Chapter 16 - Chapter 16: Cracks in the Facade

Tuesday morning the rumors had legs.Alex felt them before he heard them—eyes sliding sideways in the halls, whispers that stopped when he turned, phones quickly pocketed as he passed. By second period the story had metastasized: Elena Thompson wasn't just cheating. She was the town's open secret. A group chat screenshot circulated—grainy photo of her leaving Marcus's house at 2 a.m., coat open, heels in hand, lipstick smeared. Someone had circled her in red: "Proof. She's been doing the whole cul-de-sac."In third-period English, Jake slid into the seat beside him five minutes late."Didn't sleep," he muttered, dropping his bag. "Saw the pic. Everyone's seen it."Alex stared at the blank notebook page in front of him.Jake leaned closer—voice low, urgent. "Tell me it's fake. Tell me someone Photoshopped your mom's face on some OnlyFans chick."Alex didn't answer.Jake exhaled hard. "Jesus Christ."Lila sat two rows ahead. She hadn't looked back once. Her shoulders were rigid, pen moving mechanically across her journal. When the bell rang she stood fast, gathered her things, and left without a word.At lunch Alex didn't go to the cafeteria.He hid in the library stacks—old reference section nobody used anymore. Sat on the floor between dusty encyclopedias, knees to chest, hood up.Footsteps approached.Lila appeared at the end of the aisle.She didn't speak at first. Just sank down opposite him, cross-legged, backpack between them like a barrier."I deleted the group chat," she said finally. "Reported the photo. It's probably still out there, but… I tried."Alex swallowed. "Thanks."She picked at a loose thread on her jeans. "Jake's freaking out. He keeps asking me if I think you're okay. I told him I don't know anymore."Silence stretched.Then—soft, careful—"Is she… happy?"Alex looked up sharply.Lila met his gaze. No judgment. Just exhaustion and something that looked dangerously close to grief."I used to babysit for your family," she said. "Your mom always made me feel like I belonged. She'd braid my hair while we watched movies, tell me I was pretty even when I had braces and acne. She was… safe. And now people are saying she's—"She stopped. Swallowed."I don't care what she does with her body," Lila continued. "I really don't. But I care that it's hurting you. And I care that you won't let me in."Alex's throat burned."I don't know how to explain it," he whispered. "It started… I don't even know when. I saw things. Heard things. And instead of stopping it, I… watched. And then I wanted to watch. And then I wanted to be there. Holding her. Cleaning her. Being part of it."Lila's eyes widened—slowly, painfully."You're… involved?""Not like that. Not… sex. Not yet. But I touch her. I kiss her. I taste what they leave. I hold her while they fuck her. And I like it. I crave it."Lila pressed her lips together so hard they whitened.Alex kept going—voice cracking, words spilling like blood from a fresh cut."She says she loves me. Says this is us now. Says I can stop anytime. But I don't want to stop. I want more. I want to be in the room when they tie her down Friday. I want to hold the camera. I want to lick her clean after. And every time I think about it I hate myself, but I get hard anyway."Lila didn't run.She just sat there—silent, pale, breathing shallow.When he finally ran out of words she reached across the space between them.Took his hand.Squeezed once—hard—then let go."I don't understand," she said quietly. "I don't think I ever will. But I believe you're in pain. And I believe you're drowning. And I'm not going to pretend I can pull you out when I don't even know how deep the water is."She stood."But I'm not leaving you to sink alone. When you're ready to talk—really talk, not just confess—I'll listen. No matter how ugly it gets."She walked away—slow, measured steps.Alex stayed on the floor until the bell rang.After school he skipped track again.Walked home the long way—through the park where he and Lila used to swing until the streetlights came on.Elena was in the kitchen when he got there—apron on, stirring something that smelled like childhood: chicken soup with rice, the kind she made when he had a fever.She turned. Saw his face. Set the spoon down."Come here."He did.She pulled him into her arms—tight, fierce, no words.He didn't cry.He just stood there—face buried in her shoulder, breathing her in: vanilla body lotion, faint trace of Marcus's cologne from last week still clinging to her hair.After a long minute she pulled back.Cupped his cheeks."School?"He nodded."Rumors?""Photo. Group chat. Dylan Voss mouthing off. Everyone knows."Elena closed her eyes briefly."I'm sorry.""Don't be."She searched his face."Jake? Lila?""They're… trying. Lila said she'll listen when I'm ready. Jake's pissed I won't talk."Elena exhaled."Do you want to stop?""No."She nodded—once."Then we keep going. But we protect what we can. I'll be more careful. Discreet. No more late-night exits in plain sight. No more photos."She kissed his forehead."And you… you talk to them. Not everything. But enough. Let them see you're still you."Alex swallowed."Friday's still on?""Yes." Her voice was steady. "Hotel suite. Marcus's boss and his friends. I want you there. Camera in hand. My legs over your shoulders while they take turns. Kissing me when I'm shaking. But if school gets worse—if the rumors turn into something that can hurt you—I'll cancel. I'll tell them no."He shook his head."I need it."She studied him—long, searching."Then we do it. Carefully."Dinner was quiet.Soup. Bread. No TV.Afterward she led him upstairs.Not to fuck.Just to lie down—clothes on—her head on his chest, his arms around her.She traced patterns on his hoodie."Tell me about Lila."He did—small things. Dandelion crowns. The time she cried when their dog died. The way she still tucked hair behind her ear when nervous.Elena listened.When he finished she kissed his collarbone through fabric."She sounds like someone worth keeping.""She is.""Then keep her. Even if she can't understand this part. Keep the part of you she's always loved."Alex closed his eyes.Felt the weight of two worlds pressing in.School.Home.Lila's hazel eyes.Elena's green ones.The hotel suite waiting.He didn't know how to hold both.But he knew he wasn't letting go of either.Not yet.