SuperStar!

"I can't believe you didn't tell them I was coming," a sharp voice cut through the air. Jason turned to see his sister, Claire, glaring at him with a side-eye that practically screamed irritation.

Jason rolled his eyes and turned to stare out the window, ignoring her.

The laughter coming from the front seats felt like needles stabbing into his brain. He stole a glance and immediately regretted it. Amanda, his crush, was laughing wildly, tossing her hair around like it was some kind of movie scene. The guy driving the car—Ryan—was clearly the source of her amusement.

Ryan. Jason hated how generic the name sounded. Who even names their kid Ryan, for Christ's sake?

Sure, Jason knew Lily was rich. She was supposedly the wealthiest student in school, but he'd never realized just how rich until now. The house's exterior had been impressive, but stepping inside? That was a whole other level. They had a freaking chandelier. Who actually owns one of those?

What really got to Jason, though, was Ryan. Apparently, Ryan went to a different school but was now headed off to college. It wasn't the fact that Ryan was a college-bound student that bugged him—it was how he looked.

Ryan was the textbook definition of a high school jock: broad shoulders, a perfectly styled haircut, a cocky grin, and that annoyingly effortless boy-next-door charm. And to top it all off, Ryan was rich. Like, really rich. Jason had barely recovered from seeing Lily's ridiculously lavish garage before Ryan swaggered over and got into a sleek black Range Rover like it was no big deal.

Older. Handsome. Filthy rich. Ryan had it all.

Jason sighed and climbed into the car. Amanda, of course, chose to sit up front in the passenger seat, chatting with Ryan like they were old friends. Claire, meanwhile, sat beside him in the back, already engrossed in one of her stupid novels.

Jason tried to ignore everything, turning his head away from his sister. His eyes landed on Lily, sitting in the back row with her headphones on, resting her head against the window.

Why couldn't you sit with your brother, huh? Aren't you guys siblings? Rubbish, Jason thought bitterly.

As if sensing his judgment, Lily's eyes suddenly opened, locking onto his. Jason froze, his heart racing, and quickly turned his head to face the other way, hoping she hadn't noticed his stare.

The car ride was suffocating. Jason stared out the window, doing his best to ignore the laughter coming from Amanda and Ryan up front. Amanda was all giggles, leaning toward Ryan, flipping her hair every five seconds as if that would get his attention.

Ryan, to his credit—or maybe Jason's annoyance—didn't seem to care much. He kept his focus on the road, only occasionally responding with a polite chuckle or a one-word answer. Jason wondered if Ryan even realized Amanda was flirting.

In the back, Claire was glued to her book, indifferent to the world around her. She didn't so much as glance up when Amanda squealed over something Ryan had said. Lily, on the other hand, was in her own little world, headphones on, eyes closed, head resting against the window. If she noticed the chaos in the car, she gave no sign.

When they finally pulled up to the hotel, Jason's jaw dropped. The place was breathtaking—towering glass walls, elegant lighting, and a valet who approached them with the kind of politeness that made Jason feel a little underdressed.

"Alright, everyone, we're here," Ryan announced casually, stepping out of the car like he owned the place. He tossed the keys to the valet without hesitation.

Amanda climbed out after him, practically bouncing on her heels. "This place is amazing!" she gushed, looping her arm through Ryan's as they walked toward the entrance.

Jason trailed behind, his mood worsening by the second. Claire was still engrossed in her book, only glancing up to make sure she didn't trip, and Lily followed at her own leisurely pace, still detached from the group.

At the reception desk, Ryan handled everything. Jason watched as the clerk's eyes widened slightly when Ryan pulled out his card to pay for their suite.

"It's on me," Ryan said, as if it were no big deal.

Jason clenched his jaw. Of course, it was.

The suite was incredible—a massive space with a living area, a kitchen, and three separate bedrooms. Jason barely had time to take it all in before Amanda let out an excited squeal.

"Ryan, you didn't have to!" she gushed, spinning around the room like she was in a movie.

Ryan just shrugged, a small smirk on his face. "It's nothing."

Jason felt his irritation spike. Nothing. It was always nothing to people like Ryan.

As they settled in, it was decided—without Jason's input, of course—that he and Ryan would share a room. Claire took one room, and Amanda and Lily ended up in the last.

Jason dumped his bag on the bed furthest from Ryan's and started unpacking. Across the room, Ryan was casually scrolling through his phone, completely at ease.

"Ethan Jones' concert is tomorrow night," Amanda announced from the living room.

"We know," Jason muttered under his breath, not bothering to look up.

Later, as everyone else decided to head down to the pool, Jason opted out.

"You're not coming?" Amanda asked, looking mildly surprised.

"No," Jason said flatly.

Ryan didn't even glance his way as he grabbed a towel and headed out. Lily shrugged, putting her headphones back on, and Claire followed them, her book tucked under her arm.

Jason stayed behind, glad to finally have some peace. He finished unpacking, arranging his things neatly before stepping out into the suite's living area. The silence was a relief after the endless chatter.

As he wandered toward the kitchen to grab a drink, a faint sound caught his attention. It was muffled, coming from down the hall.

Curious—and slightly wary—Jason followed it. The sound grew clearer as he approached one of the other rooms. His heart sank when he realized it was laughter, followed by low voices.

Then he saw it.

Ryan.

And someone else.

Jason froze, his stomach twisting.