KIMBERLY'S POV
There are moments you wish you could freeze in time — little snapshots of clarity before the world gets too loud again.
That moment with Lilah behind the building was one of them.
She didn't kiss me.
She didn't touch me.
She just said she'd wait.
And that scared me more than anything else.
Because what if I never figured myself out? What if I never became the girl she wanted?
What if I already was — and I was just afraid?
The bell rang, slicing through the air like a blade, and I blinked back into reality.
I grabbed my bag, but as I turned to leave, I felt it — her hand, brushing mine, just for a second. No words. No promises.
Just… presence.
And that was enough to shake me for the rest of the day.
---
KATE'S POV
I knew she was with her.
Kimberly had that dazed, quiet energy she always had after being alone with Lilah. Like her thoughts were louder than her voice. Like she was walking through a dream only she could see.
I watched her walk into class with her hoodie pulled low and her sleeves tugged over her hands. She didn't notice me. Or if she did, she didn't react.
And I knew.
They had another moment.
That made three this week.
Meanwhile, Kelvin and I could barely exchange eye contact in public without someone noticing. We had to settle for hushed meetings after dark and messages sent with code words and unsaved names. I used to think it was exciting.
Now it just felt... lonely.
And worse — dangerous.
Because Lilah Stone was watching me like a hawk now.
I caught her staring during lunch, during class, even when she was surrounded by her little crowd of loyal followers. Her gaze was razor-sharp, like she was reading every thought in my head.
She hadn't said anything. Not yet.
But she knew.
---
LILAH'S POV
Kimberly didn't know I was following her.
After our talk, she walked back into the building looking like she was floating — not smiling, not frowning, just... somewhere else. Her hoodie hung low, but I could see the flush on her cheeks.
God, she was so unaware of her effect on people. It made me insane.
I trailed her quietly, stopping before the hallway curved.
And that's when I heard it.
Kate's voice.
"Kim, wait up!"
Kimberly paused, turned around slowly. I couldn't see her face, but I could see Kate's — and something about the way she was looking at my girl made my blood simmer.
My girl?
God.
I had it bad.
I pressed my back against the lockers, listening.
"You've been weird lately," Kate said. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Just tired, I guess."
"Is it because of Lilah?"
Silence.
I held my breath.
Kim finally responded, voice soft. "What do you mean?"
Kate scoffed. "I mean, you've been spending a lot of time with her. And she's not exactly... I don't know, emotionally healthy."
I saw red.
Emotionally healthy?
Who was Kate to talk about that — while sneaking off with her best friend's crush?
Kim didn't respond.
She just walked away.
And Kate stood there for a long moment, her jaw clenched like she wanted to say more but didn't have the guts.
---
KIMBERLY'S POV
Something shifted inside me after that conversation with Kate.
She wasn't accusing. Not outright. But there was something under her tone — maybe jealousy, maybe fear. Maybe she could see something in me that I was still denying.
It didn't help that I kept catching glimpses of her talking to Kelvin after school. Always in shadowed corners. Always looking like they were pretending not to touch.
But it wasn't my business, right?
Except it was, because I was tired of secrets. Tired of pretending things didn't hurt when they did.
---
AFTER SCHOOL
I didn't expect to see Lilah waiting outside my house.
She leaned against the hood of her sleek black car, arms crossed, head tilted to the sky like she was bored with the world.
When I walked up, she didn't say hi. She just tossed her keys in the air and caught them with one hand.
"Wanna drive?"
I blinked. "Where?"
She smirked. "Anywhere."
I hesitated — for maybe two seconds — then climbed into the passenger seat.
The road flew by in silence. No music. No talking. Just wind, tires, and tension.
She finally pulled over near the lake just outside of town. A quiet place where no one went anymore. She killed the engine and turned to me.
"I know Kate's saying stuff," she said.
I swallowed. "She's just... worried."
"She's jealous."
"She's protective."
"She's hiding something."
That got my attention.
I turned to face her. "What do you mean?"
Lilah leaned back, eyes on the windshield. "I've seen her. With Kelvin."
My breath hitched.
"She doesn't know I know," Lilah continued. "But I do. And so do you. You just haven't admitted it yet."
"I don't care what she does," I said too quickly.
Lilah turned to me again, her eyes dark and searching. "But it hurts."
I didn't respond.
She leaned closer, whispering, "I'll never be your secret."
And before I could stop her, she kissed me.
It wasn't soft. It wasn't polite. It was fire and hunger and want and confusion all tangled into one motion.
And this time?
This time I kissed her back.
Without fear. Without doubt.
And when we broke apart, my breath shuddering, she whispered the only words I could handle:
"We don't have to call it anything. Just don't lie to yourself anymore."