The night air was bitter, but not as cold as the hollow space in my chest.
The roads blurred beneath my tires, my grip on the wheel white-knuckled, jaw clenched so tight I thought it would crack.
I didn't remember getting in the car. I didn't remember turning onto her street.
All I knew was rage—and grief. They burned in my veins like poison.
When I reached Beatrice's house, I slammed the car door and marched to her porch, not even bothering to knock. I pounded my fist against the wood hard enough to rattle it.
It didn't take long before the door opened.
Beatrice stood there, barefoot, wearing a silky robe and a smug little smirk that dropped the second she saw me.
"Liam?" Her brows knit. "What the hell—"
"Are you happy now?" I growled, stepping into her space.
She stumbled back instinctively.
"What?"
"Are you happy now?" I repeated, my voice cracking this time. "Is this what you wanted? Because you won, Beatrice. She's dead."
Her mouth parted. "What are you talking about?"
"Zara." I breathed her name like a curse. "She's dead. She got in an accident this morning after she disappeared two days ago and died at the hospital. So congratulations, Bee. You really stuck the landing on that final act."
Beatrice blinked, stunned into silence.
"No… no, that's not—"
"That's not what?" I snapped. "Not what you wanted? You wanted to humiliate her. Destroy her. You convinced me to be a monster, and I was too spineless to stop it. But you—you loved every second of it. Every second of watching her crumble."
"I didn't mean for her to—" Her voice faltered. "I didn't know she'd do something stupid."
"She didn't do anything stupid," I snarled. "She just left. She was in pain, and she needed space. Space from me. From you. From everything."
I took a shaky breath and looked around her perfect, polished house. So clean. So undisturbed.
Meanwhile, mine was chaos. My world was chaos.
"She's never coming back," I said, softer now. "She died thinking she was never good enough for me. She died and I couldn't even give her that damn bracelet I desperately wanted to give back. And you—" My voice hardened again, "you just kept pushing. You and your games."
Beatrice's lip trembled.
"I never wanted her to die, Liam."
"No," I said bitterly. "You just wanted her to suffer. And guess what? She did. And now I do too. Every second. Because I loved her. And I didn't get to tell her. Not really. Not when it mattered."
Beatrice tried to reach for me, but I stepped back like she burned me.
"We're done," I said firmly. "Don't text me. Don't call me. Don't even look at me at school. You got what you wanted. So enjoy your victory, Queen Bee."
Then I turned.
And I walked away.
Because if I didn't, I'd fall to my knees right there on her porch and break into pieces all over again
***********
Same night…
I didn't even realize I was driving until I recognized the neighborhood.
Levi's house.
I don't even know what I was planning to say. My head was buzzing with grief, with rage, with the kind of pain that strips the air from your lungs and leaves behind only the bitter taste of guilt.
I parked the car haphazardly and marched straight up to his door.
I didn't knock politely—I slammed my fist against it.
Again. And again.
Until the door finally opened.
Levi stood there, his brows furrowing when he saw me. He was in sweats, barefoot, hair tousled like he'd just woken from a nap.
"What the hell are you—"
"She's dead," I cut in, my voice low and sharp.
His entire expression froze.
"What?"
"Zara," I hissed. "She's dead, Levi. She got into a bike accident. They tried everything, but she died this morning. Her body was barely recognizable. And she died because of us."
Levi didn't say a word.
"She died thinking she was being toyed with by you. Again."
"Liam…" He tried to speak, but I held up a hand.
"No. You don't get to talk. Not yet." I stepped into his house, forcing him back. "You lied to her. You pretended you cared. You pretended you were better than the rest of us, like you hadn't been in on it from the start. You convinced her that maybe not everyone was cruel."
I scoffed bitterly. "But you were just like the rest of us. Hiding behind fake concern. Playing your part. Waiting for your turn to break her again."
"I didn't mean to—"
"She's DEAD!" I shouted, the words ripping out of me, echoing through his hallway. "You lied, and now we'll never get the chance to fix it."
Levi's face paled. He looked like a ghost. "I didn't think— I didn't know it would go this far. I thought—"
"You thought it would be fun to screw with her? To punish me?" My chest heaved. "You got your revenge, Levi. Congratulations. Hope it was worth it."
I moved to the door, but paused.
"She never got wore the bracelet again," I whispered, my throat tightening. "Until the end, she never got to wear the bracelet I wanted to give back to her. And she's going to be buried without it."
Levi staggered back like I'd hit him.
I didn't look back. I didn't care to see his regret. It was too damn late.
I left his door wide open behind me, got into my car, and slammed the door shut.
And for the first time in years, I screamed.
Not in anger.
But in grief.
Because the one person who made me want to be better was gone.
And we all had blood on our hands.