Mikey leaned back in his chair, staring at the glowing screen of his laptop as he mindlessly scrolled through some online articles. His body was in his bedroom, but his mind was far away, still replaying the events of the past few days. He couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching him, and the tension was starting to wear him down.
But today, he had to focus on school. He had to keep it together.
His phone buzzed next to him. He picked it up and glanced at the screen: Message from Lila: "Meet us at the park after school?"
Mikey hesitated. Normally, he'd say yes in a heartbeat. Hanging out with his friends was a welcome distraction from the chaos of his double life. But lately, being around them only made him feel more guilty. He couldn't look them in the eye without feeling like he was hiding something—because he was. And the gap between them was growing wider every day.
Before he could respond, another message popped up: "Please? We miss you. And you look like you need it."
Mikey sighed, rubbing his temples. Lila wasn't going to take no for an answer. With a heavy heart, he typed back, "Sure. I'll be there."
---
The afternoon sun hung low in the sky as Mikey walked toward the park. The air was crisp, and the familiar sound of kids laughing and playing filled the air. He spotted Lila, Jake, and Ryan near the swings, and his stomach twisted with unease. Lila waved him over, her face lighting up with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Hey, stranger," Lila teased as Mikey approached. "Thought you forgot about us."
Mikey forced a smile. "Just been busy, you know. Midterms and all."
Ryan laughed, nudging him in the ribs. "Yeah, right. You've been dodging us for days. We're starting to think you found a secret girlfriend or something."
Mikey chuckled, but it felt hollow. "Yeah, something like that."
Lila studied him for a moment, her brow furrowing slightly. "You've definitely been off, Mikey. More than usual."
Mikey's heart skipped a beat. He tried to brush it off with a casual shrug. "Just stressed, I guess. Nothing major."
But Lila wasn't buying it. She leaned forward, her voice dropping to a more serious tone. "Look, I know when something's up with you. You've been quiet, distant, and you're not fooling anyone. If there's something going on, you can tell us."
Mikey looked away, feeling the pressure build. He didn't want to lie, but he couldn't tell her the truth either. Not without putting them all in danger.
"It's nothing," he said, trying to sound convincing. "Really."
Lila crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing as she watched him. "I don't believe you."
For a moment, there was an awkward silence. Mikey could feel the weight of her gaze on him, and he knew she wasn't going to let this go. But before he could think of an excuse, Jake and Ryan started talking about something else, pulling her attention away. Mikey let out a silent sigh of relief, grateful for the distraction.
But the relief didn't last long.
As they hung out, Lila kept glancing at him, her suspicion growing with every passing minute. Mikey did his best to act normal, to laugh and joke like everything was fine, but he could feel the tension building between them. She was getting too close, and it was only a matter of time before she started asking questions he couldn't answer.
As the sun began to set, Lila pulled Mikey aside, away from the others. Her expression was serious, and Mikey knew he was in trouble.
"Okay, enough," she said, crossing her arms. "Something's going on with you, and I'm not letting it slide this time. You're hiding something, and I want to know what it is."
Mikey's heart raced. He had always been good at keeping secrets, but Lila had a way of getting under his skin. She was smart, too smart, and if he wasn't careful, she'd figure everything out.
"I'm not hiding anything," Mikey said, trying to sound calm.
Lila wasn't buying it. She stepped closer, her eyes locking onto his. "Don't lie to me, Mikey. You've been acting weird for weeks now. You're distracted, jumpy, and you're never around anymore. It's like you're living in some other world."
Mikey swallowed hard, his mind racing. He had to come up with something, anything, to throw her off the scent. But before he could speak, Lila's eyes flicked to his wrist.
"Is that a bruise?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.
Mikey froze, instinctively pulling his sleeve down to cover the mark. It was from his last mission—a close call with one of the suspects. He hadn't even noticed the bruise until now, but it was too late to hide it.
"Lila, it's nothing—"
"It's not nothing," she interrupted, her voice growing sharper. "You're getting into fights, aren't you? That's what this is about, isn't it? You're in some kind of trouble, and you're not telling us."
Mikey's chest tightened. He could see the fear in her eyes, the worry that something was seriously wrong. She wasn't far off the mark, but he couldn't let her know the truth. Not now. Not ever.
"Lila, I'm fine," he said, his voice quieter now. "Really. I'm just dealing with some stuff, but I'm handling it."
Lila didn't look convinced, but she sighed and stepped back, giving him some space. "You're my friend, Mikey. You know you can talk to me, right? Whatever's going on, I just want to help."
Mikey nodded, but his stomach twisted with guilt. He hated lying to her, but it was the only way to protect her. If she knew the truth, she'd be in danger. And he couldn't live with that.
They rejoined the others, but the mood was tense. Lila stayed quiet, stealing glances at Mikey every now and then. She wasn't going to drop this. She was too close to figuring out something was off, and Mikey knew he had to be more careful.
But as they said their goodbyes and headed home, Mikey couldn't shake the feeling that he was running out of time. Lila was suspicious, and if she kept digging, she'd find something. Something that could put both of them in serious danger.
As he walked home, Mikey glanced over his shoulder, his paranoia creeping back in. The streets were empty, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being followed. Every sound, every shadow, felt like a threat.
And now, with Lila's suspicion growing, the thin veil of secrecy that protected him and his friends was starting to fray.