Friend or Foe

<p>Sixteen-year-old Ethan Vance is tired of being invisible. When he moves to a new city he knows his ticket to popularity is Julian Hayes-the magnetic trendsetting senior who effortlessly controls the school's social scene. Julian's friendship comes with a high price tag operating on a subtle form of <strong>usury</strong>: demanding unlimited rides endless free food and exclusive use of Ethan's house for lucrative parties. Julian is the perfect <strong>table companion</strong> always <strong>eating with Ethan while everything is good</strong> using constant targeted <strong>flattery</strong> to solidify his position.</p><p>As Ethan sinks deeper into debt and isolates himself from his genuine <strong>humble</strong> friend Maya he risks everything on Julian's promise of lasting status. But when a disaster strikes at a massive house party Julian <strong>drops his mask</strong> completely. Absent in Ethan's <strong>day of trouble</strong> Julian doesn't just leave; he executes a final brutal <strong>stabbing in the back</strong>. By leveraging Ethan's secrets through school gossip channels Julian ensures Ethan is publicly disgraced. <em>The Fair-Weather Formula</em> asks: What is the true cost of convenience and can you recognize a <strong>faithful friend</strong> before you burn the only bridge that matters?</p>