The rain tapped gently against the apartment windows, soft and steady like a heartbeat. Aria sat cross legged on the couch, staring at her phone. Dozens of unread texts from her best friend, Mia, blinked on the screen:
Where r u??
Aria??
Don't tell me u ditched school again…
Call me right now!
Her thumb hovered over the reply button, but she couldn't bring herself to type. What was she supposed to say? Hey, I spent the night hiding out with the world's biggest pop star, no big deal?
Her stomach knotted. The more she stayed here, the more dangerous it felt not just for Adrian, but for herself.
"You're worried."
Aria looked up. Adrian stood by the window, his silhouette outlined by the gray morning light. He wore a plain T shirt and sweatpants, his hair still damp from a shower, and yet he carried that same effortless aura that made him seem like he belonged on a poster.
"I should go," Aria admitted. "My parents… they'll kill me if they find out I didn't come home last night."
He turned, his expression unreadable. "I can have the driver drop you off. No one will see you."
Relief should have flooded her, but instead, a pang of disappointment tugged at her chest. She didn't want to leave not when she'd just started to see the cracks behind his perfect mask.
"I'll… I'll get my things," she murmured.
But before she could stand, his phone buzzed again. This time, he answered it.
"What?" Adrian snapped. He paused, listening. His jaw clenched tighter with each second. "I told you I needed space. I don't care if they're asking questions. Just tell them I'm fine."
Aria's pulse quickened. His voice wasn't just annoyed it was laced with something sharper. Fear.
He hung up, tossing the phone onto the couch. Aria couldn't stay quiet. "Was that your manager again?"
Adrian rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah. He says rumors are spreading. The paparazzi caught a shot of me running last night. If anyone saw you…"
Her heart dropped. "Oh my God. Are we "
"Not yet," he interrupted. "The picture's blurry. But if they dig…"
Silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating. For the first time, Aria understood what he meant last night about everyone owning a piece of him. His life wasn't his anymore. It was a performance, a product to be sold. And now, she was tangled in it.
"Adrian," she whispered, "why me? You could've asked anyone for help last night. Why did you choose me?"
He met her gaze, his eyes dark and steady. "Because you looked at me like I wasn't Adrian Knight, the superstar. You looked at me like… Adrian. Just a boy."
Her breath hitched. Heat rose to her cheeks, and she quickly looked away. "That's… dangerous."
"Maybe," he admitted softly. "But for once, I don't care."
The drive back to her neighborhood was quiet. The tinted windows kept them hidden, but Aria still felt like the world was watching. Every streetlight, every shadow, seemed to whisper the same warning: You don't belong in his world.
When the car stopped near her street, Adrian leaned forward. "Stay in. Let me check first."
He stepped out, scanning the quiet road before opening her door. It was such a small gesture, yet it made her chest ache.
"Thanks," she said, clutching her backpack.
Their eyes met, and for a second, time slowed. His hand brushed against hers, lingering just long enough to spark something dangerous.
"Aria," he said, his voice low, "I'll call you."
"You don't even have my number," she whispered back.
He smirked faintly, pulling a small folded paper from his pocket. "I'm not as clueless as I look. You dropped this yesterday your homework sheet. I figured it had your name. I'll figure out the rest."
Before she could reply, a car sped past, splashing water from the gutter. Adrian grabbed her instinctively, pulling her against him. For a heartbeat, she was pressed to his chest, feeling the steady thump of his heart.
And then he let go, his eyes searching hers. "Go. Before someone sees."
Aria's legs felt weak as she hurried down her street, but she glanced back one last time. He was still there, watching, like a secret tether tied them together.
At school, Mia cornered her the moment she stepped through the gates.
"Where have you been? I called you like a hundred times!"
Aria forced a nervous laugh. "I just… got caught up. Family stuff."
Mia narrowed her eyes. "You're a terrible liar. Spill."
Aria hesitated, her mind spinning. If she told Mia the truth, it could spread. But if she kept it hidden, the weight of it might crush her.
"I can't," Aria said finally.
Mia crossed her arms. "Fine. Keep your little secret. But don't expect me to cover for you when your parents find out."
The guilt twisted deeper, but before Aria could respond, a buzz rippled through the hall. Students huddled around phones, whispering excitedly.
"Did you see this?" someone gasped.
Aria froze as a blurry photo loaded on Mia's screen Adrian Knight, running under streetlights. His face wasn't clear, but his build, his hair, his clothes it was him.
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
Mia's eyes widened. "Wait… you look pale. Aria, do you know something?"
"I..I don't," Aria stammered, shoving the phone away. "I just… it's shocking, that's all."
But the lie burned her throat.
That night, Aria lay awake, staring at the ceiling. Her phone buzzed once.
Unknown Number: You up?
Her pulse skyrocketed. Adrian.
Aria: How did you get my number?
Adrian: Told you I'd figure it out.
She bit her lip, torn between excitement and fear.
Aria: You shouldn't text me. It's risky.
Adrian: Everything's risky. But I can't stop thinking about you.
Her chest tightened. She typed slowly, fingers trembling.
Aria: You're making this harder.
Adrian: Then let me make it worth it.
Her heart raced so fast she thought it might burst. This wasn't a crush anymore. This was a storm she couldn't escape.
And as her phone glowed in the dark, Aria knew one truth being close to Adrian Knight wasn't just about stolen moments and secrets. It was about survival against the spotlight, against lies, against a world that wanted to tear them apart.
And she wasn't sure if she was strong enough.