Hanna sat across from Finn at lunch, her fingers nervously tracing the edge of her water bottle. She wasn’t hungry, though the food in front of her remained untouched. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, each one more chaotic than the last. She had just crossed a line, and the weight of her decision felt suffocating.
Finn’s voice broke through her thoughts, soft but filled with concern. “Something’s going on,” he said, his eyes studying her closely. “What is it?”
Hanna forced a smile, trying to mask the turmoil inside her. She didn’t want to burden him with her doubts, her secrets. Not yet. “It’s nothing,” she replied quickly, but the lie tasted bitter. “Just… stressed about everything. You know, with school and Ciara.”
Finn didn’t buy it. He leaned in slightly, his brows furrowing as his eyes searched hers, trying to read her. “I don’t believe you,” he said, his voice low and serious. “You’ve been acting distant. You’re not yourself, Hanna.”
The honesty in his words cut deeper than she expected. She felt exposed, as though he could see right through her carefully constructed facade. She wanted to tell him everything—to confess the weight of her involvement with Elordi and the dangerous path she was walking. But the truth was complicated, messy, and she wasn’t sure if he would understand.
Hanna swallowed, the guilt gnawing at her insides. “I know,” she whispered, her voice almost cracking. “I just… I don’t want to drag you into this. Not yet.”
Finn leaned back in his chair, his gaze softening, but there was still a flicker of something else—something Hanna couldn’t quite name. “You know you can tell me anything, right?” he said, his voice steady but tinged with worry. “I’m here for you, Hanna. No matter what.”
Her chest tightened. She wanted to tell him everything. She wanted to share her fears, her doubts, and the part of her that felt like she was losing control. But as much as she wanted to unburden herself, she couldn’t bring herself to be completely honest. Not yet.
“I know,” she said quietly, offering him a small, strained smile. “And I will. Just… not yet.”
Finn studied her for a moment longer, his eyes full of concern, before he nodded slowly. But even as he did, Hanna could see the doubt lingering in his gaze, the silent question he wasn’t asking. Did he know she was keeping something from him? Was he beginning to sense that there was more to this than she was letting on?
The silence between them stretched for what felt like an eternity. Hanna could feel the walls she had built around herself slowly crumbling under the weight of his gaze. She wanted to tell him everything—how Elordi had pulled her into his dangerous world, how they were using the evidence against Ciara to fight back, how every choice she made now felt like it could tear her apart.
But for now, she kept her silence. She knew that one day, she would have to face the consequences of her decisions. But that day wasn’t today.
As the bell rang and their lunch break came to an end, Hanna stood up, forcing a smile. “Thanks for understanding,” she said, trying to sound casual.
Finn didn’t reply immediately. Instead, he watched her closely, his expression unreadable. He nodded slowly, but Hanna could tell that the doubt hadn’t left his eyes.
“Take care of yourself, okay?” he said softly as they walked out of the cafeteria.
“I will,” she replied, though she wasn’t sure if she meant it.
As they parted ways, Hanna couldn’t shake the feeling that the distance between them was growing, that every secret she kept was pushing them further apart. And deep down, she knew that the truth would eventually come out. It always did.
But for now, she had to keep playing the game.