The next day at Ridgewood International, Maya could feel the tension in the air before she even stepped into the building. Vanessa had been unusually quiet, which meant she was planning something big. Every glance in the hall, every whisper behind her back, felt like a carefully aimed trap.
Maya tried to focus on her classes, but her thoughts kept drifting to Liam and the rooftop. Their last meeting had strengthened her confidence, but now she knew Vanessa would escalate. Maya was both terrified and exhilarated.
By the afternoon, the plan became clear. As Maya entered the cafeteria, she realized Vanessa had set up a circle of students around a table near the back, all watching her. Whispers floated across the room, and Maya knew Vanessa intended to humiliate her in front of everyone.
Her heart raced, but she forced herself to breathe. She could not show fear. Vanessa thrived on it.
Just as Vanessa started to move toward the center of the room, Maya's phone buzzed with a message from Liam. Meet me at the rooftop. Now.
Maya did not hesitate. She slipped out of the cafeteria, ignoring the stares and whispers, and raced toward the stairwell. Her pulse was racing, her backpack bouncing against her shoulders. She needed the rooftop, needed Liam.
When she pushed the door open, Liam was already there, leaning against the railing, eyes scanning the city below. His expression was calm but alert.
"You came," he said softly.
"Of course," Maya replied, slightly breathless.
"They are trying to corner you," Liam said. "Vanessa has set this up. You need to stay here until we figure it out."
Maya nodded, her hands gripping the railing. "I won't let her get to me."
Liam stepped closer, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I know. And you are not alone. Whatever she tries, we face it together."
They stood silently for a moment, the wind tugging at their hair, the city stretching endlessly below them. Then Liam spoke again, his voice low and steady. "Here is the plan. Vanessa wants a reaction. She wants to make you look weak. We don't give her that. You stay calm, follow my lead, and we turn this around."
Maya felt a surge of courage at his words. With Liam by her side, she could face anything.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
Maya nodded. "I am ready."
They waited, eyes on the stairwell. Slowly, Vanessa appeared, a smirk on her face and a glint in her eyes. She looked around, expecting an audience, expecting Maya to falter.
But Maya did not falter. She stepped forward, and Liam matched her, standing protectively beside her. Vanessa's smirk faltered slightly at the sight of them together.
"You two are inseparable," Vanessa said softly. "I thought I could isolate you, make you feel weak. But it seems I underestimated you."
Maya felt a rush of satisfaction. "You did underestimate me. And you underestimated him."
Liam's expression was calm, almost amused. "You will not find a weakness here. Not today."
Vanessa studied them for a long moment, then gave a faint nod and retreated down the stairwell. Maya exhaled slowly, her heart still pounding.
"You handled that perfectly," Liam said, his hand brushing hers briefly. "I am proud of you."
Maya smiled, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. "I could not have done it without you."
He stepped closer, their shoulders touching, and she felt the heat of his presence. "We face everything together," he said softly. "And I mean everything."
Maya's heart raced. Being here with him, standing strong against Vanessa, she felt a thrill unlike anything before. For the first time, she realized how powerful it felt to have someone who believed in her completely.
"Together," she whispered.
"Together," Liam echoed.
The rooftop had become more than a sanctuary. It was a place of courage, trust, and connection. Maya knew that with Liam by her side, she could face whatever challenges Vanessa or Ridgewood International threw at her.
And she felt certain that, together, they could not be defeated.