⭐ CHAPTER 13 — The First Clue
For the rest of the afternoon, Amara couldn't stop replaying the message.
"We're already close."
Her skin crawled every time she remembered it.
Someone in the school.
Someone walking the same halls.
Someone close enough to watch her and Kyle under the mango tree.
She didn't know if she wanted to cry… or run.
Kyle, on the other hand, wasn't saying much.
He wasn't panicking.
He wasn't shouting.
He wasn't pacing.
He was quiet.
Too quiet.
The kind of quiet that meant his mind was racing in dangerous directions.
After the final lesson of the day, Kyle walked out of the class with Amara at his side.
Or more accurately—
Amara walking, Kyle shadowing her like a silent guard.
Every time someone stared too long, Kyle glared.
Every time someone whispered, his jaw tightened.
Every small sound made him look around.
He wasn't paranoid.
He was preparing.
Amara swallowed.
"Kyle… you don't have to walk this close."
He didn't move away.
"You're shaking."
Amara froze.
She had no idea he noticed.
Kyle lowered his voice.
"I'm not leaving you alone until we figure this out."
Her chest tightened in a way that scared her more than the messages.
They reached her locker.
She opened it slowly, half-expecting another threat.
Nothing fell out.
She let out a breath.
But Kyle stepped forward suddenly, one hand raised.
"Wait."
Amara blinked.
"What?"
Kyle reached into the locker… and pulled out a small folded slip of paper stuck to the back wall.
Amara's heart stopped.
She never saw it.
Kyle unfolded it slowly.
His eyes darkened.
Her stomach dropped.
"Kyle…" she whispered. "What is it?"
He handed it to her.
A single sentence.
"You look pretty when you're scared."
Amara's breath hitched.
Her fingers shook violently.
Kyle stepped close behind her, his chest almost touching her back.
"Ama," he whispered, "whoever this is… they're watching your locker."
She felt dizzy.
Kyle placed a steadying hand on her shoulder.
"You're okay. I'm here."
But she wasn't okay.
Not even a little.
⭐ The First Clue
Instead of panicking, Kyle did something unexpected.
He looked around.
Closely.
Scanning every face in the hallway.
Every corner.
Every backpack.
Every person who wasn't minding their business.
His eyes landed on something.
Someone.
A boy at the far end of the hall, standing too still, staring at them a second too long.
Kyle shifted his stance — subtle, protective.
"Ama," he said quietly, "pretend you don't see anything."
Her heart jumped.
"Why?"
"I think someone planted the note while we were in class."
Amara's knees went weak.
Kyle moved closer.
"Look at me," he whispered.
Amara forced her eyes up.
Kyle tilted his head slightly — not enough to draw attention — but enough to make her follow his gaze with her peripheral vision.
The boy at the end of the hall turned away when their eyes almost met and walked off quickly.
"Do you know him?" Kyle asked.
Amara shook her head.
"I've never even seen him."
Kyle memorized his face instantly.
Then…
He took out his phone and snapped a quick photo.
"Just in case."
Amara stared at him.
"You're… surprisingly calm."
Kyle closed his phone.
"I'm not calm. I'm furious."
He exhaled hard.
"But I need a clear head if I'm going to protect you."
Amara swallowed.
That word again.
Protect.
It hit her harder than it should.
⭐ Vanessa Isn't Finished
They barely made it two steps down the hallway before Vanessa appeared.
Like she had been waiting.
Her arms were crossed.
Her smirk was ready.
Her eyes were burning with satisfaction.
"Well, if it isn't the school's hottest couple."
Kyle ignored her and kept walking.
Vanessa stepped directly in front of them.
"Kyle, dear," she said sweetly, "you do know Amara is dragging your name through the mud, right?"
Amara stiffened.
Kyle's eyes narrowed into slits.
"Move."
"Oh, relax," Vanessa said, rolling her eyes.
"I just came to warn you. Everyone is talking about you. About her. About the way you—"
"What I do," Kyle interrupted, "is none of your business."
Vanessa raised her brows.
"Only because you're scared I'll tell people what happened before."
Kyle froze.
Amara looked up at him.
He wasn't angry.
He was… hurt.
Just for one second.
Then the mask came back.
"Go away, Vanessa," he said quietly — painfully quiet.
Vanessa laughed.
"Sure. But don't say I didn't warn you. This girl brings drama to your life like a magnet."
Kyle's voice hardened.
"Vanessa—"
But she was already walking away.
Amara looked up at him again.
"Kyle… what did she mean?"
He shook his head.
"Nothing important."
But his eyes told a different story.
⭐ Jonah's Slip
They reached outside the building when Jonah appeared from nowhere.
He looked upset.
Stressed.
Uneasy.
"Amara," he said, stepping toward her.
Kyle moved instantly between them.
Jonah swallowed.
"I know you think I'm lying. But the messages—"
Kyle cut him off.
"What do you know about them?"
Jonah hesitated.
Then said something strange.
"I… I know people who can do this kind of thing."
Kyle's expression changed sharply.
"What people?"
Jonah's eyes widened as if he realized he said too much.
"I didn't mean—"
"Who," Kyle demanded, stepping forward, "are you talking about?"
Jonah backed up.
"I… can't say."
Kyle grabbed his wrist.
"You're hiding something."
Jonah looked panicked.
"I'm trying to help her! But if I talk—"
Kyle shoved him back.
"You're not protecting her. You're scaring her."
Jonah's eyes flicked to Amara — desperate and guilty.
"Just stay away from him," he whispered to her.
"It's the only way to stay safe."
Kyle stepped closer, fists clenched.
"Get lost."
Jonah ran.
Not walked.
Ran.
And that told Amara more than anything else.
Jonah was hiding something.
Something big.
⭐ Kyle's Soft Side
After Jonah disappeared, Kyle turned to Amara.
"Come on," he said quietly. "I'm walking you home."
Amara blinked.
"What? You don't have to—"
Kyle cut her off gently.
"Ama, someone is watching you. You're not going anywhere alone."
Her chest tightened.
"Are you sure? I don't want to bother—"
"Ama."
His voice softened.
"You could never bother me."
Silence.
Warm.
Dangerous.
Too intimate.
Amara looked away before her heart betrayed her.
As they started walking, Kyle slowed his pace to match hers.
After a long moment, he said softly:
"I saw your hands shaking earlier."
Amara sighed.
"I'm just… overwhelmed."
Kyle nodded.
"I get it. But you're not alone in this, okay?"
She looked up at him.
Kyle held her gaze.
Longer than he should have.
"I won't let anything happen to you," he whispered.
A wind passed softly through the trees.
Amara swallowed hard.
She wasn't sure if it was fear she felt anymore…
Or something else entirely.