It started like any normal day.
Well—normal for a girl trapped in a high-tension love triangle and one embarrassing detention report away from being a school-wide meme.
But still. Normal-ish.
Until it wasn't.
Until I opened my locker and realized:
My sketchbook was gone.
Not "misplaced."
Not "maybe I left it at home."
GONE.
VANISHED.
ABSENT FROM THIS PLANE OF EXISTENCE.
Cue panic spiral in 3… 2… AHHHHHHH.
I tore through my locker like a raccoon on espresso.
Nothing.
Checked the art room. The library. Mina's bag. My soul.
Still nothing.
I ran up to Mina in the hall, eyes wide. "MY SKETCHBOOK IS MISSING."
She blinked. "Okay. Deep breath. Was it the sketchbook? The sketchbook sketchbook?"
"Yes. The Aeron-eyes, Damian-smirk, fantasy kiss scenarios sketchbook."
Mina gasped like I told her I lost a baby goat. "Oh. No."
Thirty Minutes Later: Operation Sketchbook Search™
Participants:
Me (spiraling) Mina (project manager) Jayce (confused but helpful) Suspicion (EVERYWHERE)
Jayce asked the dangerous question: "Wait. Who saw it last?"
Mina and I froze.
Last person who touched it?
Aeron.
But he gave it back. Right?
Second person who knew what was inside?
Damian.
He saw the Aeron drawings. The emotions. The evidence.
And then Jayce whispered, "What if someone took it… on purpose?"
Lunch.
I sat in silence. Heart thudding. Brain overthinking at light speed.
And then I saw it.
A page from my sketchbook.
Pasted to the hallway bulletin board.
A drawing of Aeron.
The one where he was smiling.
Underneath it:
Written in red marker: "Guess she picked her muse."
I. Was. Going. To. DIE.
I ripped it down and ran to the bathroom.
Locked myself in a stall and tried not to collapse.
How?
WHY?!
WHO WOULD DO THIS?
My heart felt like it was made of wet paper and someone had set it on fire.
After School. Art Room. Confrontation Time™
I didn't know who I expected to find.
But it wasn't both of them.
Damian stood near the windows.
Aeron sat on the counter, looking tense.
"Did one of you take it?" I asked, voice trembling.
They both looked up.
Damian's brows furrowed. "What?"
"My sketchbook. It's missing. And someone put one of the drawings on the bulletin board."
Aeron stood. "Are you serious?"
"You were the last person to touch it," I said to him.
He flinched. "I gave it back, Lira."
"And you knew what was in it," I said to Damian.
He stepped forward. "You think I'd humiliate you like that? After everything?"
Silence.
Guilt curled in my stomach like poison.
"I'm not accusing," I whispered. "I'm just… scared."
Aeron's voice cracked. "Whoever did this wanted to hurt you."
Damian added, "And make you turn on us."
I blinked.
That was when it hit me.
This wasn't just about me.
Someone was trying to make a scene.
Trying to push me away from them both.
And it was working.
End of Chapter 12