Chapter 4 – One Reason
858 Words
Jason didn’t sleep that night.
He stared at the ceiling, phone on his chest, the image of Talia’s crying face burned into his brain. Her hand was holding a razor. She looked lost. Not dramatic. Not fake. Just broken.
And then there was the shadow behind her. Tall. Silent. Close.
Someone had been there. Someone had filmed it.
Jason watched the video five more times. Looking for a clue. A sound. A shoe. Anything.
Nothing. Just her breathing and that shadow.
When he finally got out of bed, his head felt heavy. He barely touched breakfast. His mom was in the kitchen, quiet as usual. She didn’t ask if he was okay.
She never did.
At school, the hallway felt colder. He walked slower. He didn’t look at anyone. Some students still whispered, but not as loud as before. The photo scandal was already being replaced with something new.
Drama moved fast at Belmont High.
Jason saw Jade by the vending machine with her friends. She was laughing again. Her hair was tied up in a high puff and she wore her favorite pink jacket. The one she used to let him wear when it rained.
She caught him looking. Waved like nothing had changed.
Jason forced a nod. Then he noticed her fingers were holding something small. A folded paper.
She slipped it into her pocket fast when no one was watching.
The second letter.
Jason didn’t know that yet.
But Jade did.
This one said,
Even the stars are jealous of your light. I see you even when they don’t. I hear your silence and I love the sound.
Same handwriting. No name. Same smell. Something floral. Sweet.
She didn’t tell her friends. Not yet. It felt like a secret she wanted to keep.
Meanwhile, Jason finally found Talia near the back of the library after third period. She was sitting between shelves, her hoodie up, earbuds in, but not playing anything. Her eyes were red again.
He knelt in front of her.
“I saw the video,” he said.
Talia closed her eyes.
“I’m sorry,” he added.
She didn’t move.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked.
Her voice was low. “I didn’t want you to see me like that.”
“I want to see all of you,” he said. “Not just the strong parts.”
Her throat tightened. She took a slow breath.
Jason sat beside her. He didn’t touch her.
“Who was behind you?” he asked.
“I don’t know.”
“Did you notice anyone in the house?”
She shook her head. “I thought I was alone.”
Jason stared at the floor.
“They sent it to me,” he said. “Said you lied.”
“I didn’t.”
“I know.”
“I was alone when I recorded that. At least I thought I was.”
Jason looked at her. “This person’s not just messing with you. They’re watching. Recording. Following you.”
Talia nodded. “I know.”
He touched her hand gently. “I’m not going anywhere.”
She looked at him.
“I mean it,” he said. “Unless you tell me to leave.”
She didn’t answer right away. Then she whispered, “Then give me one reason to stay.”
Jason looked at her.
“You smiled at me,” he said. “The first day I saw you. I don’t know if you meant to. But you did.”
She raised a brow. “That’s your reason?”
“You smiled, and everything felt less heavy for a second.”
She looked down.
“I’ve never told anyone that,” Jason added. “Not even Sean.”
That made her pause.
Talia finally nodded. “Okay. One more day.”
Jason smiled.
But someone else wasn’t smiling.
Because while they were talking, a phone camera was rolling again. This time from the second floor window above the library courtyard. Someone watching. Recording.
And the next file was already being uploaded to a private folder.
That night, Jason stayed up reading every message that came from the unknown number. He scrolled all the way back to the first one. Just four words.
Stay away from her.
He tried to trace the number. Blocked. Burned.
Then his phone buzzed again.
New message.
You chose wrong. Now you both pay.
Jason stared at it for a long time. His hands were sweating.
But this time, he didn’t show it.
He replied. "Then come out and do it. Stop hiding."
No reply.
Ten minutes passed. Then twenty. Nothing. Until midnight.
One more message came through.
It wasn’t text.
It was a screenshot.
A chat log.
Between Talia
And someone named Ash.
Jason stared at the name.
He didn’t know who Ash was.
But the message Talia had sent said:
I told you I’d handle him. Just wait.
Jason sat up straight.
The screen blurred.
His chest burned.
Was it real?
Or just another setup?
He didn’t know.
And this time, he wasn’t sure he trusted what his heart wanted to believe.
- Writer
