Chapter 62

Celeste

“Celeste! What the hell? You can’t just play around with Matt’s heart now that you’re official!”

“Shh!” I hissed. “Not so loud!”

Fiona let out a sigh. “Sorry,” she whispered. Looking around, she spotted a bench off to the side in one of the little sitting areas that circled the quad, and pulled me over to it.

The sun was beginning to warm the chilly campus when Fiona and I sat on the park bench. The early morning serenity was punctuated by the distant sounds of birds chirping, the subtle rustling of leaves, and the voices of students as they made their way to their morning classes.

If I didn’t have so much turmoil in my heart and in my mind, I would have found it to be a soothing morning.

“I meant what I said,” Fiona continued, her eyes narrowed. “You’re stepping into dangerous territory. Now that you’re official, it’ll only cause an even bigger upset if—or when—you eventually have to cut things off with him.”

“Look, Fi,” I began, my voice soft. “I won’t play with Matt’s heart. I’ve been thinking... maybe I will take the mask off eventually. But first, I want to test his resolve. If I feel that he won’t handle it well, then I’ll break it off before things go that far.”

Fiona sighed, her gaze distant. “Celeste,” she murmured, “I get that you want to be sure. But you’re treading on thin ice here. Testing someone’s resolve sounds more like a game. What if you push him too far?”

“That’s a risk I’m willing to take,” I whispered back. “I need to know if he can handle the real me, Fiona.”

She gave me a skeptical look. “You’re being naive, Celeste. Think about it, what if Jack finds out? You know how protective he can be. If you’re planning to move in with me, I don’t want Jack causing any scenes. We both know he has a flair for the dramatic.”

I winced. Jack had always been a wildcard, and Fiona had a point. Bringing drama straight to her doorstep wasn’t fair to her.

“You’re right, Fi. I’ve thought about it too. I’ll try to wait until I’ve revealed my true self to Matt before I make any decisions about leaving. But it’s not going to be easy.”

Fiona's gaze softened. “I’ll help you as best I can, Celeste. We’re friends, after all. But please, don’t let this drag on. For your sake and his. And mine, to a certain extent.”

“I know, Fi. I’ll figure it out.” My voice wavered, and I felt the weight of the situation pressing down on me.

The morning chill had begun to recede, giving way to the warm embrace of the rising sun. I felt Fiona’s arm wrap around my shoulder, pulling me into a comforting hug.

“Whatever happens, I’m here for you,” she whispered.

Hugging her back, my voice choked with emotion, I managed to say, “Thank you, Fiona. You’re such a good friend.”

The moment was interrupted by a familiar, slightly mocking voice. “Well, isn’t this a touching scene? Two besties sharing their little secrets.”

We both turned to see Sabrina, leaning against a tree, arms crossed and a smirk playing on her lips. Her crimson hair contrasted starkly against the green foliage, making her stand out even more.

“What do you want, Sabrina?” Fiona snapped, irritation evident in her voice.

Sabrina pushed off the tree and sauntered closer. “Oh, relax. I overheard that whole little heart-to-heart. How sweet.”

Fiona’s grip tightened around my arm as Sabrina closed the gap between us. A cloud briefly obscured the sun, casting a dim shade over the scene. The air became dense, with tension palpable between us.

Trying to extract ourselves from the confrontation, Fiona and I began to move away. “Come on, Celeste,” Fiona said, her voice so low it was almost a growl. “Something smells funky in the air. Let’s get out of here.”

However, Sabrina was not about to let us escape so easily. She quickly moved to block our exit, cornering us.

“Oh, where are you two going? The fun’s just starting,” Sabrina sneered, her eyes filled with an almost feral delight.

I tried to muster some confidence, drawing myself up to my full height. “This is none of your business, Sabrina. Just leave us alone.”

She tilted her head, mockingly placing a hand on her heart as if she were hurt by my words.

“Oh, Celeste, why so defensive? I thought we were becoming friends.” She then shifted her posture, imitating me with exaggerated emphasis. “‘Maybe I will take the mask off eventually,’” she mimicked in a high-pitched voice. “‘But first, I need to know if he can handle the real me.’”

Her eyes danced with mirth as she continued her cruel parody, clearly enjoying the discomfort she was causing. “Oh, Matt,” she cooed, batting her eyelashes and pretending to be me. “Can you handle what's beneath my mask? Will you still love the ‘real’ me?”

I felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment and anger. Sabrina was twisting my words, making a mockery out of my genuine concerns. I shot a glance towards Fiona, who looked equally irritated, her blue eyes darkening with rage.

“Enough, Sabrina!” Fiona snapped. “You’ve had your fun. Just go.”

But Sabrina was nowhere near done. She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

“So, Celeste, what’s the big secret, hm? Worried that Matt will find out that he’s been getting cozy with his friend’s little sister? Or are you just hiding that ugly face of yours, knowing that he wouldn’t want you otherwise?”

Sabrina’s words stung. They stung especially because they were true. Matt wouldn’t want me, the real me. Not if he found out that I was Jack’s ugly little sister.

I struggled to keep my composure, my hands balling into fists. “You know nothing about it, Sabrina,” I growled. “Just back off.”

She laughed, the sound echoing in the early morning stillness. “Oh, trust me, I’ve heard enough to have a pretty good idea about it. The masked girl, with her little mystery. Honestly, I don’t know what Matt sees in you. Perhaps he just enjoys puzzles.”

Fiona stepped in front of me, her protective instincts coming to the forefront. “That’s it, Sabrina. Leave. Now.”

Sabrina simply raised an eyebrow, her amusement evident. “Or what, Fiona? Going to send me to the dean’s office?”

The standoff was reaching its peak. My heart raced, and the weight of my lies felt more pronounced than ever. My mask was a symbol of my vulnerability, and Sabrina knew just how to exploit that.

“I’ll do more than just send you to the dean’s office,” Fiona hissed, taking a step closer to Sabrina. “If you don’t walk away right now, I’ll make sure you physically won’t be able to.”

Sabrina sneered. “Go ahead,” she purred. “I’ll be excited to see you get in trouble for assault. I’ve always known you have a violent streak in you, Fi.”

A low growl rumbled in Fiona’s throat. The smirk on Sabrina’s face grew. And I felt like I was made of stone.

But just when it felt like things might escalate further, Sabrina’s expression shifted. Her sneer gave way to something more contemplative, even a touch sincere, if I didn’t know any better.

“But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t intrigued,” Sabrina said, inspecting her manicured nails. “I’d like to see how this all plays out. So, I’ll help you with your little plan.”