16 - The Show

Nova's POV

Nothing prepared me for this kind of attention. Nothing, not even the weeks of rehearsing this version of myself in front of my bathroom mirror.

Ryker's car pulled into the school parking lot and I felt every single pair of eyes turn toward us. Students stopped walking. Conversations died mid-sentence. Someone pointed. Someone else pulled out their phone.

This was nothing like the attention I'd gotten on my first day. That had been curiosity. This was something else entirely. This was scrutiny. Judgment. The hungry gaze of people who couldn't wait to see what happened next.

Ryker was unfazed. He stepped out of the car like he'd done it a thousand times. He walked around to my side and opened my door. He held out his hand.

"Ready?" he asked.

"No."

"Good."

He smiled. That stupid boyish smile. He took my hand and pulled me out of the car.

The crowd parted for us. We walked through the parking lot hand in hand, his fingers warm and steady around mine. I tried to keep my face neutral. Tried to look like this was normal. Like I hadn't been kissed senseless in his car less than thirty minutes ago.

He stopped at the entrance. He turned to me and pressed me against the wall, his body blocking out the rest of the world. His hand came up to my cheek.

He kissed me there. Tender and soft.

"See you at lunch break?" he asked.

I blinked at him. He was close. Too close. I could smell his cologne. I could see the flecks of grey in his blue eyes.

"Uhh," I managed. "Yeah."

He smiled again. Then he pulled away and walked into the school like nothing had happened.

I stayed against the wall for a moment longer. My heart was pounding. My face was warm.

"Well."

I turned. Priya was standing behind me, her arms crossed, a knowing smile on her face.

"That was quite a show you guys put on just now."

"Priya. I—"

"Seems you guys are serious about this couple thing, huh?"

I didn't answer. Maybe because I knew this was a sham. Maybe because I wanted it to be true. I didn't know anymore.

Priya fell into step beside me as we walked inside.

"Look, Nova." Her voice dropped. Serious. "I know guys like him. He's had more girls in this school than the weeks he's actually spent here."

I opened my mouth to respond. She kept going.

"I don't know what's going on. And I know I promised to support you, no questions asked. But I'm really worried you'd get hurt in the process."

She looked at me. Her expression was genuine. Concerned.

"You don't have to worry," I said. "I'll be fine."

"You don't understand." She stopped walking. "Openly dating someone that Harper Caldwell likes is like walking into a war. And Harper Caldwell doesn't lose. I thought this was going to be a couple of pranks just to crack Harper's composed demeanor, but clearly it's much bigger than that."

She looked around. The hallway was crowded. Students pressed past us. She lowered her voice.

"One moment you're all sweet and lovey with her and the next, she's a rivalry. She doesn't want anyone topping her and no one has ever tried." She paused. "Nova, I don't want you to end up like Lydia"

My attention spiked immediately.

"Who's Lydia?" I asked. "What happened to her?"

Priya's face went pale. She looked away.

"Umm. Nothing. No one." She shook her head. "Look, we're not allowed to talk about it. Just promise me you'll be careful."

"Priya, she can't just—"

"Nova. Please. Promise me."

I stared at her. There was something in her eyes. Fear. Real fear.

"Alright," I said slowly. "I'll be careful."

She nodded and walked away. I watched her disappear into the crowd.

Lydia.

That was the name. The girl who transferred out two years ago. The one nobody talked about. The one whose existence was buried so deep that even Priya wouldn't speak her name.

I was getting closer to the truth.

But every step closer felt like I was walking into something dangerous, something much bigger than Lily and the suicide story.

I touched my chest. Lily's heart was beating steady and strong.

I thought about Harper's smile. The coldness in her eyes.

I can make my enemies disappear.

I thought about Lydia. The girl who vanished.

I thought about Lily. The girl who fell.

I was getting closer.

And Harper had no idea who she was dealing with.