Chapter 12

Max arrived at his apartment, walking through the door with his phone pressed to his ear. "I'm fine, Jack," he reassured, his voice steady. "Nothing happened on the way. Just got back to the apartment."

As he entered, he saw Lucas sitting in the living area, his attention absorbed by his laptop. Lucas smiled at him, unaware of the posts or the tension that had been building all day. Max smiled back, feeling a brief sense of relief. Lucas didn't know… at least, not yet.

Max walked past Lucas and into his room, his mind still racing. He went straight for the bathroom, splashing water on his face and washing the blood from his hand. His mind wandered back to those posts. His anger simmered beneath the surface as he recalled the cruel captions and the relentless rumors.

Who the hell was behind this?

He clenched his fists, vowing to find the person responsible. This wasn't over. In fact, it had just begun.

He changed his clothes and left his room. As he entered the living area, he found Lucas sitting on the couch with a first aid kit. Max's hand still throbbed, though he barely noticed it as Lucas glanced up and spoke gently.

"I saw your hand bleeding when you came in," Lucas said. "I didn't want to ask, you looked angry."

Max didn't say anything, but Lucas took his hand in his own, beginning to clean the wound. Max watched him in silence, his heart pounding. The touch was surprisingly gentle, and it made him feel… strange. Something he couldn't quite define.

He liked Lucas. He knew that. But this feeling, this tug in his chest, was more than just admiration. Was he falling for him? He tried to shake the thought away, dismissing it. It had to be the stress talking. He had to focus on what really mattered right now.

Lucas finished treating the wound and got up to put the kit away. Max stayed seated, lost in his thoughts.

Later that evening, Max sat on the couch, the weight of everything pressing down on him. He had received multiple calls from his friends, but he didn't answer. What could he say? They were all worried about him, but he didn't know how to explain everything.

The post had stopped for now, but the damage had already been done. Max's mind churned with questions. Who was behind it? And what did they want from him?

Lost in his thoughts, he didn't notice Lucas walking up behind him. Before Max could react, Lucas wrapped his arms around him in a sudden hug.

"I don't know what's bothering you," Lucas said softly, "but I'm here for you. You don't have to go through this alone."

Max was taken aback, but slowly, he returned the hug, burying his face in Lucas's shoulder. The comfort felt real, and for a moment, he allowed himself to be vulnerable.

"I'm just tired of pretending," Max whispered, his voice cracking. "They're spreading rumors. Talking badly about me. I don't know how much more I can take."

Lucas's grip tightened, his hand patting Max's back reassuringly. "You don't have to do it alone," he repeated. "I'm with you."

Max pulled back slightly, meeting Lucas's gaze. "No matter what they post, you won't believe any of it, right?"

Lucas nodded, his expression calm and steady. "I trust you," he said, his voice firm.

Max couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude. Maybe, just maybe, things weren't as bad as they seemed. At least Lucas and his friends believed in him.

Before Max could say anything more, his phone rang. The caller ID flashed 'Future Sis-In-Law'.

Max let out a long breath and answered. "Hey, Ella."

Lucas excused himself, quietly stepping out of the room to give Max some privacy.

"Why aren't you picking up Mark's and the others' calls?" Ella's voice came through the phone. "We're all worried about you."

Max rolled his eyes, leaning back against the couch. "Tell your boyfriend, Mark, not to worry about me, sis."

From the window of the building across from Max's apartment, someone watched with binoculars, frustrated. He had been trying to get a better view inside Max's apartment but had failed. In a huff, he tossed the binoculars aside and pulled out their phone.

"Forget that," the figure muttered. "We'll go with the backup plan."

To be continued...