Part 22 – Shadows Behind the Smile
The night after the party lingered like an aftertaste Anna couldn't shake off. Ethan's arm around her, his smirk, the way he had made sure the entire school witnessed their closeness—it replayed in her head like an uninvited song. She had kissed him, yes, but deep down, it didn't feel like something she had chosen freely. It was more like being swept into a storm she wasn't prepared for.
And yet, everyone else saw it differently. By the next morning, whispers had filled the hallways. Girls giggled and shared pictures. Boys joked. Even teachers looked at her with veiled glances. Ethan had made sure their kiss and his captions reached every corner of social media.
Anna Rosé was trending—but not in the way she wanted.
When she walked into school, books pressed tightly to her chest, she felt the stares burn against her skin. Some admired her, some envied her, but most judged. Ethan leaned lazily against the lockers, his eyes finding her immediately. He winked. That smile of his—the one everyone seemed to adore—looked charming on the surface, but to Anna, it carried something else. Something darker.
"Morning, Miss Rosé," he said smoothly, sliding up to her side. His tone was casual, but his hand brushed against hers like a silent warning. "Hope you're ready for today. People can't stop talking about us."
Anna forced a smile. "Maybe they should stop."
Ethan tilted his head, studying her with sharp amusement. "Why would they? You're with me. Isn't that what every girl here dreams of?"
Before she could answer, a voice cut in—steady, grounded, and protective.
"Not every girl wants to be someone's trophy, Ethan."
Nick Carter.
He stood there, arms crossed, his gaze firm but not cruel. Unlike Ethan, Nick didn't try to dominate the air around him. He simply was. And in that moment, Anna felt a strange comfort wash over her.
Ethan's smile didn't falter, but his eyes hardened. "Ah, Carter. Always the hero. Always preaching. But Anna doesn't need saving." He leaned closer to Anna, his whisper brushing against her ear, "Do you?"
Anna stepped back. The air between them tightened.
Nick's jaw tensed, but he didn't lash out. Instead, he turned to Anna directly, speaking softly enough that only she could hear. "You don't have to answer him. You don't owe him anything."
That one sentence struck Anna deeper than Ethan's dramatic gestures ever had.
For the rest of the day, Ethan continued his show. He draped his arm over Anna's chair in class, pulled her close in the cafeteria, and threw mocking glances at Nick whenever their eyes met. It was a game to him, and Anna was the prize.
But in quiet moments, when Ethan wasn't looking, Nick's concern reached her in small ways. He picked up the book she dropped when others laughed. He passed her a note in history class: You okay? You look tired. He didn't press for answers. He didn't try to claim her. He just… cared.
And Anna noticed.
That evening, as the sky dimmed to twilight, Anna sat alone on the school's back steps, trying to make sense of it all. She hugged her knees, staring at the ground. The weight of Ethan's attention felt like chains, glittering and golden, but chains nonetheless.
"Hey."
Nick's voice startled her. She looked up to see him standing a few feet away, hands in his pockets. Unlike Ethan, he didn't come closer immediately. He gave her space, letting her decide.
"Can I sit?" he asked.
She nodded.
For a while, they sat in silence, the cool evening air wrapping around them.
"You don't seem… happy," Nick finally said. His words weren't accusing. Just honest.
Anna's throat tightened. She wanted to deny it, to pretend she was fine, but her eyes betrayed her. Nick didn't push. He simply waited, steady and patient.
Finally, she whispered, "It's complicated."
Nick leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "Complicated is okay. Just don't let someone else write your choices for you. That's not love, Anna. That's control."
Her chest ached. It was like he had pulled the very thought she had been too afraid to admit.
When she didn't answer, Nick offered a faint smile. "Look… I'm not here to fight Ethan for you. I'm not here to play games. I just—" he paused, searching for the right words, "—I just want you to be safe. And happy. Whatever that looks like."
Anna blinked fast, trying to keep the tears from spilling. She wasn't used to this—the absence of pressure, the quiet support. It was the opposite of Ethan's overwhelming presence, and the contrast tore at her heart.
Before she could respond, her phone buzzed. A message from Ethan lit up the screen: Where are you? You should be with me, not hiding.
Anna quickly locked the phone, a wave of unease coursing through her. Nick noticed but said nothing.
Instead, he stood slowly and offered his hand. "Come on. Let's get you home."
She hesitated, then placed her hand in his. His grip was warm, steady—not possessive, not forceful.
As they walked, Anna couldn't shake the feeling that she stood at the edge of something dangerous. Ethan's charm was like fire—bright, consuming, but merciless. Nick's presence, on the other hand, was like the quiet strength of water—calm, patient, and life-giving.
And she… she was caught between them.
That night, lying in bed, Anna stared at the ceiling. Ethan's voice echoed in her mind: Isn't this what every girl dreams of? But Nick's words cut through like truth: Don't let someone else write your choices for you.
For the first time, Anna admitted to herself—she was afraid of Ethan. Not openly, not in ways others could see, but deep inside. His smiles, his touches, his perfect mask—they hid something darker.
And somewhere in that darkness, she realized, was a danger she couldn't yet name.