SAVANNAH
I flipped open my notepad during lunch break, ready to review the last few formulas from Chemistry class when a small folded slip of paper fluttered out and landed on my lap. My brows furrowed. I picked it up and unfolded it. It was a white square, clean handwriting scribbled across it in bold letters:
3B, Roselane Street.
My heart skipped a beat. I looked around quickly, eyes scanning every face in the classroom. Was this some prank? Or a trap?
No one seemed to be paying attention to me. Alyssa was filing her nails. Madison was gossiping with Jennifer, who kept glancing toward the window. Blake’s seat was empty. I hadn't seen him all morning, which was... odd.
I ran my thumb over the note, thinking. Maybe Blake left it. But why would he be so cryptic? And why wasn’t he in school today? The pool, maybe. Or the field. That’s where he usually disappeared to when he skipped class.
When the bell rang, I shoved the note into my pocket and slung my bag over my shoulder. I made a beeline for the pool, but it was empty.
I went to the football field too but he wasn’t there. I even peeked into the basketball court where the sound of sneakers squeaking echoed, but Blake wasn’t there either.
He was definitely absent. My chest tightened with a mix of concern and curiosity. Why wasn’t he here today? After the intense way he defended me in class yesterday, I thought he’d maybe, I don’t know, say something about it.
I sighed and started walking home, the slip still in my pocket. I’d been doing this walk a lot lately. It had started out feeling like punishment, but now, it felt like... freedom. Space to breathe. To think. The air was crisp today, the kind that smelled faintly of grass and sunshine. I liked it. It gave me time to replay all the weird moments in my life lately.
Like how Blake kissed me.
Or how he stood up for me in front of the entire class. And then went back to acting like it didn’t happen.
“Hey!”
I turned around to see Tyler jogging toward me, a wide smile on his face. He always looked so casual.
“You’re walking again?” he asked, catching up.
“Yeah,” I said. “I think I’m starting to like it.”
He chuckled.
I said, laughing lightly. “I just think I could use the walk. Burn off some extra... stuff.”
“Well, you’re looking great,” he said, a little too quickly. My cheeks flamed.
“Thanks,” I muttered. “Oh, and—look at this.” I pulled out the folded note and handed it to him.
He opened it, eyebrows lifting. “Whoa. Mysterious. Who gave this to you?”
“I don’t know. I found it tucked inside my notes.”
Tyler studied it for a second, then looked at me. “Wanna go check it out?”
I hesitated. “What if it’s a prank?”
“Then we’ll leave. But what if it’s not?”
I sighed, then nodded. “Alright. Let’s go.”
We pulled out Google Maps and found that Roselane Street was just two blocks away. It didn’t take us long. As we walked, I couldn’t help the nervous flutter building in my stomach.
What was waiting at 3B Roselane Street?
When we got there, we stood outside a row of neat little shops. Nail salons. A café. A tattoo parlor.
And there—tucked between a smoothie bar and a hardware store—was a bold black sign: PHASE X GYM.
I blinked. “3B,” I murmured, looking down at the note.
Tyler raised an eyebrow. “Well, this is unexpected.”
“Very.”
He pushed the door open, and I stepped in behind him.
The scent of sweat and rubber filled the space. Workout music pulsed low from a speaker. There were rows of machines and people lifting weights, jumping rope, and stretching. I looked around, confused. Why would someone send me here?
“I think I want to leave,” I muttered, turning to head back out.
But I didn’t make it two steps before someone stepped directly into my path. I gasped and stumbled backward slightly.
“Oh—sorry!” I blurted, not looking up.
“Savannah?” I froze, and I lifted my eyes to see Blake.
His hair was damp, curls sticking to his forehead. He wore a black tank top that clung to his toned chest. His skin glistened with sweat. My mouth went dry.