MasukThe rain came before the morning did.Soft, rhythmic, like the sky was trying to hush the world. It should’ve been peaceful — the kindof morning that made you want to stay under the sheets, pretend nothing outside existed. But peacewasn’t something I could afford anymore.Cole’s arm was around my waist, heavy and protective, like even in his sleep he was daring theuniverse to come close. His breath brushed my neck, slow and even, and for a minute, I just stayedthere — still, watching the faint light slip through the curtains and fall across his face.He looked different when he slept. Softer. Like the walls he built just… didn’t exist for a while.And damn, it was dangerous — how much I liked that version of him.He stirred, his nose brushing my shoulder. “You’re staring,” he muttered, voice still rough withsleep.I smiled. “You’re imagining things.”“Uh-huh.” His lips curved. “You always do that when you think I’m asleep.”“Do what?”“Look at me like I’m gonna disappear.”My che
By Wednesday, the school felt like a stage and we were the unwilling headliners.Every hallway we walked through came with a soundtrack of whispers, half-hidden phones, andthat fake laugh people use when they want you to know they’re talking about you.I was trying to play it cool — keep my head up, keep my steps even — but my stomach keptdoing this nervous rollercoaster flip thing.Cole?He walked like nothing bothered him.Hands in his hoodie pocket. Earbuds in. Calm as ever.It made me crazy — in the good way and the what-the-hell-how-do-you-do-that way.“You’re staring,” he said, glancing at me as we walked.I blinked. “I’m not.”He smirked. “You totally are.”“Shut up.”He chuckled. “You love me though.”And I hated how easily my heart stuttered when he said that — so casually, like it was nothing.Like it wasn’t everything.We reached my locker, and for once, no one said anything. Maybe the novelty was wearing off. Ormaybe Ariana had moved on to her next round of chaos.I sho
If I said things calmed down after that note, I’d be lying through my teeth.They didn’t calm down.They just changed shape.People stopped whispering when I walked by — now they stared. Like I was a headline theycouldn’t stop reading.The weirdest part? I didn’t even flinch anymore.Okay, maybe a little.But mostly, I just learned to breathe through it.Cole, though?He was a walking storm.He didn’t yell or throw punches. He didn’t have to. His silence did the heavy lifting.And when Cole’s quiet, that’s when people should start praying.By Friday, the whole school was on edge.Even teachers gave us that look — like they could sense something building. Something that wasgoing to snap.We were halfway out of the school gates when Cole said, “I need to see Ariana.”I froze. “What?”“She started this mess,” he said, shoving his hands in his hoodie pocket. “She can end it.”I snorted. “She won’t. She doesn’t do mercy, Cole. She thrives on chaos.”His jaw flexed. “Then I’ll give her a
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVEI used to think falling for someone would be a clean thing. Like a perfect movie moment whereeverything clicked, and suddenly the world made sense.Yeah. That’s not how it happens.Falling for Cole was messy. Complicated. Loud.And right now? It was dangerous.Monday blurred into Tuesday, and the noise around us didn’t fade — it sharpened. The whispersweren’t just whispers anymore. They had edges. Names. Questions. Accusations.By the time I made it to my locker, it felt like the whole school was humming with rumors.“Did you hear—”“—they were at his house—”“—not even trying to hide it anymore—”Every sentence had our names tucked somewhere inside.When I opened my locker, a folded piece of paper slid out. My heart stumbled as I unfolded it.Four words.STAY AWAY FROM HIM.I stared at the paper a second too long, like it might rearrange itself into something less predictable.It didn’t.“Nate,” a voice said behind me.I crumpled the note and shoved it in my poc
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOURSunday nights used to feel quiet. Like the world was taking a breath before the chaos of Monday.But not anymore. Now Sunday nights felt like the calm right before a storm I couldn’t quite seecoming.I lay flat on my bed, staring at the ceiling like it had answers I couldn’t find. My room was quietexcept for the low hum of the ceiling fan and my heartbeat. Too loud. Too fast.My phone lit up beside me.Cole.Cole: You still up?Me: Yeah. Why wouldn’t I be?Cole: Because it’s 1 a.m., smartass.Me: Can’t sleep.Cole: Same.I stared at the screen, fingers hovering.He typed again before I could.Cole: Want me to come over?My chest tightened. It wasn’t even about him being here — it was about him asking.Me: You’re insane.Cole: Insanely charming, yeah I know.Me: No, just insane.Cole: I’m already outside.I sat up so fast the mattress groaned.“Idiot,” I muttered under my breath, pulling a hoodie over my T-shirt.When I cracked my window open, the cool night air h
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREEThe rumor thing? Yeah, it didn’t die over the weekend. It mutated. Like some weird gossip zombiethat just wouldn’t stay in the ground.By Tuesday morning, it was everywhere. I didn’t even make it to my locker before I heard my namewhispered at least five times. And not in a cute “wow, Nate’s so cool” way. More like “oh myGod, did you hear—”I yanked my hoodie tighter around me like it could block out their voices. Spoiler: it didn’t.The hallway smelled like coffee and cheap cologne. The fluorescent lights buzzed like they werejudging me too.I caught a group of juniors by the drinking fountain. One girl leaned in close, whispering with wideeyes like she’d discovered some national secret. Another giggled. The third just stared at me like Iwas a zoo exhibit.Cute. Real cute.I tried to keep walking, head down, pretending I didn’t exist. But my ears? Yeah, they betrayed me.“—they were totally holding hands—”“I swear, Ariana said she saw them at the edge of t







