CHAPTER 51: TOLD YOU THERE WOULD BE A MESS

Chapter 51

JULIAN POLE

I don’t even know how I’m alive right now. My head feels like somebody dropped a bowling ball on it and then decided to do it again for fun. Luka’s lying face down beside me groaning like he got hit by a bus. And Rico’s nowhere to be seen, which either means he’s dead or he’s already up being the responsible one.

He’s always the responsible one.

The smell of chicken soup hits me before I even open my eyes properly. That’s my first clue.

"Oh my God, he’s cooking," I mutter, rolling off the couch. The blanket tangles around my legs and I almost fall, which would’ve been kind of poetic if I cared right now.

Luka mumbles into the pillow. "What time is it?"

"I don’t know. Still too early for consequences."

We drag ourselves upstairs to shower because apparently the human body needs that to function. Luka and I end up sharing the bathroom like two zombies on autopilot, barely speaking except for when he drops the soap and says, "If I die today, tell my parents I loved them." I’m too tired to laugh.

By the time we stumble downstairs, Rico’s standing by the stove wearing an apron he definitely stole from Luka’s mom. There’s a pot of steaming soup and a faint smell of ginger that makes me want to cry.

"You guys look like death warmed up," he says, sliding two bowls across the table.

"You’re an angel," Luka says, collapsing into a chair.

"Drink that before you talk to me," Rico replies. "And don’t even try to pretend you don’t remember last night."

I take one sip and I swear I feel the life crawl back into my body. "Why did I drink? I don’t even like alcohol."

"Peer pressure," Rico says, stirring his soup. "Also Liam’s smile."

"Don’t remind me." I groan, rubbing my forehead. "His parties should come with warning labels."

Luka laughs weakly. "I still can’t believe we actually went after everything that happened at his last party. We’re idiots."

"Speak for yourself," Rico says. "I stayed sober. You two were the ones yelling karaoke at two in the morning."

I choke on my soup. "Wait, what did we sing?"

Rico smirks. "Something about heartbreak and cowboys."

"Oh my God."

He shrugs. "On the bright side, you both sounded equally terrible."

I want to fight him but don’t have the energy. We finish eating, and I swear that soup could cure heartbreak. When I look at the clock, reality kicks in. "We have school today."

"Exams," Luka groans again, slumping against the table.

"Oh yeah," Rico says, grinning. "You might want to, you know, shower again. You smell like sin and regret."

"Thanks, Mom," I mutter, but I go anyway.

By the time we get to campus the sun’s way too bright, people look way too awake, and I already regret being alive. The second we walk in, the chancellor’s assistant spots me.

"Julian, the chancellor wants to see you."

Luka and Rico look at me like I’m being sent to my execution. I laugh it off, pretending my heart isn’t suddenly punching my ribs.

Inside, the chancellor sits behind her desk, glasses perched on her nose. She’s kind, always has been. One of those women who somehow remembers every student’s name and who actually listens when you talk.

"Julian," she says, giving me that soft teacher-mom smile. "How are you holding up?"

I blink. "Uh... fine, I guess?"

"There’s been some chatter," she says carefully, like she’s walking on eggshells. "Rumors, mostly. About you and... one of your former professors."

My stomach drops. She doesn’t say his name, but she doesn’t have to.

She keeps going, "You don’t need to tell me anything right now. I just wanted you to know that if you ever feel unsafe, or if there’s something the administration should understand, you can come to me directly."

"I appreciate that," I say quickly. "But there’s nothing to say. He was my tutor, that’s all." Lies.

She studies me for a moment like she’s deciding whether or not to believe me. Then she nods slowly. "Alright, Julian. I trust you."

I smile, thank her and walk out. My hands are still shaking. Luka and Rico are waiting by the door, leaning against the wall like two bodyguards.

"What happened?" Luka asks.

"She said there were rumors. Didn’t say who started them." I try to sound casual but my voice cracks anyway.

Rico’s brows knit. "Rumors like what?"

I shrug. "You already know."

They exchange a look that tells me everything. They’re pissed. But none of us say anything. Not yet. Because it’s exam day, and apparently life loves irony.

Four hours later, I walk out of the exam room feeling like my brain’s been fried. I barely get to breathe before someone from administration calls me in again. This time, it’s not friendly.

There are three people in the room. They start asking questions like they’ve already made up their minds.

"Julian, were you or were you not in contact with Professor Jace Marino outside of school?"

"Yes. He was my tutor."

"Were you aware that there are photos circulating of you and Professor Marino?"

I like him. I really do. But his last name? That’s another story. It doesn’t suit me, doesn’t roll off the tongue right and yet, somehow, there’s a chance I’ll end up carrying it one day. Funny how life works, how something as small as a name can feel so heavy with possibility.

"No," I lie, because I already know which photos they mean.

They keep pressing. "There have been complaints filed. Inappropriate relationship between faculty and student."

I grip the edge of the chair so tight my knuckles hurt. "He’s not a professor anymore. And nothing inappropriate happened."

They exchange looks like I’m speaking another language.

They finally let me go but not without a warning. They said the investigation isn’t over, that they’re still "looking into things." And if they find even a trace of evidence that I had an inappropriate relationship with the former professor, there will be consequences. The way they said it lingered in the air. Like a promise dressed up as a procedure.

I walk out numb. My friends were waiting in the hall. They don’t even ask. I just shake my head and say, "They called it inappropriate. Someone’s setting this up."

"Who—we are literally invisible. What the fuck" Luka said.

"I don’t know. But it’s not random."

Rico’s face hardens. "Then we find out."

We walk out of the building together. The air outside is sharp, cooler than it should be. I tell myself it’s fine, that the worst part is over, but my body doesn’t believe it.

Luka’s talking beside me, something about lunch, but my brain’s elsewhere. Something feels off. My phone buzzes, and when I pull it out, the reflection on the screen shows something behind us. A dark sedan. It’s been parked across the street since we came out.

I try to ignore it at first. Maybe I’m just paranoid. But then we start walking, and so does the car. Slowly. Quietly.

"Rico," I say under my breath. "You see that car?"

He glances back like he’s just checking traffic. His jaw tightens. "Yeah."

"Has it been following us?" Luka asks, looking nervous.

"Don’t look back," Rico says quietly. "Just keep walking."

My heart’s beating too fast now. Every sound feels too loud. The click of my shoes on the pavement, the faint hum of the car engine, Luka’s uneven breathing beside me.

We turn down another street. The car turns too.

"Okay," I mutter. "That’s not normal."

Rico pulls out his phone, pretending to text. "We’ll cut through the back gate near the old gym. If they’re still behind us after that, then it’s not paranoia."

We keep walking, acting casual. My palms are sweating. I can feel the back of my neck prickling like someone’s watching me through a scope. We turn again, faster this time, and slip through the narrow path between two buildings. Rico pushes open the side gate, and we step out into the empty lot behind the gym.

The car doesn’t come through this time. It slows at the corner instead. Just sitting there.

"Still think I’m crazy?" I whisper.

Rico shakes his head. "No. But don’t panic. That’s what they want."

"What do we do?" Luka asks, eyes wide.

"We go home," Rico says. "Act normal. But from now on, we’re not splitting up. If that car shows up again, I’ll call in a favor."

I nod, trying to steady my breathing. But my mind’s already running. Who would tail us? The university? My dad? Or... someone else.

I glance back once more. The car’s still there, idling at the end of the street like a shadow waiting for permission to move. I can’t see who’s inside. And that’s what scares me most.

Because deep down, I know this isn’t random. Someone’s watching. Someone’s listening. This is not about me and Jace anymore.

It’s about whoever wants to tear us apart next.