Chapter 17: The search

The library is usually my sanctuary—a place where the smell of old paper and the hum of the air conditioner can drown out the rest of Eastview High. But today, the silence feels heavy, like the air before a thunderstorm. I’m tucked away in a back corner, surrounded by stacks of biology textbooks I can’t even focus on. My hand keeps drifting to the empty spot in my hair where my butterfly pin used to be.

"Studying hard, or hardly studying?"

The voice is smooth, honey-thick, and entirely unwelcome. I don't have to look up to know it’s Miller. He slides into the chair across from me, his movements fluid and relaxed. He isn't wearing his hockey jersey today; he’s in a crisp, white button-down that makes him look like the boy next door—the kind of boy a girl would trust with her life.

I keep my eyes on my textbook. "I have a mid-term, Miller. Some of us actually care about our grades."

"Always so sharp, Maya," he says, chuckling softly. He leans forward, resting his elbows on the table, invading my bubble of safety. "I saw the drama this morning with Chloe. Brutal, right? I hate seeing her like that. We’ve all been friends for so long, you know? Me, Jax, Chloe... we're practically family."

I finally look up, meeting his gaze. His eyes are bright, friendly, and completely empty of any real warmth. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I'm Jaxson’s best friend," he says, his voice dropping to a confidential whisper. "And I’ve noticed he’s been spending a lot of time with you lately. Sitting at your table at lunch, looking for you in the hallways. I just wanted to make sure you’re okay. You can trust me, Maya. If he’s bothering you, or if there’s something... deeper going on, I’m the guy to talk to."

I feel a chill crawl up my spine. He’s fishing. He’s throwing out the line, waiting for me to snag myself on his kindness. I want to roll my eyes so hard they get stuck, but I force myself to look bored instead.

"Trust you?" I let out a dry, hollow laugh. "Miller, he’s sitting with me because he lost a bet. You of all people should know how Thorne is. He thinks it’s hilarious to make me uncomfortable because he knows I can’t stand the sight of him. It’s a power move. Nothing more."

Miller tilts his head, his smile never wavering. "A bet? That’s a long-running bet, don't you think?"

"Why else would he be there?" I snap, leaning in. I make sure my voice sounds tight with the old, familiar anger—the one that belongs to Leo’s sister. "Look at me, Miller. Look at where I live. Why would I ever be with someone who ruined my family’s life? Every time I look at Jaxson Thorne, I see my brother’s medical bills and the garage fire. You think I’d just forget that for a 'Secret Queen' title?"

For a split second, the mask slips. Miller’s eyes go sharp, calculating the weight of my words. He’s trying to see if I’m a better actress than he is.

"I guess that makes sense," he says slowly, standing up. He adjusts his sleeves, looking down at me with a lingering, unconvinced expression. "It’s just... that girl in the photo. She had a certain way of holding herself. Reminded me of you. But hey, if it’s just a bet, it’s just a bet."

He walks away, his footsteps echoing on the linoleum. I don't breathe until he’s out of sight. My heart is thumping against my ribs like a frantic drum. He doesn't believe me. He’s just waiting for me to make one mistake.

"Maya! Look!" Sarah’s voice is a frantic hiss from the next aisle over.

She scurries toward me, her face pale. She points toward the library entrance. Chloe has just walked in, and she isn't alone. She has her investigation team with her. They aren't looking for books. They are walking from table to table, their eyes fixed on every girl’s head.

"They're checking hairpins," Sarah whispers, sliding into the seat Miller just vacated. "Chloe saw the high-res zoom. She knows the girl was wearing a silver butterfly. She’s checking every girl in the junior and senior class."

I instinctively press my hand against my jeans pocket, feeling the sharp edge of the metal pin hidden deep inside. My palms are sweating. Chloe is only three tables away. She’s moving with a silent, vengeful fury, pulling girls' hoods back and scanning their hair like a hunter.

"If she finds it on you, she’ll scalp you right here in the biography section," Sarah says, her voice trembling.

I watch as Chloe approaches a girl in the row ahead of us. She grabs the girl’s chin, tilting her head back to check her barrettes. The girl looks terrified, but she doesn't fight back. Nobody fights Chloe when she’s on the warpath.

"I took it off," I whisper, my voice shaking. "I shoved it in my pocket as soon as you told me."

"Good," Sarah says, letting out a long breath. She looks at me knowingly, her eyes softening. "Because she’s coming this way."

Chloe stops at our table. She looks at Sarah, who gives her a defiant, bored stare. Then, Chloe’s eyes shift to me. They are red-rimmed and swollen from crying, but the fire inside them is lethal. She looks at my messy bun, her gaze searching for even a hint of silver.

"Something you need, Chloe?" I ask, my voice surprisingly steady.

She doesn't answer. She reaches out, her manicured nails brushing against the side of my head as she checks behind my ear. I don't flinch. I look her straight in the eye, channeling every bit of the girl who has survived the flats.

Finding nothing, Chloe lets out a frustrated, jagged breath. She leans in close, the scent of her expensive perfume cloying and thick. "I’m going to find her, Maya. And when I do, I’m going to make sure she never shows her face in this town again."

She turns on her heel and storms off, her friends trailing behind her like shadows.

I collapse back into my chair, my muscles turning to water. Sarah leans over, patting my arm. "That was way too close. You’re lucky I noticed it, Maya. You’d be dead meat right now."

"I know," I whisper. I reach into my pocket, feeling the cold butterfly pin. It feels like a piece of burning coal. "I have to get rid of this. I have to get rid of everything."

"You can't get rid of the way you looked at him in that photo," Sarah says, her voice dropping. "People might not see your face, but they can see the truth. You’re in deep, Maya. And Miller is just waiting for the water to rise."

I look toward the door where Miller disappeared, then toward the door where Chloe left. I’m trapped between two fires, and the only person who can save me is the one person I’m supposed to be avoiding.

I need to talk to Jaxson. Now.