Never Just Friends

The First Thread Unravels

Hanna arrived at school earlier than usual the next morning, her heart pounding in anticipation. Elordi had sent her the message late last night, and the cryptic nature of his words left her tossing and turning until dawn. Whatever he’d discovered about Ciara—and her possible accomplice—might finally give her the edge she needed.

She spotted Elordi leaning against the lockers near the side entrance, his expression as casual as ever, though his eyes darted nervously down the hall.

“You’re here early,” she said, trying to sound calm as she approached him.

He smirked faintly. “Didn’t want to miss the drama.”

“Elordi,” she said firmly, crossing her arms. “What did you find?”

He straightened, his usual playfulness replaced by a rare seriousness. “You’re not going to like it.”

“Just tell me,” Hanna insisted, her patience wearing thin.

Elordi hesitated, glancing around before leaning in closer. “Ciara’s not working alone. But I don’t think it’s someone you’d expect. It’s…” He lowered his voice. “Jacob’s girlfriend. Ciara’s been talking to her for weeks.”

Hanna’s stomach dropped. “Ciara and… Ciara and Ciara?”

Elordi nodded, his expression grim. “I overheard them talking yesterday after practice. Ciara didn’t say much, but it sounded like she was pulling strings to keep Jacob out of the loop. She’s using Ciara to get to you.”

Hanna’s head spun, disbelief and fury crashing over her. She’d suspected Ciara was ruthless, but to go after her family like this? It was a new low.

“Why would Ciara even help her?” Hanna asked, her voice rising. “What does she get out of this?”

Elordi shrugged. “Ciara didn’t say. But I think it’s leverage. You know Ciara—she doesn’t do anything unless it benefits her.”

Hanna’s hands clenched into fists at her sides. She couldn’t let this go on. “Do you have proof?”

“Not yet,” Elordi admitted. “But I’ll keep digging. I just thought you should know what you’re up against.”

Hanna nodded, her mind racing. “Thanks, Elordi. I mean it.”

He gave her a crooked smile. “Don’t thank me yet. This is going to get messy.”

~

As the first bell rang, Hanna made her way to class, her thoughts a tangled mess. She couldn’t focus on the lecture, her mind instead replaying Elordi’s words over and over. Ciara’s involvement added a layer of betrayal she hadn’t anticipated, and it made the stakes feel even higher.

During lunch, she found Emily sitting at their usual table, scrolling through her phone.

“Hey,” Hanna said, sliding into the seat beside her.

Emily looked up, immediately sensing her tension. “What happened?”

Hanna explained what Elordi had told her, her voice shaking as she recounted the details. Emily’s jaw tightened, and her eyes narrowed with anger.

“She’s unbelievable,” Emily muttered. “Using Ciara to get to you? That’s low, even for her.”

“What do we do?” Hanna asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “If I confront her, she’ll deny everything. And if Jacob finds out before I have proof…”

Emily placed a reassuring hand on Hanna’s arm. “We’ll figure it out. But first, we need to talk to Ciara. If she’s being manipulated, maybe we can get her to turn on Ciara.”

Hanna hesitated, doubt gnawing at her. Ciara had always been unpredictable, and she wasn’t sure if confronting her was the right move. But Emily’s determination gave her a flicker of hope.

That afternoon, Hanna and Emily waited outside the library, where Ciara usually studied after school. Hanna’s nerves were frayed, but Emily stood beside her, exuding quiet confidence.

When Ciara appeared, her eyes widened slightly at the sight of them, but she quickly masked her surprise with a neutral expression.

“Hanna, Emily,” she said, her tone cool. “What’s this about?”

“We need to talk,” Hanna said, her voice firmer than she felt.

Ciara raised an eyebrow but followed them to a quiet corner near the stairwell. “What’s going on?”

Hanna took a deep breath. “We know you’ve been talking to Ciara.”

Ciara’s eyes flickered with something—surprise? Guilt?—but she quickly recovered. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t lie,” Emily said sharply. “We have people who’ve heard you. We know you’ve been working with her.”

Ciara’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, she looked genuinely conflicted. “I didn’t want to get involved,” she said finally, her voice low. “But Ciara… she doesn’t give you a choice. She has ways of making you do what she wants.”

“What does she have on you?” Hanna asked, her tone softening.

Ciara hesitated, glancing around to make sure no one was listening. “She found out about something I did last year. Something I can’t let Jacob know about. She said if I didn’t help her, she’d tell him everything.”

Hanna’s heart ached at the desperation in Ciara’s voice. She knew what it felt like to be trapped by someone like Ciara, to feel like you had no way out.

“You don’t have to keep doing this,” Hanna said gently. “If you help us, we can protect you. Ciara doesn’t have to control you anymore.”

Ciara looked at her, doubt and hope warring in her expression. “You really think you can stop her?”

Hanna nodded. “We can’t do it without you.”

~