Cracks in the mask

The photo haunted her.

Every time Elara closed her eyes, she saw it — her and Ryder, sitting close at the library table.

Whoever was watching, they weren't playing games anymore.

By the time she arrived at school the next morning, her nerves were shot, her hands trembling as she fumbled with her locker.

"You okay?" Leah asked, sliding up beside her.

"Yeah," Elara mumbled, her voice weak.

But Leah didn't buy it. "You sure? You look like you haven't slept in days."

Because I haven't.

"I'm fine," Elara insisted, forcing a smile.

Leah gave her a long, worried look but didn't push.

---

"Yo, Mystery Girl," Ryder's voice came behind her as she shoved books into her locker.

Elara flinched, her heart racing.

"Chill," he said, raising a brow. "Didn't mean to scare you."

She took a deep breath and turned, looking up at him. "Hey."

Ryder studied her for a long moment. "You sure you're good? You look... I don't know. Off."

"I'm fine," she lied smoothly.

Ryder narrowed his eyes. "You keep saying that. But I don't think you are."

Elara glanced away, wishing he wasn't so good at reading people.

"Whatever," Ryder muttered, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "Library after school?"

She nodded. "Yeah."

As he walked away, Elara leaned her head against the locker, trying to hold herself together.

---

"Come on, Ellie, sit with us!" Nora waved her over, smiling like always.

Elara slid into her seat, but her hands wouldn't stop shaking.

Jonah frowned. "You good?"

Elara opened her mouth to answer — but then Savannah Chase's voice rang out, louder than necessary.

"Hey everyone! Did you see this?"

Elara's stomach dropped.

Savannah Chase was standing on top of a bench — holding up her phone like a trophy.

A crowd gathered around her.

She turned her phone, flashing the screen for everyone to see — the photo of Elara and Ryder from the library.

"Looks like Ellie here is getting real cozy with Ryder West," Savannah sneered, her voice sharp as a knife.

The entire cafeteria turned.

"Guess she's not as innocent as she looks," Savannah added with a smirk.

Elara felt the color drain from her face.

Leah stood up so fast her chair nearly toppled. "Back off, Savannah."

Savannah grinned. "What? Just sharing a cute pic. Thought people should know."

Jonah looked stunned. Nora's mouth was hanging open in shock.

Elara's heart was thudding so loud she could barely think.

But before she could say a word —

"Enough," Ryder's voice cut through the noise.

Everyone turned as he stalked toward Savannah, eyes blazing.

"Take it down," Ryder snapped.

Savannah smirked, unfazed. "Why? You don't want people to know about your new little girlfriend?"

Ryder glared. "You wanna keep your teeth?"

Gasps rippled around them.

Savannah laughed, but there was something tight in her eyes. "Whatever. Just saying — we all know who she really is."

Elara froze.

Ryder glanced at her, frowning, but before he could say more, Savannah stalked away, tossing her phone back in her bag.

The cafeteria buzzed with whispers.

Elara wanted to disappear.

---

"Ellie, wait up," Ryder called as she tried to slip out the side door, avoiding the crowds.

She stopped, shoulders tense.

Ryder caught up, walking beside her quietly for a moment.

"You okay?" he asked finally.

"Yeah," she whispered.

"Don't lie to me," Ryder said gently. "Look… I don't know what Savannah's deal is, but… you don't deserve that."

Elara's throat tightened. "Thanks."

They walked a few more steps before Ryder added, "You know… if there's something you're hiding, you don't have to keep it locked up. I'm not gonna judge."

Elara glanced up at him, her heart pounding. Did he know? Was he guessing?

"I'm just… a nobody," she said quickly.

Ryder stopped walking, turning to face her. "You don't feel like a nobody to me."

Elara blinked, unsure what to say.

Ryder studied her for a long second, then shook his head. "Anyway, library? Or you wanna skip today?"

Elara hesitated, then nodded. "Let's go."

---

Back at home, Savannah (her sister) sat at her laptop, a deep frown on her face.

She had spent hours searching online, trying to figure out who could be blackmailing Elara.

Finally, she found something.

A Reddit thread — full of rumors and whispers about Elara Blake disappearing from the spotlight.

And a post.

From someone calling themselves "Watcher_X."

> "Word is, she's hiding in plain sight. Think she can escape the spotlight? Think again. She won't be able to fake it much longer."

Savannah's heart sank.

Who was "Watcher_X"?

And how did they know?

She quickly screenshotted the post and sent it to Elara.

> Sav: El, we've got a serious problem. Call me.

---

Elara sat with Ryder, trying to focus on the assignment, but her phone buzzed with Savannah's message.

Ryder watched her closely. "You sure you're here right now? You look like you're anywhere but."

Elara bit her lip. "I'm here."

But her hands were shaking as she typed, and Ryder reached over, gently covering her hand with his.

"Ellie," he said softly. "Whatever's going on… you can trust me."

Elara looked at him, her chest tight.

She wanted to believe that.

But how could she?

Before she could speak, her phone buzzed again — and this time, Ryder's gaze sharpened as he glanced at the screen.

> "Ready to lose everything, Elara? Tick tock."

Ryder's eyes narrowed. "Who's sending you that?"

Elara's heart dropped.

Ryder's eyes flicked from Elara's pale face to the screen of her phone.

His brows furrowed as he read the words she couldn't hide fast enough:

> "Ready to lose everything, Elara? Tick tock."

For a moment, everything in Elara froze — her mind, her heart, her breath.

Ryder looked back at her, his expression unreadable but sharp, like his brain was putting pieces together fast.

"What was that?" he asked quietly.

Elara's fingers gripped the edge of her phone so hard her knuckles turned white. "It's nothing," she whispered, but even she knew how weak that sounded.

"Don't do that," Ryder said, voice low but firm. "Don't lie to me."

Elara swallowed hard, her throat dry. "It's just... a stupid prank."

Ryder's eyes narrowed. "A prank? You expect me to believe that? Ready to lose everything? Who says that as a prank?"

Elara looked away, panic rising in her chest. "I don't know."

Ryder leaned in, elbows on the table, voice dropping softer but sharper, eyes searching hers. "Ellie... What's going on with you? Who's sending you that?"

"I said it's nothing," Elara snapped, sharper than she meant to.

Ryder flinched a little but didn't back off. "You don't have to tell me, but you should tell someone."

"I'm handling it," Elara whispered, but tears stung her eyes, and she hated that he could see her crack.

Ryder sat back in his chair, watching her like she was a puzzle he couldn't figure out.

"You're not fine," he said after a long pause. "I don't know what this is, but… you shouldn't be carrying it alone."

Elara blinked fast, looking away.

"Look," Ryder added more gently, "I've been through my own mess, alright? I know what it's like to try to hold everything in."

Elara's eyes snapped back to him, surprised.

He gave a small smirk, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Yeah, I've got secrets too."

"Like what?" Elara asked before she could stop herself.

Ryder shrugged, but the tension in his shoulders didn't ease. "Let's just say I know what it's like to wanna disappear."

They sat in silence for a moment, the air between them thick with things unsaid.

Ryder broke it with a small, crooked grin. "For what it's worth, you don't have to tell me. But if you ever do, I'm not gonna run."

Elara's throat tightened.

"I've got your back," Ryder added quietly, then stood, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "See you tomorrow, Mystery Girl."

As he walked away, Elara sat frozen, her heart pounding in her chest.

Maybe he didn't know everything yet. But he was getting closer.

And for the first time, a tiny part of her wanted to tell him.

---

Elara glanced down at her phone one last time before leaving the library.

> Tick tock, Elara. It's only a matter of time.

She swallowed hard, slipped her phone into her bag, and walked out — her heart still racing.

But as she disappeared into the hallway, she didn't see the figure watching her from the shadows — phone in hand, taking pictures.

Waiting.

Watching.