Chapter 23
Ezra
The next morning, I feel like I’m flying. I want to pinch myself to make sure last night wasn’t a dream or something.
I kissed Rue for real. Not as her fake boyfriend. And she kissed me back.
Not only that, but we had a moment together, one that finally reassured me all these feelings might not be so one-sided.
Olivia was right after all.
And not just about that. I can’t deny any longer that I love Rue. So much. Somewhere between pretending and now, I fell for her so hard, I don’t even want to pick myself back up.
And that’s the part that’s worrying me. Even though I’m pretty confident she likes me, I have no clue how deep her feelings for me run. Last night after I kissed her, she seemed a little shaken.
When her alarm went off, and she put her phone back in her pocket, her face was flushed in such an adorable way, I couldn’t help but laugh. “You look so worried, like it’s after midnight or something.”
Her gaze jumped to mine, but she looked more like a deer in headlights than amused as I hoped. “Actually, I probably should be getting home.”
“Okay. No problem.”
I got her out of there and took her home.
Even though I secretly hoped for another kiss when I walked her to her door, I didn’t mention it because her hands were slightly trembling, and I didn’t want to pressure her if she wasn’t ready.
I’ll move at a turtle pace with Rue if it means we can keep exploring what’s between us.
Well, I already know how I feel, but knowing Rue, she probably needs time to figure it out.
As long as we’re done with all the faking, I’m happy either way.
A Little Birdie alert goes off as soon as I step through the front doors of Fallbrook on Thursday morning.
Dearest Fledglings,
It seems your fearless flapper has taken flight only to leave behind a rather interesting trail. After a missed posting deadline last night (tsk, tsk), the nest has opened itself to reveal the identity of our most observant little bird. Drumroll, please!
Rue Sullivan.
Yes, this person has been the one watching you all along. Listening. Writing. Posting. Let’s hope the next flapper does better by its fledglings, otherwise I fear you shall see this automated message again, revealing the next identity.
Yours truly,
Little Birdie
The world tilts. My ears ring so loud I can barely hear the hallway anymore.
No. Rue is Little Birdie? There’s no way…
All around me, gasps and laughter echo through the corridors. Conversations ring in my ears, and I catch brief snippets.
“Oh my gosh—”
“I knew it—”
“Wait, seriously??”
I can’t breathe, and every instinct screams at me that of course she was. I even guessed it myself at one point. And she lied to me. She denied it.
I can’t deny I feel a little stung, but at the same time, I know why she did it. I need to find her, though, because I can only imagine the chaos that’s about to erupt at this reveal.
Speed-walking through the corridors, I find her standing in the center of a small crowd near the library.
The commotion filling the corridors is almost physical.
Heavy. Suffocating. It presses into my ribs like I can’t expand my lungs all the way.
Rue is in the center of it, and her friends are all there, and while Carlton is hanging back with crossed arms and a scowl, the other three—Meredith, Mabel, and Dot—are hurling question after question at her.
“You wrecked my relationship,” says Meredith.
Rue sniffs. “I know, and I’m so sorry. I was just trying to help you. I thought Carlton was cheating, and I didn’t want you to get hurt.”
“You should have talked to me!” Meredith fires back. “Not blasted it to the entire school!”
Mabel shakes her head, staring at the ground. She hugs her arms like she’s trying to comfort herself.
“I just can’t believe this, Rue. Please, tell us it’s not true,” says Dot.
But she doesn’t. Rue just gapes at her friends with red-rimmed eyes.
Her lips are slightly parted like she wants to speak but has no idea what to say.
I’ve seen this look on her face before. It’s the exact same look she had when my friends made fun of her in middle school, and I stood by watching.
It’s also the look she wore when Meredith accused her of trying to steal Carlton at Dot’s party before I stepped in and claimed to be her boyfriend.
It’s like a stab to the chest seeing it a third time, and I know with everything in me that even though she lied, even though what she did was wrong, there’s no way I’m going to stand by and watch again. I need to step in like I did before.
“Enough.” My voice cuts through the commotion like a blade.
Rue’s gaze jumps to mine, and her shoulders relax a fraction.
Her relief is all the confirmation I need to continue defending her.
When I reach her side, I don’t hesitate.
I step in front of Rue, between her and everyone else like a shield. “Back off,” I say, voice low but firm.
Dot crosses her arms. “Ezra, do you even know—”
“I know exactly what’s going on,” I say.
Meredith scoffs. “Do you? Because your girlfriend just got exposed as the person who’s been ruining people’s lives.”
Rue’s breath catches, but I don’t flinch. “Yeah. And?”
Dot blinks. “And?”
“And you’re all acting like you’ve never said anything about anyone behind their back. Like you’ve never spread something that wasn’t yours to share.”
“That’s different.”
Mabel tries to intervene. “Sis—”
“No. She doesn’t get to play victim here. I knew I shouldn’t have forgiven her so easily when she clearly liked Carlton. In fact, I bet that’s why she posted all that about him and Mabel. To sabotage us so she could have him.” Meredith’s eyes flash at Rue. “For the entire school to see.”
“No,” croaks Rue. “I promise that’s not true. I was honestly just trying to help, but I took the coward’s way out when I posted it instead of talking to you.”
I shrug. “And the rest of you read it, shared it, believed it, and made it worse. So don’t stand here pretending you’re innocent.”
Meredith crosses her arms. “We’re allowed to be upset.”
“Upset?” I laugh harshly. “Try hypocritical.”
Meredith’s eyes narrow. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” I say. “Rue has spent a long time being the quiet one you all expect to just deal with things. You talk over her and dismiss her.”
Rue’s friends exchange glances, shifting awkwardly. Meredith sniffs. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I know exactly what I’m talking about.” I try to soften my tone, but frustration remains simmering beneath it. “Rue apologizes for herself all the time, and none of you ever stops her. Half the time, you don’t even notice when she’s struggling.”
Tears spill over Rue’s cheeks and lashes now, and I don’t back down.
“You all want to act like she’s some villain?
No. I’m not letting you do that. If you can’t give Rue even one ounce of the grace she’s given all you more times than you probably realize, you don’t deserve to have her in your life. ”
Silence. Total, stunned silence.
I squeeze her hand and nod toward my favorite study spot, tucked into a dimly lit wing by the office. “Come on, let’s go.”
I lead Rue by the hand away from everyone watching. The crowd parts like curtains for us as we walk past them, whispers simmering all around us like they’re ready to boil over any moment.
When we’re finally alone, Rue sinks down into a chair, and I take the one beside her. She sniffs a few times, and I let her sit in silence before I ask the question still nagging in the back of my mind. “Why would you enter your name into that app in the first place?”
She wraps her arms around her stomach like she’s trying to hold herself together.
“I didn’t. Someone entered me in without telling me.
I honestly thought it was Meredith, or maybe Carlton.
But I guess I was wrong. And I didn’t mean to hurt anyone, Ezra.
I thought if anything, I could be easy on everyone else, only spreading good stuff, unlike the last Little Birdie.
But I realize now that all I did was make everything worse. ” Her voice cracks.
I press my palms together, elbows braced on my knees, trying to breathe through this new tightness in my chest. “You should have told me. I thought we were closer than this now.”
Her expression softens. “We are. But I didn’t know how to tell you without you hating me.” Tears wet her lashes as she stares at her fidgeting hands. I shove down the urge to take them in my own to still them.
“Rue,” I say softly, “look at me.”
She hesitates, then lifts her gaze.
“I’m not going to lie. I wish you told me when I asked you if you were Little Birdie. But I don’t hate you. That would be impossible. If you want me on your side, then all I ask is no more secrets.”
She nods. Her crying has finally stopped, and for the first time this morning, a glimmer of hope shines in her gaze. “Okay. But I think I really did it this time. My friends will never forgive me for this.”
“No. That’s not true. Tell me how to help,” I say softly. “Let’s fix it. Together.”