Burke’s Little Secret

C-8 P-2

Annabeth's POV

The early morning mist was still clinging to the grass of the campus quad when the paperwork was finally submitted. Haley sat at my desk, her finger hovering over the trackpad of her laptop before she clicked the final button with a decisive thud.

"It's official," Haley said, leaning back in the desk chair and letting out a long, slow breath. "The transfer request to Pomona is in. If the admissions office processes everything over the summer, I’ll be moving into a dorm down the hall from you by the fall semester."

A genuine wave of relief washed over me. After everything that had happened with Dylan, having my best friend permanently on the same campus felt like the first piece of good news in days. "I still can't believe you're actually doing it," I said, leaning against the bedpost. "But I'm so glad you are."

"Me too," Haley murmured, her eyes softening for a brief second before that familiar, sharp spark returned to her gaze. She closed the laptop with a snap and stood up, smoothing down her jacket. "And since I'm going to be a official student here soon, I need to make sure I keep up my favorite hobby."

I groaned, knowing exactly what she meant. "Haley, please tell me you're not still trying to drive Levi insane. After the fight in the fraternity house, his blood pressure is already through the roof."

"Oh, absolutely I am," Haley laughed, a wicked grin spreading across her face. "In fact, it’s more critical now than ever."

I watched her closely, noticing the slight flush on her cheeks that she tried desperately to hide. I knew her better than anyone, and beneath all the bravado, the teasing, and the three years of constant bickering, I knew the truth. Deep down, in a secret corner of her heart that she refused to acknowledge out loud, Haley still had a tiny bit of lingering feelings for my twin brother. The rivalry wasn't just for fun; it was the only way she knew how to keep him close without letting her guard down. But she would rather die than announce that to the world, especially after the disaster with Dylan.

"Come on," Haley said, grabbing her sunglasses. "Let's go find the bodyguard crew. I need some coffee."

We found the team near the athletic complex, just as the early morning practice session was wrapping up. The players were filing out of the locker rooms in clusters, carrying heavy duffel bags and looking completely exhausted.

Levi was already in the middle of a massive anger outburst. He was pacing back and forth on the concrete walkway, gesturing wildly with his hands as he yelled at two sophomore defensive backs who were slumping their shoulders in embarrassment.

"You completely missed the coverage gap!" Levi roared, his face turning a familiar shade of dangerous crimson. "If you play like that next Saturday, they are going to run straight over us! I don't care how tired you are, you don't drop your eyes—"

"My, my, Levi. You really shouldn't yell like that so early in the morning. It ruins your complexion."

Levi froze mid-stride, his jaw dropping open as Haley stepped smoothly into his path. The sophomore players took the opportunity to instantly bolt, disappearing down the walkway before Levi could stop them.

Levi spun around, his chest heaving as he glared down at Haley, his fists clenching at his sides. "Haley, I am not in the mood for your games today. I have a headache, my team is playing like amateurs, and you are the last person I want to see—"

"You know," Haley interrupted, taking a deliberate step closer into his personal space, tilting her head up to look him dead in the eye. A slow, incredibly flirty smile spread across her lips, her voice dropping into a smooth, teasing purr that took him completely by surprise. "When you get all angry and commanding like that, it’s actually kind of cute. You should do it more often."

The effect was instantaneous. Levi’s entire tirade evaporated into thin air. He stopped breathing, his eyes widening in complete shock as a bright, unmistakable blush crept up his neck and flooded his cheeks. The fierce, terrifying team captain was suddenly entirely speechless, staring at his ex-girlfriend as if she had just spoken in a foreign language.

Noah, who had been walking up behind them with a water bottle, stopped in his tracks. He looked at Levi’s bright red face, then over to Haley’s victorious smirk, and let out a loud, booming laugh that echoed across the courtyard.

I couldn't help but smile, momentarily distracted by the sheer entertainment of watching Haley dismantle my brother's temper with a single sentence. But as I turned my head to look toward the residential buildings across the lawn, the smile completely died on my lips.

The morning sun was finally breaking through the trees, casting long shadows across the path that led away from the upperclassman dorms—the building where the track team lived.

The heavy wooden door of the lobby swung open, and a tall, familiar figure stepped out into the cool air.

It was Isaac.

My heart dropped like a stone into the pit of my stomach. He was wearing the same gray hoodie from the day before, his hands shoved deep into his pockets as he walked down the concrete steps. But he wasn't alone. A second later, Chloe stepped out onto the landing behind him, leaning against the doorframe in a oversized t-shirt, waving goodbye to him with a bright, familiar smile.

Isaac turned back to say something to her, a casual nod passing between them before he turned to walk down the main path.

He had just snaked out of her dorm.

The realization hit me like a physical blow, knocking the wind right out of my lungs. The petty, blank warfare from the athletic fields yesterday suddenly felt incredibly real, and incredibly permanent. He hadn't just been flirting to get a rise out of me; he had actually gone with her.

As if feeling the weight of my stare, Isaac’s head snapped up. His eyes scanned the courtyard, instantly locking onto me where I stood frozen near the athletic complex.

The moment our eyes met, Isaac stopped dead in his tracks.

The cool, untouchable, blank expression he had worn all day yesterday completely shattered. His face went entirely pale, his jaw tightening as he caught sight of the expression on my face. He froze on the pavement, his hands coming out of his pockets as his posture turned frantic, his eyes searching mine with a sudden, desperate panic. He looked like a man who had just been caught in a trap, completely paralyzed under the morning light.

"Annabeth?" Haley’s voice cut through the fog in my brain, her tone instantly shifting from playful to deeply concerned as she noticed my sudden silence.

I didn't answer her. I couldn't. I just kept my eyes fixed on Isaac, watching the panic dance in his dark eyes across the distance of the quad. The fragile, unsaid things that had been lingering between us during our quiet tutoring sessions felt entirely shattered now. Without a word, I turned my back on him, grabbing Haley’s arm and walking away before the tears blurring my vision could spill over.