BETWEEN LOVE AND WARThe Girl Whos Different

“Come on, Nora! You’re so slow. Does it really take you that long to get me a cup of coffee?” Susan complained as I hurried with a cup in hand.

“And what about the headphones I asked for? Where are they?” Ivy chimed in, palms out in impatience.

“Sorry, Ivy. I couldn’t find them in your room,” I replied, wiping a bead of sweat from my forehead.

“What? Are you serious? You must be blind or something! How could you not find them?” she snapped.

“Alright, enough with the jokes,” their mom interrupted, laughter lightening the mood. “I’ve told you both to lay off her. She’s about to start at Starlake High, after all.”

“I really wonder why she even chose that school. Does she think she’ll impress any of the boys there?” Ivy muttered, and Susan giggled.

I tried my best to ignore the sting in my chest as I kept my head down. No, I couldn’t afford to cry. Not today.

Just then, I heard his voice, a comforting presence that always made me feel like I belonged.

“I’ve warned you both to knock it off,” Dad said, and a smile broke across my face as I looked up to see the only man who had ever accepted me, flaws and all.

Even though he wasn’t my biological father, he insisted I call him Dad. When he was around, his wife and daughters were surprisingly silent.

He walked down the stairs into the living room and ruffled my hair affectionately. “Are you ready?” he asked. I nodded, flashing a bright smile as I grabbed my bag from the table.

I could feel the irritation radiating from his daughters as I lowered my head and walked out of the room beside him, Mr. Harrison.

Mr. Harrison was my adoptive father. Five years ago, he found me lying unconscious on the road after a hit-and-run. When I woke up in the hospital, I had no memory, no past, no family. He even launched a search, but when no one came for me, he took me in as his own.

Despite his kindness, his wife and daughters never fully accepted me. They viewed me as a burden, and their disdain for me was thick in the air, especially during the times when his daughters returned home from their studies abroad.

But I was endlessly grateful for Mr. Harrison. If it weren’t for him, I’d still be lost and alone.

Now, I was about to attend Starlake High, one of the leading schools in the country, thanks to his hard work and generosity. He’d gone out of his way to secure my spot, spending a ton of money to make it happen.

This wasn’t an ordinary school, it was connected to Phoenix Records, the label for Phoenix 4. The thought of possibly crossing paths with them made my heart race.

As we drove through the gates, my jaw dropped. Was this a school or a luxury resort? The campus was enormous and breathtaking.

Mr. Harrison was often away for work, leaving me in the hands of his family. However, I was determined to enjoy this moment, one where I hoped to finally feel like I belonged, if only briefly.

I slipped on my headphones. Yep, that’s me, a total music junkie. I often lose myself in songs, and as Dad started the car, my favorite track began playing, “Touch the Sky” by Phoenix 4.

Phoenix 4 was one of the biggest boy bands in the country, made up of five super talented and ridiculously good-looking guys, Max, Zane, Evan, Leo, and Caleb. But there was a twist.

Max, the lead singer, had vanished four years ago without explanation. His sudden departure had sent shockwaves through the band. Since then, Zane had taken over as the new lead, but things had definitely changed.

From what I’d heard, Max and Zane were best buddies who had shared a lifelong passion for music. Their families had even teamed up to form Phoenix 4 when they were kids. But when Max left, Zane seemed to transform overnight. Once friendly and easygoing, he had become a recluse, especially when it came to girls.

Rumors swirled that every girl he got close to had met an untimely and mysterious end. Two of his girlfriends had died under strange circumstances, and since then, he avoided any connections with women, including at fan events. It was bizarre, even their mansion had no female staff, every worker, from the assistant to the chef, was male.

Still, fans couldn’t get enough of Zane. Girls worshiped him and would trade anything just for a chance to meet him, but he kept them at arm’s length.

And what about Max? No one knew where he was, or why he had left. Was he ever coming back? What really happened between him and Zane?