Mr. Carrington intercepted Elias outside third period like a man finally spotting a unicorn in traffic.
"Didn't expect you to cave," he said.
Elias blinked. "What?"
Carrington held up a clipboard with a sticky neon star on the corner. A sign-up sheet.
Westridge Open Mic Night
Line 7:
Alex Dunphy / Elias Reed — Original Duet (?)
Carrington grinned. "Smart move. Let the mystery simmer, then pull the curtain off at the right moment. It's theatrical."
Elias stared at the page for one full second.
Then turned and walked away without a word.
---
He found her in the library.
Alex was in her usual spot, laptop open, three highlighters rotating like weapons in a tactical spread. She didn't look up when he sat across from her.
"You signed me up."
Her pen froze mid-sentence.
"You're welcome," she said, eyes still on the screen.
"That wasn't a compliment."
"Wasn't asking for one."
He leaned in slightly. "You lied to me."
She finally looked up. "No. I gave you time. You wasted it. So I made a decision."
"You made my decision."
"Because you weren't going to."
His jaw flexed. "You think if you push hard enough, I'll perform out of guilt?"
"I think if I don't push, you'll keep hiding behind that piano until someone else puts your name on a song and sells it."
Elias looked at her like she'd slapped him. Not hard. But in front of a crowd.
Alex set down her pen.
"I know what I did," she said. "And I don't care if you're mad. I care that you're wasting this."
He laughed once. Low. Bitter.
"Wow. You really think you're saving me, huh?"
"No," she said, matching his intensity now. "I think I'm forcing you to admit what you already know — that part of you wants this. Even if the rest of you is scared."
Silence.
The kind that vibrated.
Elias stood.
"Then don't expect gratitude."
Alex didn't flinch.
"I didn't ask for gratitude," she said. "I asked for honesty."
Elias walked away.
She didn't follow.
But she didn't look satisfied either.
Just... braced.
Like she'd pulled the pin and didn't know if the grenade would explode in her hand or his.