CHAPTER 8
1225 Words
(Makayla POV)
Monday morning should never come so fast.
The sunlight through my window feels like a betrayal, too bright, too sharp. My stomach twists as I stare at my phone, the single letter from last night still on the screen: "K". Short. Distant. Defensive.
I hadn’t meant to be cruel. I just didn’t know what else to say.
I could drive myself. The car keys sit temptingly on my dresser. No confrontation, no awkward small talk, no pretending everything’s okay.
But a part of me—the stubborn part that isn’t ready to let go—keeps me from picking them up.
So I wait. Even though I kind of hate myself for it.
The low growl of Jared’s Jeep rumbles up the street, smooth and familiar. I square my shoulders, grab my bag, and head out.
He’s leaning against the passenger door when I approach, trying to look relaxed. His blond hair is tousled just right, like always. But his eyes—blue, stormy, too intense—watch me like he’s bracing for impact.
“Morning,” he says.
“Hey,” I reply, sliding into the passenger seat.
The silence stretches between us like taut wire.
He starts the engine and pulls away from the curb, and we drive for a full minute before he speaks again.
“So… how was your weekend?” he asks, keeping his eyes on the road.
I stare out the window. “It was fine.”
“You went dress shopping with Jessa?”
“Yeah.”
“Find something you liked?”
“I guess.”
He glances at me, his brow furrowed. “That’s a little vague.”
“Maybe I’m feeling vague.”
Another pause.
“You looking forward to prom?” he asks carefully.
“Sure.”
“Just sure?”
“It’s not exactly life-changing.”
He shifts in his seat. “Depends who you go with.”
I don’t respond.
He exhales through his nose, clearly frustrated. “So. You decided on a school. Wanna tell me which?”
The car turns into the school lot before I can answer. Saved by the bell. Or the parking brake.
“I’ll see you later,” I mutter, opening the door before he’s even in park. I don’t wait for his reply.
Inside, I scan the crowd for Jessa and spot her near the lockers. Relief floods me. My safe space.
“Hey,” she says, sensing the tension on my face. “That bad?”
“Car ride of the year.”
“You wanna debrief or decompress?”
“Class,” I sigh. “Then maybe both.”
Lunch was usually my mental break in the day. A time to breathe, sit with Jessa, and maybe pretend the world wasn’t unraveling.
Today, though, Jessa got pulled into a student council thing, and I was left alone in the cafeteria, halfway through a bland sandwich and scrolling aimlessly on my phone when I heard the unmistakable clack of expensive boots and the sudden shift in energy that always preceded her.
Lyra.
She dropped her tray across from me like we were friends. Or rivals. Or some other awful in-between.
“You’re looking better,” she said with a pointed smile. “After your little… scare the other night.”
My fingers tightened around my water bottle. “How do you even know about that?”
She tilted her head, playing innocent. “Small town. Word gets around.”
“There wasn’t anyone around to see it.”
Her lips twitched. “You’d be surprised who’s watching when you least expect it.”
Something cold slithered down my spine.
“I was out for a run,” I said slowly. “By myself. No one was there—except….”
I hadn’t really told anyone about the wolf. Even then, I hadn’t said much.
Lyra’s gaze sharpened for a half second, then smoothed into practiced charm. “Maybe you just imagined it. Adrenaline and all.”
I looked at her hard. There was something in her eyes that unsettled me. Something… feral.
I went out on a limb and admitted: “That wolf could’ve killed me.”
No reaction from Lyra, she knew about the wolf, but how? “But it didn’t.” Her smile grew wider, crueler. “Lucky girl.”
My heart beat faster. “What do you want?”
“Oh, nothing. Just making conversation. Though—” she leaned in slightly, “—some people don’t know when they’ve wandered into places they don’t belong.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
She gave a small, fake laugh and stood. “You ask a lot of questions for someone who doesn’t seem to know how this place really works.”
Before I could snap back, a voice cut in.
“Lyra,” Jessa said, appearing at my side with fire in her eyes. “Walk. Away.”
Lyra looked between us—smirking, smug—then backed off with a little wave. “Later, Roberts.”
Once she was gone, I exhaled like I’d been holding my breath the entire time.
Jessa dropped into the seat beside me. “You okay?”
“No,” I said. “What the hell was that?”
Jessa hesitated, then shook her head. “She’s just trying to mess with you. That’s what she does.”
“She knew things—things I haven’t told anyone.”
“She’s guessing. Don’t let her get into your head.”
But she already had.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The afternoon drags until Micah plops into the seat next to me in physics.
Micah is… sweet. Tall, charming, and always carrying a faint scent of sweat and hockey gear. We went on a few awkward movie dates back in sophomore year before Jared stepped into the picture.
“Hey stranger,” he says with a grin. “You look like you’re about to launch into orbit.”
“Long day.”
“Fair enough. I heard prom dress shopping was intense?”
“Oh God, is that what people are talking about now?”
“Jessa mentioned it. Also, I may have asked.” He shrugs.
I raise an eyebrow. “Curious?”
“Maybe,” he says. “Also… I heard you and Jared aren’t exactly walking in sync lately.”
My stomach flips. “Is that gossip, or did he tell you something?”
“Neither. You just don’t look at each other like you used to.”
I glance down at my notes. “We’re fine.”
Micah leans closer. “Okay. But if you’re not… going with anyone to prom, I’d really like the chance to take you.”
I blink. “Wait—are you serious?”
“Totally. I never stopped wishing we’d had more time. And it’s prom. It’s kind of the perfect excuse.”
I don’t know what to say. My heart is hammering, not because of Micah, but because this conversation shouldn’t be happening. It only does if things with Jared are falling apart. Are they?
Before I can answer, the bell rings.
Micah stands, slinging his bag over his shoulder. “Think about it, okay?”
He flashes me a soft smile and disappears into the crowd, leaving my mind spinning faster than before.
- Writer
