Sierra’s POV
“I clenched my fists and stared straight ahead, barely keeping my anger in check. I’m not doing this, Dad. I’m not leaving everything behind to live with people I don’t even know," I said, my voice shaking with frustration. Every mile we drove felt like a betrayal, each turn taking me farther from the life I knew.
The whole plane ride, I'd stewed in silence, ignoring Dad’s attempts at conversation, staring out the window, clinging to what was left of my old life. This wasn’t just a move; it was an uprooting. Dad had even refused Mr. Lawrence’s offer to pick us up, saying he’d arranged for a car so we could make a quiet entrance. But quiet or not, this new beginning felt wrong.
Dad sighed, pulling the car to a stop in front of a massive mansion that seemed to loom over us like some twisted reminder of how much my life was changing. I didn’t even want to look at it.
"Sierra," he said, his voice softer than I expected, "I know you’re furious, and I get it. But please, try to understand. This is just temporary. It’s closer to school, and my friend offered us the place. We won’t be here forever."
I shot him a look that could’ve burned through steel. "Temporary doesn’t make it any better, Dad. You didn’t even give me a choice."
He sighed again, glancing at me as though searching for the right words. "I’m sorry, really. But if you give this a chance, you might find it’s not as bad as you think. There’s plenty of space, and you don’t have to see the boys if you don’t want to. And... you’ll make new friends, Sierra. You’re strong enough to do that."
I rolled my eyes, feeling my anger simmer down just a little—but not enough. I yanked open the car door, stepping out with a scowl, determined not to let him see me give in even a little.
Just then, the front door of the mansion opened, and out stepped a boy who looked like he belonged on a magazine cover. Tall, effortlessly confident, with dark, messy hair and a smirk that seemed to mock the world. His gaze locked on me, and I felt a strange spark that made me freeze.
Something inside me whispered, Trouble. I could practically feel it. His entire presence screamed that he was exactly the kind of person I should avoid.
My frustration didn’t disappear; it only dulled, replaced by a wariness I couldn’t explain. My gut churned as I watched him approach, his smirk never faltering. This boy—whoever he was—felt like the beginning of something. Something that told me my life would never be the same again.
It took me a moment, but then the realization hit. Jayden. Vague memories surfaced, of a boy with a mischievous glint in his eye who’d always looked at me like I was an outsider. He’d changed so much over the years that I hardly recognized him at first. His once-boyish features were sharper now, older, but the attitude—that hadn’t changed.
Jayden’s eyes slid over to me with a look of faint amusement. "You must be Sierra," he said, that smirk widening like he knew exactly how much I didn’t want to be here. I forced myself to hold his gaze, determined not to let him know how much his presence already unnerved me.
Dad cleared his throat, a soft smile on his face as he spoke up. "Actually, Jayden, this is my daughter, Sierra Smith." He emphasized my name with pride, as if it would somehow ease the tension sizzling in the air between us. “She’s grown up a lot since you last saw her.”
Jayden nodded slowly, still looking at me with that knowing glint, like my name didn’t matter. “Well, Sierra Smith,” he said, his tone dripping with a challenge I couldn’t quite place, “welcome to our humble abode.”
My jaw clenched, a mix of irritation and unease twisting in my gut. If this was the boy who’d teased and ignored me when I was little, it seemed he hadn’t changed much. Everything about his posture, his tone, screamed that he was sizing me up, daring me to react.
Dad, ever the peacekeeper, tried to bridge the tension. “Sierra, Jayden and his brother Jason were close friends of ours when you were young. You remember them, don’t you?”
I stiffened, an old memory flashing through my mind. Vaguely, I could remember two boys with the same dark hair, looking at me like I didn’t belong. They’d ignored me or dismissed me whenever I tried to play with them. If Jayden was anything like he used to be, I had little interest in getting to know him all over again.
Just as Jayden opened his mouth to say something else, the front door flew open, and out bounded another boy, younger and radiating pure energy. His grin stretched wide as he burst onto the scene, his arms flung wide like he was announcing his arrival to the world. “I am cool!” he declared, his voice loud and gleeful.
Dad chuckled, shaking his head with a familiar fondness. “Jason, you haven’t changed at all,” he said warmly.
Jason’s gaze flicked from Dad to me, and he stopped mid-stride, his grin faltering slightly as he took me in. He looked almost as surprised as I felt, but he quickly plastered the smile back on, giving me a playful salute. “Oh, hey, Sierra! Look who’s back.”
I felt my chest tighten as I looked between Jayden and Jason, two faces from my past that I had hoped to leave there. They weren’t just anyone—they were the boys who’d made me feel invisible, forgotten, every time we’d visited years ago. And now, they were standing here, as if they were supposed to be my new family.
The realization settled over me, heavy and unwelcome. How am I supposed to live with these two odd boys?
As if sensing my discomfort, Jayden smirked, leaning against the doorway like he knew something I didn’t. I clenched my fists, caught somewhere between anger and a strange, creeping curiosity that I hated myself for feeling.
Then, as if on cue, Jason laughed. “Guess you’re stuck with us now, Sierra.”
As we stood there in the driveway, the front door opened again, and Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence stepped out to greet us. Mrs. Lawrence’s face lit up with a bright, warm smile that seemed to erase the tension I felt. She walked toward me with open arms, looking so genuinely thrilled that it caught me off guard.
“Oh, Sierra!” she exclaimed, enveloping me in a hug before I could even react. “I’ve wanted a daughter in this house for so long. You have no idea how happy I am to have you here.” She stepped back, hands still on my shoulders, her eyes glimmering with excitement. “This house has been full of boys for far too long! I’m so excited to finally have a girl around.”
Her enthusiasm was almost overwhelming, and I managed a small, uncertain smile. Part of me wanted to resist her warmth, to keep my guard up. But the way she looked at me—with a softness and warmth that was so unfamiliar—it almost felt comforting. Still, I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that I was somehow trespassing into their lives.
Mr. Lawrence followed closely behind, extending a hand to my father with a wide, welcoming grin. “It’s good to see you again, old friend,” he said, his voice warm and grounded. He turned to me next, his gaze softening as he looked me over. “And this must be Sierra. Welcome to our home, my dear. We’re honored to have you here.”
“Thank you, Mr. Lawrence,” I murmured, trying to keep my voice steady. This kindness was unexpected, but I could feel a part of me warming to it, despite my own reluctance.
As if on cue, several domestic workers appeared, moving swiftly to unload our bags from the car and carry them inside. My father exchanged a few words with Mr. Lawrence, but I was only half-listening, distracted by Mrs. Lawrence, who was still beaming at me with excitement.
“You’re going to love it here, Sierra,” she said, her voice filled with a motherly warmth I wasn’t used to. “Anything you need, please let me know. And I want you to make yourself at home, truly. You’re family now.”
“Thank you,” I replied softly, a mixture of gratitude and hesitation in my tone. This place, as grand as it was, didn’t feel like home. Not yet. And looking over at Jayden and Jason, with their smug smiles and knowing glances, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t going to be as simple as Mrs. Lawrence seemed to believe.
Jason gave me a quick, mischievous wink. “Guess you’ll have to put up with us boys for a while,” he teased, clearly amused by my unease.
Jayden leaned against the doorframe, still smirking. “Welcome to the family, Sierra,” he said, his voice tinged with something I couldn’t quite place—a mix of amusement and challenge.
I swallowed, unsure how to respond. Part of me wanted to turn around, climb back into the car, and leave. But here I was, standing at the threshold of their grand home, with everyone watching me, waiting for me to settle in.
Mrs. Lawrence wrapped an arm around my shoulder, gently guiding me toward the entrance. “Come inside, dear. Let’s get you settled.”
As I stepped over the threshold, a strange mix of emotions washed over me. I could feel Mrs. Lawrence’s excitement, Mr. Lawrence’s kindness, Jayden’s challenge, and Jason’s playful ease. But as I crossed into their world, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was stepping into something far more complicated than I’d ever imagined.
I was here, for better or worse. And my life, it seemed, was only beginning to change.