hrough a haze-a world where everything seemed of

between periods, or sitting next to me at lunch, he kept a quiet, reassuring presence beside me. It was comforting, but also

but always there. I could feel the weight of his gaze even when I wasn't looking. I tried to ignore him,

wever, was elsewhere-on the things Alex had told me, on the silent war between him and Ryan. I couldn

shadow fell over me. Without

was soft, almost h

ers. He pulled out the chair across from me, his usual calm dem

ied to focus on my work. I could fe

o break the quiet. "Ab

I wasn't sure if he would answer. But the

mething I want to drag you into. I just... I didn't want you to think it was all

sity, the need to understand what lay beneath that perfec

at we would take over the world together someday. But Emily..." His voice faltered, and he caught himself, pausing for a moment. "She was always a part of that. She was supposed to be. But when she di

his eyes. There was anger, yes, but also something deeper

?" I asked, my voice s

ow. Maybe. But it's not just about me. It's about everything that happened after.

weight of his words pressing on me. "What happ

I don't even know if I want to. Some thin

l this was a subject that ran too deep

lking through the halls, lost in my tho

mi

it was Ryan. He was standing by the lockers, h

aid, his voice low and smooth, a faint s

to sound confident, even though

g. "Start? I'm not starting anything. I'm just wonderi

, confused. "Wh

dropped, a whisper that sent a shiver down my spine. "He's just as messed

Ryan's eyes were unrelenting, like

I said, my voice tre

e discomfort he was causing me. "Maybe not. But

hing dangerous. The more I learned, the more I realized I didn't understand any of it-not the tension betw

pressure on his shoulders-and for the first time, I felt like I saw some

really tru

h everything Alex had just shared. The more I thought about it, the more I reali

his face unreadable, his expression as smooth as always. But there was something in th

ftly, catching up

uth was, I wasn't sure if I was okay.

ion I was feeling. I wasn't sure he even knew what he was doing to me. He was so easy t

moment, his gaze lin

o do was spill all the thoughts racing through my head. But som

y voice barely above a whisper. "About your family..

ning, and for a moment, I thought he might pull away, retreat into his usual control

.. some things are

ng that had happened, not with the way Ryan was watching me like a

saw a crack in his façade. He looked almost... afraid. It was

but firm, "but some questions, once answered, can

tone. There was no more pushing, no more pro

he end of the day. I glanced up, feeling a pang of

into a small smile, but it didn't reac

ation with Alex kept playing in my head, repeating over and over. It was hard to shake th

d was still reeling from the conversation with Alex, but I also couldn't stop thinking about Ryan-his wor

aning against the brick wall near the back entrance. Hi

t him. He was dangerous, yes, but that was the very thing that made him so intoxicating. He didn't hide who he wa

without a word, but before I could,

o you?" Ryan said, his voi

ion bubbling to the

ut Alex, don't you? But you're wrong. You're bei

I felt a knot form in my stomach, unea

" I said, trying to sound confident. "All I kn

s eyes. "Intimidate you? No. But I will make you think. Think long and hard about

oed, confused. "What

by. Ryan's gaze flickered toward the sound, and for just a moment, the m

, then turned away, walking q

thing I wasn't seeing, something that had to do with both Ryan and Al

e tension between the three of us-me, Alex, and Ryan-was becom

f the day, I couldn't shake the feeli