Alexis' POV
I stared at the hallway outside my room long after Vanessa left school.
The truth sat heavy in my chest, festering. Alex. Her own brother.
Worse he'd turned into someone she didn't know if I could protect anymore.
I'd seen the footage.
I'd followed the clues.
It wasn't hard to piece it together once I started looking. The timing of the messages. The photos. The sudden obsession with Vanessa.
But what tore me up wasn't just what he'd done.
It was that I hadn't seen it sooner.
When I got school next morning, the lights were off.
I didn't call out for him.
Instead, I dropped my bag quietly in my class and went to the bal. He was there alone with water in his hands like he'd been waiting for me.
"You're early," he said without looking at me.
I flipped the light on.
His eyes blinked against it like he'd been underground.
"Why did you do it?" I asked.
No preamble. No pretending.
He knew what I meant.
Alex tilted his head. "Do what?"
"You know what. The messages. The photos. You scared her, Alex."
He gave a bitter laugh. "I scared her? That's rich, coming from you."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"You forgot where you came from. That's what it means," he said, standing slowly. "Ever since you showed up, she stopped seeing me."
"That's not true."
"Isn't it? She don't even talk to me anymore unless it's about homework or what's for dinner. But you?" His voice rose. "She follow you around like you the only thing that matters."
"She matters because she's kind. Because she listens. Because she sees me."
His voice broke on that last word.
Silence.
Then he laughed again, sharp and twisted.
"You think I'm trying to hurt her? You're the one hurting her by pretending you're okay."
I blinked. "What?"
"You lied to her. About the fire. About what really happened. About Dad."
My blood ran cold.
"You don't know what you're talking about."
"I do," Alex whispered. "You're not the hero you want her to believe. You didn't just lose control, Alexis. You let it happen."
My fists clenched. "Stop."
"I saw heard about that night. The lighter. The screaming. You were angry. So angry. And now you're pretending like you're just some victim. You want sympathy from her? Then tell her the truth."
The room pulsed with tension.
I couldn't breathe.
"You don't understand what it was like," I said through clenched teeth. "You didn't hear the way she screamed at me. Said I was just like him. That I'd never be anything but broken."
"She was hurting."
"I was, too!"
I slammed my hand against the counter. The sound startled both of us.
I closed my eyes, trying to steady myself.
Alex spoke again quiet now. "I didn't want to hurt her, Alexis. I wanted to protect you. From her. From what she might do when she finds out."
"She's not like that."
"She doesn't know the truth."
I looked at him her brother, her blood and for the first time, I saw someone I didn't recognize.
"What have you done?" I asked.
"I left her one more message," he admitted. "Tonight. A photo."
My heart stopped. "What photo?"
He met my gaze, unflinching. "One of her. Sleeping."
"You were in her house?"
He didn't answer.
I didn't need him to.
I shoved past him and grabbed my phone.
"You crossed a line," I said, voice shaking.
"She needs to stay away from you," he snapped. "Before it gets worse."
That stopped me.
Before what gets worse?
I turned back. "You think I'm dangerous, don't you?"
Alex's silence said everything.
I backed away like I'd been hit.
"I'd never hurt her," I whispered.
He looked away. "That's what your Dad said about your Mom."
I didn't sleep.
I couldn't.
Instead, I sat on my bedroom floor, clutching my phone, debating whether to call Vanessa. Whether to confess everything.
But I couldn't bring myself to do it.
Not yet.
I still didn't know what was worse losing her because she found out what I'd done...
Or lying to her face every day I pretended to be something better.
The next morning, I went to school early.
I waited outside her classroom, rehearsing what to say.
But when Vanessa arrived, she looked pale.
Tired.
Frightened.
She saw me, hesitated, then walked toward me slowly.
"Can we talk?" I asked.
She nodded.
We found an empty stairwell and sat in silence for a moment before I spoke.
"I know who's been leaving the messages," I said.
She nodded. "I figured it out. Your brother."
I looked at her, startled.
She gave a faint smile. "I'm not as clueless as you think."
"I'm sorry," I said. "I should've told you sooner. He's... not okay."
She looked down at her hands. "He was in my room, Alexis."
My throat closed. "I didn't know he'd go that far."
"I was scared."
"I know."
"I thought it was you."
That hurt more than anything.
"Vanessa... I would never. You have to believe that."
She looked up at me. "I want to."
Her voice cracked on the last word.
"There's something else I need to tell you," I said.
She looked at me, waiting.
But the words lodged in my throat.
The truth about the fire. About what I'd done. About the night Mom died.
I couldn't do it.
Not yet.
So I lied.
"It's over now," I said. "I confronted him. He promised he'll stop."
Vanessa searched my face.
Then nodded.
"Okay."
We walked to class together, side by side.
But I felt it.
The crack in her trust.
And I knew it wouldn't take much more for the whole thing to shatter.