Chapter 6: The Disclosure of Lily
Zane could barely move the next morning, his body stiff and bruised from the previous day's beating. Each step felt like a battle against the raw pain coursing through his muscles. But it was the betrayal that hurt the most. The bruises would heal, but what Lily had done—walking away with Greg and leaving him on the ground—cut deeper than any punch. As he limped to school, Zane's mind raced, replaying every interaction with her over the past few months. How had he missed it? How had he not seen what was right in front of him?
Arriving at school felt like walking into a war zone. Zane kept his head down, avoiding the judgmental stares and whispers that followed him like shadows. Word had already spread about his confrontation with Greg, and while some might have admired his courage, no one was brave enough to openly support him. It was as though the school had turned into a battlefield, with Greg and his gang ruling like tyrants.
Zane spotted Lily near her locker, laughing with Greg. His stomach twisted as he saw her hand casually resting on Greg's arm, her bright eyes gleaming in the morning light. Zane's heart plummeted. She was aligning herself with them, with the very people who had tormented him for years.
Zane took a deep breath, his pulse quickening. He had to talk to her, to understand why she had done it. He needed answers, even if he already knew the truth deep down. As he approached, the laughter between her and Greg died down, their eyes locking onto him like a predator spotting its prey.
"Lily," Zane said, his voice barely above a whisper, but there was a firmness to it. "We need to talk."
Lily glanced at Greg, who shot Zane a smug grin before leaning in to whisper something in her ear. Zane's stomach turned as he caught the flicker of amusement in her eyes. "Fine. What do you want, Zane?" she asked, her tone flat, as if they were strangers instead of people who had once shared everything.
Zane stared at her, struggling to reconcile the person standing in front of him with the girl he thought he knew. "Why?" he asked, his voice cracking slightly. "Why are you with them? Why did you just… leave me like that?"
Lily's face hardened, and she crossed her arms over her chest. "Look, Zane, it's not that complicated. You've always been... different. People talk, you know? They say things. And after a while, you start to wonder if maybe they're right. I don't need your drama in my life. Greg—" she glanced at Greg, who watched the exchange with a bored expression, "—he's just more… fun."
Zane blinked, disbelief flooding his system. "Fun?" he repeated, his voice rising. "Greg and his friends beat me to a pulp yesterday, and you call that fun?"
Lily shrugged again, her expression cold. "You asked for it. You should've known better than to try and stand up to them. I mean, what did you expect?"
The words hit him harder than any punch Greg had thrown. His breath caught in his throat as he stared at Lily, searching for any trace of the girl he had once cared about, but all he saw was someone he didn't recognize. Someone who had chosen to side with the bullies rather than stand by his side.
"Wow," Zane muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. "I thought you were better than this. I thought you were… different."
"Maybe you don't know me as well as you think," Lily replied, her voice laced with disdain. "Maybe you're the one who's different. Sticking out all the time, making yourself a target."
Zane's jaw clenched. "You've changed," he said quietly, pain flooding his chest. "This isn't you. You're not like them."
Greg let out a sharp laugh, stepping closer to Zane. "Nah, she's just finally seen the light, Zane. You don't belong here, man. You never did. So why don't you just back off before things get ugly again?"
Zane ignored him, his focus solely on Lily. "This isn't you," he whispered, his voice filled with sadness. "You're just scared of them."
Lily's eyes flickered, but she quickly masked any sign of emotion. "You're wrong, Zane. This is who I am now."
The words shattered whatever was left of his heart. Zane stepped back, realizing there was nothing left to say. The girl he had known was gone. As he turned and walked away, he felt the weight of her betrayal pressing down on him, threatening to crush him.
As Zane walked the halls, the laughter of Greg and his friends followed him like a shadow. It echoed in his ears, twisting the knife of betrayal deeper. He wanted to scream, to lash out, but he knew it wouldn't help. They thrived on his anger, on his pain. Instead, he found a quiet corner in the library, hoping to drown out the world with the silence of the pages around him.
But the quiet only amplified his thoughts, his feelings. He replayed every moment he had shared with Lily, the laughter, the late-night conversations. They had been building something, he thought—at least, he had thought so. Now, it felt like all of it had been a lie, a façade hiding the truth that had just come to light.
Suddenly, the library doors swung open, and the loud, boisterous voices of Greg and his gang echoed through the otherwise hushed room. Zane's heart sank as he instinctively ducked behind a row of bookshelves. He held his breath, hoping they wouldn't notice him.
"Can you believe that loser?" Greg's voice boomed, making it impossible for Zane to ignore. "Zane actually thought he could take me on. What a joke!"
Laughter erupted among the group, and Zane felt his fists clench at his sides. The humiliation of being talked about so openly ignited a fury inside him, but he forced himself to stay hidden. He couldn't give them the satisfaction.
"What's with Lily?" one of the boys chimed in. "I thought she was supposed to be with him."
"Please," Greg scoffed. "She's too good for him. She's finally wised up. Zane is nothing but a punching bag, and she deserves better."
Their laughter rang in Zane's ears, each taunt digging deeper. He felt trapped in a nightmare, unable to escape the words they flung around so carelessly. His resolve hardened. He wouldn't let them keep him down, not anymore.
As the group moved further into the library, Zane took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm the raging storm inside. He had to think clearly. Lily had made her choice, and as much as it hurt, he couldn't let her betrayal define him.
Zane slipped out of the library, his mind racing with plans. He had to find a way to stand up for himself, to show everyone—including Lily—that he was more than what they thought. He had to change the narrative, to reclaim his story.
After school, he wandered to a nearby park, seeking solace beneath the sprawling branches of an old oak tree. Sitting on the cool grass, he took out his phone and opened a note-taking app. He began to jot down his thoughts, his feelings, and the changes he needed to make.
"I'm not just Zane, the target," he wrote. "I'm Zane, and I will not be broken."
Each word felt like a weight lifting from his chest. He would train, he would learn to fight back, and he would not be a victim any longer. The more he wrote, the clearer his path became. He would seek strength—not just physical, but emotional and mental strength too.
As dusk began to settle in, Zane stood up, determination flooding through him. He had a plan now. It wouldn't happen overnight, but he would transform himself into someone who wouldn't just take the punches—someone who would stand tall and fight back against the tide of bullying and betrayal.
With one last look at the sun setting on the horizon, Zane felt a flicker of hope igniting within him. The path ahead was uncertain, but he knew one thing: he was done being the one left behind. It was time to take control, time to rise above the ashes of betrayal.