The school library had never felt so quiet.
Lynn sat alone in the far corner, her laptop glowing in the dim space. Her fingers hesitated over the keyboard before typing the word:
> Maplewood.
She didn't want to believe whoever had sent the messages. But curiosity had a voice louder than doubt — and something in Alex's eyes when she'd asked about his past… it hadn't been just sadness. It had been fear.
Crown Ridge had a digital archive for student transfers and incident reports — kept for official purposes, but sometimes accessed by students who knew how to look.
And Lynn knew how to look.
The screen loaded slowly.
> Student Record: Carter, Alexander
Previous School: Maplewood High
Transfer Reason: Administrative Discretion
Notes: Involved in altercation resulting in school suspension. No charges filed.
Lynn's heart skipped.
An altercation? With who? Why?
She clicked deeper, but the files were locked. Administrative access required.
Just as she was about to close the window, a hand dropped on her shoulder.
She jumped.
"Relax. It's just me," Gallagher said, slipping into the seat beside her.
She exhaled. "You scared me."
"I scare people with the truth sometimes," he said, grinning.
Lynn tilted her screen slightly. "I was trying to find out what Maplewood means."
"I figured." Gallagher pulled out the note he'd found. "Someone wants this out. Someone who knows his past."
She looked at him. "Do you think I'm doing the wrong thing?"
Gallagher tapped the table gently. "No. But I think Alex deserves a chance to tell you himself. Before a file does."
---
Meanwhile, across campus, Alex walked toward the gym, unaware that eyes were following him.
Sera stood hidden behind the bulletin board, Serenity beside her.
"You're sure he hasn't told her yet?" Sera asked.
"Positive," Serenity replied. "She doesn't know what he did. Or why he ran."
Sera smiled darkly. "Then all we need is the right way to show her."
Serenity hesitated. "He was defending someone, you know. From what I heard… it wasn't what they said."
Sera snapped, "Truth doesn't matter when the lie is louder."
---
In the cafeteria, Peter and Sam were deep in a hushed conversation with Harden.
"She's going to find out soon," Peter said. "We should've warned him."
Sam shrugged. "He wouldn't have listened. He thinks she's different."
Harden looked up. "Maybe she is. Or maybe she'll walk away just like everyone else did."
Alex entered, wiping sweat from his brow. "What's going on?"
Peter stood. "People are digging, man. About Maplewood."
Alex froze.
"I can explain it," he said after a pause.
Sam frowned. "Then maybe it's time you do. Before someone else tells her."
---
That evening, Lynn sat on her rooftop garden. The skyline of City Z stretched far into the night, and she couldn't shake the words from the screen:
"Involved in altercation."
Her phone buzzed. A message from Jordan.
> "Still think you know him? People don't change, Lynn. They just hide better."
She threw the phone down.
Moments later, another buzz. This time from Alex.
> "Can we talk? I need to tell you something."
She stared at the screen for a long time before replying.
> "Meet me at the greenhouse. 10 PM."
---
The greenhouse at Crown Ridge sat at the back of the campus, rarely used after hours. Alex arrived first, pacing.
When Lynn stepped in, he looked up — eyes searching, hopeful, afraid.
"I know you've heard things," he began.
She folded her arms. "I saw your file. But I want your version."
He took a breath. "There was a girl. Her name was April. She was being harassed — by a guy on the basketball team. No one believed her."
Lynn's chest tightened.
"One day, I saw it myself. I tried to stop him. We fought. It got bad. He hit his head on the bleachers. I got suspended. She left school. I transferred."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I thought… if you knew, you'd see me as dangerous. As a liar. I didn't want to lose you."
Lynn stepped forward. "Alex… you protected someone when no one else did. That's not something I'll ever hate you for."
He looked stunned. "You believe me?"
"I do."
He took her hand gently. "Then I need you to believe something else."
She nodded.
"I'm falling for you, Lynn. Fast. And deep. And real."
Her heart swelled. "You're not alone."
They kissed again — softly, slowly — but with all the fire of truth between them.
---
Outside, Sera watched from the shadows, her phone recording. But for the first time… her confidence wavered.
Because what she saw in Lynn and Alex's eyes wasn't fragile.
It was real.