Chapter 1: Exposition
The hum of the fridge was the only sound breaking the silence in Brad's room. His eyes were glued to the textbook on his lap, but his mind was as far from calculus as Mars is from Earth. Through the thin walls, he could hear the muffled laughter and playful banter coming from the living room. Ella and Colton were at it again.
Brad shifted uncomfortably on his bed, trying to ignore the twinge of jealousy that stabbed at his gut. He knew he should be studying, but the sounds next door were a constant distraction.
He could picture them clearly - Ella, her dark hair cascading down her back, laughing at something Colton had said. Colton, his tall frame slouched on the couch, his hands gesturing wildly as he told some story. They were always like that, always together.
Brad had known them since freshman year, when he'd moved into the apartment above theirs. He'd been drawn to Ella immediately, her strength, her confidence. She was like a magnet, pulling him in, even as he knew he should stay away.