17: The Threats
536 Words
The message burned on my screen long after I read it.
Careful, Princess. Secrets don’t stay hidden forever.
My fingers trembled as I clutched the phone, my pulse racing so loudly I swore the whole house could hear it. I wanted to believe it was a prank, but deep down, I knew better.
Someone knew.
⸻
The next morning at school, every glance felt like an accusation. Every whisper sounded like it was about me. I scanned the hall, searching for the guilty face, but everyone looked the same—smirks, laughter, indifference.
“Liv, you look pale,” Maya said, looping her arm through mine. “Are you sick?”
“I’m fine,” I lied, forcing a shaky smile.
But my eyes betrayed me, darting across the hallway until they landed on Chelsea. She was leaning against her locker, typing furiously into her phone, her lips curled into a sly smile.
Of course.
Chelsea had been circling me for weeks. If anyone had been watching closely enough, it was her.
⸻
I found Jason after class, cornering him before he could slip into the cafeteria.
“We have a problem,” I said, thrusting my phone at him.
He scanned the message, his jaw tightening. “Who sent this?”
“I don’t know,” I admitted, my voice low. “But I think it’s Chelsea.”
His expression darkened. “Then I’ll—”
“No!” I cut him off sharply, gripping his arm. “You can’t threaten her again. That’s exactly what she wants. If she knows we’re hiding something, she’ll use it against us.”
Jason studied me, his eyes burning with frustration, but also something softer. Concern. “Then what do you suggest, Princess?”
I swallowed hard. “We act normal. Like there’s nothing to find. If she thinks she has power over us, she’ll push harder. But if we don’t react—”
Jason shook his head. “You’re too trusting. People like Chelsea don’t stop. They keep digging until they’ve buried you.”
His words sent a shiver down my spine, but I stood firm. “If we panic, she wins.”
For a long moment, he just stared at me, the storm in his eyes barely contained. Finally, he exhaled, muttering, “Fine. But if she comes for you, Liv—” His voice dropped, dangerous. “I won’t sit back.”
⸻
By afternoon, the whispers had shifted. People weren’t just talking—they were watching. Every time I passed through the hall, I felt eyes on me, waiting for me to slip, to confirm the rumors.
And Chelsea? She was everywhere. A lingering smile in the cafeteria. A raised eyebrow in class. A not-so-subtle comment to her friends about “forbidden romances” that sent laughter rippling through the room.
She hadn’t said anything directly to me, but her silence was louder than words.
She had something. I could feel it.
⸻
That night, another message lit up my phone.
It’s only a matter of time before everyone knows. How long do you think Jason will protect you then?
My blood ran cold.
This wasn’t just a rumor anymore. It was a threat.
- Writer
