Ryan's room had always been his sanctuary—organized chaos only he understood. The ceramic pots on the shelf had been in the same position for years, dusty rings marking their place. Now, one sat crooked, a half-inch from where it should be.
He noticed it, but didn't linger. He had bigger problems.
The call to Anna had been short—just his name and, "Get here." She didn't ask why.
By the time she arrived, Ryan was slouched at the foot of his bed, sweater half-off, hair in disarray, and the bitter aftertaste of the day still in his mouth. He was still wearing the dress from earlier but with his mask off and his make up running a little, he looked less like the perfect Rachel he was supposed to be and more like a dressed up moody cat.
Anna didn't even sit before saying, "Alright, what did you do now?"
He gave her a sharp look. "Why do you assume I—"
"Because," she cut in, "your sounded like you were two seconds from breaking something, and I know you well enough to know it's not a vase."
Ryan let out a humorless laugh and raked a hand through his hair. "It's Luna. He's… starting to see me. Not Rachel—me. And if he figures it out—"
"You're dead," Anna finished, leaning against the desk. "Well, at least socially."
Ryan buried his face in his hands. "I've been so careful, but today… I let my voice slip. Just for a second. He's not stupid, Anna. He's connecting dots and I…don't know wat to do..."
She sighed, about to reply—then her eyes drifted past him.
"Ryan," she said slowly, "when's the last time you moved that plant?"
He frowned. "What plant?"
"That one." She pointed to the far corner near the TV stand. "And when's the last time you even turned that TV on?"
He followed her gaze—and froze.
A pinprick red light blinked steadily from the shadow of the stand.
The same kind of blink he remembered from before.
"Not again," Ryan breathed.
Anna's mouth set into a tight line. "Your parents?"
"Who else?" His voice was sharp. "What—do they think I'm sneaking someone in here? That I'm—"
"Cheating on Luna," Anna finished for him.
He swore under his breath, standing abruptly. "I'll pull them out—"
"No." She stepped between him and the stand, holding up a hand. "If they went to the trouble of setting these up again, ripping them out will only confirm they're right to be suspicious. And nothing you've said to me so far would get you in trouble. Yet."
Ryan's jaw flexed. "Yet?"
Anna didn't answer directly. Instead, she pitched her voice just a little louder, turning her head toward the blinking light. "What you need is to show everyone you are stil the perfect Rachel that they want you to be, and you and Luna are the perfect couple. Nothing shady, nothing questionable. Something public."
His stomach turned. "Anna…." Ryan started warningly.
"A garden tea party," she said, ignoring Ryan's warning tone, a slow smile forming. "We invite Luna, we make a show of you two being disgustingly sweet together. The eyes and ears of your parents will pick up every word, every laugh, and your parents will eat it up."
Ryan narrowed his eyes. "You're enjoying this."
"Immensely," she said, grinning. "And it'll work."
He exhaled, forcing himself to think. "Fine. But what about the fact the whole Lovewin clan will need to be there? Including…well…Ryan - at least just to through Lua and Luka off. How are we gonna make that happen?"
Anna was already at the door, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Oh, leave that to me. I've got ideas."
She left without explaining, which only made his skin crawl more.
Ryan stood there alone in his room, the red light winking at him from the shadows like an unblinking eye.
He hated being watched. He hated being cornered.
And most of all—he hated feeling like the game was slipping out of his control.
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