The Post That Broke the Silence

The Post That Broke the Silence

The cafeteria was a war zone.

Plastic trays clattered, the smell of under seasoned fries lingered in the air, and every table was its own little kingdom of drama, judgment, and whispers. Harper weaved between them like a seasoned ghost—unseen unless someone needed the answer to tomorrow’s trig homework.

She dropped her tray across from Mia and immediately slumped into the seat.

“I hate science.”

Mia snorted. “You love science.”

“I hate science with him.”

Mia raised a brow. “He said something, didn’t he?”

Harper didn’t answer.

“Oh my god.” Mia leaned forward, her hoop earrings catching the light. “Tell me.”

Harper stabbed a fry. “He remembered my dragon binder.”

Mia paused. “...From seventh grade?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh hell no.” She whipped out her phone. “That’s a setup. That’s serial killer energy. He remembered a binder, Harper. That’s not flirting. That’s psychological warfare.”

Harper groaned, pushing her tray away. “What am I supposed to do? Pretend like I didn’t feel something when he said it?”

Mia’s expression softened. “Babe, you’re human. You can feel it. But don’t fall for it. You act like there is so much more”

Harper’s phone buzzed.

I*******m: @jaxonbrooks liked your post

She froze.

“Don’t tell me you posted today,” Mia said.

Harper blinked. “I—I mean, yeah. But it was just a dumb drawing. I didn’t tag anyone.”

Mia snatched the phone.

The post was simple. A black-and-white sketch Harper had uploaded last night before bed. A boy and a girl sitting back-to-back. Her caption read:

“Some people only show up when it’s safe to want you.”

Mia stared at her. “Harper. You wrote a caption.”

“I always write captions!”

“Not emotional girl poetry captions!”

Harper snatched her phone back. “It’s fine. No one even reads them—”

New DM from @jaxonbrooks

Her soul left her body.

“No way,” Mia whispered, eyes wide. “Don’t open it. Don’t. He has a girlfriend. He is a walking, cheating, girlfriend-having danger zone.”

Harper's thumb hovered. But her heart was already pounding.

She opened it.

jaxonbrooks:

that drawing hit too hard

you always make stuff feel real

you ok?

Harper’s hands trembled.

“I’m not replying,” she muttered.

“You better not.”

“I’m not!”

But she stared at the blinking cursor like it might solve world peace.

Across the cafeteria, Harper could feel it before she saw it. That tightening at the back of her neck. The sense that someone was watching her.

Kenzie.

The Queen of Madison Grove sat two tables over, flanked by her cheer clones. And she was locked in on Harper like a heat-seeking missile. Her lips were pursed, her phone in her hand.

She was typing something.

“What is she doing?” Harper whispered.

Mia turned casually, then turned back sharply. “She’s screenshotting your post.”

“Oh no. No, no, no.”

“You just made the radar,” Mia whispered. “And trust me, once you’re on it? It’s open season.”

Harper's phone buzzed again.

KenzieMatthews💋 mentioned you in her story.

Mia ripped the phone out of her hand. “Don’t even—nope, I’ll look.”

She tapped and held her breath. Then her jaw dropped.

“She posted your drawing.”

“What?!”

“With the caption, ‘When people fish for attention in black and white 💅💅💅 #stayinyourlane’.”

Harper’s stomach dropped.

And it was on.

Mia’s eyes flashed. “Oh no. Not today, cheer Barbie.”

She pulled out her phone, opened Snapchat, and zoomed in on Harper’s sketchbook with the speed of a caffeinated raccoon.

“What are you doing?!”

“Fighting back,” Mia said with a grin, already uploading it.

She captioned it:

“When your art speaks louder than someone’s recycled lip gloss. ✏️👑 #realtalent #jealousylooksgoodonyou”

Harper grabbed the phone. “You’re going to get us both murdered.”

Mia leaned back, smug. “Good. Let her try.”

Across the room, Jaxon watched it all go down.

He wasn’t dumb. He saw the glances. Saw the DM. Saw Kenzie’s expression harden, he knew she had suspected, he wasn’t as careful as he thought he was, he knew, he was careless sometimes.

And now Harper was looking at him like he was the enemy.

He hated that.

He also hated how much he wanted to cross the damn room and sit beside her instead of beside Kenzie.

But as soon as he stood, Kenzie wrapped her hand around his arm and whispered, “Babe. Sit. You’re making it obvious.”

He froze.

She smiled wide. “Let her draw her little cartoons. Let the nerds bark. They always do when they want something they can’t have.”

His jaw tightened.

He sat.

But his heart? It was already halfway across the room, with the girl who never asked for anyone’s approval... and didn’t hide behind filters and fake laughs.

Harper Lane didn’t play games.

And maybe that was the most dangerous thing about her.