**Chapter 5: Ariah's Sympathy**

Ariah "Sol" Byone sat on the couch, her eyes fixed on Tracy as she laughed and joked with Evie and Astrid. Ariah had known Evie for a while, and she had seen the way Evie could effortlessly charm people into doing her bidding. But there was something about Tracy that tugged at Ariah's heartstrings. Maybe it was the way Tracy seemed to light up when she was around Evie, or maybe it was the way Tracy's eyes seemed to cloud over when she was alone. Whatever it was, Ariah couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for Tracy. She had seen the way Evie and her friends had taken Tracy under their wing, introducing her to a world of parties, boys, and substance abuse. Ariah had tried to stay out of it, to just observe from the sidelines, but she couldn't help but feel a little guilty. She had always prided herself on being a good friend, but now she wasn't so sure. As she watched Tracy, Ariah noticed the way she seemed to be changing. Her clothes were different, her hair was different, and her attitude was different. She seemed to be trying to fit in with Evie's crowd, but Ariah could see the pain and uncertainty behind her eyes. Ariah took a deep drag on her joint, feeling the familiar buzz of marijuana as it hit her lungs. She had always been a bit of a stoner, and it was something that helped her cope with the stress and anxiety of her life. But as she watched Tracy, she couldn't help but feel a little worried. Tracy was so young, so vulnerable, and she was getting in over her head. Evie noticed Ariah's gaze and followed it to Tracy. "Hey, Sol, what's wrong?" she asked, her voice low and conspiratorial. Ariah shook her head, trying to clear the haze. "Nothing, Evie. I just...I don't know, I feel bad for Tracy, that's all." Evie raised an eyebrow. "Feel bad for her? Why? She's having the time of her life." Ariah sighed, trying to find the right words. "I don't know, Evie. She just seems so...lost. And you're not helping, with all this stuff you're introducing her to." Evie laughed, a cold, hard sound. "Oh, come on, Sol. You're not going to start lecturing me about being a good influence, are you?" Ariah shook her head, feeling a little frustrated. "No, Evie, I'm just saying...I don't know, maybe we should be looking out for her, instead of dragging her down." Evie rolled her eyes, but Ariah could see the faintest glimmer of uncertainty in her eyes. Maybe, just maybe, Evie was starting to realize that she had gone too far. As the days went by, Ariah found herself growing more and more concerned about Tracy. She would see her in the hallways at school, or at the parties that Evie and her friends threw, and she could see the toll that Evie's influence was taking on her. Tracy was distant, detached, and seemed to be losing herself in the process of trying to fit in. Ariah knew that she had to do something, but she wasn't sure what. She felt torn between her loyalty to Evie and her growing concern for Tracy. All she could do was watch and wait, hoping that somehow, someway, Tracy would find her way back to who she used to be. Meanwhile, Mason was dealing with his own set of problems. He had always been the protective type, and as he watched his sister Tracy's behavior change over the past few weeks, he couldn't help but feel a growing sense of concern. She was distant, detached, and seemed to be getting more and more withdrawn by the day. Her grades were slipping, and she was spending less and less time with their mother, Melanie. Mason knew that he had to do something, but he wasn't sure what. He felt frustrated and helpless, watching his sister spiral out of control. He just hoped that he could find a way to reach her before it was too late. As he walked into the kitchen, he saw Tracy sitting at the table, her eyes fixed on her phone as she texted with Evie. Mason felt a surge of unease, wondering what kind of influence Evie was having on his sister. He knew that he had to talk to Tracy, to try and reach her before she went too far. But as he approached her, he could see the annoyance in her eyes, and he knew that it wouldn't be easy.