Intro. Cole Van Doren always attracted attention, but to me, he was a sinister mystery. I was Emilia's best friend, Dante's girlfriend and Cole's friend, his presence gave me goosebumps. To me, Cole wasn't just an attractive guy; he was a murderer, and I believed he was involved with Dante, Emilia's boyfriend, in something dark.
On a party night, while the others laughed and danced, I walked away to breathe. It was hard to ignore the laughter of Cole and Dante, happy and carefree. The contrast with what I knew about him irritated me. They shared smiles that, in my mind, hid dark secrets.
Watching from afar, I felt a mixture of anger and fear. How could Emilia be so naïve? As everyone celebrated, my mind was buzzing with doubt. What else did I not know? What were Cole and Dante up to?
When our eyes met, I could feel his contempt. To him, I was an intruder, a shadow in his perfect world.