Hidden Flame

Chapter 28: The Confession

River's classroom felt colder than usual, the walls closing in on her as she sat at her desk, the silence pressing in on her thoughts. The end of the day had come and gone, yet she lingered, unwilling to face the emptiness of her apartment. The loneliness she had tried to stave off by burying herself in work was now creeping up on her, inching into every corner of her mind.

She glanced at the clock, watching the seconds tick by, each one a reminder of how long she had been avoiding the truth. Her thoughts were heavy with regret, memories of August flooding her mind—the way she had smiled, the way she had looked at River as though she were the only person in the world. River had thrown it all away, and now, she didn't know how to begin to make amends.

A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts, and River's heart skipped a beat. For a fleeting moment, she hoped it might be August, but as the door opened, it was Olivia who stepped inside.

"Ms. Rivers," Olivia greeted, her voice tentative as she closed the door behind her. "Do you have a moment?"

River straightened up, trying to compose herself. "Of course, Olivia. What’s on your mind?"

Olivia hesitated, her gaze dropping to the floor before she met River’s eyes again. There was something different about her—an air of determination that River hadn’t seen before. Olivia seemed to be gathering her thoughts, weighing her words carefully before speaking.

"I wanted to talk to you about something important," Olivia began, her voice steady despite the tension in the room. "It's about what happened between you and August."

River’s breath caught in her throat, a wave of anxiety crashing over her. The last thing she wanted was to discuss her relationship with August, especially with someone who had already caused so much trouble. But Olivia’s tone was different this time—less confrontational, more sincere.

"What about it?" River asked cautiously, her heart pounding in her chest.

Olivia took a deep breath, stepping closer to River’s desk. "I know I’ve made things difficult for you and August, and I’m sorry for that. I was… jealous. But I never meant for things to get so out of hand."

River’s mind raced, trying to process Olivia’s words. This wasn’t the conversation she had expected. "Olivia, I appreciate your honesty, but what exactly are you trying to say?"

Olivia’s expression softened, guilt flashing across her features. "I overheard something I think you should know. It’s about Isabelle… and what really happened that night."

River’s blood ran cold. The night in question had been the catalyst for the fallout between her and August—the night Isabelle had kissed her, and August had walked in on them. It was the moment everything had started to unravel.

"What do you mean?" River asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Olivia hesitated, clearly wrestling with her conscience. But then she squared her shoulders as if steeling herself for what she was about to reveal. "Isabelle planned the whole thing. She knew how much you meant to August, and she wanted to come between you two. That kiss… it wasn’t an accident. She set it up to make sure August would see."

River felt like the ground had been pulled out from under her. She stared at Olivia, her mind reeling. The betrayal stung even more deeply now that she knew it had been orchestrated, that Isabelle had deliberately driven a wedge between her and August.

"Why are you telling me this now?" River managed to ask, her voice shaky with emotion.

Olivia’s gaze softened with a mixture of regret and determination. "Because I’ve seen how much you and August mean to each other. And I don’t want to be the one who keeps you apart any longer. You deserve to know the truth, Ms. Rivers."

River swallowed hard, trying to process everything Olivia had just told her. Isabelle had manipulated the situation to her advantage, and River had fallen right into her trap. And now, August was the one suffering the consequences.

"Thank you for telling me," River finally said, her voice thick with emotion. "I don’t know what to say, but… I appreciate it."

Olivia nodded, her expression sincere. "I just hope it helps. Maybe it’s not too late to fix things with August."

River watched as Olivia turned to leave, the weight of the confession heavy between them. As the door clicked shut behind her, River felt a surge of determination she hadn’t felt in weeks. She couldn’t change the past, but maybe, just maybe, she could make things right with August.

That evening, River sat in her apartment, staring at her phone, her heart racing as she debated what to do next. The truth was out—Isabelle’s deception had been exposed—but would it be enough to heal the rift between her and August? Would August even believe her, or was it too late?

Her thumb hovered over August’s name in her contacts, her mind swirling with doubts and fears. But as the memory of their connection flooded her mind—their laughter, their shared moments of vulnerability—she knew she had to try.

With a deep breath, River finally pressed the call button, her heart pounding as she listened to the phone ring on the other end. The seconds felt like an eternity, each one dragging on longer than the last.

Finally, after what felt like forever, August answered. Her voice was cautious, tinged with the same weariness River felt. "River?"

"August," River breathed, relief washing over her just hearing her voice. "Can we talk? There’s something I need to tell you… something important."

There was a pause, and River could almost hear the hesitation in August’s silence. But then, finally, she heard a soft sigh. "Alright. Let’s talk."