Hidden Flame

Chapter 19: Seeking Allies

August hardly slept that night. The weight of River’s silence and the lies Luca had spread left her feeling restless and desperate. As soon as the sun began to rise, she knew what she had to do—find Olivia. If there was anyone who could help her piece together what had really happened, it was her.

She made her way to the cafeteria, hoping to catch Olivia before classes started. The school grounds were still quiet, the early morning light casting long shadows across the lawn. August’s stomach churned with anxiety as she approached the entrance, wondering how Olivia would react. They had never been close, but Olivia had always been perceptive, and August needed someone on her side—someone who could help her prove the truth.

When she spotted Olivia sitting alone at a table in the corner, her heart skipped a beat. Olivia was sipping on a coffee, her expression distant as she stared out the window. For a moment, August hesitated. What if Olivia didn’t believe her? What if Luca had already gotten to her too?

But she couldn’t afford to think like that. Taking a deep breath, August walked over to Olivia and hesitated at the edge of the table. “Olivia… Can I talk to you?”

Olivia looked up, her eyes narrowing slightly in curiosity. “August? What’s up? You look… stressed."

“That’s an understatement,” August muttered, sliding into the seat across from her. She wrung her hands together, trying to figure out how to begin. “I need your help. Something happened yesterday, and I don’t know who else to turn to.”

Olivia’s brows furrowed as she set down her coffee. “What kind of something? You look like you’ve been through hell.”

August took a deep breath, her voice trembling as she started to explain. “It’s about Luca… and River. He’s trying to ruin everything, Olivia. Yesterday, he kissed me—out of nowhere—and then he turned around and told River that I was the one who made the first move. He said I’ve been leading him on this whole time. Now River doesn’t know what to believe.”

Olivia’s eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed with suspicion. “Wait, Luca kissed you? And then he went and told River that it was your fault?”

“Yes,” August said, her voice filled with frustration. “He’s been trying to manipulate me for weeks. He’s always around, saying things that make me doubt myself, trying to drive a wedge between River and me. And now… now he’s gone too far.”

Olivia leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest as she considered August’s words. “That’s pretty messed up. But… I mean, are you sure he’s lying? Not to be harsh, but maybe you’re just confused about what happened?”

August shook her head vehemently. “I know what happened, Olivia. I didn’t want that kiss, and I definitely didn’t start it. He’s lying to cover his tracks because he knows River means everything to me. He’s trying to make her think I’ve betrayed her.”

Olivia’s expression softened slightly as she watched August’s clear distress. “Okay, okay… I believe you. Luca’s always been a bit of a smooth talker, but I didn’t think he’d go this far.”

“I need to prove it to River,” August continued, her voice urgent. “She’s doubting everything right now, and I can’t lose her over something like this. Please, Olivia, if you’ve noticed anything off about Luca—anything at all—I need to know.”

Olivia pursed her lips, her gaze turning thoughtful. “Well… now that you mention it, I did notice a few things. Luca’s been hanging around you a lot lately, hasn’t he? He never used to care much about what you were doing, but suddenly he’s always in the same place as you. And he’s been asking me a lot of questions about you and River.”

“Questions? Like what?” August’s heart pounded as she leaned in, desperate for any information that could help her.

“Little things,” Olivia said with a shrug. “Like if you two were really serious, or if you ever talked about being unsure about your feelings. At first, I thought he was just curious, but now… it seems like he was fishing for something he could use.”

A flicker of hope sparked in August’s chest. “Do you think you could talk to River? Tell her what you’ve noticed, what Luca’s been doing? Maybe if she hears it from someone else, she’ll start to see through his lies.”

Olivia looked hesitant, her gaze drifting to the window as she thought it over. “I could try… but River’s pretty shaken up, isn’t she? It might be hard to get through to her if Luca’s already planted those doubts.”

“I know it won’t be easy,” August admitted, “but I can’t just sit back and do nothing. Please, Olivia. I need you to talk to her, or at least keep an eye on Luca. I need to find something—anything—that proves he’s been lying.”

Olivia sighed, nodding slowly. “Alright. I’ll see what I can do. I’ll talk to River and let her know what I’ve noticed. And I’ll keep an eye on Luca. Maybe we can catch him in the act or get him to slip up.”

Relief washed over August, though it was tempered by the knowledge that this was only the first step in a much longer battle. “Thank you, Olivia. You don’t know how much this means to me.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” Olivia said with a faint smile. “We still have a lot of work to do if we’re going to untangle this mess.”

August nodded, the determination in her eyes returning. “I know. But at least now I’m not fighting alone.”

As they finished their conversation, August felt a small spark of hope igniting within her. With Olivia on her side, she had a chance—however slim—of exposing Luca’s lies and saving her relationship with River.

But the road ahead was fraught with uncertainty, and August knew that she would have to tread carefully if she was to navigate the delicate situation without making things worse. All she could do now was take it one step at a time and hope that, in the end, the truth would prevail.