Liam:
The worst part about knowing you're about to ruin someone's world is realizing how much you've come to love living in it.
That thought echoed in my head as I watched Zara laugh with Kaylee from across the dance floor. Her smile was effortless tonight, her guard down for the first time since I met her. She wasn't scanning the room for threats. She wasn't watching her back.
She was just… happy.
Because of me.
Because she trusted me.
And I was about to destroy that.
"I'll be back," I said, leaning toward her and pressing a soft kiss to her temple. "I'm going to say hi to a few of the guys."
She nodded, still laughing at something Kaylee said, and squeezed my hand before letting go. That small, unconscious gesture made my chest tighten.
I walked off without looking back — because if I looked again, I wouldn't be able to do this.
I found the guys — Matteo, Lucas, Levi and Mason — standing by the back exit near the gym's side hallway. They looked hyped up, already grinning like kids at a cruel circus.
Beatrice stood with them, arms crossed, her sequin dress glittering like ice under the dim lighting. Her two loyal shadows, flanked her sides, whispering and smirking like they'd already won.
"Took you long enough," Beatrice said, tapping her heel against the floor impatiently.
"Was saying bye," I muttered, avoiding her eyes.
Matteo gave me a half-hearted punch in the arm. "You ready for the grand finale, lover boy?"
Mason chuckled. "Dude, the look on her face when you break it off? Legendary. And the fact we've got it on video? Iconic."
I forced a laugh. "Yeah. Epic."
My voice sounded hollow in my own ears.
Beatrice stepped forward, arms still folded. "You remember the plan, right? Break up with her. Tell her the truth. Tell her how she was just a game — and let them get it all on video. Easy."
I looked at her, forcing myself to keep my expression blank. "Why do you need to be there when I do it?"
She raised a brow. "Because it's my plan."
"And you already got the footage you wanted with her falling all over me at school, dressing up for prom, showing up on my arm. That humiliation's on tape already," I said, letting a trace of irritation slip into my tone. "This last part? It doesn't need a crowd."
Beatrice narrowed her eyes. "What are you suggesting?"
I glanced toward the hallway. "I'll ask her to step into the boys' changing room. It's quiet. No one goes there during prom. The guys can set up the phones. You'll get your moment. You'll get your recording. But you don't need to be there."
Matteo nodded slowly. "Honestly, Bea, that makes more sense. The less people around, the more raw her reaction. We don't want her clamming up or getting suspicious."
Beatrice looked annoyed but folded. "Fine. Just don't get soft. You better not chicken out, Liam."
I looked at her. If you only knew how far past the edge I already am.
"I won't," I lied.
She rolled her eyes and motioned to her minions . "We'll be outside near the fountain. When it's done, text me."
They turned and left, their heels clicking against the tile like gunshots in my skull.
Once they were out of sight, Matteo clapped me on the back. "Alright, Romeo. Showtime."
The boys started walking toward the changing rooms, already whispering about where they'd hide the phones for the best angle.
I stayed frozen for a second, staring at the doors Beatrice had just exited through.
This isn't who you are.
But it's who I agreed to be.
And now, the clock's ticking.
I just have to find a way to end this without completely breaking her.
If such a thing even exists.
************
Each step toward her felt like betrayal.
Not to Beatrice. Not to my friends. But to her.
Zara stood under the soft amber glow of the gym lights, still chatting with Kaylee — and laughing. Really laughing. The kind that made her eyes crinkle at the corners and her shoulders relax. She looked like she was finally at peace.
And here I was, a ticking time bomb walking straight into her world.
I slowed as I approached, like part of me was hoping she'd somehow vanish, or that I'd wake up and find this was all some twisted dream I hadn't followed through with. But there she was — in that emerald green dress, the one she swore she didn't want to wear, yet wore for me anyway.
And I was about to rip the world out from under her feet.
"Hey," I said, trying to sound casual.
Zara turned, her face lighting up in a way that nearly broke me. "Hey, stranger. Thought you got sucked into a black hole."
I chuckled, hiding the lump in my throat. "I ran into Matteo. You know how he is. Never stops talking."
She smiled and tilted her head slightly. "You okay?"
No.
"Yeah, just—" I reached for her hand, lacing my fingers with hers. "There's something I want to show you. Just for a minute. Away from the crowd."
Her eyes searched mine for a beat, a trace of hesitation flickering before she nodded. "Okay. Where?"
I swallowed. "The locker room. I know it sounds weird, but I wanted some quiet. Just us."
She raised an eyebrow. "You're not planning some horror movie stunt, right? Like locking me in there and running?"
I forced a laugh. "Not unless you plan on murdering me first."
She rolled her eyes, but let me lead her through the gym doors and down the hall.
The music faded behind us, replaced by the distant buzz of vending machines and echoing footsteps. The further we walked, the more her grip on my hand tightened — not in fear, but in comfort. In trust.
God.
She trusted me.
And here I was, walking her into a setup like a coward.
The locker room door creaked open. The boys had already placed the phones — one on a high shelf angled down, one tucked behind a bench, one likely behind the row of lockers near the back. They were good at hiding things.
Like me.
"Wow," Zara said softly, looking around. "You really know how to pick the most romantic spots, huh?"
I chuckled, but it came out thin. "I just wanted it to be quiet. No lights, no noise, just us."
She walked a little ahead of me, her heels clicking softly against the tile. "You're acting weird," she said, spinning to face me. "Are you okay, Liam?"
I looked at her, really looked.
The soft way her hair curled around her face. The gloss on her lips. The way she held herself — stronger now than when I first met her, but still with that cautious edge like she's waiting for the world to fall out beneath her again.
And I was about to prove her right.
I stepped closer, my hands slipping around her waist.
"You look beautiful tonight," I said quietly.
She blinked, thrown off. "That's not an answer."
I leaned my forehead against hers, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'm just trying to memorize this moment."
"Why?"
Because I don't deserve another one.
But I didn't say that.
Instead, I kissed her. Soft, lingering, desperate in a way I hoped she wouldn't notice. I kissed her like I could undo the plan. Like I could rewrite what was about to happen. Like I could stay in this bubble for just one more breath.
When I pulled back, she was breathless.
So was I.
"Zara," I began, heart pounding. "There's something—"
But I didn't finish.
Because in that moment, I heard the faint sound of someone laughing through the locker vents. It wasn't hers.
It was Levi.
She didn't hear it, but I did.
They were still listening. Still recording. Still waiting.
My hands clenched into fists at my side.
"Zara," I said again, voice hoarse. "I… I just wanted to say I'm glad you came with me tonight."
She tilted her head, confused by my sudden shift. "That's what you brought me here to say?"
I nodded. "Yeah."
She smiled, a little nervously. "Okay… I'm glad I came too."
And somehow, that hurt more than if she'd seen through everything.
Because she still believed I was the guy she could trust.
The guy who wouldn't hurt her.
And I was going to break that trust — whether I wanted to or not.