Chapter 67 The Most Dangerous Thing
Mia's POV
"Hey," Josh said gently, his voice cutting through the soft clatter of the kitchen. "You okay now?"
I tied my apron tighter, even though my hands were still shaking a little. When I looked up at Josh, the kindness in his eyes almost made me feel weak.
"You didn't have to punch him, Josh," I said softly but firmly. "You could've gotten into serious trouble for that."
Josh shrugged, that familiar lopsided grin tugging at his lips. "Yeah, but was it not a little satisfying?"
A breathy laugh slipped out of me, the corners of my mouth twitching before I could stop it. "I mean... maybe a little," I admitted, my eyes softening as I looked at him. "I kind of wanted to hug you. And thank you. I just never imagined you throwing a punch like that. Knowing you..."
My voice trailed off as I suddenly became aware of the other staff in the room, moving around us, close enough to hear if they paid attention.
Josh leaned in slightly, lowering his voice just for me. "You are special to me, Mia. Always have been. I would do it again, no hesitation. So do not ever forget, you can count on me. Even when it hurts. Especially then."
He winked, playful and tender, and something in my chest stirred, warm, steady, undeniable. There was a comfort in Josh that I did not even realize I needed until now.
And as I went back to wiping the counter, my mind drifted to our quiet little rituals. Foot spas. Facials. Our late night chats on the couch in mismatched pajamas. Josh always said it was practice for the beauty salon he dreamed of opening one day, but to me, it felt like home.
And tonight, more than ever, I could not wait to be wrapped in that familiar comfort again.
Everything seemed almost perfect, at least on the surface, after I told everyone that Daniel was my boyfriend.
It worked. The students stopped whispering about me in the hallways. They stopped making fun of the girl who was left behind.
After all, Daniel was one of the Top Ten Seniors in all of Suncrest. He was handsome, smart, and confident. He was also the star midfielder of the soccer team. Everyone admired him, and with just one smile, he could make people stop talking.
And just like that, they left me alone.
But the rumors did not die completely. Not with my ex best friends still breathing venom every time I passed by. They did not dare confront me directly anymore, but in quiet corners, in whispers during class, they still found ways to ruin me.
Then came the science project. It was supposed to be a normal assignment, partners chosen at random. I did not even look up when my name was called. But when the teacher announced, "Mia Villaruiz and Liam Alcaraz" the air shifted.
I froze. So did Liam.
Stacy, seated just two rows behind him, instantly raised her hand. "Ma'am, would it be okay to swap partners? I can take Mia's place and she can take mine. I am partnered with Daniel anyway."
The entire class looked between us, between the girl everyone talked about, the ex boyfriend, the new fiancée, and the fake boyfriend.
I had not said a word. My face stayed unreadable, guarded, but my fingers gripped my pen a little too tightly, and I knew he saw the quiet storm behind my calm. He used to be the only one who could read me like that.
For a moment, silence stretched across the classroom like a held breath.
Everyone waited for the teacher to approve Stacy's request, for Liam to agree, for me to shrink back into the background like I always did.
But this time, I did not.
I slowly stood from my seat, my voice calm but clear. "Miss, if it is alright... I would prefer to be partnered with Daniel."
A ripple moved through the room.
Liam's face tightened, and I felt it, even without looking at him.
The teacher raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. "Miss Villaruiz, are you saying you refuse to work with the partner assigned to you?"
I hesitated only for a second, then nodded. "Yes, ma'am. I would be more comfortable if I worked with Daniel."
The words did not come with anger. There was no bitterness in my tone. Just quiet dignity.
But our teacher was not one to back down. "Well then," she said, her voice sharp and authoritative, "let me remind everyone in this room that this is my class. Not a social club. Not a matchmaking booth. If any of you think you can dictate my partner assignments, then feel free to do your own version of the project, but do not expect me to grade it."
The room fell silent again.
"If you want to pass this class, if you want to graduate without issues, you will respect the rules. And the rule is simple. Partner with the person I assign you to. Or take the consequences."
Then she turned to me, brow raised. "So, Miss Villaruiz? Will you proceed?"
My throat tightened, but I nodded once, my voice barely above a whisper. "Yes, ma'am. I will follow your instructions."
"I can partner with Liam if you want," Daniel offered casually, but I let out a short laugh and shook my head.
"You really want to repeat senior year because of me?" I teased, trying to keep the mood light.
Daniel grinned, but his eyes stayed on me. "I can handle working with Liam. Do not worry about me, Mia."
My smile softened. "I am not worried, Dan. I can work with Liam. Really. I will be fine."
"I am not worried about you," he said quietly. "I am just saying... I know Liam is in love with you, Mia."
My laughter faded almost instantly.
"Dan," I said, my voice dropping, almost pleading. "Do not say things like that. Liam is... he is out of my league. Always has been. I knew that from the start. And besides, I know the real him now. He made it clear."
Daniel shook his head. "No, Mia. He was just scared you would get hurt. Scared he would mess up the only thing that mattered to him."
"Well," I whispered, biting the inside of my cheek, "he did a damn good job of that. He hurt me, Daniel. Ten out of ten. Perfect score."
I tried to sound unfazed, but my fingers trembled slightly as I adjusted my sleeves, trying to push away the storm twisting in my chest. Ever since our teacher called my name beside his, my stomach had not settled. The thought of being near him again made my entire body feel like it was running too hot and too cold at once.
One lingering glance from those eyes, one tilt of his lips with that frustrating dimple, and I feared all the walls I had worked so hard to build would start to crumble again.
How could I not fall again? I already knew the answer.
Because Liam had always been the forbidden thing I could never have. And worst of all, he was also the one thing my heart never stopped wanting.
I could not sleep that night.
I tossed and turned, my blanket tangled around my legs, my mind spinning in circles. The science project was due in ten days, but that was not the reason my chest felt so tight. It was the thought of working with Liam.
I did not text him. No matter how much I wanted to.
Then my phone buzzed.
My breath caught. And when I saw his name light up on the screen, my heart did the one thing I told it not to do.
It soared. I stared at his message, the words blurring slightly as my chest rose and fell too fast.
“Hi, Mia. Can I call you? Are you still awake?
My fingers hovered above the screen. I gripped my phone tighter, rereading it again and again like it might disappear if I blinked. Like maybe my mind had conjured it out of longing. But it was real.
And still, I did not answer.
He had hurt me in ways I had not even realized were possible. I was not ready to hear his voice again. Not when it used to be the safest sound in the world.
I told Daniel earlier that I was fine. That I could handle it. But I lied. I was not okay. And I was not ready.
So I made a decision, the only one that could protect what was left of my heart. I would do the project alone.
I would stay up late, finish the research, write the entire report, even list the possible questions and answers. I would hand it to Liam, clean and complete, so we could both pass, so I could graduate, without ever having to look him in the eye again.
Because if I talked to him, I might start hoping again.
And hope, I realized, was the most dangerous thing of all.