Invisible String

Chapter 25 -The aftermath

We made our way toward the door, the sound of footsteps getting louder outside, the familiar voices of the guys murmuring in the hallway. My pulse was all over the place—I couldn't decide if I was excited or terrified. Maybe both.

At the end of the day, I knew it shouldn't matter what anyone else thought; the only thing that truly mattered was how I felt about it. But, let's be real—having other people notice the change and actually like it? That would feel really good, too.

Being in the public eye for a while now, I'd learned something: you look as good as you feel. Sure, makeup artists, photographers, stylists—they could polish you up, make you appear perfect. But the energy, the confidence, that was all you. And people could tell, they could feel it, if you walked into a room like you knew you belonged there.

So tonight, I was owning it.

I glanced back at my reflection, adjusting a loose strand by my ponytail. The short black skirt, knee-high black boots and long-sleeved sweater combo was simple but had just enough edge to fit the new look. My makeup was natural, with a little gloss catching the light—nothing too heavy, but enough to make me feel polished and fresh.

"Are you ready for it?" Veronica asked, a spark of excitement dancing in her eyes.

I took one last steadying breath and nodded, feeling the nerves and thrill mix in my chest. She pushed open the door, leading the way, and I followed right behind her.

Crossing the threshold felt like stepping onto a stage. I could already sense the guys' attention shift as I entered the room, their casual conversation pausing as they looked up.

Silence.

Okay, this was awkward. Did they hate it? Did they not know how to tell me it didn't look good? I was used to all eyes on me, but this... this was different. I actually felt intimidated.

I scanned every face in the room, practically pleading with my eyes for someone to say something. Anything.

Then, as if reading my mind, Veronica jumped in. "Well, don't all gasp at once!" she said, clapping her hands dramatically, jolting everyone back to reality. "It's a hair color, not a spaceship landing."

"I actually like the new look," Eros was the first to say, his tone casual but genuine.

"Really?" I smiled, feeling a bit of relief and a bit of warmth. At least one person wasn't about to roast me.

"Yeah, it's very Mariah Carey, and she's like, super hot," Ethan added with a shrug, clearly just as unfazed as Eros.

I grinned, deciding to push my luck. "C'mon, don't be shy. Are you implying I'm hot too?" I teased, catching a glimpse of Logan from the corner of my eye—his brow furrowing slightly.

Ethan looked a little flustered but managed a grin. "I guess so... yeah, you're hot, Gen Gen."

"Thanks," I laughed, enjoying the moment a little too much. I turned back to Logan, raising an eyebrow. "So? Whatcha think?"

Logan hesitated for a second, his usual smirk replaced by a more uncertain look. He glanced at me quickly before looking away, clearing his throat. "Uh, yeah... It's... different."

"Different good, or different bad?"

"Good," he muttered, his eyes not meeting mine. He looked like he wanted to say more but was holding himself back.

It was clear: he didn't like it.

Ethan, sensing the shift in energy, jumped in. "Logan's just being a grump. You look great, Gen. Really pulls off the whole 'don't mess with me' vibe."