[JASMINE – POV]
The air around us thickened.
Lucas stared at the note, silent for too long. I could see it in his eyes—he knew something. Something I didn't.
"Lucas," I said quietly, "who wrote it?"
He didn't look at me. Not at first. He just folded the note like it might bite him and slipped it into his back pocket.
"I need to check something first," he said, his voice low.
"Lucas—"
"I promise I'll tell you. But I can't be wrong about this."
Then he was gone. Just like that.
And I stood there, surrounded by lockers and whispers and fear clawing at my chest.
[LUCAS – POV]
The handwriting on that note was too familiar. I'd seen it before—on detention slips, art projects… and one very specific birthday card two years ago.
I found her behind the gym, exactly where I thought she'd be.
"Why?" I asked flatly.
She turned slowly, guilt already written all over her face.
"It wasn't supposed to scare her," Amara said, arms crossed, eyes defiant. "It was just a warning."
"You followed her?"
"No! I just… I heard about Ayo. And I saw the way you've been with her. I thought she should know not to trust too quickly."
I stared at her, disgusted. "You threatened her."
"It wasn't a threat—"
"It felt like one." My voice cracked. "You don't get to mess with her just because you're jealous."
Her face fell. "So it's true. You really love her."
I didn't answer.
I didn't need to.
[JASMINE – POV]
When Lucas told me it was Amara, I didn't cry.
I didn't scream.
I just laughed—soft and bitter.
"I should've known," I said. "Girls like her don't lose quietly."
Lucas reached for my hand. "I'm sorry."
I squeezed it. "I'm not scared of her. But next time, tell me sooner."
He nodded, guilty. "Next time, I'll do better."