Chapter 73 Switch, Secrets and Surprises
Phoebe
Whatever. If Zion wants to check every single chat or search history on my phone, let him. As long as I get to eat breakfast in peace and finally fill this stomach that’s been growling since I woke up.
I wasn’t even paying attention to where my other three mates went. Weirdly, when I asked Zion about it, he got all awkward.
That’s not like him. Not at all. It’s like he lost his balance or something. Something’s up—and now I’m curious.
I scooted closer, lining up my body with his while chewing on a dry, last-minute tuna sandwich. No sauce, just bread and fish. Very glamorous, I know.
From the corner of my eye, I saw him scrolling through my phone. First the photo gallery. Then the chat app. His brows pulled together when he saw the pathetic little list of conversations—just Tyra, Emma, and Denise.
“Just Tyra, Emma, and Denise? Those are the only girls you text on iMessage?” His tone was serious, but with that teasing edge he always has.
“Yeah, I’m not great at small talk. You know that. Tyra usually texts first anyway.” I shrugged.
“What about your friends from your old school?”
“My phone broke when I first moved here. I had to reset it, and all their numbers were wiped.” I took a sip of juice. “And none of them ever reached out again.”
“So, no one’s been trying to find you?”
“Sorry if that’s disappointing.” I gave him a flat look. “I’m not popular like Phoenix. Or you guys.”
And then—out of nowhere—Zion grabbed my face and kissed me. Hard. Deep. Like, full-on tongue. My breath hitched, and every muscle in my body tensed—not because I wanted to push him away, but because my brain short-circuited. My heart was basically doing parkour in my chest.
Then—click.
The sound of a camera shutter snapped me out of it. I opened my eyes to see my phone pointed at us, catching the moment. “You did NOT just—Zion!” My voice shot up an octave.
“I’m sending it to my phone,” he said, all calm and collected. “Personal collection. Or maybe… I’ll post it. Pretty sure you’d blow up by tomorrow.”
I groaned, rolling my eyes even though my insides were a total mess of heat and chaos. Fame? Loneliness? Neither has ever been on my bucket list. “Glad I could make you happy, Zion.”
I reached out for my phone, but instead of giving it back, he handed me his. I blinked, confused, but still took it.
“We’re swapping phones. For the whole day. Like a real couple.” He winked.
“You’re insane.” I let out a tiny laugh, because honestly? His ridiculous ideas somehow always make my day better. Zion just… knows how to do that.
“Now go get ready,” he said suddenly, as I downed the last of my orange juice. “We’re leaving.”
“Where?” I narrowed my eyes, suspicious.
He pressed a finger to my lips. “It’s a surprise.”
A few minutes later, I was standing in front of the bathroom in my pajamas. Zion walked up with a towel slung over his shoulder and gave me a look that made my brain stutter.
“We’re showering together.”
“WHAT?!” My eyes practically popped out of my head. “Are you crazy?!”
He smirked. “Relax. I’m not gonna do anything. I just… don’t wanna waste time. We gotta move.”
I sighed dramatically. And somehow, I ended up giving in. And guess what? Showering with him wasn’t as catastrophic as I’d imagined. There was laughter. Splashes. Heat. And those quick glances that turned my cheeks scarlet.
He had this way of making me comfortable—even when I was dying inside from how awkward I felt.
An hour later, we were outside the dorms. Zion’s hand was locked with mine like he was afraid I’d run off. I still had no clue where we were going, but his eyes were sparkling like a kid guarding the best secret in the world.
“Seriously, Zion. Where are we going?”
He shot me that smug little smile of his. “You’ll see.”
When the car finally stopped, my jaw dropped. A giant amusement park stood in front of us, glowing with neon lights and blasting upbeat music. The air was buzzing with laughter and excitement.
“An amusement park?”
“You like it?” he asked.
I nodded slowly, heart pounding. I’d never done this before—not like this. Not with someone who made me feel… special.
We hit every ride like it was our mission: a roller coaster that had me screaming my lungs out, a mirror maze that had me laughing so hard my stomach hurt, and even a ring toss game Zion won effortlessly, handing me a giant teddy bear like some cheesy movie scene.
And then, the Ferris wheel.
We slid into a little gondola, and it started its slow climb toward the stars. The city lights spread out below us like spilled glitter. I hugged the teddy bear to my chest, staring out the window. “This is… beautiful.”
“Not as beautiful as you.”
Before I could even roll my eyes, he pulled out my phone—the one still in his possession—and snapped a picture of me.
“Zion!”
He grinned. “I want proof. I want everyone to know this girl is mine. Not just a picture. A reminder that I’m lucky.”
I froze, caught by the look in his eyes—soft, deep, like he meant every single word. Then he leaned in close and whispered, “Phoebe, if the whole world turns against you, I’ll still be here. Always.”
Moon Goddess.
His words hit me like a bullet straight to the heart. For a second, I forgot about everything—the secrets, the rumors, the weight I’d been carrying. It was just me, him, and this perfect night.
But perfect doesn’t last forever.
When we got back to the dorms, reality was waiting—cold and sharp. Principal Hartman stood there with the Official Divergent Howls team. Their faces were tight, serious. My stomach dropped.
“Phoebe. Office. Now.”
My chest squeezed tight. Zion squeezed my hand back like he could anchor me, but dread was already spreading like wildfire.
The second the door shut, the bomb went off.
“Your team’s been sanctioned,” Principal Hartman said flatly. “Two games suspended. There’s a rumor all over the media—about a female player sneaking into the male league. Your identity.”
It felt like the world tilted. My mind went blank. Then I looked around—Hayden. Adonis. Zion. All of them already knew. They knew. And didn’t say a word.
“You guys… didn’t tell me?” My voice cracked, trembling with a mix of anger and hurt.
“Phoebe…” Hayden’s voice was calm, too calm. “We didn’t want you to panic before—”
“Panic?!” A bitter laugh tore out of me. “This isn’t about panic, Hayden. This is about me being the LAST person to know about my own life!”
Adonis dropped his gaze, voice low. “We just wanted to protect you.”
“By lying to me?” My eyes darted from one to the other, burning. I wanted to scream. Or run. Or both.
Zion’s grip on my hand tightened, like he was silently begging me not to break. But the damage was already done.
Silence hung heavy—until Hayden spoke again. “We’re not sitting this out. I’ve got a plan to save the team. And your name.”
I turned to him, breath shaky. “What plan?”
His eyes swept over all of us, sharp and unwavering. “We fight the rumor. Our way. And Finley? He’s gonna be the star of the show.”
And that’s where the chapter ends—with anger still hot in my chest, fear curling in my stomach, and a dangerous spark of hope in Hayden’s eyes.