Chapter 34 HARPER
I held his gaze, challenging him to humor me with his better ‘suggestion,’ because I was certain it would fall under the categories I’d listed earlier. Just because he’s the popular one who gets good grades doesn’t make him Mr. Knows-It-All. And honestly? I couldn’t wait for him to prove me right.
“You’re focusing on what’s happening now,” he started, eyes fixed on me like he expected me to read his mind. “But the real problem isn’t senior year. It’s what comes after.”
“College,” I cut in, folding my arms. “So?”
“Try thinking outside the box for once, sweetheart.”
My jaw dropped. I glanced at the others in disbelief, silently demanding someone react to the disrespect—but they all kept their mouths shut, even though their expressions made it clear they were fighting hard not to react.
“When the walls of this place disappear—far from home, far from friends, far from family—and we have to face the world. College. Careers. Who we’re supposed to be. Doesn’t that terrify you? Because that’s the part that keeps people up at night.”
I shifted on my feet.
Whether it was the seriousness in his voice or the brief, worried flicker in his eyes—I wasn’t sure—but suddenly anxiety crept up my spine. And not just me. Even the others shifted uncomfortably.
“That… actually hits,” Peter muttered.
“Wait, now I’m stressed,” Cassie croaked.
“Why does everything have to be serious with you, Cap?” Jax sighed.
As much as I wanted to argue his point, I couldn’t. Tyler was right. And that wasn’t what annoyed me most—it was the fact that he’d been the one to bring it up. Because behind closed doors, this was what actually kept him up at night. Made him anxious. Cold. Bitter.
I swallowed, reminding myself I was on a mission to prove how unsympathetic I could be.
“Not bad. So what do you suggest we title it?”
Tyler shrugged. “I don’t know. You’re smart too, aren’t you?”
I bit down on my lip before I could hiss out a retort. He wasn’t going to get the best of me—not today.
“Ooh, I have a suggestion!” Cassie shot her hand up like a kid in class. We all turned to her. “The Fear of the Future,” she announced dramatically, arms spread wide.
Peter clapped. Jax nodded and held out a fist for her. Cassie bumped it.
“Not bad, chica.”
“Aww, thank you.” She flipped her hair, batting her lashes.
Jax smirked, the tension between them thicker than I expected. I raised a brow, wondering if this counted as cheating, considering Megan existed somewhere in Jax’s life… I guessed.
“Love the idea,” Peter chimed in, interrupting whatever that moment was becoming. “But it feels too straightforward. We gotta show Mrs. Carter how creative we can be. She teaches English and Literature—we need something poetic. Maybe a metaphor or something. You feel me, yeah?”
“How’s Navigating the Unknown?” I suggested.
Peter opened his mouth, but Tyler beat him to it.
“Not bad. But we can do better.”
The faint smile on my lips dropped instantly.
“Oh? Want to top it?”
“I could,” he answered with a smug tug at the corner of his mouth. He turned to the others. “What do you guys think? Don’t want Director Lane here thinking I enjoy pushing her past her limits.”
I fumed—but kept my expression flat, spine straight, eyes locked on him.
“I mean… it’s metaphorical,” Peter said. “I think I’m cool with it.”
I gave him an appreciative grin and turned toward the remaining votes. Jax spoke first.
“Whatever Miss Director says, I’m down.”
“Oh, but I still want to hear what Tyler has to say,” Cassie chimed in.
I rolled my eyes. Of course she’d take his side.
“Go on then,” I urged.
“Hmm…” He crossed his arms, tapping his chin. “Something metaphorical that doesn’t sound generic, lacks emotional intimacy, or sounds like a boring documentary about life in general? I’d say something like… The Space Between Now and Next.”
He shrugged casually, waiting for our reactions. I bit the inside of my cheek—why did he always have to be right?
“We’re stuck in this tiny window where everything still feels like the present, but the future is breathing down our necks. That’s the story. Not the unknown itself—the moments right before we step into it.”
Silence blanketed the room. Then, just when I thought they might not go for it, Peter started clapping, loudly. The others joined in. Cassie even whistled for him.
I seethed—no, that was an understatement. You know when you’re pissed because you didn’t come up with the idea first… but also begrudgingly proud of that friend? Yeah. Exactly that.
“That’s our scriptwriter right there!” Peter whooped.
“Ouu, my grades are going to skyrocket!” Cassie squealed. “I can literally feel the smarts rubbing off on me already.”
“So?” Tyler asked, eyebrows raised. “Good enough for our director… or not?”
He didn’t smirk—but the tilt of his jaw made it obvious he was smug.
I clapped once and forced a grin, accepting my defeat with grace.
“I knew what I was doing then when I made you scriptwriter.”
✦ ✦ ✦
Finally, phase one of creating our documentary was done. The others waited outside for me as I filled out the questionnaire my mom had sent to assess Tyler’s progress.
“Do you experience any clicking, popping, or grinding sensations during the movement exercises?”
“Yeah,” he admitted.
I waited. He said nothing else.
I frowned. “Care to elaborate?”
“Not really. It’s not that bad. Just… annoying.”
“Tyler.”
“You don’t have to be all bossy and serious just because I said I wanted someone cold and heartless.”
I didn’t even bother to hide it—I nodded. “That’s exactly what it means.”
“Fine.” His jaw ticked. “It feels like something is catching in there—like the joint isn’t tracking right. Mostly when we do those annoying rotations.”
“Want to try that movement so I can see?”
I reached toward him, but he caught my wrist, pulling me down to eye level.
“Don’t.”
I froze, words forgotten. His blue eyes stared up at me, wide and trying so hard not to show the panic beneath. His lashes framed those eyes perfectly, and him—that sculpted face—suddenly felt too close.
A thin breath slipped out of me as I straightened.
“That’ll be all for today, then.”
“Yeah,” Tyler breathed, gaze still locked on mine. “Thanks.”