The Secret

Ava Carter had always been good at keeping things to herself. She wasn't the type to overshare or spill every thought that crosses her mind. But this-this was different. This secret wasn't just a passing thought or a harmless white lie. It was something that could change everything.

She sat in the back of her English class, gripping her pen so tightly her knuckles turned white. She wasn't even writing anything, just tapping the pen against the blank page of her notebook, her heartbeat drumming in sync with the sound. The words on the board blurred together. She hadn't heard a single thing the teacher had said in the past ten minutes.

"Hey, are you okay?"

Ava flinched, Mia, her best friend since middle school, was staring at her with narrowed eyes.

"Yeah, just tired," Ava mumbled, forcing a small smile.

Mia didn't look convinced. "You've been acting weird all week."

Ava let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head. "I'm fine. Just thinking."

Thinking. That was an understatement. She hadn't been able to think about anything but this secret since the moment became hers to carry. She had been careful-so careful. No one had seen. No one could have seen.

But then why did she feel like everyone was watching her?

Ave turned her head slightly, scanning the classroom. A few students were passing notes. Some were half-asleep, heads propped up by their hands. A couple of them whispered back and forth, but none of them were looking at her. So why did she feel like someone knew?

The bell rang, jolting her out of her thoughts. Students pushed back their chairs, chattering as they packed up their things. Ava quickly grabbed her backpack, ready to escape into the hallway and breathe again.

But just as she slung her bag over her shoulder, a voice stopped her.

"Miss Carter, can you stay after class for a moment?"

Ava's stomach dropped.

She turned slowly to see Mr. Dawson, her English teacher, looking at her with a calm but unreadable expression.

Mia shot her a look. What did you do?

Ava forced a casual shrug. "I'll meet you at lunch," she said, though her voice was tighter than she wanted it to be

Mia hesitated before nodding and walking out with the others, leaving Ava alone with Mr. Dawson.

She gripped the strap of her bag as he shut the door.

"I wanted to talk to you about something," he said, walking back to his desk. "I noticed you've been distracted lately. Your last assignment wasn't up to your usual standard."

Ava exhaled, relief washing over her. This wasn't about that. It was just about some stupid essay she had half-written at midnight.

"Sorry," she said quickly. "I've just been tired."

Mr. Dawson nodded but didn't look entirely convinced. "If something's going on, you can talk to me. You know that, right?"

Ava forced a smile. "Yeah, thanks. I'll do better next time."

He studied her for a moment before finally nodding. "Alright. You're free to go."

Ava didn't hesitate. She practically bolted for the door, heart still hammering as she stepped into the crowded hallway.

She had dodged that one. But how long until someone really figured it out?

She needed to act normal. She needed to pretend everything was fine. But how could she, when the weight of her secret was pressing down on her with every step she took?

At lunch, Ava picked at her food while Mia and the others talked about weekend plans. She tried to join in, to nod and laugh at the right moments, but it was like she was watching everything from a distance.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulling it out, and her stomach did a flip when she saw the notification.

Unknown Number: You can't hide forever.

Her breath caught in her throat.

Her fingers trembled as she locked the screen, shoving the phone into her pocket.

She hadn't told anyone. How did someone know?

Mia nudged her. "Ava, seriously, what's up with you?"

Ava forced a quick smile. "Nothing. Just a weird text."

Mia frowned. "From who?"

"No one. Probably a prank."

She hoped that was true.

But deep down, she knew it wasn't.

Someone knew her secret. And if they were texting her now, it was only a matter of time before they told everyone.

That night, Ava lay in bed staring at her phone. She hadn't gotten another text, but that didn't mean anything.

Her mind raced, replaying everything over and over. How had someone found out? Had she been careless?

She squeezed her eyes shut.

If the truth came out... if people knew what she had done...

No. She couldn't let that happen.

She had to figure out who was behind the message. She had to stop them before it was too late.

Because if this secret got out, it wouldn't just ruin her.

It would ruin everything.

Ava barely slept that night. Every time she closed her eyes, her thoughts spiraled. Who was this person? What did they actually know? Were they just messing with her, or was her secret about to be dragged into the open for everyone to see?

By the time morning came, she felt like she hadn't even blinked. Her hands were shaky as she got ready for school, her stomach twisting with anxiety.

All day, she could barely focus. Every time her phone buzzed, she jumped, half-expecting another message. But there was nothing. Just that one chilling instruction:

Meet me at the park. Or everyone finds out.

She kept glancing around the hallways, scanning faces, wondering if someone was watching her. Was it someone in her class? A friend? A total stranger?

Mia noticed. Of course she did.

"Ava," she said, pulling her aside between classes. "I don't care what you say, something is wrong. And don't tell me you're 'just tired' because I know you. Spill."

Ava hesitated, chewing the inside of her cheek. Mia was her best friend. she trusted her more than anyone. But if she told Mia the truth, that was one more person who could let it slip. That was one more person she'd had to worry about.

So she forced a smile. "I promise, It's nothing. Just stressed about school."

Mia didn't believe her, she could tell. but before she could push further, the bell rang.

Ava took the excuse and slipped away before Mia could stop her.

She just had to get through the day. Then she'd go to the park, figure out who was behind this, and make sure her secret stayed buried.

The park was nearly empty when she arrived. The sun was setting, casting an eerie orange glow over the swings and picnic table. The cool evening breeze sent a chill down her spine, or maybe that was just the fear creeping in.

Her eyes darted around, searching for someone who looked like they were waiting for her.

Then, she spotted him.

Ethan Reynolds.

Her stomach dropped.

Ethan was a junior, just a year older than her. He wasn't someone that she was particularly close with, but she knew him. Everyone did. He was the kind of guy who always seemed to be in the middle of everything-parties, gossip, drama.

He leaned against a tree, arms crossed, watching her with a knowing smirk.

"I was starting to think you wouldn't show," he said.

Ava's heart pounded. "What do you want?"

Ethan pushed off the tree, taking a slow step closer. "Relax. I just wanted to talk."

She swallowed hard. "How do you know?"

"That's not really the question you should be asking," he said. tilting his head. "The real question is.. what am I going to do with that I know?"

Her hands clenched into fists. "Are you going to tell people?"

Ethan studied her for a moment before letting out a laugh. "That depends."

"On what?"

He shrugged. "On what you're willing to do to keep it quiet."

Ava's blood ran cold. "You're blackmailing me?"

"Blackmail is suck an ugly word." He grinned. "Let's just call it... an agreement. You do something for me, and I keep my mouth shut."

She wanted to scream. She wanted to shake him and demand how he found out in the first place.

Instead, she forced herself to stay calm. "What do you want?"

Ethan took a step closer, lowering his voice. "There's a party this weekend. You're going to go. And while you're there... you're going to do something for me."

Ava's skin prickled. "What?"

He smiled. "I'll tell you when you get there."

She hesitated. If she agreed, she'd be walking straight into a trap. But if she refused...

"I'll be watching," Ethan said, as if reading her mind. "If you try anything, if you don't show up, if you even think about telling someone... your secret is out. And trust me, once it's out, there's no taking it back."

Ava's throat tightened. She hated this. Hated the way he was controlling her, hated that she had no way out.

But she nodded.

"Good girl," Ethan said, stepping back. "I'll see you Saturday."

Then he walked away, leaving her standing there, heart hammering, mind racing.

She had no idea what she'd just gotten herself into.

But one thing was clear:

This wasn't over. Not even close.