Episode 2: Beneath the Surface

The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a soft golden hue across Ava's bedroom. She sat on the edge of the bed, staring at her phone screen. The message from Noah's unknown sender was still there, lingering like a bad memory. Every time she glanced at it, the doubt crept back in. Was she just overthinking, or was something truly off?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on her door. She quickly put the phone down, trying to shove the unease aside.

"Ava?" It was her best friend, Tasha. Her voice was always a little too cheerful, as if trying to lift Ava's spirits by sheer force.

"Yeah, come in."

Tasha opened the door and walked in, carrying two cups of coffee. She handed one to Ava, then sat down next to her, her eyes instantly scanning her face.

"You look like you're about to break down," Tasha remarked, not mincing words.

Ava tried to laugh, but it came out weak. "I'm fine, just... tired."

Tasha raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Uh-huh. Fine. I've known you long enough to tell when something's eating you up. Spill it."

Ava hesitated. She could feel the weight of her secrets pushing down on her, but something about Tasha's calm presence made her want to open up. She hesitated for a moment before speaking, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I got a message... from an unknown number. It's about Noah."

Tasha's face immediately shifted into one of concern. She placed the coffee cup on the nightstand and focused all her attention on Ava. "What kind of message?"

Ava took a deep breath and showed Tasha the screen of her phone, her hands trembling slightly as she did. The message was simple, yet its words held more weight than they seemed: He's hiding something. Don't trust him. No name, no explanation.

Tasha stared at the message, her eyes narrowing. "That's... unsettling. Are you sure it's not just some prank? I mean, people can be pretty weird online."

Ava shook her head. "It doesn't feel like a prank. This message feels... too specific. And I don't know why, but I have a bad feeling. I've been thinking about it nonstop."

Tasha was quiet for a moment, her fingers tapping lightly on the arm of the chair. Finally, she spoke again, her voice calm but firm.

"Ava, I know you. And I know how hard it is for you to trust people, especially when it comes to Noah. But you need to ask yourself—what is it that you're really afraid of? That he's hiding something? Or that your fear of being hurt again is clouding your judgment?"

Ava's heart skipped a beat at the truth of her words. She had spent so long building walls around herself, afraid of being vulnerable, afraid of trusting the wrong person. Could she let Noah in again? Could she trust him, or was she just setting herself up for another heartbreak?

Before she could answer, her phone buzzed again. She stared at the screen, her stomach flipping in response.

It was a message from Noah.

We need to talk. I need to explain everything.