By the end of the week, Maya could feel the walls of Ridgewood International closing in. Vanessa had not made her move directly yet, but the subtle manipulations, the whispers, the knowing glances, had all increased. Every day felt like walking through a minefield, and Maya had grown acutely aware of every glance and step around her.
As soon as the final bell rang, Maya hurried to the rooftop, her backpack heavy not with books, but with the tension of the day. She needed the quiet, the sanctuary, the place where she and Liam could speak without Vanessa or anyone else watching.
When she opened the door, Liam was already there, standing near the railing, looking out over the city. The afternoon sunlight cast a golden glow across his face, and for a moment, Maya felt all the stress melt away.
"You made it," Liam said, his voice calm, reassuring, but with an intensity that made her pulse quicken.
"I said I would," she replied, moving closer.
Liam stepped aside, letting her stand near him. "I've been watching. Vanessa is planning something. I can feel it in the way the students look at you. She wants a reaction, something to destabilize you."
Maya exhaled, a mixture of nerves and determination swirling in her chest. "I don't care what she does. I won't let her control me."
Liam's gaze softened. "Good. That is exactly what I wanted to hear. You have grown stronger in just a few days. You are learning how to take control of the situation, and that makes you… unpredictable."
Maya felt a shiver run through her at the word. Unpredictable. It was exactly what she wanted to be in this school, exactly what she wanted to be with him by her side.
For a moment, they stood quietly, listening to the wind and the distant hum of the city. The rooftop had become a refuge, a place of trust, and for Maya, a place where her feelings for Liam grew stronger with each passing moment.
"I never thought a school could be this intense," Maya admitted softly. "But being here with you… it changes everything. It makes it feel like I can handle more than I ever thought I could."
Liam turned to her, his eyes locking with hers. "You are handling it. And you will handle whatever comes next. Because you are not facing it alone. Not now, not ever."
Maya's chest tightened. She felt the warmth of his presence, the way his gaze held hers, the way the air seemed charged between them. For the first time, she felt truly seen, truly understood.
"I trust you," she whispered, almost to herself.
"And I trust you," Liam replied, his voice low and steady. "We are a team. Nothing can change that."
The wind tugged at Maya's hair as Liam moved slightly closer, his hand brushing against hers. The contact was brief, but enough to make her heart race. She felt a mix of fear and exhilaration.
"I don't know what Vanessa will do next," Maya admitted. "But I know one thing. I want to face it with you."
Liam's smile was faint, but there was a depth in it that made Maya's chest ache. "And you will. Together. Always."
For a few moments, they stood there, side by side, letting the world fade away. The city below seemed distant, the school irrelevant. On this rooftop, everything that had threatened Maya, everything that had tried to intimidate her, felt smaller and weaker.
"You make it feel… safe," Maya whispered, almost shyly.
"And you make it feel worth it," Liam replied, his voice barely above the wind.
Maya felt her pulse quicken as he reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair from her face. The touch was electric, sending warmth through her body and a rush of emotion she could not name.
They stood there for a long moment, their eyes locked, the rooftop holding them in a world of their own making. No whispers, no threats, no Vanessa. Just them, the wind, and a promise that whatever came next, they would face it together.
Finally, Liam spoke, his voice low and steady. "Whatever happens tomorrow, we are ready. No fear, no hesitation. Just us."
Maya nodded, her heart racing. "Just us."
The rooftop had become more than a sanctuary. It was a place of trust, of courage, of connection. And Maya knew that with Liam Kingston by her side, she could face anything Ridgewood International threw at her.
For the first time, she felt truly powerful.
And she knew that together, they were unstoppable.