Never Just Friends

Rallying the Troops

Hanna’s living room was dimly lit, the soft glow of a single table lamp casting long shadows across the room. The atmosphere was tense, almost stifling, as Hanna sat cross-legged on the floor, her notebook open in front of her. Emily sat beside her on the couch, scrolling through her phone with a determined expression. Across the room, Finn paced near the window, his hands shoved deep into his pockets, while Elordi lounged on the armrest of a chair, his usual nonchalant demeanor replaced with a quiet intensity.

“So, she’s targeting Jacob,” Finn said abruptly, breaking the silence. His voice was tight with anger, and his jaw clenched as he stopped pacing. “That’s low, even for her.”

Emily didn’t look up from her phone. “It makes sense, though. Jacob’s close to Hanna. She knows hurting him will hurt her. It’s textbook manipulation.”

Hanna flinched slightly at Emily’s words, though she knew they were true. Jacob didn’t deserve to be dragged into this mess, and the thought of him being used as a pawn made her stomach churn. She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “Ciara mentioned something about a fight last year,” she said softly. “But Jacob’s never told me anything about that. I don’t even know what she could be referring to.”

Elordi tilted his head, a thoughtful look crossing his face. “Maybe it wasn’t a big deal to him,” he suggested. “Sometimes people don’t think fights or arguments are worth mentioning. But if Ciara’s involved, you can bet she’s twisting it into something bigger than it really is.”

“That’s what she does,” Emily agreed, finally looking up. “She takes something small and makes it explode. If there’s even a shred of truth to this ‘fight,’ she’ll find a way to blow it out of proportion.”

Hanna frowned, her mind racing. Jacob wasn’t the type to get into fights. He was calm, even-tempered, the kind of person who avoided drama whenever possible. Whatever had happened last year, it couldn’t have been as bad as Ciara was making it seem. But that didn’t matter. If Ciara thought she could use it against him—and by extension, against Hanna—she would.

“We need to talk to him,” Finn said, his voice cutting through the tension. He stepped closer to the group, his green eyes burning with determination. “Jacob deserves to know what’s going on. If she’s digging for dirt on him, he needs to be prepared.”

Hanna hesitated, her heart sinking. “Jacob and I… we’re not exactly on the best terms right now. If I try to talk to him, he might not even listen to me.”

Finn’s expression softened as he looked at her. “Then I’ll talk to him,” he said firmly. “He’ll listen to me.”

Hanna’s shoulders relaxed slightly, a small wave of relief washing over her. “Thank you, Finn,” she said quietly. “I really appreciate it.”

Finn gave her a reassuring nod, his usual calm confidence shining through. “We’re in this together, Hanna. You don’t have to handle everything by yourself.”

Emily leaned forward, her tone sharp as she brought the focus back to the matter at hand. “While Finn talks to Jacob, the rest of us need to figure out what Ciara’s next move is. If we can get ahead of her, we can stop her before she does any real damage.”

“Easier said than done,” Elordi muttered, though there was no malice in his tone. He leaned back, his arms crossed over his chest. “Ciara’s unpredictable. She plays her cards close to her chest. If we’re going to outmaneuver her, we need more than just guesses.”

Emily turned to Hanna. “Do you think Ciara knows more than she’s told us? Could she have left something out during your meeting?”

Hanna considered this, her brow furrowing. Ciara had seemed nervous, almost desperate, when she told them about the supposed fight Jacob had been involved in. But had she held anything back? Hanna couldn’t be sure.

“It’s possible,” Hanna admitted. “She was scared. If she thinks sharing too much could come back to bite her, she might’ve kept things vague on purpose.”

Emily’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Then we need to find a way to get more out of her. If she knows what Ciara’s planning, she’s our best chance at stopping it.”

“Or,” Elordi interjected, “we find another way to get information. If Ciara’s been texting her operatives, we might be able to intercept something.”

Hanna shook her head. “That’s too risky. If Ciara finds out we’re snooping, she’ll shut everything down.”

“True,” Elordi conceded. “But it’s an option if things get desperate.”

~

The conversation shifted as they began brainstorming strategies, each of them offering ideas and counterpoints. Emily suggested monitoring Ciara’s known social connections, while Finn emphasized the importance of protecting Jacob from further harm. Elordi, ever the strategist, proposed a more aggressive approach—something that made Hanna uneasy but wasn’t entirely off the table.

As the discussion went on, Hanna found herself watching Finn. His quiet determination stood out, a steady anchor in the chaos swirling around them. She’d leaned on him so much lately, and yet, he never seemed to waver. He had stepped up for her in ways she hadn’t expected, and she wasn’t sure she could have gotten this far without him.

“Hanna?” Emily’s voice pulled her from her thoughts.

“Sorry,” Hanna said quickly, blinking. “What were you saying?”

“I asked if you’d heard from Ciara since yesterday,” Emily repeated, her brow furrowed. “Has she reached out again?”

Hanna shook her head. “No. But she said she’d text me if she learned anything new. I think she’s trying to keep her distance right now.”

“Fair enough,” Emily said. “But don’t let her slip away. If she has more information, we need it.”

~

As the meeting wound down, the group began outlining their next steps. Finn would talk to Jacob, Emily would keep tracking Ciara’s movements, and Elordi would dig into any whispers circulating through the school. Hanna, meanwhile, would follow up with Ciara and keep an ear to the ground.

Before they left, Finn caught Hanna by the arm, pulling her aside near the front door. “Hey,” he said softly, his expression unreadable. “You’re doing great. I know this is hard, but we’re going to get through it. Together.”

Hanna felt her chest tighten, warmth blooming in her heart at his words. “Thank you,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“You don’t have to,” Finn said simply. “I’ve got your back.”

As he walked out the door, Hanna stood in the dim light of the entryway, her thoughts swirling. The road ahead was still uncertain, and the stakes were higher than ever. But with Finn, Emily, and Elordi by her side, she felt a flicker of hope. Together, they would face whatever came next.