Chapter 118 HARPER
Wednesday morning felt strangely unfamiliar.
Dad had offered to let me stay home another day. He said the doctor wouldn’t mind if I rested longer, especially after everything that had happened. The bandage on my head was still there, a pale reminder each time I caught my reflection in the mirror.
But staying home meant thinking.
Thinking meant remembering the cold tile floor of the bathroom, my foot slipping as I tried to shove Sarah away, the burst of pain that shattered through my skull when my head struck the toilet, and the dizzy darkness that followed.
And it meant wondering where Tyler was.
So I insisted on going to school.
Dad watched me carefully as I grabbed my bag by the door.
“You’re sure about this?”
“I’m fine,” I said softly.
He didn’t look convinced, but he nodded anyway.
The drive to Westfield High felt longer than usual. My fingers twisted nervously around the strap of my bag as the familiar building came into view.
The moment Dad dropped me off, that anxious feeling crept back.
The same nervous flutter I had felt on my very first day transferring here.
Students moved across the courtyard in groups, laughing and talking like nothing had changed. Yet everything felt different to me.
I stepped through the front gate slowly.
What if Racquel’s friends were waiting?
The thought slid quietly into my mind.
Tyler had done something. Kane said he avenged me. Peter’s expression at the hospital yesterday had said enough.
What if they wanted revenge?
My stomach twisted.
Maybe coming back today had been a mistake.
I hesitated halfway across the courtyard. Then slowly turned around.
Maybe I should just go home.
“Leaving already?”
The voice came from directly behind me.
I gasped softly and spun around.
Tyler stood there.
For a moment I simply stared at him.
He looked tired, like he hadn’t slept much, but that familiar crooked smile of his was still there.
“You’re leaving already?” he repeated.
“I wasn’t,” I said quickly. “I just remembered something.”
I searched for a better excuse, but before I could come up with one he stepped closer. Then he leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to my cheek.
My thoughts scattered instantly.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” he said quietly.
Heat rushed to my face.
“You… you missed my discharge yesterday,” I blurted before I could stop myself.
“I know.” His expression softened. “I’m sorry about that.”
I smiled in response, still trying to gather my thoughts when he reached over and adjusted the strap of my bag where it had slipped down my shoulder.
“Come on,” he said.
Then he took my hand.
I froze.
“Tyler.”
“What?”
“People will see.”
He glanced around the courtyard, then shrugged. “So?”
My heart beat faster.
“It’ll look like we’re dating,” I said under my breath.
“That would be tragic,” he mocked, faking a shudder.
“Tyler.”
“What?”
“The rumors will get worse.”
His fingers tightened slightly around mine. “And?”
“What if Racquel hears?” I said. “She’s suspended but her friends aren’t.”
Tyler’s eyes darkened briefly.
“Hopefully that’s changed,” he said.
I blinked. “What do you mean?”
“I reported them.”
My eyebrows lifted. “You did?”
“They admitted everything,” he said simply.
I wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved or nervous. I was so lost in thought, worrying about the consequences of Tyler’s actions, that I didn’t notice when he closed the distance between us.
Suddenly he was towering over me, close enough that I could see the faint shadow under his eyes.
“You know something?” he said quietly.
“What?”
“I wouldn’t really care if everyone thought we were dating.”
My breath caught.
“I practically see you as my girlfriend already.”
“Tyler,” I said quickly.
He laughed softly.
“I’m kidding.”
I stared at him.
“Friends,” he added. “No rush.”
Something in my chest relaxed.
I smiled despite myself. “Friends.”
He gave a satisfied nod and continued walking, still holding my hand as we headed toward the building.
Just like I had predicted, people were watching. Whispers followed us through the hallway.
I kept my head down, hoping the attention would fade. When we stepped into our classroom, the noise quieted slightly.
Mark was standing near the front talking with Peter. He noticed us first.
“Hey,” he said, walking over. “Glad to see you back.”
“Thanks,” I replied.
His gaze dropped briefly to where Tyler was still holding my hand. His lips pressed into a thin line, but he didn’t say anything.
I squeezed Tyler’s hand, guilt already creeping in. His grip tightened in response, not enough to hurt, more like reassurance.
Peter joined us next.
“Feeling better?” he asked.
“A lot.”
Tyler didn’t wait for the conversation to continue. He guided me to my desk, stepping aside so I could slide into my seat before sitting down beside me.
I blinked in surprise. “You’re sitting here?”
He leaned back casually. “Yes.”
“You always sit at the back.”
“I prefer this seat.”
“Why?”
He gestured vaguely toward the back of the classroom. “I’d rather sit next to you than with a bunch of loud jocks.”
A small laugh slipped out of me.
“It’s senior year,” he continued. “Finals are coming. I’m hoping some of your intelligence rubs off on me.”
“You’re acting like your grades are terrible,” I snorted.
“They dropped last term, remember?”
“You still did better than most of the class,” I reminded him.
He shrugged.
“Could be better.”
I felt a small twist of guilt, remembering our off-and-on relationship last semester and how I’d thought he was stuck-up without realizing what he was going through. Maybe if I’d been more supportive, his grades would’ve been as perfect as always.
“Oh.”
Tyler shook his head, brushing off my concern with that familiar smirk.
“Look on the bright side.”
“What bright side?”
“You get to tutor me now. Especially since you're no longer my physiotherapist.”
I blinked, frowning. “Tyler, I only hit my head. I can still very much hold our sessions.”
The moment the words left my mouth, his expression changed.
The playful look faded slightly. Something else flickered there. Concern, maybe. Or hesitation.
He opened his mouth like he was about to say something. But the teacher walked in before he could.
“Alright everyone,” she announced. “Grab your things. We’re heading to gym.”
Groans filled the classroom.
“The hockey team will be training with everyone today since Coach Turner is out,” she continued. “Last person to the gym runs ten laps.”
The room erupted in motion. Students rushed toward the door. Tyler stood and grabbed his bag.
“I’ll meet you there,” he said. “I won’t be long.”
Then he slipped out of the classroom.
I made my way to the girls’ locker room, still aware of the curious glances following me. Each step felt heavier, not from exhaustion, but from the weight of everyone watching.
Inside, the air smelled faintly of deodorant and gym mats. A few girls whispered as I moved past, but I focused on changing into my gym clothes, forcing myself to ignore them.
I had just finished tying my shoelaces when a voice stopped me.
“Harper?”
I looked up. Megan stood there, arms folded across her chest, her expression unreadable.
For a moment, hope stirred in my chest.
“Megan,” I said quietly, trying to sound calm. “Hi.”
“I heard about what happened with Racquel,” she said, glancing at the bandage on my head. “Are you okay?”
“I am,” I replied, grateful for the concern but wary. “Thanks.”
There was a pause, a flicker of something familiar, before reality settled back in. Megan’s expression stayed distant.
“I just wanted to check,” she continued. “We used to be best friends, after all.”
The words pricked at me, a dull ache in my chest.
“Used to?” I asked softly.
She shifted her weight, uncomfortable. “Don’t misunderstand me. I haven’t forgiven you for what happened with my brother.”
My chest tightened, the guilt and regret twisting together.
“But what Racquel’s friends did,” she continued. “That was wrong. Just wanted to be sure you're okay.”
Then she turned and walked away.
The locker room suddenly felt too small, too silent. Everyone’s eyes seemed to linger on me even though no one said a word.
I grabbed my bag quickly and stepped out into the hallway, letting the cool air brush against my face. Relief came in short bursts, giving way to a familiar warmth when I saw him standing there.
Tyler was leaning casually against the wall opposite our locker room, already dressed in his sports uniform. His arms were folded over his chest, and the moment he saw me, his gaze flicked up, locking onto mine.
“You waiting for someone?” I asked, unsure why my stomach flipped.
“Yes,” he said, voice calm.
“For who?”
“My girlfriend,” he replied, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
I raised my brow. Before I could ask anything, he reached out and took my hand, guiding me gently. “Come on.”
“Tyler.”
“You’re still recovering,” he said. “You’re not running extra laps today.”
I bit back the correction this time, letting him lead me down the hall. A small smile tugged at my lips despite myself.
The gym was buzzing with energy by the time we arrived. Students were already pairing up, stretching, joking, some groaning at the early morning exercises.
“Pair up!” the teacher called from the center. “Stretching exercises.”
Tyler didn’t hesitate. He grabbed my hand again, pulling me close as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“I challenge you,” he said suddenly, grinning.
“To what?” I asked, amused.
“If I do more stretches than you,” he explained, “you have to agree to date me.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “You’re ridiculous.”
“If you win,” he added, leaning closer, “what do you want?”
I thought for a moment, narrowing my eyes at him. “Wait, are you serious?”
“Completely,” he said, hands shoved into his pockets, that familiar smirk playing on his lips. “You don’t have anything to worry about as long as you—”
I grinned. “Fine. I want another rooftop movie night.”
Tyler went quiet, the smirk fading slightly, replaced by something softer.
“Tyler?” I asked.
He looked at me, his gaze holding mine for a heartbeat before a small, almost shy grin tugged at his lips. “Deal.”
He hesitated for a moment, as if weighing his words, then added softly, “Actually… you can have that whether you win or not, if that’s what you want.”
I opened my mouth to respond, but he stepped back, holding up an index finger.
“On that note, give me a second,” he said. “I’ll be right back.”
And then he walked away.
I watched him go, the air around me suddenly feeling heavier.
There was something in the way he moved, the slight hesitation in his step. It told me he was carrying something he wasn’t ready to share.
A quiet tension settled over me. I didn’t need words to know it. Tyler was hiding something, and for now, all I could do was wait.