Semua Bab SECRETS & SCANDALS: Bab 41 - Bab 49

Ivy’s POV It was the weekend, thank God. No school today, which meant no weird hallway stares or drama or any of that stuff. The morning was quiet. Weirdly, I didn’t totally hate the idea of going to therapy today. Not exactly fun, but not scary either. The chairs didn’t feel so stiff anymore. Ms. Kay’s voice didn’t annoy me like it used to. I still got nervous, yeah. Just not the kind that made me feel like I was gonna throw up or pass out. I got there early. The windows were all open, which was weird. Maybe someone finally complained. My arms were cold, but whatever. Better than sweating through another group. A few were already in the circle, chatting like it wasn’t weird being here. It always felt weird to me. That’s when I saw Derek. Back row. Hoodie up. Legs stretched like he owned the place. Head down like he couldn’t care less. He looked half asleep. Or like he wanted to disappear. I sat a few chairs away from him. Tried not to stare, which obviously meant I stared. I

Liam’s POV After I told Elda off, I couldn’t stand still. I needed to see Ivy. I looked everywhere—hallways, gym hallway, art block, even that stupid quiet corner near the old lockers. Nothing. Zane found me pacing. “We have to get back to practice,” he said. I didn’t argue. My head was a mess. My hands were clenched, like I needed to hit a wall or something. We got back to the field. Coach yelled at us for being late. I didn’t even hear half of it. Practice ended. Zane and I were the last ones off the field. “You good?” he asked, walking beside me. I didn’t answer. “Because you’ve been a wreck lately,” he added, not even trying to sugarcoat it. “You always look like you’re ready to swing at something.” I stopped walking. “I like her.” Zane blinked. “Who?” I looked him dead in the eye. “Ivy.” He didn’t say anything. I swallowed. “I didn’t even know when it started. I just… I care. I think about her. All the time. The way she talks. How she keeps everything bottled up. I

Ivy’s POV I didn’t want to see either of them. Not Zane. Not Liam. I didn’t even want to be in school. I was nervous from the second I woke up. I got ready slower than usual. Tried changing up my route to class. Walked through school like I was trying to disappear. I kept my head down, took different hallways, skipped my locker. Just wanted space. Quiet. Time to think. My brain wouldn’t stop. Zane liked me. Liam liked me. What the hell was I supposed to do with that? Why now? Why this? My brain was still fried from the cafeteria mess. Or the stares. Or everything else. And of course, avoiding people at school? That’s a joke. Zane kept showing up. Like literally just... appearing. I’d turn a corner—there. Walk out of class—he’d be leaning against the wall like he just happened to be there. Hands in his pockets. Smiling like it was normal. He asked how I was. Walked me to class. Twice. Even when I said I was okay. I appreciated it. I really did. But I didn’t know

Ivy’s POV The weekend came way too fast. Saturday. The date with Zane. I didn’t sleep much the night before. I just kept thinking—should I even be going? Zane was nice. Really nice. He didn’t deserve to be led on, not even a little. And I knew I didn’t like him that way. Like… like like him. And I hated that I was still going. But I also felt bad for dodging him so many times. And for spending way too much time with Liam lately. I mean… Zane asked me first. And I kept putting him off. I thought maybe I’d tell him today. Just be honest. But the idea made my chest tighten. Like, would it ruin the whole thing? Would it make it awkward? I didn’t know if I should tell him before the date, so he doesn’t waste his time and money… or after, so I don’t kill the mood right away. I didn’t know what was worse. Anyway, morning came. I hadn’t really decided anything yet. But I still got out of bed and tried to look decent. Not too much, but not like I didn’t care either.