasquez, the fierce and loyal girl who refuses to let Rea hide forever. Slowly, they draw her out of her shell, showing her that friendships aren’t as terrifying as she thought.

Just when Rea starts to believe she belongs, she makes the one mistake she swore she never would—falling for Aster Westwood, the school’s golden boy with a rebellious streak and a secret of his own. He’s everything she should avoid, tangled in drama she wants no part of, but something about him makes her feel alive in a way she never has before.

As Rea learns to navigate love, fear, and the overwhelming world around her, she must face the question she’s been running from all her life—will she let fear define her, or will she finally step out of the shadows?

Out of the shadows

She spent most of the night staring at her phone, hoping—waiting—for Aster to text back. But the screen stayed empty.

By the time the sun started creeping through her window, she'd made up her mind.

She shoved on a hoodie and jeans, grabbing her phone and keys before heading downstairs.

Her mom was stirring sugar into her coffee, still in her robe, and her dad was flipping through the morning news on his tablet.

Rea didn't stop to make small talk.

She dropped into a chair at the table and said, "You said you'd take me."

Rea clenched her jaw. "You said last night that if I still thought something was wrong, you'd drive me to check on Aster."

Her mom frowned, lowering her mug. "Rea—"

"I still think something's wrong," she interrupted. "So are you going to take me or not?"

Her dad studied her for a long moment.

She could see the hesitation in his eyes, the conflict.

"Fine," he muttered, setting down his tablet. "Let's go."

The drive to Aster's house was quiet.

Rea barely noticed the passing streets, her mind spinning too fast.

Her dad finally pulled up in front of a small, run-down house.

The paint on the porch was peeling, and a few shingles were missing from the roof. A motorcycle was parked haphazardly in the driveway.

Her dad glanced at her. "You sure about this?"

She nodded, then climbed out before she could change her mind.

Her heart pounded as she walked up the steps.

She hesitated, then tried the doorknob.

Rea pushed the door open slowly, stepping inside.

The house was dim, the air heavy with cigarette smoke and something else—something metallic, sharp.

She turned toward the sound, her heart in her throat.

Aster was slumped on the couch, one arm draped over his stomach, his head tilted back against the cushions. His lip was split, his eye swollen, and there was dried blood on his knuckles.

He blinked, sluggish, like it took effort just to look at her.

"Rea?" His voice was hoarse, confused.

She rushed over, dropping to her knees in front of him. "What happened?"

He let out a rough chuckle. "What always happens?"

She reached out, hesitating just before touching his face. "Did he—?"

Aster caught her wrist before she could make contact.

Rea clenched her jaw. "Why didn't you answer my texts?"

Aster exhaled through his nose. "Didn't feel like talking."

"You can't just shut people out, Aster," she said. "You can't do this alone."

His fingers tightened around her wrist for a brief second—then let go.

Rea shook her head. "No, you don't."

Something in Aster's expression cracked.

He looked at her for a long moment, something heavy, unreadable in his eyes.

"I don't know how to let people help me."

Chapter 13