School didn't change.
That was the strangest part.
The hallways were still loud. Lockers still slammed. Girls still laughed too sharply. Teachers still acted like the world was stable.
Like people didn't bleed behind closed doors.
Like gravity hadn't loosened its grip.
Cypriana walked through East Ridge High with her stomach twisted tight.
Her cheer friends swarmed around her, talking about nothing.
"Montgomery's party was insane."
"I literally blacked out."
"Matt was so drunk, it was hilarious."
Cypriana smiled at the right moments.
Nodded.
But her mind wasn't here.
It was in that house.
That window.
That voice.
That sickening thud.
Her fingers curled around her phone in her hoodie pocket, unread messages glowing on the screen.
Matt: You okay?
Matt: Don't do anything stupid.
Matt: Just… let it go for now.
Cypriana swallowed hard.
Let it go.
How do you let something like that go?
Her gaze lifted instinctively.
And there he was.
Andrew Detmer.
Walking alone down the hallway like he always did.
Hood up.
Camera strap across his shoulder.
Invisible.
Except now he wasn't invisible to her.
Now she saw the bruises under the silence.
The exhaustion behind his eyes.
Andrew didn't look at anyone.
But Cypriana felt it anyway.
The awareness.
Like a wire stretched between them.
She slowed.
Her friends kept walking without noticing.
Cypriana's heart pounded.
She turned.
Followed him.
Andrew stopped at his locker.
His movements were sharp, controlled. Like if he moved too gently, he'd fall apart.
Cypriana approached carefully.
"Andrew."
His shoulders stiffened.
For a second, he didn't turn.
Then, slowly…
He looked at her.
His eyes were flat.
Cold.
Not drunk bravery anymore.
Not quiet curiosity.
Just distance.
Cypriana's throat tightened.
"I—"
Andrew cut her off.
"Don't."
The word was soft.
But it hit like a slap.
Cypriana blinked.
"Andrew, I just want to—"
"I said don't."
His voice was sharper now.
A couple students passed by, not paying attention.
Cypriana lowered her voice desperately.
"I saw—"
Andrew's jaw clenched.
His hand tightened around his locker door.
"You didn't see anything."
Cypriana's eyes burned.
"I heard it."
Andrew's gaze flickered.
For the first time, something cracked through the cold.
Not sadness.
Not relief.
Anger.
"Why were you there?" he hissed.
Cypriana flinched.
"I followed you."
Andrew let out a bitter laugh.
"Of course you did."
Cypriana's voice trembled.
"I was worried."
Andrew leaned closer, eyes sharp like glass.
"Don't be."
Cypriana swallowed.
"I'm sorry."
Andrew stared at her.
His voice dropped low.
"You're not sorry."
Cypriana froze.
Andrew's lips curled slightly.
"You're curious."
Cypriana's chest tightened painfully.
"That's not true."
Andrew's eyes darkened.
"You don't get to look at my life like it's some… sad movie."
Cypriana whispered, "Andrew…"
His breathing was uneven.
Then, quieter—
Almost cruel—
"Go back to Matt."
Cypriana stiffened.
"What?"
Andrew's gaze flickered past her.
Cypriana turned—
And there he was.
Matt.
Standing down the hallway, watching.
His posture tense.
Protective.
Like he'd been waiting.
Cypriana's stomach dropped.
Andrew saw her reaction.
His expression hardened immediately.
"There."
He nodded once.
"That's where you belong."
Cypriana's voice cracked.
"That's not fair."
Andrew's laugh was empty.
"Nothing's fair."
He slammed his locker shut.
The sound echoed.
Cypriana stood frozen.
Andrew walked away without looking back.
But she felt it.
The air around him was wrong.
Heavy.
Like his emotions were pulling at the world itself.
Matt reached her a second later.
His voice was tight.
"What did you say to him?"
Cypriana blinked.
"I didn't—Matt, I just—"
Matt grabbed her arm gently, but firmly.
"Cypri, stop."
She stared at him.
Matt's eyes were intense.
"You can't do this."
"Do what?"
Matt's voice lowered.
"You can't go chasing after him like you're gonna save him."
Cypriana's throat tightened.
"I'm not trying to save him."
Matt's jaw clenched.
"Then what are you doing?"
Cypriana didn't have an answer.
Because she didn't know.
She just knew Andrew looked like someone standing on the edge of something terrible.
And she'd seen what was waiting behind his front door.
Matt exhaled sharply.
"Come with me."
Cypriana blinked.
"Where?"
Matt's voice softened, almost pleading.
"Just… away. Before Steve shows up and makes it worse."
As if summoned by the universe—
"Too late!"
Steve appeared, grinning, sliding up beside them.
His eyes bounced between their faces.
"Oh my god."
Cypriana groaned.
Steve's grin widened.
"You two look like divorced parents."
Matt glared.
Steve ignored him completely.
"So…"
Steve leaned closer, voice delighted.
"What happened with Andrew?"
Cypriana snapped, "Nothing."
Steve's eyebrows shot up.
"That's a lie."
Matt muttered, "Steve, shut up."
Steve laughed.
"Ohhhh, this is getting dark."
Cypriana's stomach twisted again.
Because Steve was right.
It was getting dark.
And Andrew…
Andrew was already disappearing into it.
Far down the hallway…
Andrew walked alone.
His hands were shaking.
His breathing was too loud.
He could still feel her eyes.
Her pity.
Her voice.
And Matt.
Always Matt.
Andrew's jaw clenched until it hurt.
His locker rage wasn't gone.
It was building.
He stepped into an empty stairwell.
Silent.
Cold.
Andrew lifted his hand without thinking.
A trash can across the landing trembled.
Then—
It flew.
Slamming into the wall with a violent crash.
Andrew stared at it, chest heaving.
His eyes burned.
Not with tears.
With something worse.
Something waking up.