As the final bell rang, Arthur's anxiety peaked. His thoughts raced, making his steps heavy as he slowly headed toward the rooftop. He knew Nora was waiting for him, eager to ask about his odd behavior throughout the day. True to Nora's word, Richard, Henry, Jane, and Nora had gathered there, their faces full of expectation.
But just as everyone settled in to wait for Arthur, Nora's phone buzzed. Glancing at the screen, her expression darkened. She stood abruptly, a sense of urgency flashing in her eyes.
"I need to leave," she said, pocketing her phone.
Richard frowned, clearly annoyed. "What do you mean? You're the reason we're all here. We need to talk to Arthur together."
"There's someone waiting for me at the school gate. You guys go ahead and question him," Nora replied, already halfway to the door. "I'll meet you all at the entrance later."
The frustration was palpable, but Nora left without another word. A few minutes later, Arthur arrived at the rooftop, looking confused as his eyes darted around, searching for someone who wasn't there.
"Where's Nora? She's the one who called me here," Arthur asked, looking at his friends. Richard stepped forward. "Actually, we asked her to invite you up here. We need to talk."
Arthur's heart pounded in his chest. He had been lost in thought all day, wrestling with feelings he didn't fully understand. His friends stared at him, their eyes searching for answers he wasn't ready to give.
"What's going on with you, Arthur?" Henry pressed, his voice serious. "You've been acting strange all day, and Nora noticed. She's worried."
"Yeah," Richard chimed in. "She said you've been ignoring her, and she doesn't know why."
Arthur swallowed hard. "I'm fine. Really." But his friends didn't buy it. Jane shook her head. "You need to talk to her. She's sensitive, Arthur. If she thinks you're avoiding her, she might go back to being that cold, distant person she was when she first transferred."
The weight of their words pressed down on him, and Arthur realized he had to clear things up with Nora. He couldn't let her misunderstand him any longer. They decided to leave Arthur to sort it out, urging him to meet her at the school gate and be honest.
As they walked away, Arthur's chest tightened with guilt. He had to make things right. Without wasting any more time, he hurried toward the school entrance, heart racing. But when he arrived, Nora was nowhere to be seen. Panic surged through him until he spotted her car parked at a nearby supermarket. He rushed toward it, finding Nora's driver standing beside the vehicle. "Where's Nora? I need to talk to her."
The driver, recognizing him from the many times Arthur had walked Nora to her car, gestured toward the store. "She's inside."
Arthur didn't wait for further explanation. He dashed into the store, scanning the aisles for Nora. His eyes finally landed on her, but she wasn't alone. Standing beside her was a tall man, dressed in expensive clothes, his presence commanding. They weren't buying anything, just talking—too comfortably, too secretively.
Arthur's breath caught in his throat when he recognized the man. It was Max, the CEO of Innovators—Luna's rival. But what was he doing here with Nora? Uncle Sam had mentioned Max was abroad. Arthur ducked behind a display, his heart hammering in his chest as he tried to listen to their conversation.
"So, do you like Arthur?" Max's voice was calm but sharp. "I've heard you two are pretty close." Nora's response was cold. "No, I don't."
Max's eyes narrowed. "Good. Remember, the only reason I let you transfer to Sunrise from your rich, prestigious school was because you agreed to help me. I need information on Luna, and Arthur is her weakness. Don't forget that." Arthur's world shattered. His mind reeled, unable to process the betrayal he had just witnessed. Nora had been working with Max this entire time—using him to get to Luna. A sudden notification sound interrupted their hushed conversation. Max and Nora turned toward the source, their eyes landing on Arthur, standing frozen with his phone in his hand.
Without a word, Arthur fled the store, his heart breaking with every step. Behind him, Nora's face paled in panic, realizing that her secret had been uncovered. Arthur's legs carried him faster than his mind could process. His phone buzzed again, and this time it was a text from Luna.
*Confess your feelings, little brother. You've got this! I believe in you. *
Tears welled up in Arthur's eyes as he read her words. Luna had always been his protector. And here he was, the fool, causing her trouble while she was still encouraging him. Another text followed:
*You'll have to reenact how you confessed when I get home. I'm excited to hear all about it! *
The tears came freely now. Arthur quickened his pace, his heart breaking not just because of Nora, but because Luna had been right all along. He was naïve, too innocent, and it had cost him dearly. He had trusted Nora, opened his heart to her—and she had played him.