Chapter 9 — THE SILENCE THAT SCREAMED

The next morning felt strangely quiet.

Not peaceful—quiet.

The kind of quiet that comes after a storm but before another one starts.

I woke up to a phone full of unread notifications, but I ignored all of them. I had turned off my phone last night because I needed to breathe without carrying anyone else’s emotions, and for once, I didn’t feel guilty about it.

Getting ready for school felt mechanical. Shoes on. Hair tied. Bag zipped. But inside, everything was still messy—the kind of mess that didn’t clean itself overnight.

When I stepped into the school building, I felt the shift instantly.

Whispers. Stares. Eyes following me like I was something fragile they couldn’t wait to see shatter.

I kept walking, refusing to meet anyone’s gaze.

At my locker, I finally allowed myself a slow breath.

That’s when someone stepped up beside me.

Not Jayden.

Not Chloe.

But Clara, from my Literature class—the one who always sat in the front and acted like she knew everything and everyone.

“Hey,” she said casually, though her eyes shone with curiosity. “Rough week, huh?”

I froze. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh please,” she scoffed, leaning against the locker next to mine. “Half the school is talking about your love triangle.”

My entire body tensed. “There is no love triangle.”

“Sure,” she said, smirking. “But you know how people see things.”

“I don’t care how people see things.”

“That’s good,” she said with a shrug. “Because they’re pretty sure you’re playing both of them.”

The words hit me like a punch.

I forced my locker shut. “People need to mind their business.”

Clara lifted a brow. “People are bored, Emma. They like drama. And you… well, you’re the latest episode.”

I clenched my jaw, fighting the sting behind my eyes. I would never give Clara the satisfaction of seeing me break.

Before she could say anything else, I turned and walked away.

But the damage was done.

My chest felt tight, like someone had wrapped ropes around my ribs and kept pulling.

---

I skipped my first period.

Instead, I hid in the girls’ restroom—the one on the third floor that barely anyone used. I leaned against the sink, breathing slowly, trying to ignore the spinning in my head.

Why did people talk like they knew my heart better than I did?

Why did everything feel like it was collapsing?

I splashed cold water on my face, inhaling sharply.

A knock sounded on the door.

“Emma?”

I froze.

It wasn’t Chloe.

It wasn’t Jayden.

It was Mrs. Turner, the school counselor.

“Emma, sweetie? Are you in there?”

My stomach twisted. Of course the school counselor had heard something. Of course she wanted to “check on me.” That was her job.

“Yes,” I said quietly.

“Can I come in?”

I hesitated, then unlocked the door.

She stepped inside—warm smile, soft eyes, that calm presence she always carried like a blanket.

“Hi,” she said gently. “You missed your first period. Is everything okay?”

I opened my mouth to lie.

But the truth came out instead.

“No.”

She nodded, not surprised. “Do you want to talk?”

I sighed, leaning against the counter. “Everyone is talking about me.”

“High school tends to do that,” she said sympathetically. “People love a story.”

“I’m not a story,” I whispered. “I’m a person.”

“I know you are,” she said. “But it feels like you’ve been holding a lot inside. That gets heavy.”

I swallowed. “It is heavy.”

She waited silently, giving me space to speak.

“Everyone is acting like I chose to be in the middle,” I said. “Like I asked for this drama. But I didn’t. I’m just… trying to understand myself. And now I’m hurting people I care about without meaning to.”

Mrs. Turner nodded. “Confusion is not a crime, Emma.”

“Tell that to the rest of the school.”

“They will forget,” she said. “But you won’t. Because you’re the one living it.”

Her words hit deeper than I expected.

“I just need time,” I whispered.

“Then take it,” she said. “But don’t isolate yourself so much that you lose your support.”

I looked down. “I asked for space from Chloe and Jayden.”

“That’s understandable,” she said. “But make sure you communicate clearly. Silence often hurts more than words.”

I nodded slowly.

“Do you want me to talk to your teachers?” she asked. “Let them know you’re having a difficult week?”

I hesitated—then shook my head. “No. I don’t want more attention.”

“Alright,” she said. “But my door is open.”

I managed a small smile. “Thank you.”

She squeezed my shoulder gently and left.

I took a deep breath.

Then another.

Then I walked out of the restroom, determined to survive the rest of the day.

---

At lunch, I sat at the far end of the courtyard, where the trees blocked most of the view. I needed quiet. And space. And stillness.

But silence didn’t last long.

Someone sat in front of me.

My heart raced—thinking it was Chloe or Jayden.

But it wasn’t.

It was Lucas—my lab partner from Chemistry. Quiet, awkward, always lost in his headphones. He gave me a small nod.

“Hi,” I said, surprised.

“Hey,” he replied. “You okay?”

My brow lifted. “Why do you ask?”

“You look like you’re about to explode,” he said plainly.

Despite everything, a tiny laugh escaped me. “That obvious?”

“Pretty much.”

He picked at his sandwich, then said, “People need to chill. They don’t know anything.”

I blinked. Lucas never involved himself in drama.

“You heard the rumors too?”

“Everyone has,” he said. “But I don’t believe most of what people say.”

A wave of relief washed over me. “Thank you.”

“No problem.” He shrugged. “Just… don’t let them break you. You’re stronger than you look.”

I smiled faintly. “I don’t feel strong.”

“Nobody does,” he said. “But you have that look—you’ll survive.”

I hadn’t realized how much I needed someone neutral. Someone who didn’t want anything from me. Someone who wasn’t entangled in the mess.

“Lucas… can I ask you something?”

He nodded.

“If you liked two people at the same time… what would you do?”

He paused. “I’d ask myself who I think about when I’m alone.”

My heart skipped.

“Why?”

“Because the person who stays in your mind when nobody else is around… that’s usually the one you want.”

His words settled in my chest like a soft weight.

“Thanks,” I whispered.

“Anytime,” he said, getting up. “And if people annoy you, sit with me tomorrow. I don’t care about gossip.”

That offer warmed me more than I expected.

“Okay,” I said.

He nodded once and walked back toward the building.

For the first time that week, I didn’t feel completely alone.

---

After school, I checked my phone.

Messages from both of them again.

JAYDEN:

Please talk to me. I’m giving you space, but I’m worried.

CHLOE:

I don’t want things to end badly between us. Can we talk later? Just five minutes.

I stared at their names.

Two different feelings.

Two different pulls.

Two different futures.

My chest tightened.

I typed back to Chloe first.

ME:

We can talk. After dinner?

She replied almost instantly.

CHLOE:

Okay. Thank you.

Then I opened Jayden’s message.

ME:

I’m okay. Just need a bit more time. I’ll talk to you soon.

His reply came seconds later.

JAYDEN:

I’ll be here.

I turned off my phone, holding it against my chest.

Tonight, I would finally face Chloe.

And maybe… finally face myself too.