Mr. Popular and I

The cold night air bites at your skin as you stand on the street, bundled in your sleeping robe, staring at the ruins of what was once your home. Your parents flank you, their faces etched with disbelief and worry. The roof has completely collapsed, leaving a gaping hole where your bedroom used to be. Firemen mill about, confirming the obvious – the house is uninhabitable.

Your neighbors gather, pointing and whispering, some offering apologies while others snicker. Humiliation washes over you. You try to focus on the fact that your family is safe, but the loss of everything you owned stings.

Suddenly, a familiar figure approaches your father. It's Malcolm Parker, an old friend. To your astonishment, he offers your family a place to stay at his house – a sprawling mansion. As you drive towards the opulent residence, a mix of gratitude and anxiety churns in your stomach, especially when you realize that living here means living under the same roof as Malcolm's son, River Parker – the most popular, and arguably, most arrogant guy at your school.