Straight or Not

Chapter 4: "The Memory Hurts"

Episode 12: "The Second Chance"

LUCY POV

I stared at my phone.

Ryder.

His name had been on my mind all morning.

After everything that happened between us, I still couldn't understand why he was so determined to go back to Zoey.

Maybe he really loved her.

Or maybe he just couldn't stand knowing that he had lost her.

Either way, I wasn't going to sit back and watch everything happen.

Not again.

My phone buzzed.

A message from Ryder.

Ryder: I'm going to see Zoey today.

I stared at the message for a few seconds.

So he was really doing it.

I smiled bitterly.

"Good luck with that."

He had no idea how difficult it was going to be.

Zoey might have forgiven him once.

But people don't forget betrayal that easily.

Especially when the betrayal came from someone they trusted.

I put my phone down.

There were things Zoey didn't know.

Things Ryder didn't know I still remembered.

And maybe...

Maybe it was time someone reminded them.

ZOEY POV

I had barely finished getting dressed when the doorbell rang.

I frowned.

Who could that be?

I walked toward the door and opened it.

My heart dropped.

Ryder.

He stood there holding a small gift bag.

"Hey."

I stared at him.

"What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see you."

"You could've called."

"I know."

He looked nervous.

That was unusual.

Ryder was never nervous around anyone.

"Can I come in?"

I hesitated.

Every part of me wanted to close the door.

But another part wanted answers.

I stepped aside.

"Five minutes."

He nodded and walked in.

We stood in awkward silence.

Then he handed me the bag.

"What's this?"

"Something I saw and thought you'd like."

I looked inside.

A small perfume bottle.

My favorite scent.

I looked up at him.

"You remembered?"

"I remember a lot of things about you."

I didn't answer.

He sighed.

"Zoey, I know I messed up."

I laughed bitterly.

"Messed up?"

"I know that's not enough."

"No, Ryder. It isn't."

He looked down.

"I hurt you."

"You didn't just hurt me."

My voice cracked.

"You embarrassed me."

He looked at me.

"You cheated on me with Lucy."

His face tightened.

"My stepsister."

"I know."

"You knew how much I trusted both of you."

"I know."

"Then why?"

He didn't answer.

And somehow, that silence hurt more than anything.

"I loved you," I whispered.

"I loved you too."

"Then you shouldn't have done it."

"I was stupid."

"Yes, you were."

A tear escaped before I could stop it.

I quickly wiped it away.

Ryder stepped closer.

"I'm sorry."

I shook my head.

"Sorry doesn't erase what happened."

"I know."

"Then what do you want from me?"

"Another chance."

I stared at him.

"Why?"

"Because I never stopped loving you."

I looked away.

My chest felt tight.

There was a time when those words would've made me happy.

Now they just hurt.

"I can't give you an answer."

"I'll wait."

He walked toward the door.

Before leaving, he turned around.

"I'll prove it to you."

Then he left.

I closed the door behind him and leaned against it.

My hands were shaking.

Why did seeing him still hurt this much?

Episode 13: "The Memory"

MIA POV

My phone rang.

Zoey.

I answered immediately.

"Hey."

"Can you come over?"

Her voice sounded strange.

"Are you okay?"

"Just come."

"I'm on my way."

I grabbed my keys.

I already knew something was wrong.

When I arrived, Zoey opened the door.

Her eyes were red.

I didn't ask questions.

I just hugged her.

She held onto me tightly.

"He came."

I knew exactly who she meant.

"Ryder?"

She nodded.

"He wants me back."

I swallowed.

"And what do you want?"

"I don't know."

She pulled away.

"He apologized."

I stayed quiet.

"He said he still loves me."

My heart sank.

"And?"

"I don't know, Mia."

She looked exhausted.

"I hate that I still care."

I gently touched her cheek.

And then—

Zoey froze.

Her eyes widened.

I immediately pulled my hand away.

"What's wrong?"

She wasn't looking at me anymore.

She was staring into space.

A memory had hit her.

ZOEY POV

The room disappeared.

I was somewhere else.

A car.

Darkness.

My head was spinning.

I was crying.

"I'm not happy. I feel lonely."

My own voice.

Then another voice.

"Are you okay?"

Mia.

My eyes widened.

No.

That couldn't be right.

Another flash.

Mia's hand on my cheek.

Her face.

Her eyes.

And then...

Warm lips.

Mine.

Her lips.

My breath caught.

The memory came rushing back.

I had kissed someone.

I had thought it was Ryder.

But it wasn't.

It was Mia.

Mia.

I stepped backward.

Mia stared at me.

"Zoey?"

"You."

She went completely still.

"You were the one."

"Zoey..."

"You were the one I kissed that night."

She didn't answer.

That silence was enough.

My eyes filled with tears.

"You knew."

Mia looked down.

"I was going to tell you."

"When?"

"I didn't know how."

"You knew I thought you were Ryder."

"I know."

"And you said nothing?"

Her eyes filled with tears.

"I was scared."

"Scared of what?"

"Of losing you."

I laughed, but there was nothing funny about it.

"So you let me walk around thinking I kissed Ryder?"

"I never wanted to lie to you."

"But you did."

She looked at me.

"I pulled away."

"I don't care!"

My voice broke.

"You should've told me!"

"I know."

I turned away.

My chest hurt.

I couldn't understand why I was crying so hard.

I couldn't understand why the memory wasn't disgusting.

Why I could still feel it.

Why my heart was beating so fast.

I hated this.

I hated her.

At least...

I wanted to hate her.

"Zoey..."

"Don't."

I wiped my tears.

"Just don't."

Episode 14: "If I Lose You"

MIA POV

I stood there watching her cry.

I wanted to explain everything.

I wanted to tell her that I never planned for it to happen.

That she was drunk.

That I pulled away.

That I hated myself for keeping it from her.

But none of those words seemed enough.

"I never wanted to take advantage of you."

She looked at me.

"I know."

That hurt even more.

Because she understood me.

She just couldn't forgive me.

"I was afraid that if I told you, I'd lose you."

She looked away.

"You might lose me anyway."

My heart shattered.

I didn't know what to say.

Every word felt useless.

I watched her wipe away her tears, and all I wanted was to take away the pain I'd caused.

But I couldn't.

Not this time.

I had to let her feel whatever she was feeling.

Even if that meant losing her.

LUCY POV

I stared at the message on my phone.

Ryder had just left Zoey's apartment.

I smiled.

So he had finally gone back to her.

Interesting.

But something else caught my attention.

A message from someone I hadn't heard from in a long time.

I read it twice.

Then my smile disappeared.

"Does Zoey know the truth about what happened between you and Ryder?"

My fingers tightened around the phone.

No.

She didn't.

Not yet.

And if she ever found out...

Everything would fall apart.

I looked toward the window.

Maybe I should stay quiet.

Maybe I shouldn't.

But one thing was certain.

The past wasn't finished with us.

And this time...

It was coming for all of us.

Episode 15: "The Truth Isn't Buried"

LUCY POV

I stared at the message again.

"Does Zoey know the truth about what happened between you and Ryder?"

My heart pounded.

Who was this person?

And what exactly did they know?

I typed a response.

Then deleted it.

Typed again.

Deleted it.

I couldn't risk saying too much.

Not yet.

There were things from the past that were supposed to stay buried.

Things that could destroy Ryder's chances with Zoey.

Things that could destroy me too.

I locked my phone and dropped it onto the bed.

But the message wouldn't leave my mind.

If Zoey found out the truth...

Would she ever forgive any of us?

I didn't know.

And maybe that was the scariest part.

MIA POV

I sat alone in my car.

My hands were still shaking.

Zoey's words kept replaying in my head.

"You might lose me anyway."

I closed my eyes.

I knew I had made a mistake by keeping the kiss from her.

But I also knew why I'd done it.

I loved her.

Maybe too much.

And now she knew.

There was no going back.

My phone buzzed.

I looked at the screen.

A message from an unknown number.

Unknown: You should be careful. Lucy knows more than you think.

My stomach dropped.

Lucy?

What did she know?

I stared at the message.

Then another one came through.

Unknown: The truth about Ryder isn't what Zoey thinks.

I froze.

What truth?

I immediately thought about Ryder.

Then Zoey.

Then Lucy.

Something was seriously wrong.

And whatever it was...

I had a feeling it was only the beginning.