By the time the final bell rang, Ezra's nerves were frayed.
Every step down the corridor felt like walking through shadows—faces blurring past, whispers curling in his ears. Were they talking about him? Did they know? Or was it just the fear crawling under his skin, louder than reality?
Noah walked beside him, silent as ever, but Ezra could feel the storm boiling behind his calm.
They ended up in the greenhouse again, their makeshift sanctuary. The air smelled of damp leaves and old wood, dust caught in the last beams of sunlight. Adrian was already there, sketching notes into his ever-present notebook. Lucien sprawled on the floor, tapping a pen against the cracked tiles, impatience dripping from every movement.
Ezra closed the door, leaned against it, and exhaled shakily. "He's going to ruin everything."
Lucien sat up immediately. "So we fight back. Corner him before he corners us."
"Fight him how?" Ezra asked, his voice cracking. "He has proof. He has leverage. I can't let that picture get out—I just can't." His hands trembled as he pressed them into his face.
Lucien's expression hardened, but his voice softened just a little. "Ezra, listen. Secrets rot you from the inside. You hide, you suffocate. I've lived like that my whole damn life. And you—" He broke off, biting the inside of his cheek. "You deserve better."
Ezra's chest ached. Lucien's words burned with truth, but they didn't quiet the fear gnawing at him.
Adrian spoke next, his tone calm, thoughtful. "Lucien's right about one thing. If we let him control the narrative, he owns us. But if we control it first…"
Ezra's head snapped up. "No. I can't. My mom—my whole family—what would they think? What would they say?"
Noah finally stepped forward, his voice low but firm. "Ezra."
Ezra met his eyes, wide and desperate. "What if I'm not ready?"
For the first time, Noah reached out and took his hand. Just like that—simple, quiet, steady. "Then we make him wait. But we don't break. Not for him."
Ezra's breath caught. He wanted to pull away, to hide the trembling in his fingers, but Noah's grip was grounding, an anchor against the chaos.
Lucien groaned and dragged a hand through his hair. "You two are hopeless. Fine. If you're not ready to go public, then let me handle him. I'll make sure he regrets ever thinking of using that picture."
Adrian closed his notebook and looked straight at Lucien. "You can't protect them by burning down the school."
Lucien smirked. "Watch me."
"Lucien." Adrian's voice sharpened. For once, it wasn't calm—it was warning. "If you get suspended, expelled, or worse… who does that help?"
For a moment, the two locked eyes—fire and ice.
Ezra sank down onto the bench, pressing his palms to his knees. "I don't want anyone to get hurt. Not me, not Noah, not either of you. I just… I don't know what to do anymore."
Noah crouched in front of him, lowering his voice. "Then let us figure it out together. You don't have to carry this alone, Ezra. Not anymore."
Ezra looked at him, then at Adrian's steady gaze, then at Lucien's restless fire. For the first time, he realized something.
The photo wasn't just a threat against him.
It was a test.
Of their trust.
Of their strength.
Of how far they were willing to go for each other.
And Ezra wasn't sure if he was ready for the answers.