Chapter 5: Doubts and Dangerous Thoughts
Noah Blackwood leaned against the lockers, head bowed, heart hammering in a way that made zero sense.
What just happened?
Amy. That carefully polished, ever-smiling, perfect girl. She wasn't perfect. Not today. Not when she fell into the pool and tried to pin it on Lily.
Noah's fists clenched. His mind raced, replaying the video Lily had shown him, her calm voice cutting through the chaos: "I must have been blind to ever like someone like him."
He groaned. Her words… why do they sting so much?
The truth hit harder than he wanted to admit.
What if Amy really isn't the angel I thought she was?
He shoved the thought away. She saved me… she always helped… right?
But what if… what if everything was just… a performance?
Noah ran a hand through his hair, heart pounding.
"Hey, Noah."
The voice broke him out of his spiral. He glanced up. Jason Miller—basketball forward, the guy Lily had been cheering for—stood there with a curious, slightly sheepish expression.
"Uh… what was that about just now?" Jason asked, gesturing vaguely toward the pool, still dripping water.
Noah straightened, forcing control. "Nothing you need to worry about."
Jason tilted his head. "Nothing?" He smirked faintly. "Because… I saw Lily cheering for me. And I have to admit… I like her. I mean—"
Noah stepped forward quickly, cutting him off. "Jason. Stop." His tone was sharp, warning, and all the seriousness in his world was focused on Jason right now. "Don't even think about it."
Jason raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Why not?"
Noah's jaw tightened. "Because… just because you like her doesn't mean she—" He hesitated, caught between truth and his pride. "Just… don't."
Jason grinned knowingly. "And if I asked you… do you like Lily?"
The words hit harder than any opponent on the court. Noah froze. His chest tightened. Heat rushed to his ears.
"Answer me," Jason pressed. "You've been acting like… I don't know… like she's your problem. Or your obsession."
Noah's eyes darkened. "Jason… don't forget. I already have Amy."
Jason's grin faltered just a little, a flicker of realization in his eyes. "Oh… right. Amy."
Noah turned, stepping away. Each stride was deliberate, a wall he was building between himself and the confusion that Lily stirred inside him.
He didn't look back. He didn't need to.
But as he walked down the corridor, each step echoing against the tiles, his thoughts followed him relentlessly:
Amy isn't perfect.
She tried to make Lily the villain again…
Lily… she's alive, untouchable, untied… why does it feel like I've been missing something all along?
Noah stopped midway, leaning against the wall, breathing shallow, heart racing.
Why does it hurt so much that she laughed?
And more dangerously, more painfully:
Why does it matter that she's not looking at me?
The hall around him was emptying. Students rushing to class, laughter echoing in the distance. But Noah stood frozen, thinking, spiraling, and realizing—maybe for the first time—that he didn't know how to handle Lily Hart anymore.
The girl who refused him. The girl who laughed at his rules. The girl who… in one afternoon, managed to make him question everything he thought he knew about love, loyalty, and himself.
Noah ran a hand through his hair again and muttered under his breath:
"I… I don't understand her… and I hate that I don't."