The hallway outside the office was silent.
Victoria had barely taken three steps away from the door when she heard Coach Henry's voice behind her.
"Victoria… wait."
She stopped.
Not because she wanted to hear him out.
But because she wanted him to see her face when she ended this.
Slowly, she turned around.
Coach Henry stepped out of the office, shutting the door behind him. The tension in the hallway felt thick, like the air itself was watching them.
Victoria folded her arms tightly across her chest.
"Say whatever lie you've got left," she said coldly. "I'm listening."
Henry ran a hand through his hair. For once, the confident assistant coach didn't look so confident.
"It started as part of the plan," he admitted.
Victoria scoffed.
"Yeah, I read that part in the file."
"No, listen to me."
"I did listen to you," she snapped. "That was the problem."
Henry stepped closer, lowering his voice.
"The plan was to get close to you. Your father's the sheriff. Whoever I'm working for wanted information from the department. You were… the easiest way in."
Victoria's jaw tightened.
Hearing it out loud somehow hurt even more.
"So you targeted me," she said.
"Yes."
"And everything between us was fake."
Henry hesitated.
"That's where you're wrong."
Victoria's eyes flashed.
"Oh, really?"
He exhaled slowly.
"At first, yeah. It was all part of the job. Getting you to trust me, flirting, spending time together… all of that."
Victoria's fingers curled into fists.
"Wow. You rehearsed that really well."
"But somewhere along the way it stopped being fake," he said quietly.
She didn't react.
He continued.
"I didn't plan to fall for you, Victoria."
She let out a short, bitter laugh.
"Please don't tell me you're going to pull the I fell in love with you card."
"I did."
Victoria's eyes went flat.
"Save it."
"I'm serious."
"Stop."
Henry's voice grew more desperate.
"Everything after that point was real. The conversations, the late nights, the way I looked at you..."
"STOP."
Her voice echoed down the hallway.
Victoria shook her head slowly, like she couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"You think saying you fell in love fixes this?"
She took a step toward him.
"You watched me. You followed me. You collected photos of me like I was some experiment."
Her voice cracked slightly, but she kept going.
"You used my feelings to get information about my dad."
Henry didn't speak.
Because there was nothing he could say.
Victoria's eyes were burning now.
"And now you expect me to believe this fairy tale about you catching feelings?"
Henry's shoulders sagged.
"I know you don't believe me."
"You're right. I don't."
The silence between them felt heavy.
Finally Victoria pulled her phone out of her pocket.
Henry's eyes flicked down to it.
"Like I said earlier, my dad is the sheriff," she said calmly. "Remember?"
Her thumb hovered over the screen.
"One call."
Henry didn't move.
"You'd lose your job," she continued.
"Probably get arrested."
Her voice hardened.
"And whatever secret mission you're on? That would be over too."
Henry studied her face carefully.
"You're going to tell him?"
Victoria held his gaze.
"I should."
Another pause.
Then Henry slowly stepped back.
Not running.
Not fighting.
Just… accepting it.
"If that's what you want," he said quietly.
Victoria frowned slightly.
"You're not even going to stop me?"
"No."
"Why?"
Henry gave a small, tired smile.
"Because if you hate me that much, I deserve it."
That answer annoyed her more than anything.
Victoria stared at him for a long moment.
Then she lowered her phone.
Henry blinked.
"You're… not calling him?"
"No."
"Why?"
Victoria shoved the phone back into her pocket.
"Because I don't feel like explaining to my dad how stupid I was."
Henry shook his head.
"You weren't stupid."
"I trusted the wrong person."
The words came out sharp.
"I'm not telling anyone about this," she continued.
Henry looked surprised.
"Not the team. Not Coach Lari. Not even my dad."
"Victoria..."
"But don't get comfortable," she cut in quickly.
Her eyes locked onto his.
"If you ever come near me again…"
Her voice dropped to a dangerous whisper.
"If you ever talk to me again…"
"I will personally walk into my dad's office and hand him that entire file."
Henry nodded slowly.
"Understood."
Victoria took one last look at him.
And for a split second… the hurt showed in her eyes.
Then it disappeared.
"Stay away from me, Coach."
She turned around and walked down the hallway.
Her footsteps echoed until she disappeared around the corner.
Henry remained standing where he was.
Alone.
The hallway felt colder now.
And for the first time since he arrived in town…
His plan had completely fallen apart.
The music from the house pulsed through the walls like a heartbeat.
Mika stood at the front gate with her hands stuffed inside the pockets of her hoodie, already regretting the decision that brought her there.
"This was a bad idea," she muttered.
Ahead of her, Tiffany walked confidently up the driveway like she owned the place. The large house was lit up with warm lights, and the sound of laughter and chatter drifted out through the open windows.
It was a female gathering, something Tiffany had insisted Mika come to.
Now Mika stood outside the house watching groups of girls chatting in small circles on the lawn and patio.
Some were dancing.
Some were taking photos.
Some were gossiping loudly near the snack table.
Mika immediately felt out of place cause the girls there seem to be way older than her.
"Tiffany," she whispered urgently.
But Tiffany had already disappeared inside.
"Wow," Mika muttered. "Abandoned already."
She stepped aside near the fence, hoping to stay invisible for a while before being forced into conversation with strangers.
That's when she noticed someone else outside.
A girl sat on the curb a few feet away from the driveway, slightly separated from the noise of the party.
She had dyed hair with an uneven mix of dark purple fading into blue and wore oversized headphones that nearly covered her ears.
A sketch pad rested on her knees.
Her pencil moved quickly across the page.
Mika watched her for a moment.
The girl hadn't noticed her.
Or maybe she had and just didn't care.
The streetlight above them cast a soft glow over the page, revealing half-finished drawings of faces, shapes, and what looked like the outline of the house.
Mika slowly walked closer.
The girl suddenly spoke without looking up.
"If you're going to stand there watching, you might as well say something."
Mika blinked.
"Oh."
The girl finally looked up, pushing one side of her headphones slightly off her ear.
Her eyes were sharp but calm.
"Hi," Mika said awkwardly.
The girl studied her for a moment.
"You look like you don't want to be here."
Mika laughed quietly.
"That obvious?"
"Very."
The girl tilted her head slightly.
"A girl dragged you here?"
Mika nodded.
"Tiffany."
"Ah."
"You know her?"
"Everyone knows Tiffany."
Mika glanced toward the house again.
The noise inside seemed even louder now.
"You're not going in?" she asked.
The girl shrugged and tapped her pencil against the sketch pad.
"I prefer the outside."
"Same."
That earned Mika a small smirk.
She pointed at the sketch pad.
"What are you drawing?"
The girl turned the pad slightly.
It was a rough sketch of the gathering girls moving around the yard, lights hanging above the patio, shadows stretching across the driveway.
But the way she drew them made everything look… calmer.
Almost peaceful.
"Wow," Mika said softly. "That's really good."
The girl shrugged again.
"It's just practice."
"What's your name?" Mika asked.
The girl slid the headphones fully off her ears.
"Rhea."
"Mika."
Rhea nodded once.
Then she returned her attention to the drawing.
Mika hesitated before sitting down on the curb beside her.
Neither of them spoke for a moment.
The party continued behind them.
Music.
Laughter.
Someone shouting about spilled drinks.
But out here it felt quieter.
After a minute, Rhea asked casually,
"So what kind of girl are you?"
Mika frowned slightly.
"What does that mean?"
Rhea kept sketching.
"The kind that hides at parties or the kind that eventually joins them."
Mika thought for a moment.
Then she smiled slightly.
"Tonight?"
"Yeah."
"I think I'm the kind that sits outside with a stranger who draws better than most people I know."
Rhea's pencil paused for a second.
Then she smirked.
"Good choice."
Mika leaned back against the curb, looking up at the sky.
Maybe following Tiffany here wasn't such a bad idea after all.
Victoria pushed open the front door and slipped inside the house quietly.
Her eyes were still red.
She wiped her cheeks quickly with the sleeve of her hoodie before anyone could notice.
Unfortunately… someone already had.
Vinny was sprawled on the living room couch, scrolling through his phone. The moment he looked up and saw her face, his expression changed.
"Whoa."
Victoria froze.
Vinny sat up immediately.
"Why do you look like you just lost a boxing match?"
"I'm fine," she muttered, already walking past him toward the stairs.
Vinny squinted suspiciously.
"Victoria."
"I said I'm fine."
She disappeared into her room and shut the door.
Vinny stared at the hallway for a moment.
Then he sighed.
"Girls," he mumbled.
He thought for a second… then suddenly snapped his fingers.
"Oh."
He grabbed his hoodie and rushed out of the house.
Fifteen minutes later, Vinny burst back into the house holding a small plastic bag like he had just completed an important mission.
"Victoria!" he shouted.
No answer.
He marched to her door and knocked.
"Go away!" Victoria yelled from inside.
Vinny ignored that.
He opened the door anyway and walked in proudly.
Victoria was lying on her bed facing the wall.
"Look what I got," he announced dramatically, holding up the bag.
Victoria didn't even turn around.
"I said go away, Vinny."
He blinked.
"…Okay something is definitely wrong."
Vinny dropped the bag on her desk and walked closer, staring at her like a detective trying to solve a case.
"Let me guess," he started.
"No."
"You got bad cramps."
"VINNY."
"That's why you're crying."
"I'm not crying!"
"That's why I got you chocolate," he continued proudly. "Two bars. Premium level."
Victoria slowly turned to look at him.
"You ran to the store… because you thought I had cramps?"
Vinny shrugged.
"I panicked."
Despite herself, Victoria almost smiled.
Vinny crossed his arms and studied her.
"…Wait."
His eyes narrowed.
"Was it a guy?"
Victoria rolled her eyes.
"Oh my God."
Vinny's voice suddenly became dramatic.
"Did some idiot break your heart?"
"No."
"Because if he did," Vinny continued confidently, cracking his knuckles, "I will fight him."
Victoria stared at him.
"You?"
"Yes."
"You'll fight someone?"
"Yes."
She burst out laughing.
"They would beat you black and blue with that tiny body of yours."
Vinny gasped.
"My body is not tiny anymore!"
Victoria raised an eyebrow.
Vinny straightened up proudly.
"I'm growing, okay?"
Victoria looked him up and down.
"…Actually."
Vinny smirked.
"See?"
She rolled her eyes.
"You're still annoying."
"But stronger."
"Still annoying."
Vinny plopped onto the bed beside her.
"So who is it?"
"No one."
"Victoria."
"No one."
Vinny grabbed the chocolate from the desk and waved it in front of her face.
"You're wasting premium emotional support chocolate."
Victoria finally sat up.
"Give it here."
"Ah-ha!" Vinny said victoriously. "So you are sad."
She snatched the chocolate from him.
"I'm sad because you're talking."
Vinny sighed dramatically.
"I risked my entire savings for this."
Victoria paused.
"…Your savings?"
"Yes."
"All of it?"
"Yes."
She burst out laughing again.
"Vinny!"
"What?"
"You just started dating Jenna!"
"So?"
"What are you going to give her now?"
Vinny froze.
"…Oh."
Victoria laughed harder.
"You idiot!"
Vinny groaned.
"I didn't think about that."
Victoria opened the chocolate and took a bite.
"Also Jenna wouldn't accept two cheap chocolate bars anyway."
Vinny frowned.
"Hey these are not cheap."
"She's rich," Victoria said casually. "And arrogant."
Vinny glared at her.
"She's not arrogant."
"She is."
"She's just confident."
Victoria smirked.
"She's also a brat."
Vinny folded his arms.
"She can be sweet sometimes."
Victoria looked at him for a second… then smiled softly.
"Well… I'm glad you finally have a girlfriend."
Vinny blinked.
"…Wait."
"A hot babe too."
Vinny grinned proudly.
"I know."
Victoria laughed and shook her head.
"Unbelievable."
She took another bite of the chocolate and leaned back on the bed.
For a moment… the heaviness in her chest eased.
Vinny watched her quietly.
Then he nudged her.
"So… are you going to tell me what happened?"
Victoria hesitated.
Then sighed.
"…Fine."
She quickly explained the situation with Coach Henry.
The spying.
The files.
The pictures.
The manipulation.
Vinny listened with wide eyes.
When she finished, he sat there silently for a few seconds.
Then he said
"…This sounds like a spy movie."
Victoria blinked.
Then she laughed.
She laughed so hard she nearly dropped the chocolate.
Vinny grinned.
"Seriously! Next thing you're going to tell me is he's secretly working for a secret organization."
Victoria wiped her eyes.
"I hate you."
"But you laughed."
"…Yeah."
And she did.
She didn't say it out loud.
But she really needed this.
Vinny leaned back casually.
"Don't worry about that guy."
Victoria sighed.
"He's still my coach."
"Still," Vinny said dismissively. "He's just some bald headed middle-aged man."
Victoria frowned.
"Coach Henry is not bald."
"Okay fine. Slightly bald."
"And he's actually handsome."
Vinny gasped dramatically.
"Wow."
"What?"
"You just insulted Dad."
Victoria stared at him.
"No I didn't."
"You literally just called another man handsome and not bald."
She thought for a second.
"…Okay maybe I did."
Vinny nodded.
"Dad would be devastated."
Victoria smirked.
"Dad is bald."
Vinny tried to argue.
Then paused.
"…Yeah he is."
They both burst out laughing.
The two siblings sat there on the bed eating chocolate like idiots.
For the first time that night, Victoria felt lighter.
Vinny suddenly stood up.
"Oh shoot."
"What?"
"I'm supposed to meet the guys tonight."
Victoria raised an eyebrow.
"Leaving already?"
Vinny grabbed his jacket.
"But don't worry," he said casually. "I already called Cherry and Fernando to come keep you company."
Victoria blinked.
"You what?"
"They should be here soon."
He started walking toward the door.
"Vinny."
He paused and turned around.
"…Yeah?"
Victoria hesitated.
Then quietly said,
"…Thank you."
Vinny's chest puffed up instantly.
"I know."
Victoria's eyes narrowed.
"Don't start."
"I'm an amazing brother."
"You're annoying."
"I'm heroic."
"You're dramatic."
"I saved the day."
Victoria grabbed a pillow and threw it at him.
"GET OUT!"
Vinny dodged it and laughed.
"Love you too, sis!"
"VINNY!"
He ran out of the room still laughing.
And just like that…
They were back to arguing again.