The Ethics lecture the following day sparks a filament of hope inside me. I didn't find Tara after Elena glued her pictures to the walls outside the lecture hall, and my texts and calls went unanswered, but if Tara's in class, I'll make sure not to let her leave without talking to me.

I tap my pencil on the desk, taking inventory of my surroundings. More and more people enter the room and occupy their seats, but they're not who I need to see.

Five more minutes pass, and fear frays me. Everyone but Elena and Tara is already here. I grab my phone and unlock the screen, but the hum of my classmates' voices dies, and I glance up from the chat with Tara I pulled up.

Elena steps into the hall, and it feels as if everyone latches their gaze onto her.

She walks to her seat, and two girls in the opposite corners of the auditorium stand. Then two more. Then it's the turn of the guys. In a weird kind of flash mob, every student rises to their feet. I do, too, wishing someone had warned me.

Dr. Garcia rushes into the room and halts at the picture in front of him.

"What's going on?" he asks, dumping his laptop and a stack of papers on the desk by the lectern.

"We refuse to be in the same class with a bully," Emma says. She's a top student with a sharp tongue, red hair, and colorful tattoos covering her arms. "If someone is publicly shamed for their body, job, or other choices they made based on their circumstances, we can't carry on as if nothing happened. A woman's worth isn't determined by her looks, and decency has zero to do with how much skin we show."

A quiet 'preach' comes from several girls.

"What happened in the hallway yesterday wasn't ethical," she goes on, "and we're adults who are aware of our actions and their repercussions. Harming someone purposefully can't be tolerated."

Dr. Garcia takes off his glasses and rubs the bridge of his nose. "Thank you, Miss Torsney. Class is dismissed. Miss Atkins, stay."

Elena's face is scarlet. She awkwardly shifts her weight as everyone strides past her, throwing disgusted glances her way.

I'm not sure she's ever given a damn about how everyone sees her, but this time, she seems affected, hopefully enough to realize how badly she fucked up.

***

I text Tara and head to the canteen. Evans, Nash, and Connor are outside, chatting.

"Hi," I say, approaching them.

"Emma for the win, right?" Connor tells me.

I nod. Saying something would be more appropriate, but guilt laps at me. I wasn't the one to defend her. I couldn't even find her or talk to her.

"I can't believe Tara said nothing." Evans groans.

"She left early this morning," Nash says. "Was she okay?"

His words crowd the air from my chest. Cramp seizes my tight jaw, and I whip my head around to look at the face of the motherfucker who called himself my friend, only to stab me in the back.

Evans raises his hands. "Bast."

I drop my backpack and charge at him. "You asshole," I say, gripping the front of his jersey. "You waited long for this, huh? Did you touch her?"

Connor and Nash say my name, but red mist covers everything in front of my eyes. Panting, I shove Evans hard, but he barely moves.

"Sebastian. Calm the fuck down, and let's talk."

I pick up my stuff from the floor and turn around, ignoring Evans's curses.

She's never hated him. She hugged him and let him call her all the affectionate things I never got a chance to call her. And now that she's upset with me, he...fuck.

I dash down the hallway and turn right. I need to get out of the fucking building.

"Bast."

Evans catches up with me by the exit and yanks at my sleeve. "Hutches, stop. Stop and listen."

I ignore him, but he follows me to the quad. Only a few people are there, but I don't want witnesses. I jerk my chin toward the parking lot, and Evans walks there with me.

When I'm by my Mustang, I unlock the vehicle and toss my backpack onto the passenger seat.

"You have five minutes," I say, slamming the door shut.

Evans nods. "I slept on the floor, Hutches."

"Fucking gentleman."

He scowls. "Don't be a dick. Tara left her keys at home. She was standing outside a club late at night. Would you rather I'd left her there? Didn't you ask me to keep an eye on her? Fucking make up your mind, Bast."

I lean against my car. He could lie, but Evans seems sincere. "So, you never wanted more?" I ask. "She's just a friend?"

"She's a special girl. Kind. Selfless. Gorgeous."

Each word of his hurts. More so because that's how I see her, too. "Shut up, Evans," I whisper.

"We hooked up once. Long before you two met."

Jealousy clamps my heart. I should've known. He fucking had her. He knows how she smells and tastes. He heard the sounds she makes.

Evans sighs. "We've always seen each other as friends. Not even friends with benefits. Just friends. I guess we wanted to try something different, but it just didn't work out. It's not a matter of shitty timing or being too busy for a relationship. I never gave her what she needed, but you did. I want Tara to be happy, Hutches. Your jealousy is ridiculous because you were all she talked about last night. Three a.m., and she worried you felt so shitty you missed your workouts. She asked me if I saw you eat, so don't be an asshole. Fix whatever you did, and don't let her go."

I swallow past the squeeze of my throat. "Do you love her?"

"As a friend, Bast. There's nothing else."

I straighten and twirl my car key. "Okay. Thanks for taking care of her. I need to go."

Drew sighs. "Are you okay? You've had us worried."

Okay isn't a word I'd use. Especially not today. But I dismiss Evans's concern with a forced smile and shake his hand before getting in the Mustang.

***

I warned my dad I'd stop by the police station to avoid more surprises that could make me throw up the way I did the night they found Sadie.

I greet detective Solano and Donna, dad's assistant, who tells me Dad is alone and points at his office.

I'm sick of being a coward. Tara needs to learn the truth, and waiting isn't an option. She was alone outside a club, and she missed class. What if she spirals?

I raise my hand to knock, but Dad opens the door before I do and motions for me to enter. He's on the phone, so I keep quiet as I stroll to his desk and drop into a chair in front of it.

The stench of cigarettes fills the air. As if sensing my disgust, Dad opens the window and leans against the windowsill covered in folders and stacks of papers.

"I know, James. I asked them too, but they don't have anyone in Emerport. Donovan wouldn't help me."

Dad grimaces while mentioning his ex-boss. Can't say I'm surprised; the guy's an asshole.

"Okay," he mutters. "Tell Julia we need a lepidopterist. Maybe she knows one in Venburn. It's urgent, okay?"

I reach into the pocket of my hoodie, fish out my phone, and type the word in the search bar.

Dad finishes the call and walks over. "Hello, Son."

I can't fucking move; I just stare at the screen. It could be a coincidence, but nothing has been lately.

"Hi," I say, finally shifting my focus to Dad. "I overheard you on the phone. Why do you need a specialist in butterflies?"

He chuckles. "Nothing escapes you."

No longer than two heartbeats later, all traces of humor flee his expression. "It's related to Sadie's case."

I rest my phone on the desk. "Related how?"

"Bast, you know-"

"And you know keeping your secrets cost me Tara."

Dad clasps his hands and studies them, frowning. "There were butterflies at the crime scene. We thought it was meaningless but changed our minds comparing both cases. We need a specialist to confirm or deny what we suspect. And speaking of Tara, she was here today. She already knows the truth."

I should be relieved, but it's not how I feel. Thoughts buzz in my head like a swarm of bees. If I say something, I'll risk betraying her trust even more. Tara has a soft spot for the kid. But what if nothing is what it seems? What if I really saw him in the woods?

"Tara has a friend," I tell dad. "He's a bit weird. Obsessed with butterflies."

Dad grabs a post-it note and a pen. "Name?"

"Maverick. I don't know his last name. He's Tara's neighbor."

He scribbles something on the paper. "You said weird. Weird how?"

"I'm not sure. He seems a bit slow. Tara said his mother took him to the doctors, but they couldn't diagnose him."

"I see. Thank you, Son. Anything else? I need to make a few calls."

"I've got to go, too," I say, getting up from the chair.

Dad glances at the calendar on his desk. "It's today, right?"

"Don't tell Mom, okay? She won't get it, but I do it for me."

"Are you okay, Son?"

I'm not going to lie this time. "I am. I ran into Kenny, you know? He's friends with Tara, too. I also went to the meeting with him. Just..."

"Don't tell Mom." Dad smiles. "Does Tara know?"

"She will."

It sounds like a promise. It is one, and I won't break it.

Dad and I hug goodbye. His embrace is tighter than usual today. Maybe because he senses I finally chose to heal.

Sebastian is going to open his heart in the next chapter. It was going to be one, but this one turned out to be too eventful. Looks like more and more secrets are out...hope you're ready for the crazy ride❤️

How are you liking the story (especially those who binged it over the last few days)? Does it keep you hooked?

I'm on a mini vacation out of the city, and although it's super hot, I'm getting lots of rest. Love you all!