Novels by Fredrik Starr

Danilo’s Pov I sat stiffly at the dining table, hands clasped in my lap, listening for the steady sound of footsteps approaching. A moment later, my father, Hector Ramos, stepped into the room, his fast graying hair and towering frame, looked sharp in a charcoal suit, exuding that same stern authority he always carried like an armour.I rose slightly from my seat and offered a polite, “Good evening, sir.”He gave a curt grunt of acknowledgement, unbuttoning his suit jacket to reveal the crisp sky-blue shirt underneath before settling into his chair across from me. I hesitated for a beat, gathering some nerve, then asked with forced casualness, “Dad, what made you cut your business trip short? I hope everything went well.”He paused mid-motion, his expression hardening as his eyes flicked toward me. “Why? You don’t want me home?”My throat tightened under his gaze. “No, sir. I didn’t mean it like that. I was just… curious. Sorry for being forward.”There was a tense pause before he ex

“Back off,” Carter said. “Now.” The two muggers hesitated, then muttered something I couldn’t quite comprehend and bolted, their footsteps retreating fast into the darkness. I slumped against the wall, trembling. Carter stepped closer, eyeing me. “You good?” I nodded quickly, but my voice cracked. “Y-Yeah. I… they just came out of nowhere.” Carter’s eyes flicked down, checking him over without being obvious. “They didn’t hurt you?” “No. Just… scared the crap out of me.” “Yeah. You’re shaking.” I looked up, meeting Carter’s gaze. For a moment, we just stood there in the quiet street, the sound of crickets and distant cars the only soundtrack. The adrenaline in my veins was slowly ebbing, replaced by a deep, overwhelming sense of humiliation. Of all the people to see me like this. Carter reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a granola bar. “Here.” I blinked. “What?” “You look like you’re gonna pass out. Sugar helps.” Does he always have that in his pocket? I shoved

Danilo’s Pov I couldn’t stop smiling.“You totally killed it in there,” Antonia said, bumping her shoulder against mine. “I mean… I don’t want to make your head grow bigger than it is right now, but you just made half the club look like extras in a school play.”I laughed under my breath. “Don’t say that too loudly. Julian might set my locker on fire.”“Oh, he’s definitely going to do something petty. But let him. He looked like he swallowed a lemon when Mrs. Harrison asked for your full name.”We walked side by side down the hallway, our footsteps echoing in the quiet school as students dispersed. The late afternoon sun had dipped, casting long shadows through the tall windows. The building felt empty now, like it was holding its breath between the end of classes and the start of evening activities.At the front doors, Antonia hesitated. “So… change of plans. Mind if I bail on you? Harper just texted me—movie night at her place. I was gonna say no, but she promised snacks and she ha

Danilo’s Pov I stood just offstage, heart hammering against my ribs like it was trying to escape. The auditorium smelled faintly of dust and old velvet curtains, the kind of scent that clung to school theatre spaces like a ghost of performances past. The stage lights beamed down hot and unforgiving, making my palms slick with sweat as I clutched the crumpled sheet music in his hand.I’d almost backed out—twice.But here I was, standing in the wings of the school auditorium, waiting for my name to be called."Danilo Ramos," came the voice from the centre of the auditorium. Mrs. Harrison, the choir director and musical coordinator, looked up from behind her clipboard, smiling like she didn’t expect much. Oh, I am about to shock her. A few students were scattered throughout the empty seats, waiting for their own auditions or watching with thinly veiled boredom.I stepped out into the light.The moment I took centre stage, the murmur in the audience shifted slightly. I spotted Julian Da

Danilo’s Pov Mrs. Warren leaned forward and pulled a bright yellow flyer from a stack on her desk. She handed it to me. Spring Musical Auditions – “West Side Story” – Open to All Students.“I know your schedule’s packed, but this could be a great opportunity. You’re a natural speaker. Creative. Charismatic. You might surprise yourself.”I stared at the flyer. “The musical?” Why does this keep popping up?Her voice softened. “Antonia told me, you are a very good singer.”I looked up, startled.“As the co-director of the musical,” she continued, “I implore you to at least audition. This is your last year here. Don’t let it pass by without doing something that’s yours. Something you might actually enjoy.”I held the flyer like it was on fire. I thought of my father, and what he would do once he got wind of this. He wouldn't hesitate to drag me through the coals for this.I met Mrs. Warren’s gaze. “When are auditions?”“Today after school. I can talk to the drama teacher and make sure

Danilo’s PovI barely heard a word coming out of my teacher’s mouth. My thoughts were still stuck on one thing—or rather, one person.Had Carter Hayes really looked at me in the hallway?It was stupid, I knew. Maybe Carter had been looking past me, maybe he was sizing up Antonia, maybe he wasn’t even paying attention. But there was a flicker in his expression, something almost teasing in the way his lips curved before he turned away. And I couldn’t get it out of my head.I hadn’t even realized I was smiling faintly until Mr. Flanagan’s voice cut through the fog.“Mr. Ramos.”I blinked. The classroom had gone still. All eyes turned toward me.“Care to join us, or are you planning to daydream your way into Harvard or is it Yale?” Mr. Flanagan stood with his arms crossed, his brow furrowed.I straightened in my seat. “Sorry, sir. I—uh—got a little distracted.”Flanagan didn’t smile. Instead, he stepped away from the whiteboard and picked up a thin stack of papers from his desk. He flippe